ok...i've been really curious about this for a while, but just felt it was a dumb question. i can't put it off any longer, though. i'm confused about the concept of scratchy foods. I understand that some things will cause irritation on the way out, hard stuff like nuts or whatever. but how would chips cause irritation? i keep seeing the reference to the sharp edges...i thought that when eating chips or crackers, after you've chewed and swallowed, the remnants would absorb moisture through the digestive process. so, it should be soft and mushy upon exit, not still have edges. does that make sense? maybe i'm not looking at this in the right way...

I would think that it would be digested especially thin crackers and potato chips but I have had some issues with tortilla chips. Maybe if it is chewed up well with liquid it would be okay.

I was told to stay away from hard candy and hard chips from my doctor. He said if you eat it chew it until fine bits as far as the chips go. He also said corn doesnt digest very well and goes straight through. I guess thats why i have issues with corn chips or tortillas.

I would guess that popcorn would be the worst - those corn husks are definitely insoluble fiber that would come out as scratchy as it comes in.
Candy should completely dissolve - it is pure sugar - it dissolves in a cup of a tea in couple of seconds, not to mention in 12 to 24 hours in digestive juices
I think that one should worry only about big particles of insoluble fiber - husks, particles of shells , nuts, pits, tiny seeds that are not chewed (grape, accidental tangerine seed etc. ) and corn products that are made of coarsely
milled DRY corn - that is very hard to digest, if at all ! Cooked corn is ,of course, safe.

I have been eating quite a bit of corn on the cob and corn in salad lately with no problem. I would think most food particles would be more or less broken down into very small particles after digestion. A recent article I read recommended walking for 15 minutes after every meal, particularly the largest one of the day which will improve digestion and elimination. Lately I have been trying to do that in the evening. A simple tactic if it aids digestion and elimination in my opinion.

I am glad this subject came up as i am confused too !
Flaxseed - i dont think i have an issue with scratchy foods, but i did feel that the flax made me feel like this !
Maybe as i couldnt grind the flaxseed right down :stirthepot:
similar to what Fiss has said ? those nuts and seeds can be dangerous ,
i always make sure i chew to break them up.
I agree with that walking Cheryl, think it would be of great benefit ! :gerbil:

make sure that you chew and chew and chew.....as long as you break everything down before swallowing it, allowing your saliva to breakdown the food even further, you will/should have no issues.
i eat plenty of popcorn and i love sweet corn that i put in my soups or as a side with veggies and i love polenta. i always seem to have better BMs after eating corn. go figure.
walking is a wonderful way to help improve not only digestion, but circulation, feels great, you get some sun to break down the vitamin D you need, and you get to lose some weight.....walking is excellent!

i learnd the hard way
sliced almonds in my salad EVIL EVIL EVIL
after all these weeks no issues.. now some bleeding after a semi normal BM but felt like i was cutting my skin , that im thinkin was the sliced almonds UGH

Yeah, I steer clear of nuts myself, though I love them!

Nuts are not so great for diverticuli either.