Hey everyone, we appreciate everyone’s great comments about digestive issues. If you missed them, please check them out. From all the comments and emails looks like majority of people are finding out that eating breakfast later helps with their energy and digestion. Also stress can be a factor in disrupting happy tummies. Exercise and food combining can also play a huge role with creating a healthier digestion system. We are really impressed to see so many people know what foods cause them problems and what foods help them! That is great!! Our dear friend Gena has done many great post on food combining, fiber, and probiotics (Lori and I big believers in probiotics)!
Remember each body is different!!! If your system works with eating breakfast in the morning than keep it up! Do what works for you and makes you feel great. We are just here to share ideas and thoughts in case you have not heard or tried something before that may help 
Continuing on with this topic, we wanted to share our views on supplements.
Supplements we have tried…over many many years
- Herbal teas – Work okay but made us extremely gassy!! Not fun! (No longer use)
- Artichoke leaf – Works for a period of time with less intense discomfort. (No longer use)
- Natural Calm magnesium based products by Natural Vitality – works pretty good. Use maybe once a week if I (Michelle) feel things are running a little slow
- Oxy-powder by Global Healing Center – used these about 3 years ago for about 1 year. They again worked at first but over time it was just making our systems worse!!! Realized they were too harsh for our systems! (No longer use)
- Metamucli – we used to take the pills and eat the crackers when we were in high school to help our systems. Did it work? Yes and No. They worked for about the first few times we had them but never really FIXED our problem! Over time these products made our systems worse!!!! (No longer use)
- Probiotics – we have taken a liquid form before and liked, but lately we just consume kombucha and raw sauerkraut to get our healthy bacteria. Another friend of ours Megan is trying another liquid based probiotic.
Now the thing we have with supplements…is many people rely too much on them (and yes both of us fell into that trap). When really the supplements were just hiding our problems and created more problems, which we felt later. This goes for many issues not just digestive. It is all marketing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These companies say to take this supplement or pill for so long, but really it is not always necessary. And sometimes we are shocked to see so many people being prescribed this and that….um hello, if people still have the problem even with the help of pills shouldn’t that be a red flag that something else is going on??? Just my thoughts!
Please note I do understand sometimes supplements are needed. I am just saying all this from our experiences, so please no emails or comments about how we are bashing supplements. Because we are not, just stating our opinion! Also for those of you who comment about having no problem “going” and still eat SAD (standard American diet), that is great. But you have no idea what it feels like. As we have stated many times everyone is different and different things work for others which may not work for someone else. We are here to share and hopefully help each other heal!
Everyone has their physical issues and what not, and we totally understand that, probably more than most people. And I am sorry but I DO NOT Think it is normal to not go to the bathroom everyday. I once had a doctor tell me that it is fine that I only go a few times a week!!! What!!! Excuse me….now how much and how often will vary from person to person, but if you really think about all the food an average person eats…um yay, I am just going to leave it at that.
Now getting our digestive system to start working again (although we still have to work at it, a work in progress) took years! A lot of trail and error, long hours of researching….until we realized we knew the answer all along. It started in our minds….yes eating clean is sooo important too, but once we told ourselves we are healing, getting better….and STOPPED stressing over it, we started to see a change. Now again we are a work in progress, still have bad days, but moving forward! This goes along with our skin issues that we have discussed many times here on the blog.
Honestly eating no meat or dairy, plus many other things, has really helped our sluggish digestive systems. Since we have a slow, sensitive, weak system eating a clean diet is essential. Avoiding certain foods is important if we do not want to live in bed curled up in a ball all day (which believe me is not fun). Lori and I’s goal was to fix our main issue and heal ourselves, which is what we did!
Here are some other things to consider if you are constipated:
- need to make toilet time – yes we are serious you have to give your body time, preferably in the morning
- strengthening your core – having a strong core will help keep you colon strong
- change your mental state – need to learn to “let go”
Having past memories of pain was hard to overcome. Both of us, especially me, literally had to tell ourselves that is okay to go. Yes I talk to my stomach…call me weird or whatever….I really do not care; this works for me 
For those of you who do not have this problem, great! Again we are happy for you!!
And for those of you who might have the opposite problem, we are sorry! Wish we could give advice but have not experienced going too much before.
And thanks to all the supportive comments and emails we have received, it means a lot because this is not an easy or fun topic to talk about. But if you think about how many millions of dollars this side of health care makes…it makes you really wonder if anyone really has a normal system???
