bloating

[tex]

Maybe I could cook my fruit and then freeze it to use?

That should help to make it more digestible, and that way you could make sure that it contains no peelings (where fiber is concentrated). If fermenting fiber (or fructose) is the main source of your bloating, then the timing would be about right for nighttime bloating. Normal transit time for the complete trip is roughly 30 hours for most people who have normal digestion, and it typically takes from a few hours to half a day or more for food to reach the colon (but times can vary greatly, especially if we have D, which results in rapid transit).

Here's another possibility: I tried hemp milk during my recovery, and after a while, I preferred it to cow's milk. Unfortunately, though, it always seemed to cause minor bloating, so I stopped using it. I have no idea why it caused bloating, but maybe it's an issue with hemp fiber.

Tex

[Leah]

Linda, what is the sweetener in your protein powder. Most of them have something be it sugar or sugar alcohols. That could be your problem ( especially mixed with fruit). Trying to figure this all out is so much work sometimes!

Terri, you might want to cut down on the chips and see what happens. The type and amount of oil you are taking in might not be the best for you.

Leah

[ldubois7]

Tex...the only Hemp milk I found had soy added, so I didn't even try it. Maybe as a last ditch effort I will peel and cook my fruit, then cook and freeze it.

Leah...the ingredients in the hemp protein powder are: organic hemp protein powder, organic palm sugar, and organic cocoa powder. Tell me more about palm sugar...I don't know much about it.

THANKS! :)

[Leah]

Hi Linda.
Palm sugar comes from the flowers of coconut trees. it's unprocessed or bleached and has a lower glycemic rating then white sugar does ( it goes into the blood stream slower), but it is still sugar. Many of us here -especially if we are still healing, can not absorb a large quantity of sugar at a time. it ends up getting into the large intestine and then it ferments and causes gas and bloating.
So.... if you add that to the natural sugars of fruit and coconut milk, I would suspect that it would be a pretty heavy load of sugar to process at once.

Leah

[ldubois7]

Leah,
That makes sense. Could I try nuts for protein & fats, my coconut milk is unsweetened, avacado, a small frozen piece of cooked skinned fruit & ice? Does that sound balanced & lower sugar?

[Zizzle]

I have Trader Joes Hemp protein. It was the only I could find that was casein and soy free! I only use half a serving due to the fiber in it.

BINGO! I have the Trader Joe's Hemp protein too. Have you seen the fiber content of it? It's a shame they are calling it protein! It's almost all fiber, and a grainy one at that. I'm adding it to smoothies because I've needed extra fiber while on prednisone (no MC symptoms, some C). It has a strange sweetener in it too. Can't recall which one. I would never use this "protein" if I were flaring. Too rough.

[ldubois7]

Zizzle .....yep, that seems to be the issue! Shoot! Is there a protein powder that works for us .......low fiber, low sugar? Help!

[Leah]

Linda, Rice protein is probably the only one and it's pretty low in protein. I don't know what sweetener they use. I gave up on shakes a long time ago.

By cooking the fruit, it makes it easier to digest fiber wise, but it still has the sugar. Avocado is great.

I have always been able to eat nuts ( thank goodness)... except peanuts because it's in the soy family. Just chew them well. I eat lots of nuts and nut butters.

[ldubois7]

Leah,

I can't eat rice products anyway. :(

I didn't know that peanuts were in the soy family!!!! I always felt yucky when I added it to smoothies! Now, I know why.

I have been experimenting with hazelnuts, brazil nuts, macadamia, & pecans, since my Enterolab results told me I should stay away from almonds (after I bought 6 lbs. of flour!) and cashews & walnuts. I have been soaking them, then making nut butter or meal. It's not easy.

I bought sunflower seed butter and it's good. But I wondered if is less digestible because the seed were not soaked first?

My thinker is broke for another day...you are right...I have to rethink everything (as you said in a previous post) that I've done in the past.

Thanks,
Linda

[tex]

Linda,

One of the main benefits of soaking foods is to reduce the lectin level. Beans are a good example of this — prior to soaking, beans have a fairly high lectin content, but soaking reduces the lectin level significantly. So soaking not only makes them easier to digest, but it also makes them safer to eat. Cooking also reduces the lectin level, but only if the water in which they're cooked is discarded afterward.

Tex

[Leah]

The sunflower butter bothers me a bit also, but i think it's because of all the sugar. it's not "pure"

leah

[hoosier1]

Hi Linda,

I posted a similar question about bloating I think a year ago. I had on and off bloating even though my D was also controlled. The bloating, to me, was worse than D. I tried probiotics but they truly made my worse.

What I learned, at least about myself, is that I also have a pelvic floor disorder that makes it more difficult for me to move my bowels completely. It seems that years of undiagnosed and properly treated IBD (I have LC), caused a laxity in my pelvic floor. IOW, I actually sag down there, internally. I am guessing you don't have this problem too, but I am just making you aware of the possibility. My bloating is directly tied to my pelvic floor dysfunction. I recently returned from 2 days of testing at the Cleveland Clinic and confirmed this. They suggested physical therapy to recondition and retrain my pelvic floor. Well as my random work schedule doesn't afford me the routine time to do this, I stopped after only two sessions.

Not sure it will really help me. But if I could find (or make) the time to attend PT regularly, perhaps my bloating will subdide and bowel movements will not be as challenging. Weird huh?

Rich

[JeanIrene]

Linda, Manitoba Hemp Pro 70 has no fiber at all, no additives either, and 20 grams of protein per serving. You might be able to tolerate that. I got mine at Vitacost. But for some reason I get cramps after eating any protein other than meat and nut butters; don't know if it's just me.

Jean

[ldubois7]

Rich....thanks for posting! I can only imagine the kind of tests you did to find out that you had a pelvic floor disorder.
I am glad you made me aware of the possibility, though. I have had some of your same issues, too.
Isn't it all too much to wrap your brain around sometimes?

I'm reading a lot about Leaky Gut. Most of us have to have that too...but the GAPS diet? Ugh!

Jean...thanks so much. I looked into the Manitoba, and has very little sugar, and no dairy or soy! I am going to try it, just to see if it works for me.
I am SO limited in my food choices, I feel I need to supplement the protein. I tried shrimp the other night, and had to cross it off my list! Seems all I can tolerate is a little pork, and haddock/cod! I miss chicken, tuna, rice, & almonds!
It's terrible when you think you're eating so healthy, then the rug is pulled out from under you.

Sorry to rant!

Linda

[Shar76]

Leah,

Just wondered how many of us have this annoying issue.

I have it too, much worse in the evening. My weight has not changed, but my tummy is HUGE.