Foods that help your bowel :(
amblight
Posts: 350 Member
Well, TMI, I know, but it's a big problem for me....
I am doing low carb-ish (since I'm doing pretty low cal, while still wanting a lot of protein, carbs is what has to go! + bread and pasta is boring=not worth the calories), so yes, I'm not getting a lot of whole grain....
BUT, I'm rather eating a lot of fiber-full things (beans, brocolli, brussel sprouts, berries, aspurgus, egg plant, leafy veggies etc.), and lately I've been eating lots of seeds as well. But I'm actually only averaging 22g of fiber/day! Some of the entries I've made may not have had the fiber listed, I'm thinking
I also happen to eat a lot of kiwis lately, which is apparently also good for the bowel.
I'm hesitant to start snacking prunes, since they are rather high calorie, and not a food I'll enjoy much. But I may have to suck it up, and make room for them in my diet if things continue this way!
I drink A LOT of water, and I get 30% of my calories from fat, so I don't think those are the problem either...
I've always been slightly prone to constipation (apparently you're supposed to go every day????? I've never!), but it's pretty bad now.
I am doing low carb-ish (since I'm doing pretty low cal, while still wanting a lot of protein, carbs is what has to go! + bread and pasta is boring=not worth the calories), so yes, I'm not getting a lot of whole grain....
BUT, I'm rather eating a lot of fiber-full things (beans, brocolli, brussel sprouts, berries, aspurgus, egg plant, leafy veggies etc.), and lately I've been eating lots of seeds as well. But I'm actually only averaging 22g of fiber/day! Some of the entries I've made may not have had the fiber listed, I'm thinking
I also happen to eat a lot of kiwis lately, which is apparently also good for the bowel.
I'm hesitant to start snacking prunes, since they are rather high calorie, and not a food I'll enjoy much. But I may have to suck it up, and make room for them in my diet if things continue this way!
I drink A LOT of water, and I get 30% of my calories from fat, so I don't think those are the problem either...
I've always been slightly prone to constipation (apparently you're supposed to go every day????? I've never!), but it's pretty bad now.
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Replies
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I defy your bowels to disobey 1/4 cabbage, steamed to soften (so you can eat it all). I admit it's pretty staunch disobeying the kiwifruit, which indicates a bowel of ill will... but nothing can withstand the mighty motivational force of cabbage.0
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Try psyllium husks to boost soluble fibre - 1 tsp in water daily should help keep things moving.0
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You beat me to it!Try psyllium husks to boost soluble fibre - 1 tsp in water daily should help keep things moving.0 -
I do like cabbage a lot! I've alway eaten it raw, and thus tend to get enough of the 'sting' it has (like raw onions), but I will try to steam it then... I'll eat 1/4 of a head for 4 days, see how I'm feeling
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I've been eating a "fiber mix" on my breakfast dairy for the past few days, and I now see that's deffinitely an incomplete entry, only macros, so it logs as 0 fiber... I'll fix that when I get home. Maybe thats even as fiberfull as a tea spoon husk. I'd prefer 'real food' over supplementd.0
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It's not low carb, but I'd be impressed if your body can hold up to a peanut butter banana smoothie or a chia banana smoothie.
And try munching on grapes instead of prunes if you won't enjoy the prunes.
Chase either of those with some strong black coffee.0 -
22g a day is close to average as it's recommend people try to get 25. Pretty sure you are suppose to go everyday. I go 6 times a day but I have ibs. But I have been constipated before And I'd rather have diareah than be constipated.0
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Very thin line, frankly. If you're having natural psyllium husk (no added preservatives or any other additives) then it's probably more real than cereal lol. If fibre from vegetables and fruit (which is always preferable) makes you go over your carb limit then maybe try it. Anything is better than constipation. :sick:I'd prefer 'real food' over supplementd.0 -
I actually LOVE prunes. They contain a naturally occuring sugar alcohol which means they are sweet but less calories per serving then a lot of other dried fruits.
A handful of prunes for a snack at night + black coffee in the morning = staying regular for me lol.0 -
I have a problem with my bowels, and I usually eat 5 or 6 prunes every morning. It helps.0
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Cabbage will also cause bloating, and not making the tummy very happy. (Raw-Organic) Sauerkraut is good for the bowels. TMI...for me...1/2 cup of coffee makes for a smooth day.
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I find that a small glass (6oz) of V8 everyday in the morning will make me regular. I don't like the taste, so I usually gulp it down quickly and follow with water. Look for the low sodium one! It takes a few days to get your body used to the "schedule" but it works for me!0
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I had this problem myself. What worked for me was drinking 1-2 glasses of cold water right from my brita as soon as i wake up in the morning. Then once i have my breakfast and coffee everything moves along nicely 0
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Casagrada sagrada is not a food but it's a pill taken daily or every other day. Works for me and is the only thing that has worked for me. I've tried all the other stuff mentioned here and nothing works to this level0
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Coffee?0
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Restoralax was a miracle worker for me! 0
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I start my day with a big glass of room temp-to-warm water with the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Jump starts the digestive system! Coffee and tea are bowel stimulants as well, and yogurt also has a lot of natural bacteria that helps keep your gut healthy!
That said, as a nurse, we say you should go daily but some people just have different systems. As long as you're going in a routine that is regular for YOU and not experiencing any discomfort, you should be fine, three days is usually where the line gets drawn and we suggest outside methods. If you really feel like you need a good 'cleaning' then try Epsom salt. The salt draws the water into the bowel and the magnesium helps to stimulate the intestinal contractions to get things moving.0 -
If I really needed to get help in this area, I would drink a coffee with creamer. It seems to act as a laxative for me. I guess I am kind of weird, what may constipate others does the opposite for me, like beef and dairy or pizza hut.0
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Research and try Goodbelly shots.Take the 14 day challenge and if you can get your money back if not satisfied. They come in a variety of flavors. Just one quick swallow a day of this probiotic may help and also provide many other benefits.0
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Every time I've ever tried going low carb I've blocked up. Just get your carbs from fresh fruit and not pasta and breads. Apples have a good amount of fiber0
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Sounds like you're not getting enough fiber. That, or if 22g is a major increase from your normal intake, you can have constipation due to increasing suddenly, and it'll release eventually.
Not exactly low carb but it does the trick almost always, Fiber One peanut butter bar... 14g(?) of fiber per bar. I recommend chia seeds as well... though if you have chronic bowel issues, seeds can actually be a bad thing, because depending on what the issue is, the seeds can get caught and cause bowel infections... So if you have this issue constantly, even after eating 25g+ a day with at least 10 glasses of water, you should see your doctor for a scope.
If you are having constipation then bouts of diarrhea, try adding low carb yogurt (greek is super good for this) and possibly a natural acidopholus supplement.
BMs and normal habits is really dependent on the individual, but lots of resources suggest that 2-4 is an average normal... At least once a day is minimum for most... but if you are eating low calorie, it can decrease. It is waste, after all, so if you don't eat enough to generate a lot of waste, you don't put out a lot of waste. Same with working out. Ample water and exercise together can often get the bowels moving for a lot of people...
If you get desperate, you can do a Miralax bowel cleanse. Colace is also something that helps a lot of people who know they need to go but can't. I know that we're trying to limit added substances... Just don't be shy to use some assistance if needed.
Also, this is going to sound weird to a lot of people, but often, the first medical treatment for constipation is inserting a finger into the rectum. It can stimulate peristalsis of the lower bowel. Obviously up to personal discretion.0 -
Very thin line, frankly. If you're having natural psyllium husk (no added preservatives or any other additives) then it's probably more real than cereal lol. If fibre from vegetables and fruit (which is always preferable) makes you go over your carb limit then maybe try it. Anything is better than constipation. :sick:I'd prefer 'real food' over supplementd.
I don't eat cereal either, lol :b It's not because I'm worried about preservatives or anything, it's just, as a food lover, it seems weird to add something non-food that I need to gulp down, if I could get to eat something with the same effect, lol :b But I know of husk, my friend used to take it loads, so I may get a couple of spoonfuls from her, see how it works for me!It's not low carb, but I'd be impressed if your body can hold up to a peanut butter banana smoothie or a chia banana smoothie.
And try munching on grapes instead of prunes if you won't enjoy the prunes.
Chase either of those with some strong black coffee.
I've eaten 75 grapes today! Will have more for breakfast tomorrow.
The fiber mix I've been eating for the past few days did have a lot of chia, though
Maybe all these things just haven't taken effect yet... I go less frequent than once a week, and I've only been eating this fiber mix for the past 5 days
And I drink 1L+ (35oz) coffee every day, so I don't know how much more I could chuck down, lol!I actually LOVE prunes. They contain a naturally occuring sugar alcohol which means they are sweet but less calories per serving then a lot of other dried fruits.
A handful of prunes for a snack at night + black coffee in the morning = staying regular for me lol.
That's VERY interesting! So it's just like sugar free gum (well, not completely, but w/e). I might try them out then, I'll find some way to make them more interesting...I start my day with a big glass of room temp-to-warm water with the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Jump starts the digestive system! Coffee and tea are bowel stimulants as well, and yogurt also has a lot of natural bacteria that helps keep your gut healthy!
That said, as a nurse, we say you should go daily but some people just have different systems. As long as you're going in a routine that is regular for YOU and not experiencing any discomfort, you should be fine, three days is usually where the line gets drawn and we suggest outside methods. If you really feel like you need a good 'cleaning' then try Epsom salt. The salt draws the water into the bowel and the magnesium helps to stimulate the intestinal contractions to get things moving.
