Digestive issues

[Carol A Brown]

My story is a long one and I won't bore you with it. Started green smoothies 2 years ago along with health salads, whole grains, fruit etc. Not 100% raw by any means but definitely high. My intestines which I don't think have ever been normal have improved. Lately however (and this isn't really new) I've had decent movements in the morning followed by runs (more like gravy) with undigested food in them. and I need to be really close to the restroom. It doesn't matter what I eat. The last two days there's been cramping, itchiness and a lot of that. Along with sinus problems and weather changes I really haven't been feeling well. Trying to figure out what I should be doing or not doing. I decided this morning to order some enzymes from Garden of Life and add them to my diet. I'm mostly eating brown rice since last night to see if this helps. Any suggestions or do I need to give more info. Thanks, Carol

P.S. I'm new to this group. Looking forward to learning lots.

[Carol A Brown]

I said itchiness I meant ICHYNESS/gas, bloating, sick feeling (and not right after eating). I wake up with it..

[Wendy Geesey]

Hi Carol, I've been waiting to see what others may have to say, but see that no one seems to want to touch this one. I really don't know either, but wondering how much fat you eat in term of percentage of calories? Also you mentioned whole grains- wondering if you have an allergy to gluten... also- you didn't say if you were Vegan or not- do you do any dairy at all? I wonder if you try a few days of just fruit and mono meals if that wouldn't help... lots of bananas....

[Carol A Brown]

Very little. Unless you consider coconut oil which I don't consider a fat and I've been using for ever. We have chicken about once a week but then again that's not something new. Avacado but not all the time. I did add chia seeds recently but when I first added them they actually firmed up the movements. Also I've read that chia seeds are easy to digest. I'm currently reading Jordin Rubins book on digestion and will see where it leads me. The rice just comes through the other side which it's done before but not all the time.  Also, I have a firm good size movement before the runs which are like mush. That's puzzling. I wonder if I picked up a bug of some sort. I wonder if anyone knows a good colon hydrotherapist in CA (preferably around Modesto). I've been wanting to try that for years due to life long problems (more than just digestion) but don't want to go to just anyone and I can't find a referral locally. There is someone I've found on line listed as an advanced teacher. I may call her and give it a try.  THANKS

[Carol A Brown]

I forgot to mention some dairy. Raw butter, kefir and yogurt. There again, I've not had a problem with this in the past and I've gone without dairy for a time and still had some problems on occasion. Stomach definitely ichy etc. It has slowed down this morning but I didn't eat the normal yesterday nor did I eat as much. 

[Laurie P]

I recently had a month long bout of diarrhea when I am nearly always on the constipated side.  Even though I eat pretty high raw but still with some meat and cooked foods I became extremely ill at the end of December.  It lasted for a couple of months.  Anyway I ended up on Codeine and inhaler.  Even the doctor agreed that I was probably detoxing the medicine as diarrhea.  Could it be a bout of detox?  

What I did was add one cup of milk kefir, cultured vegetables and kombucha to my daily regimen and a very powerful probiotic.  These were added about 2 weeks into the diarrhea and then it took the next two weeks for things to firm up.  I also had a colonic treatment and have continued to go about once a month.  I know my body will tell me when I don't need to go so often.

Looking back, I think going to the chiropractor was my mistake.  He was my husband's chiro and he was a big man and I am very little.   He tried to show me that he was using no pressure on me.  I felt a crushing and pain when he put pressure on my chest and then the breathing problems started.  

Sorry to explain all this, just trying to explain why I had the diarrhea.  Maybe I will blog about this.  

I know the diarrhea can weaken you if it goes on too long.  You will get it figured out.  

[Carol A Brown]

it's good to hear the stories of others. I have heard one can detox even years after starting on a raw diet. however, I always thought that detoxing would go way in 24 hours to 3 days. Could be detox. Even though my digestive issues are better in recent years (there again, long story that's more than just digestion) I don't think things are working as normal as they should. I'm going to focus on Jordin Rubins book right now and see what I can learn and incorporate. I've been wanting to do at least a 5 day detox,fast of some sort but haven't had the will power. It helps when I'm feeling well and energetic (not very often) as then I desire to do the right thing diet wise. :-) I'm having sinus surgery on June 19th for 26 yrs go daily challenges. it's taken them 26 years to find this problem which surprises me. I'm going to wait till after my surgery and healing time and see how I feel. I could be good enough to tighten up my diet and do a detox/fast. I do go to the chiropractor and I'm a firm believer in that. Thanks for the reminder of cultured veggies. I made some a while back and keep forgetting to use them. :-( Off to pull the jar out of the refrigerator. THANKS Hope you're feeling better

P.S. Of all the things I've gone  through (63 years worth and a 7 page health history condensed from it's original 14 pages) I hate the intestinal problems more than any thing. 

