Mucus - beneficial or harmful?

[norawnofun]

What do you think about mucus in the stool? I always thought these are parasites, but as it turns out they aren´t. But at the end of my "sausage" I see lots of mucus which looks like worms. And the stool is always hard there. I am pretty sure it´s a mixture of mucus plus undigested fats. On one hand side I hear that mucus can be a sign of an illness, on the other hand it can be a sign of regeneration of the gut lining? What´s ur experience on that? I moved to a carnivore diet 2 month ago, changed everything in terms of energy, digestion, weight gain (from underweight). When you started eating raw did you see an increase in mucus too? I´m not sure if to be concerned or happy. Also, i don´t know if that mucus seems to slow down the bowel movement, or the fats with the mucus aid it? And in general, is fat always fully digested or can you still see fat pieces in your stool (considering your digestion and bowel movements are optimal)?

[PaganGoy]

Ajanous always said mucus is usually a sign of detox,  I would 100% agree with him on that.

[Mr_Sirloin]

I've noticed this too but don't see a problem - the trips to the toilet aren't  messy affairs anymore to say the least.
If you have parasites, you'll know about it.
Fat isn't always digested, especially if you've taken in a large volume and/or exercise shortly afterwards. However, this is usually accompanied by the runs or pale and putrid stool.

Personally my bowel movements are a lot friendlier with fats. A lack of it seems to halt peristalsis, but each to their own

[norawnofun]

So you both had mucus in ur stool in the beginning, if so for how long? And now you don´t see it anymore? I know that peristalsis is vital for good bowel movements. If u lack in that u get blocked up as food gets stuck. Fats seems to be the replacement for fiber, but without the negative effects.

[PaganGoy]

Not long (once or twice a week for a month maybe) keeping in mind the reason I got the stuff back when was probably because of prostate issues not fat consumption as I didn't even really eat any fat then except for lots of raw eggs.

[Mr_Sirloin]

So you both had mucus in ur stool in the beginning, if so for how long? And now you don´t see it anymore? I know that peristalsis is vital for good bowel movements. If u lack in that u get blocked up as food gets stuck. Fats seems to be the replacement for fiber, but without the negative effects.

About 2 months. Stools have a lot less mucous these days, maybe because the flora has stabilized again. Dairy gives a lot more mucous too and stronger bowel movement, but the mucous response it's not the same as when eating meat. Can't complain either way,  I poop like a deer

[sabertooth]

I only get those kind of symptoms whenever I consume Dairy.

[norawnofun]

And do you have issues with Dairy? And does the mucus when you get it effect you negatively? Like bloating, constipation, fatigue and so forth

[sabertooth]

Yes, Dairy does cause me a number of negative issues, such as bloating constipation and fatigue. Usually by the third consecutive day of consuming even minimal amounts will cause these issues, and by the second day of dairy cessation those issues will resolve.

[norawnofun]

I tried going dairy free for a couple of days. Digestion was a desaster. I can somehow only have a good digestion with raw dairy, the fats in meats block things up. But that´s because I still can´t break them down properly as the fats are too "hard". Breaking down dairy on lower HCI is much easier I found, since its softer. But the harder the cheeses the worse for digestion. Guess that will change once HCI levels normalize.

[Mr_Sirloin]

 Have you tried Betaine HCl, ACV or celery juice to increase stomach acid? What's the underlying reason for low acid?

[sabertooth]

This is where you may have never fully adapted to fat digestion. Long term dairy consumption creates a gut environment that in some cases isnt ideal for fat digestion. The sugar in milk inhibits ketosis as well as suppresses the bodies ability to fully utilize fats as an energy source. In those cases it may take up to 3 weeks or longer to clear out all the milk sugars and proteins in order to truly be able to begin to adapt to high fat digestion.

[surfsteve]

I second the betaine HCL. I don't take very many supplements but betaine HCL is the exception. Even the healthiest diet in the world wont work if you can't digest it. In addition to aiding digestion, it is probably one of the best mucus fighters on the planet and also wonderful for dissolving unwanted calcium and plaque. I keep thinking I can do without it but whenever I stop it for more than a month or so I start feeling like shit so unless I figure out how to permanently keep my stomach acid strong on it's own I plan to keep taking it. You don't have to take it every day. HCl is broken down into it's components in about 30 minutes and used when needed to produce it again on demand. Otherwise it would burn a hole in your stomach.

[norawnofun]

I have tried everything under the sun to increase my gastric acid production. Different types of Betaine HCI, raw corn on cob, beet juice, celery juice, ginger, lemon, honey, green tea, ACV, red wine vinegar, red wine, kefir, sparkling water, big glass of still water before eating and and and... Many aided digestion, but it didn´t make my body produce it´s own. The problem came years ago while eating way too many plant foods, gluten and way too less meats and fats which caused all kind of auto immune diseases, leaky gut and what not due the fact that the body doesn´t need much when u eat vegan/vegetarian. Then when I cut all the crap a long time ago, I still couldnt digest meats and fats as I combined plants and meats, hence alkaline vs acidic.

