by Guest » 10 Aug 2007, 08:42
as I think I've noticed a positive improvement in the consistency of my BM's after eating okra. I live in the South and we love it down here: fried, stewed, whatever.
I live in NY, but I love okra, too!
I also feel okra helps beyond the fact that it's simply a vegetable. This makes sense somewhat, since whatever chemical makes okra a thickening agent probably has a "coating" action internally.
Above all else: thoroughly masticate your food. I used to laugh, when I was younger, about how "you were supposed to chew your food 20 times every bite." Granted, I might not chew 20 times, but I pulverize my food into paste before I swallow -- this has helped considerably. I love nuts, especially the heart-healthy ones -- like walnuts, almonds, pecans -- and considering they have healing properties as well, I really didn't want to give them up. Chew. Lots of chewing. :-) Let the maltase in your saliva do it's job, and get digestion started right.
I'm lucky -- I live across the street from where I work, and I work at a small company. I've pretty much told everyone about my condition, and the time-table of steps I'm taking to correct it. I work with business-types, and the only thing they really worry about is not knowing what's going on. It's a lot easier to miss an hour or two here and there, because I've been vocal about it. In a larger company setting, it might be more embarassing, however.