Hi all,
I really appreciate this topic, because intestinal health was one of
my main reasons for researching kefir. I have been constipated for
years (once every 2-3 days for most of my adult life. Recently by
adding lots of flax seeds and yogurt I have worked up to once a day
or so). I NOW know that this is not healthy, but no one ever talked
about it, or told me what was normal and healthy.
I agree with Kefir_Mama that the changes that our bodies go through
may not be pleasant right from the start. I am willing to give my
body time to adjust. It seems to me that if dry kefir grains need a
few days to a few weeks to re-establish their balance, then our
internal flora may need the same sort of re-establishment time,
possibly even longer. If you put this nice harmonious kefir ecosystem
into a body that is, for example, overrun with yeasts, I would think
it would go thru a few changes before everything reached
equilibrium. I don't have any data on this, but that is just what I
have been thinking.
Lisa
PS
My kefir grains are on their way, I am so excited! I'll start on the
kefir next week and see what kind of changes I encounter.
--- In Kefir_making@y..., "kefir_mama" <aliwessel@h...> wrote:
> Doh. (Not to self: Try not to eat breakfast while reading some of
the
> comments on the kefir board- LOL)
>
> I'm not Dom, but I have an opinion or three. ;-) You are really
> wanting to stick with your kefir, and so, I would if I were you.
> Perhaps that's your body sending you messages like "Please don't
give
> up on me".
>
> Kefir may help to stimulate many negative body responses. My gut
> feeling is those responses are just what needs to happen in each
> individual body along the road to health. of course, if you have
> diarrhea, it's important to get plenty of fluids to prevent
> dehydration while your body releases what it needs to. I read on
the
> board here that kefir doesn't count for hydration. It neither
> hydrates you nor dehydrates you--it's right in the middle. So
water,
> broth, whatever you like (water is best, since it's more pure and
> assists to flush out toxins better).
>
> Really, drinking a smaller amount of kefir is only to slow down any
> side effects of toxin release--it is primarily for the body's
> comfort. Knowing that, you should do what feels right for you:
> continue plugging away with the kefir, or go at it slower until
your
> symptoms subside.
>
> Ironically, water is precisely what the constipated gal needs too.
> They say in the diet programs that it is not enough to eat lots of
> vegetables. In fact, lots of veggies without water causes blockage,
> because there's not enough fluid to move through all that fiber. If
I
> were her, I'd drink a glass of water every hour that she is at her
> job, and then whatever amounts she is thirsty for in the evening.
> That would really help with the constipation! Ah water, the wonder
> drink. I feel that both of you would be shooting yoruselves in the
> foot by giving up on kefir. Kefir is not the problem; the lack of
> health is the problem. Kefir is akin to when you really begin to
look
> at your issues in therapy: the discomfort gets worse before it gets
> better.
>
> The health issues won't 'go away' just by giving up on kefir. They
> will just sit there, at various dormant states. Oh sure, the
symptoms
> *may* go away, but the deeper problem still exists. I guess the
whole
> idea behind kefir is to really change what's going on inside our
> bodies to something that is positive and life-giving, rather than
> degenerating and various forms of dis-ease. Kefir might even help
> with pollen/hay fever allergies (this is an intuitive feeling I'm
> getting). The idea is logical too, when you consider that kefir's
> purpose is to stimulate your own immune system so that your body
can
> fight off any intruders, and maintain a healthy balance.
>
> For both the constipation and diarrhea, you ladies might be
> interested to check out Louise Hayes' book "Heal Your Body". She
> holds the viewpoint that any physical symptom is really a pointer
at
> an issue you are holding, and then lists the likely issue(s)
causing
> each symptom, alphabetically. In experimentation and research
during
> the last 4 years, I've found this view to be true for me and
others.
> Once you have found your issues, you might get yourself familiar
with
> the 30-second self-help hamr shown at http://hamr.com/ It's another
> way you can help yourself.
>
> Ultimately, y'all have to make whatever decision you feel is
> appropriate. These are just my two cents worth. ;-) Hope you all
have
> a wonderful day!
>
>
> --- In Kefir_making@y..., "Reddy-Martin, Lori" <lori.reddy-
> martin@u...> wrote:
> > Dom,
> > I am experiencing the reverse of this situation. Yesterday,
> I went to the bathroom 5 times. I had no idea there was so much up
> there. I then started to feel run down and worn out by 2:00pm and
> realized, I hadn't drank any water. I quickly chugged 20oz. and by
> 5:00, along with a bowl of homemade chicken soup a tall glass of
> Kefir, started to feel much better. Today, I have had a few loose
> bowels, but nothing that would cause me to push my cubicle into the
> ladies room. I think my body is fighting something (I have battled
> allergies, especially around this time of the year, for too may
years
> now) so I refuse to take any medication to stop the flow. Can you
> > offer any suggestions as to what might be happening. I hope your
> > suggestions do not include decreasing my Kefir intake, but just
in
> case, I will polish off this nice tall glass, before I read your
> > response......(yum!).
> > Thanks,
> > Reddy
|