Then in july I said f that and started a Carnivore diet, animal foods only. Cooked meat (the softer the better), rendered fats, raw eggs and raw dairy, sometimes raw honey. Since then my HCI production increased a lot and finally I can digest animal foods again. Without any aid of any digestive helpers. Life changed as I forced my body to produce more HCI, and that´s what he did. I did try HCI tablets of different brands and in different time intervals but I found them either useless or they blocked things up. And yes, you can eat the best diet in the world, all useless if u can´t digest it. There is something else that lowers HCI in my observation. And these are parasites which I had a lot. And the point sabertooth made makes sense, thanks for that. Thing is I would like to try that, but when I cut out dairy things turn ugly. But..the meat I eat is cooked, so if I eat only raw ground beef as its the softest, with lets say eggs for maybe a month I might be finally be at the finish line. There is just one thing that makes me paranoid. If my body starts to adapt to raw meat only, I don´t want to end up having issues when I eat cooked meat again. How was that with you sabertooth? Once you fixed your major health issues with raw meat, does your body give you much trouble when eating some cooked animal foods?

[sabertooth]

The price I pay for maintaining optimal raw carnivorous adaption, is having to adhere to very strict limitations. No cooked foods, No honey or dairy. Very limited amounts of low glycemic, low starch plant foods. Sometimes I will crave and eat small amounts of random foods such as tree nuts, rose hips, pumpkin seeds, other fermented foods like kombucha and Raw fermented coconut yogurt ,as well as adding wider variety to my salad mixes. Nothing too extreme....small amounts of onions, herbs, avocado, olives, olive oil and vinegar, a pinch of shredded raw cheese.

Almost always my body tells me when I have had too much of something, and I will lose all inclination for such exotic gastronomic machinations. All these other foods are eaten intermittently and in very modest portions.

Within a couple of days of any cheating results in bad symptoms of food intolerance. At that point I will usually fast for a day and go back to the strict raw meat and fat based diet. Cooked foods no longer are an option, every now and then I can tolerate small amounts of lightly cooked fish, but regular consumption of cooked meat causes bloating and poor digestion. On occasion I have tried eating cooked bone broth and other types of paleoish soups. Small amounts are usually not a problem, but there is a stopping point, that if crossed leads to negative symptoms.

Unpleasant symptoms will usually resolve when the problem foods are eliminated. Though I do not claim this to be the ultimate orthorexia orthodoxy, typically a clean diet of clean food that is well suited to the individuals biological needs should not need anything else to facilitate cleansing and rejuvenation. Most cleansing protocols recommended by the alternative health field are misguided and often more harmful than good. If the body cannot cleanse itself through balancing the diet and environment, adding extraneous protocols or supplements wont offer lasting relief. If a diet doesn't seem to work without having to implement such supplemental protocols then the diet may need to be adjusted.

[norawnofun]

Do you think its possible to reset the microbiome baseline with water fasting in less than 3 days? You mentioned 3 in another thread, but I won´t be able to handle that many days.

[sabertooth]

Three days seems to be the magic number of days which can begin to reset digestion and metabolism, without any major disruptions to day to day life. Unless you are incurable ill with some rare dread disease or have insulin dependant diabetes, there shouldn't be a reason why one wouldn't be able to fast for three days.

Whenever I stray to far from the path it is only for a short time before I notice the signs and so a short fast of 24 to 36 hours is all that i need to realign, afterwords I always feel much better right away.

For people who are entirely inundated through long term consumption of antigenic foods, three days is a minimum I would suggest for people who are not use to long term fast. Its not as much as I believe long term fasting is ultimately necessary for cleansing, for a nourishing diet free of allergenic substances will clean and heal the body by itself....that said a full three day fast is helpful for people who need to distance themselves from detrimental and addictive eating habits.

Cold turkey is the best way to break an addiction, and it usually takes at least two days to begin to clear gut gunk out and jumpstart the deep cleansing process. By the third day once full ketosis is initiated then one usually begins to feel the positive effects of cleaning house, afterwards if you begin to eat small amounts of meat, organs and keep everything extremely low carb for the next couple of weeks, then you should notice a huge difference in how your gut feels. It can take up to three weeks to clear out the allergenic proteins from the intestinal lining and begin to permanently heal the gut and reform the gut biome. During the reintroduction to foods following a fast many people tend to give up way too soon at the first sign of difficulty and revert back to old habits.... or else will self sabotage by taking supplements or using extreme  dodgy protocols...but if one stays the course and doesn't cheat then there can be an opertunity to reprogram ones instinctive eating drives, and break free from lifelong negative habits.