[Jane W Smith]

Dairy is always suspect with digestive issues.
 
Carol A Brown said:

it's good to hear the stories of others. I have heard one can detox even years after starting on a raw diet. however, I always thought that detoxing would go way in 24 hours to 3 days. Could be detox. Even though my digestive issues are better in recent years (there again, long story that's more than just digestion) I don't think things are working as normal as they should. I'm going to focus on Jordin Rubins book right now and see what I can learn and incorporate. I've been wanting to do at least a 5 day detox,fast of some sort but haven't had the will power. It helps when I'm feeling well and energetic (not very often) as then I desire to do the right thing diet wise. :-) I'm having sinus surgery on June 19th for 26 yrs go daily challenges. it's taken them 26 years to find this problem which surprises me. I'm going to wait till after my surgery and healing time and see how I feel. I could be good enough to tighten up my diet and do a detox/fast. I do go to the chiropractor and I'm a firm believer in that. Thanks for the reminder of cultured veggies. I made some a while back and keep forgetting to use them. :-( Off to pull the jar out of the refrigerator. THANKS Hope you're feeling better

P.S. Of all the things I've gone  through (63 years worth and a 7 page health history condensed from it's original 14 pages) I hate the intestinal problems more than any thing. 

[Carol A Brown]

Except I've gone without dairy and still had them. My daughter gave up dairy and noticed improvement in several areas. Then there are those that think kefir and yogurt are needed for the gut. I think it's trial and error and individual. For me, this was definitely worse for several days making me wonder what else was going on. 

[Wendy Geesey]

I'm not of the opinion that it is detox with the first "movement" being mostly normal followed by the big D. Coconut oil is 100% fat... dairy is one of the top allergens and it clogs up the lymphatic system- another reason to doubt detox. You will not be detoxing if you are consuming dairy. Stuff is passing through undigested, which means it is passing thru the stomach that way.... there are "rules" to food combining that might help...

1. Do not mix sweet fruit with acid fruit, e.g. bananas and oranges, lemons and dates etc.
2. Fatty foods do not mix well with sweet fruits, e.g. nuts or avocado with dates, raisins, bananas, etc.
3. Acidic fruits combine all right with fats, e.g. tomato or citrus with avocado or nuts.
4. Lettuce and celery combine well with anything.

5. never combine melons with anything (should definitely be eaten on an empty stomach).

1-4 was taken by an ebook I bought from Chris Kendall (giving credit where credit is due)

The reason is b/c of the speed at which different foods digest- melons being the fastest. So for example, if you eat a fatty dinner and then melon for dessert, it will sit in the stomach and ferment waiting for all the other contents to digest... maybe your stomach ph level is getting low enough to release the contents before everything is completely digested??? Which leads me to another thought- do you take antacids? This lowers the stomach ph "faking it out" signaling that the contents are digested when really they aren't.

Another question is- has there been added stress in your life? Stress signals our fight/flight response and reduces our digestive abilities. In cases of severe stress I recommend juicing or easily digested foods (no fat) such as melons and watery fruit and no eating in the evening (juice only) as our systems become even more tired as the day wears on.... just some additional thoughts....

[Laurie P]

I also lived with digestive issues for years.  Alot of times I would just lay on the couch and moan and groan.  The symptoms were ichyness as you say which translated was: nausea, flu like, aching, bloating,etc.  Adding fresh and raw definitely helped.  But I was constipated and didn't know it.  As soon as I worked out a routine for each day adding juices and smoothies and chia, hemp, flax and water, water, water I finally got free from those symptoms.  Even though you have diarrhea now, is it possible you were constipated.  You may have been having bowel movements, but you can still be constipated.  I have to be so intentional especially having water,  I start off the day with 6 80z glassed of water/lemon water.  I especially did this when I had my bout of diarrhea.

I also agree with Wendy about the food combining.  I have recently started mono-mealing one day a week.  So far I have only done watermelon, eating all I want.  I am going to try other melons when the price comes down.  It has been great.

[Carol A Brown]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm better his morning. There wasn't really anything new in my life that I can think of. I've never really focused on food combining and was hoping it wouldn't be necessary. I may look into it. THANKS

[Wendy Geesey]

As we get older our ability to digest is also diminished- sorry to say that I know this from experience :(  Careful attention to food combining and mono meals might be in order.... not sure how old you are tho ;-)