Okay let the comments roll…good or bad, we are ready…
And to change to a more FUN subject… good food! Check our our new favorite snack
Squash kale mash with a twist in our favorite topping mixed in
Served along side with cucumbers, DELICIOUS!
Till next time,
Michelle
Pure2raw twins
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m curious which herbal teas you’ve tried. I have done Smooth Move and it worked well.
I have had the opposite problem and it is no fun either. Both cause pain, going too much is more embarassing if it’s urgent and at the wrong times. Some people swing back and forth between the two.
I am curious how long you have been off gluten? It took my gut a few years to heal from not eating it. I know you probably have said but I have a bad memory for details, sorry.
Bitt, we have tried Smooth Move… for Michelle it caused her way too much pain and discomfort, for Lori it worked okay. We have been off gluten for about 4 years, we know it takes time!
Thank you so much for posting about digestion. We have always had slightly protruding tummies and would get stomach aches a lot. We’ve recently realized that it doesn’t have to be that way partly thanks to you guys. Much appreciated
Aww thanks Jennifer and Jaclyn, I am glad we could help!
For me the 2 main things that keep my digestion going are 1) not being stressed and 2) eating at the same times each day
what advice do you have for those with Celiac and IBS issues before Celiac? my stomach is still adjusting to not having gluten but how long will this last? is there anyway to make it better? I dont go to the bathroom 3 times a day like I used to, now it is like twice a week unless (occasionally after being GF) I have times where I am going once/twice a day for three/four days and it is uncomfortable. would appreciate feedback, thanks
Shelley sorry to hear that you are still having issues, I think over time your gut will heal and get stronger. Just make sure your are eating and doing things that strengthen your colon like we mentioned. Again I think colonics would be great to help get things moving again for you. They were life savers for us
I know it is hard but hang in there, your stomach should get better with time! Let me know if there is anything else. Good luck! We went through periods of not going to the bathroom when first taking out gluten, but again over time with the help of probiotics are stomach lining is starting to heal and we are slowly becoming more regular!
This may seem like a strange (or embarrassing for me) question…but do you find there are certain foods that “stop you up?” I’m constantly trying to determine what food is causing what… have you ever had trouble with bananas, dates, cashews…?
Carrie, good and tough question. We have heard that bananas have helped people go to the bathroom, we have noticed really noticed that for us. Though we do not eat a lot of bananas. We have not really noticed anything with dates or cashews. I would again recommend a food journal where you can document foods you eat and how your bowel movements are. We are slowly starting to learn our bodies and realize what helps us go and what does not. So far eating a little cooked food with mostly a high raw diet and fermented foods/drinks really helps. And staying positive about it all! I hope this helps, let me know if there is anything else! Good luck!
I have to say, I am exactly like you and Lori! A lot of it is mental but fermented foods, homemade kombucha, GF foods, and all that good core work has helped. I love that you are sharing this. We can all relate!
Thanks Lindsay! It is nice to know we are not alone
I think learning what foods work for your body is a frustrating and long process, but you will be rewarded in the end (pun intended). I found that massaging your intestines helps too when you are constipated. Sounds weird, but since I am missing abdominal muscles this truly helps! You ladies are amazing! Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Girls, I have to give you props for tackling such a ‘tricky’ topic with such ease and grace
I totally agree about supplements. I’ve used tinctures, but they only solve the problem in the moment; they don’t cure it or keep my body regular.
Thank you for the tips about the abs! I have horrible abs. That explains a lot!
Thankyou so much for posting this on your website..
I have also found I could eat dried fruits, but it clogs me up…and I use to love them.
So now I am vigilant in what I eat..it is worth it , to be happy in the tummy.
Also you mentioned a strong core helps matters too. I did not know that, so I have started researching good core exercises. I have 3 small children so my core is not the best.
Keep up your smiles and great work.
Anne from Oz.
I am _so_ glad that you are talking about this. I think it’s a really important subject, and as you said, the whole supplement industry is a token of what a widespread issue this is!
I have one more piece to share with you as well. My ND suggested that part of the issue in my body is to do with smooth muscle contractions not happening as they should because of hormone imbalances. He has me on estrogen and progesterone supplements (because mine were so low) to ensure that I menstruate and to start giving my body the idea that those muscles can move. I remember you saying that you had been on b-c pills, so maybe some sort of hormonal rebalancing is taking place for you.
