Regular Bowels with Green Smoothies

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Regular Bowels with Green Smoothies

by Jan
(NY)

How to have regular bowels with green smoothies. Jan is curious just how these cleansing smoothies can effect the digestive tract.

Question: I notice that when I drink the green smoothies made with 3-4 kale leaves that I have a bit of a dilemma in the bathroom a couple of days later. Seems to be a continual "running"... Maybe I'm using too much kale? Please advise.

Answer: I know what you mean. I actually use my kale smoothies to keep my bowels regular and flowing.

Warning to those with a weak stomach... I'm going to be a little graphic with my words.

Many adults don't know what a regular bowel moment looks and feels like. There are 3 different ways to know if you have regular bowel moments.

1. Soft and Mushy

Many people think that their bowels should be nice and firm and compact. When in fact it should be large, soft, fluffy, and mushy. Many times if your bowels are hard it means either you didn't get enough water or fiber in the last couple of days.

Please keep in mind that with all of the toxins that we breathe, eat, and drink everyday we must have an easy way for those toxins to leave our bodies. Otherwise, our body will find other ways to take care of those toxins. For example... through our skin and cause skin problems, like acne and boils.

Drinking green smoothies are a great ways to scrub out our bowels every day. Having clean intestines and colon is one of the big reasons people see all of the benefits of green smoothies. Like having more energy, healthy weight loss, clearer skin, etc. Plus, we have a much lower risk to contracting colon cancer in the future.

2. 2-4 Bowel Moments a Day

People should have at least 2-4 bowel moments a day. Most of the food that people eat contains little to no fiber. Plus... most of us are drinking more sugary drinks and less water on a regular basis. And on top of all that... many of us don't get the exercise that our bodies desperately need.

This all compounds and creates firm bowels.

3. Easy Flowing

Our bowels should flow right out with no problem. There shouldn't be a need to have a Reader's Digest sitting by the toilet. There should be no need to strain and push.

Many times... it flows so easily that I cannot hold it for long. I must find a bathroom ASAP. That is a good thing.

Summary

But after going over this information and you still think that your bowels are too loose, you can try cutting back on the kale. Then build up on the number of leaves as your body adjusts. Or you can try using a less "moving" green like spinach and lettuce.

I hope this helps!

Happy Blending!

DaNae

Thirsty? Check out more delicious and healthy smoothie recipes!

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Regular Bowels with Green Smoothies

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May 07, 2012
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Indeed! NEW
by: Mike Corbeil

Re. 3, Easy Flowing

Quote: "Many times... it flows so easily that I cannot hold it for long. I must find a bathroom ASAP. That is a good thing."

Well, "it depends". I was walking back from some shopping last year and only had another 70ft or so to reach the house where I reside, and ... whoops! Had some clothing, butt and legs to clean after that experience. I had considerably increased fiber intake, so after a few of these accidents, I decreased fiber and this resulted with success.

It was a little odd. Before leaving the house, I would feel fine, but as soon as I began walking somewhere, then oh-oh. When the faeces are too soft, it can be very difficult, even impossible, to hold them.

Re. 2-4 bowel discharges per day:

I wholly agree, though the number of times and quantity of foods we eat in a day may easily increase or decrease the total number of bowel discharges; I believe. When I have only one meal in a day, which sometimes happens, then I'll be lucky to get 2 bowel discharges; and when this happens, the discharge seems to be certainly adequate.

If we have regularity of multiple discharges on days during which we have multiple meals, and then have only 1 good discharge on days when we have only one meal, I then guess that this is understandable and okay.

Closing:

This website (new to me) clearly is very good. And if people wish to learn about the nutritional values of many healthy foods, then check out WHFoodsDOTcom, which provides the nutritional tables (%DV, etc) of nutrients considered to be present in good, very good and excellent quantity, and much more info.

WHFoods tells readers all we need to know about the nutritive values of greens that this website recommends for use in making smoothies, so that info should make "green smoothies" very appealing. Kale, collard greens, spinach, chard (aka swiss chard), mustard, beet and turnip greens, and more greenies. When not linked in the WHFoods List index, then then they can often be found in the pages about the other edible parts of these veggie plants (like turnip for turnip greens, f.e.), or by searching the website.

The health benefits of the "greens" are outstanding!

Crucifers for smoothies:

What about using cabbage for making a green (or red) smoothie? There're different green cabbages, and red cabbage is more nutritionally beneficial than ordinary green cabbage is.

Oxalates:

Some veggies apparently shouldn't be consumed in raw form and this applies to crucifers, which should be lightly steamed or sautéed, while steaming is surely better for use in smoothies, I guess. And I think this is true for most leaf greens, although WHFoods says that spinach and chard should be boiled to eliminate oxalate acids from these veggies; spinach for 1 and chard for 3-4 minutes. Not all green leaf veggies are said to need boiling, but, and besides for lettuce and dandelion leaf, f.e., I think most are more beneficial when lightly cooked. WHFoods provides the info.

Sep 24, 2011
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Green Smoothies and Bowels
by: DaNae

Jeff,

I'm super excited to hear how your health is improving. As you found... it really is important to have a positive attitude to get to a better place in life. Otherwise, you can be stuck and only improve a little or not at all. Way to go!

I'm so glad that you are keeping us posted!

Happy Blending!

DaNae

Salty,

That's strange that you aren't experiencing more regular bowel movements. You can try adding aloe vera juice or psyllium husk powder. You could also try adding seeds like flax seeds or chia seeds.

Another thing that I would try is to "chew" the smoothies to get the digestive juices flowing.

I hope this helps!

Happy Blending!