I am experiencing discomfort :frown: Not in my stomach, I don't feel bloated or any of that, but it's very uncomfortable/painful when I go.0 -
With 22 grs of fiber a day you should not have any trouble to eliminate.....IF you also ingest the necessary liquid to get that fiber and your bowels moving. Many people forget that fiber alone just compacts in the intestine....you need liquid to move it.....maybe even quite a bit more than your 8 cups a day. I would increase liquid intake before I would increase fiber and see how it works.
PS: I am not against more fiber ( I eat quite a bit more than the recommended 25 grs from vegetables alone ), but suggested to first try liquids, because if you are already constipated, more fiber might just make it worse, because it might accumulate behind what makes you constipated in the first place....which usually is very dense and dry stool that cannot be moved because it lacks elasticity....I know TMI...but that's what it is.0 -
Oh no
if it's painful that definitely sounds like an issue with how, er, 'soft' things things are! I know you say you already drink a lot of water but try to up your intake and maybe try the husk. It sounds like yeah, if things aren't moving quick enough, it sits in your intestines too long and dries out, which is making things painful and uncomfortable when you do go.
If this is a long going thing though, I'd suggest going to a doctor to make sure you're not suffering from IBS or something. Good luck!0 -
I drank 2 glasses of Aloe Vera juice the other day as a refreshing drink my son told me to try. It was delicious BUT I spent about an hour in the bathroom later that day!! Never expected that at all so you might want to give it a try. I bought it in the pop isle at Superstore, 5 calories but you may want to do some research as I am only assuming that was the cause of my extended stay in the bathroom
I guess moderation might have been the key so maybe only 1 glass would have been better. 0 -
With 22 grs of fiber a day you should not have any trouble to eliminate.....IF you also ingest the necessary liquid to get that fiber and your bowels moving. Many people forget that fiber alone just compacts in the intestine....you need liquid to move it.....maybe even quite a bit more than your 8 cups a day. I would increase liquid intake before I would increase fiber and see how it works.
Agreed... And while coffee can be a stimulant, drinking so many cups a day can have the opposite effect. I'd try cutting it back a little bit and replacing with more pure water...0 -
Honestly? I find that if I sprinkle about a tbsp of any kind of Ezekiel cereal onto my real cereal, it helps me a lot in the morning to go when I have my breakfast and coffee. Whenever I run out and *don't* have it (and it's sometimes hard to find in grocery stores near me), I notice a real difference. If I have it, I go every day, but if I don't, my BMs are less consistent. I didn't look into sprouted grains too much and why they would work, but they seem to for me. Hope that helps!0
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Sounds like you're not getting enough fiber. That, or if 22g is a major increase from your normal intake, you can have constipation due to increasing suddenly, and it'll release eventually.
Not exactly low carb but it does the trick almost always, Fiber One peanut butter bar... 14g(?) of fiber per bar. I recommend chia seeds as well... though if you have chronic bowel issues, seeds can actually be a bad thing, because depending on what the issue is, the seeds can get caught and cause bowel infections... So if you have this issue constantly, even after eating 25g+ a day with at least 10 glasses of water, you should see your doctor for a scope.
If you are having constipation then bouts of diarrhea, try adding low carb yogurt (greek is super good for this) and possibly a natural acidopholus supplement.
BMs and normal habits is really dependent on the individual, but lots of resources suggest that 2-4 is an average normal... At least once a day is minimum for most... but if you are eating low calorie, it can decrease. It is waste, after all, so if you don't eat enough to generate a lot of waste, you don't put out a lot of waste. Same with working out. Ample water and exercise together can often get the bowels moving for a lot of people...
If you get desperate, you can do a Miralax bowel cleanse. Colace is also something that helps a lot of people who know they need to go but can't. I know that we're trying to limit added substances... Just don't be shy to use some assistance if needed.
Also, this is going to sound weird to a lot of people, but often, the first medical treatment for constipation is inserting a finger into the rectum. It can stimulate peristalsis of the lower bowel. Obviously up to personal discretion.
I've been eating this way since december, and even before that, I feel like I did get the same amount of fiber. Besides, I've never been a frequent, eh, "go'er". This is not a sudden problem, it's been getting gradually worse over time.
I don't have any problems with diarrhea, but maybe that is because I already eat youghurt (Greek, and other strained types)
I've exercizeing 1½hours every day for the past 2 months (I only log half, rather than the 'eating-back-half'-thing), and chuck looooads of water.
It sounds like I should probably ask my doctor. I'll make an appointment. It will probably be 2 weeks, so I'll follow all your other advice in the mean time0 -
I am starting to drop a tbsp of ground flax or coconut powder into pretty much everything. I snack on homemade kale chips. I make quinoa/flax cookies and pie crusts. It boosts the protein and fiber. Blueberries and dried currants also good sources of fiber.
http://huhs.harvard.edu/assets/File/OurServices/Service_Nutrition_Fiber.pdf0 -
Simple. Eat more. Doesn't matter what it is. 800-1100 calories every day will slow down the digestive tract, regardless of how much fiber you're eating.0
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