And yes, I have the opposite problem at times too! Neither is good, but I hate the stopped up feeling worse, even though running to the bathroom every two minutes is embarrassing.
Smooth Move contains senna, which is very harsh and not a good idea to take regularly. I’ve noticed that making my own herbal teas with licorice and sometimes hibiscus can help, also teas that have a lot of intense cinnamon flavor, so it must be the tannins.
When I take lots of magnesium, it helps a lot. Aloe helps too. And of course, the wonderful bacteria! And for now, I’m ok with taking tons of supplements – my body’s been messed up for a long time, I have to keep on not starving myself so that it starts to trust me and metabolism can work again, and meanwhile I need to support just about every hormonal system with some kind of supplement. It makes me laugh sometimes because I used to be so vehemently against all supplements! I just have to see it as part of a long-term healing process.
You are so right on to mention the mental component also. I know that when I start worrying about not having pooped yet, I’m doing the worst thing for it, but not going makes me feel so icky that it’s hard not to do it! Love your tummy talk. I’m listening to a book on tape at the moment where the main character’s 2-yr-old daughter has a habit of putting her thumb in her belly button as a pacifying kind of thing, gets all blissed out from it!
love
Ela
Ela – thanks for mentioning the hormones…yes that could be part of our case, as you know we have that issue too. And I think it is great that you are taking the steps to heal your body!!! I wish you nothing but the best, and if we can do anything to help please let us know!! HUGS
Loved the gutsy attitude in this post (if you’ll excuse the pun)!
Except for a multivitamin/mineral supplement that I buy from the UK Vegan Society, I don’t take anything. If I’m really constipated, two cups of strong coffee plus drinking lots of water and eating no grains for a day or two will usually sort me out. I don’t like relying on coffee to go, but it works and it’s a one ingredient thing (and I buy organic). I used to take it every day but I now try and keep it for when I’m sluggish.
I don’t eat very raw, but I do eat pretty clean (pretty much everything in my shopping basket is a whole food). I find that without meat, dairy and gluten my system works pain free and I have very little gas, just a touch of constipation that’s probably caused by not getting enough fluid or eating more (gluten free) grains than fruit and veggies.
I think knowing what doesn’t agree with me has made me less stressed about my guts, I feel more “normal” and relaxed. I’ve found what works and want to stick to it. At the moment things are different because I’m deliberately eating gluten for the celiac test next month. It’s pretty yuck, but if I do get a diagosis, I’ll get better support and access to information, plus I can get gluten free grains like teff on prescription. Even if I don’t have the disease, this experiment will be the last time gluten passes my lips. Within a day of eating it again, my IBS is back in full swing!
Eimear – good luck with your test, I remember your post about that…HUGS
I love that you girls are sooo open about this all! I dont have these issues, more the opposite, but anytime one’s system is not working as normal/healthy, it takes a toll on your body, mind, etc b/c when you just feel out of whack, you just feel out of whack
I have used Natural CAlm alot in the past. Pregnancy and nursing really depletes mag/calcium but for me, it makes me a little toooo regular and I can’t use it often, but I love the initial ahhh, calm feeling, i get right after i drink it
Averie – yes no issues like this are fun. Yes I enjoy the calm feeling too
You’re right– not a fun topic, but one that EVERYONE has to deal with, so we might as well talk about it, right?!
My husband has always has digestive/IBS issues– I’m calling him in here right now to read this! Great post!
even 30% off the vitamix? my kitchen aid canister has been leaking terribly and i use the blender 1-2x daily so i’m thinking of taking the plunge! it’s a big purchase but i think i’m worth it
yes Melissa the sale is for everything in our opensky store! I think you will love the Vita-mix it is great appliance we use ours A LOT and still works great. If you buy with the coupon code you should save over $100 on the vitamix…. definitely worth it!
Hey girls, I have been struggling with IBS and severe bloating for several years but lately I feel that my gut is finally healed. My elimination is by the clock even when I travel on long flights. Here is what worked for me: aloe very juice in my water, no fruits or sweets after meals (now wait at least 3 hours or have as a separate meal), drinking a cup of fresh ginger tea with lemon as soon as I wake up and taking 10-15 minutes to sit in Virasana that increases circulation to the digestive tract. The last point is similar to your advice of taking time. It is very important because our body seems to thrive in a routine so when we set regular time to go to the bathroom, it helps to condition our digestive system.
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Nadya recently posted..Kitchen Evolution 2 Report and Daal Recipe