DaNae

Sep 21, 2011
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having fewer bowel movements
by: Salty

I'm on the smoothie bandwagon and loving it. However, I'm noticing fewer bowel movements. Like not one in 3 days. I'm eating smoothies, salads, fish, a little beef, and sauteed veggies mostly. I've always had issues and used to eat fiber cereal.

Could it be that my body's processing these foods so efficiently that I don't need many movements?

I'm 5'1" and 110 pounds, so I can't eat a lot--if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

Sep 11, 2011
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Part 1 Smoothies and blood pressure
by: Jeff Harrington

I would like to add some positive results for people to see. I have been changing my eating habits over the last year. I have lapsed more than a couple times, but I come back and each time things get easier.

You have to understand, I am dealing with eating habits that were formed over the last 48 years. My mother was a full blown glutton and she taught her kids to be the same way though her example. Earlier this year I had the highest blood pressure of my life: 176/112. That is crazy!

I have spent the better part of the last 20 years hovering right around 380lbs. I am 6' tall and large framed. 225 would be close to ideal for my size. I am a green belt in Karate. I spent 3 years working my heart out learning karate and trying to get slim. I got quite good in the karate and got some marginal success in weight loss but when I slacked off in my exercise, the weight went straight back to 380.

I began the smoothie thing because I know sugar is bad. We all know it's bad but nearly everything is sugar these days. Anything that isn't is fat.
I have been drinking smoothies for about 5 or 6 months now. I wish I could say that my exercise level has increased but honestly, it hasn't. I read a book called Hidden Power: How to Unleash the Power of Your Subconscious Mind by James K. Van Fleet. This book explains how to get your imagination to work in concert with your desires to achieve your goals. He says that any time your imagination is in conflict with your will power, your will power has no choice but to lose.

I never thought of that. I thought I was just weak willed. I red the book twice and then it took me about two months to process the info and make some useful progress with it. I came to realize from reading this book that I had been telling myself for a very long time that my weight was 380 and my subconscious did exactly what I instructed it to do: regulate my weight at 380. Now I tell myself to regulate my weight at 225 and my body fat at 25% and to expel a minimum of 3.5lbs. of stored body at each week. It's interesting that my weight is falling and I am doing nothing beyond eating better.

Sep 11, 2011
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Smoothies and Blood Pressure.
by: Jeff Harrington

Between the smoothies (I normally drink two, 5 days per week. I take a break on the weekends because I need a break. But I still eat less and I eat better; much better!) and the information in the book, I am down 20 lbs in 2 months and my blood pressure is hovering right at 117/72
Tell me that isn't impressive. Tell me raw vegetables aren't good for the body. I have a much better outlook on life, I have lots more energy, I think clearer, it's not drudgery to do my chores (even though they still SUCK!!! lol) I sleep better. And you know something else, I don't feel that black cloud hanging over me. That cloud that normally looms letting me know that it's only a matter of time before I fall off the wagon. I am careful to guard my emotions and catch triggers before they take control and make me lose mine. For the first time in my mid life, I feel like I have some control and it feels really good! Thank you and the others I have learned from for passing out the information that actually helps people.
Now if I can just get my wife to give me some lovin' I will be on top of the world... lol
Jeff

Sep 05, 2011
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International Purchases
by: DaNae

Sylvia,

Thank you for your interest in purchasing my eBook, Smoothie Handbook for Health. I have corrected the payment issues. And everyone has the capability to purchase the book. Here is the link: http://www.smoothie-handbook.com/healthysmoothies.html

I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Happy Blending!

DaNae

Sep 01, 2011
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Payment/ Purchase of Ebook
by: Sylvia

hi. i'd like to purchase the smmoothie recipes book but i'am unable to pay for it. i live in nairobi, kenya, africa. the country options on your billing page are limited to USA and CANADA. pls assist. sylvia.

Mar 30, 2011
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Thanks for your comment Jeff
by: DaNae

I'm so glad that you are finding multiple benefits from the green smoothies. I know when I go on a trip and not able to drink a daily green smoothie, I can get very constipated. As I am not one to eat "healthy" naturally on a trip. I do not gravitate naturally to salads and grilled veggies. I'm a work in progress.

Now, I always make sure that I have a blender where I'm staying or bring my own. :)

It is too bad that your wife isn't as interested in the green smoothies as you are. Just keep drinking your smoothies. As you see beneficial changes, slightly mention them to her. She'll probably notice a difference as well.

My husband isn't thrilled with them either. But he drinks them if I make them for him. I never force him to drink a whole quart a day. That would just turn him off.

If he doesn't have one for a couple days, he usually asks for one... because he can tell that his bowels are in need for a cleaning.

So don't give up. She'll see the difference in your health. Keep at it!

Happy Blending!

DaNae

Mar 27, 2011
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Bowel movements
by: Jeff Harrington

I began experimenting with Green Smoothies about 2 months ago. I have not been good to my body over the years but I have known for many years that better nutrition is greatly needed. I just didn't have any idea how to go about it. The Green Smoothies have made a big difference in more than a few areas. One of the first ingredients I was using was Kale. And yes, we were getting the runs. My wife was like what the...? I actually assumed it was the dramatic change in diet that was causing it and just went with the flow (so to speak... lol)
I didn't realize that the Kale is such a major contributor to this issue but in reading this article I do recognize that I generally get the runs when using Kale. We sure do appreciate the great info. I sure wish there was a way to get my wife more involved though, she's kind of a backseat Smoothie Girl. But I will get her fully converted one of these days. lol
Jeff

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Regular Bowels with Green Smoothies

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Regular Bowels with Green Smoothies