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ÆLOOSE, WATERY STOOLS. This means
that digestion is weak, and that fluids aren’t
being properly metabolized. The best foods
for these stools are warm, cooked foods.
Ginger also helps, either dried in teas, or
cooked fresh in your food.ÆSTICKY, SLOPPY STOOLS. This means
that there’s internal humidity. Rich foods
such as cheese, sugar, and fried foods can
cause this kind of stool. Foods to eat that
dry the digestive system are barley, rice,
oats, pumpkin, quinoa, lemon, parsley, mint,
nettle tea, romaine lettuce, and lean meats.ÆPEBBLY STOOLS. Pebbly stools are
a sign that energy is stuck. This can be due
to something simple, such as not taking in
enough water or fiber, or from sitting too
much. It can also be a sign that you’re feeling
stressed or stuck emotionally. Drinking water
and taking 20- to 30-minute walks is the
perfect way to get some movement in the
digestive tract. If this is a recurring problem,
try removing dairy from your diet.ÆCONSTIPATION. Sometimes
constipation is caused by inflammation
in the gut. The most common culprits for
gut inflammation are dairy and wheat. Try
cutting dairy first, and then if you’re still
constipated, cut gluten out of your diet as
well.
As with pebbly stools, water and
movement go a long way in getting things
moving. Another option is to do intentional
breathing throughout the day; this helps the
body relax the smooth muscle in the bowels
and naturally release the stool. FROMTOP:^ GETTY^ IMAG
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NSLetting Go with the Large Intestine
The large intestine holds, and then releases, the waste that our body
makes from food after it’s extracted the nutrients. When the large
intestine is functioning well, it easily lets go of that waste in a timely,
efficient manner. When it’s compromised, things move out too slowly,
or too rapidly, and the result is a bowel disharmony situation.
The large intestine is such an important organ system in TCM that
at every visit, I ask my patients about their bowel movements. The best
bowel movements are shaped like a banana, in a solid piece, and with
clear edges. They are a medium brown, but sometimes will vary in
color depending on what you eat. Bowel movements that are indicative
of a problem include: