I canNOT believe that I am asking this in a public place, but it seems far too trivial to see my doctor about so… here it goes. Yay for anonymity.
Evidently, I don’t digest veggies. I’ve been noticing for the last couple of weeks that any veggies I eat pretty much show up at the other end looking… exactly like they went in. Bits of carrot, whole peas, spinach and lettuce leaves, butternut squash. It’s disgusting, and makes me wonder if either a) there’s something wrong with my digestive system or b) it’s normal and I’m just “designed” for an Atkin’s-style diet.
I eat a heavily vegitarian diet, by the way, and only rarely eat meat, although I’ve been eating more meat lately, it’s probably not nearly as much as most people. I can’t honestly say if this is a new development or not, although I never really noticed it before.
So, um, is this normal? Should I be seeing a volume of bits of carrot in the toilet equal to the volume swallowed?
By chance, are you having any sort of mouth pain? Especially toothaches, or anything else that has caused you to stop chewing your food very much? Because by the time you swallow it, the peas and squash and whatever should have already stopped looking like peas and squash and just be appropriately colored mush.
Corn is an exceptional case. That kernels of corn are recognized in the, ah, end product is common.
Part of many veggies is an undigestable shell of fiber or cellulose. That’s likely what you’re seeing.
Note that in Atkins, you should eat lots of low-carb veggeis- lettuce, celery and such- not corn, carrots, tomatoes. At times, the Atkins type diet was called the “steak and salad diet”, which is a good name for it.
It couldn’t hurt to add some Priobiotics to your diet- like Acidolpholus, the “live culture” part of “live culture yogurt”. In fact, I’d say it would be a very good idea on your part.
If this continues, or your bowels are too loose, or there is blood, or cramping- go see your Doctor- or at the very least call his office and speak to his nurse.
None whatsoever. In fact, I had a dental appointment last week, wherein the dentist spent the entire visit marvelling over my attention to dental hygeine.
Here is a suggestion. Over the next few days, pay special attention to how well you chew your food. Really grind it down to a mush…one that your tongue cannot detect any particles in. And of course check your feces. I predict that you will find that the veggies will be much less identifiable, and you will see the “normal” sort of fecal mass.
[Insert “See your doctor for medical advice” disclaimer here]
How are you feeling otherwise? Are you rushing through your meals? (Could be a reason why you’re not chewing thoroughly.) Yes, it’s normal for some foods to be visible in stools, but lettuce leaves should be broken down pretty indistiguishably.
OTOH, I notice my digestion ebbs and flows with my menstrual cycles, and there is much more visible food and looser stool when I’m menstruating. This happens consistently enough that it’s a normal pattern for me, and nothing to worry about.
And yes, featherlou, stools should be somewhere between 8 and 12 inches long, and optimally stay together in your toilet bowl, not break apart the second they hit the water (or even before). If they’re regularly shorter, try drinking more water and increasing your insoluble fiber for a week or two and see what happens.
Adults should also have at least two bowel movements a day, believe it or not. Many nutritionists believe that a bowel movement should happen about 20 minutes after each meal - after all, the digestive tract is one long tube, and peristalsis of the esophagus should trigger waves of peristalsis all the way to the rectum, triggering a bowel movement. Again, increase insoluble fiber for a week or two and see what results you get. If you take a fiber supplement, read the directions carefully and make sure you get enough water. Lots of fiber and little water = concrete in the gut.
Lots of fiber and adequate water mean that “colon cleansing” crap is not needed or even healthy. If you feed your body the right foods, it can clean itself out quite well on its own.
Well, there was a recent great article in CR about them- generally saying they are a very good idea. 1st- they normalize your digestive system- they “cure” both diarrhea and constipation. They help with gas, IBS and all that “shit”. They also help with some immune problems such as yeast infections, thrush and canker sores. In my case, they seems to help digest dairy products.
Do you have a cite for this? Everything I’ve ever read has indicated that as long as bowel movements are normal and regular, whether it’s twice a day or even only a couple times a week, there’s nothing wrong. I’ve also read that this sort of belief can lead to laxative abuse in people who think they have a problem, but in reality they’re perfectly normal.
Well, you’re both right. If you eat a lot of fiber, and drink plenty of water/ect, you will likely have two BMs a day. They should be soft, as opposed to hard.
But- somedays you might just have one, or even one day- if you didn’t eat a lot, there was little fiber and you didn’t drink a lot- you might even have none. Having a BM “every morning at 8AM” isn’t at all nessesary.
So- yes, Americans don’t get enough fiber, don’t drink enough hydrating beverages, and many don’t include Probiotics in their diet. If you did all three, you’d likely have 2 BM’s a day, maybe even 3. But only one isn’t anything to worry about- it just likely means you aren’t doing all those three things- or that you have a a strong habit of having your BM at a certain time. Most of us get away with skimping on those three things, but there is little doubt your bowels would be healthier if you did, and you’d likely reduce your risk of cancer “down there”.
Thus- drink another bottle of water, eat a salad for lunch and have a cup of yogurt (live culture) for breakfast. And- don’t worry!
OK, I know there are a lot of us that just plain won’t “eat right”. Then, as a compromise, get a large container of “bulk forming laxative” the often orange stuff that uses Psyllium. (Do note- *this *is a safe product if taken with enough water/juice, other laxatives should not be taken on a regular basis unless directed to by a MD). Get some Probiotics/Acidophilus at your health food store. Every nite and/or morning, drink a large glass of water with a spoon of the fiber stuff, and swallow your Probiotic pill.
Sometimes the fiber comes in a pill- that’s fine- IF you remember to drink that large glass of water/jiuce with it! There’s a couple products out there that have several other fibers and also Acidophilous all together- that’s OK too. (“Colon Care” by Doctors Trust for example).
It’s better if you “eat right”, but this will do the job if you just can’t/won’t.
They also help with some immune problems such as yeast infections, thrush and canker sores. In my case, they seems to help digest dairy products.