This protocol is only a suggestion, and I acknowledge it may not work for everyone, but in the spirit of "first do no harm" I believe this course of action is a very safe and reasonable experiment for people struggling with a plethora of digestive issues.

[norawnofun]

Thanks for that. Your input is always tremendously valuable! Last time I did a fast, it lasted 1 and a half days. After that I almost passed out and had to skip work. Coconut water brought be back up due to the sugar content. But that was when I was still eating many shitty carbs, so I think that nowadays it would be easier. The other thing is losing weight. If ur already underweight and u lose more that sucks lol.

One more thing I wanted to ask you. I read that you sometimes drink meat/bone broth. Is there a way to leech the minerals off the bonus without using vinegar? Could one use salt? Let´s say you soak the bones and meats in saltwater for some time, does it have the same benefit as vinegar?

[sabertooth]

Kicking the sugar habit and overcoming the initial hypoglycemia is not easy, especially if you are already in a weakened condition. If you do not have enough fat reserves and are prone to hypoglycemia fasting can still be helpful, you just have to be more mindful of the need to rest during the process.

Peoples circumstances often prohibit having the freedom and luxury to take a healthy sabbatical in order properly take control of your environment so that you can heal. If at all possible do what ever it takes to take three days off where you can dedicate to absolute rest and rejuvenation. Go to a place with fresh air clean water and sunshine, and if you have an low sugar episode, unless its below the danger zone of around 65(give or take) then push through it. If your worried about seriously passing out keep a blood sugar meter to check your levels. Feeling weak for a couple of days and hitting a place of rock bottom may be a necessary step in order to reset from years of unbalance.

I don't drink the broth, and prefer to just eat the bones that have been dissolved with vinegar. I put cleaned bones in a crock with vinegar and water on low heat for a couple of days until the bones get soft. Not sure if salt water would work to dissolve bones in the same way. Lemon juice will also work, but you have to use a lot, and it can be kind of expensive

[surfsteve]

You could look into a pressure cooker if you want to leach more minerals out of bones without vinegar.  You may just consider eating the bones after they've been softened to death by it as many minerals will still remain behind. If you have healthy stomach acid your body will produce it's own acid, instead of vinegar to digest them.  I'm pretty sure all that salt would do to bones is make them salty. What type of salt would you be using? A good unprocessed Celtic or French gray sea salt will provide many of those minerals you are seeking. Sounds like you could benefit from a good finely powdered bone meal as well. Kal makes one. I add fulvic acid to the water I use for growing my sprouts to make them explode with trace minerals. I used to grow some of the best tasting tomatoes in the world with it. The type of fulvic acid sold for gardening is very strong and not meant for direct human consumption. There is another kind sold as a supplement but as far as I know it is only sold in homeopathic doses which wont do much good.

As far as mucus goes it is necessary to protect your stomach from digesting it's self but most people produce way to much of it due to poor diet and environmental circumstances. Good digestion is essential for keeping mucus under control. Congestion or a thick sticky mucus in the throat can interfere with respiratory function and is an indication that something isn't right. I've never heard of anyone producing to little mucus but I suppose it's possible. Heartburn rather than being a sign of too little mucus is almost always a sign of low stomach acid. High stomach acid is the body's first line of defense in destroying diseases causing pathogens. I've made dozens of posts recommending betaine HCL to restore healthy stomach acid. It is much stronger than vinegar and a whole lot easier to assimilate because it is the same kind of acid produced by your own body.

[norawnofun]

I might try and do the water fast again, but I rather put on some more weight first. Fat reserves I don´t really have. That´s why I eat so much dairy to up that cuz up until now (except the newly introduced meat broth below), I couldn´t digest meat fats well. Maybe I´ll start easy with a day fast and see how it goes. I don´t want to use any type of vinegar, strictly speaking I can´t stand anything plant based atm. Plant foods, regardless of what kind, got me into all this trouble and I don´t want to go back this road.

I noticed today that I am doing very well on meat broth apparently. So cooking either beef ribs or lamb shanks which are full of fat, together with the bones in himalayan salt for a couple of hours until very soft to make kind of a soup, that soup eaten with raw goat ricotta and raw milk of sheep or goat seems to do wonders for the digestion. Everything is soft when eaten and i don´t need much stomach acid since everything enters the stomach in a mushy state. Digestion never has been that easy, finally. I will also try to incorporate raw ground beef with 1 egg yolk to see how that goes. I know ur a big proponent for HCI. But I had issues with it, however, I thought of trying HCI for the 3rd time to see if I could tolerate it now, as this would help eating harder type of meats, so softness is the key solution for low HCI for me. But I´ll give the meat broth some more time first. And I don´t have little mucus, I have pretty much, but that´s apparently due to the dairy.

[thehadezb]

I have your same stool symptoms since I started cooked zero carb. Pale stools, hard initially, mucus, some blood and remaining liquid in my bowels. I've transition to a raw primal diet and this phenomenon is no longer happening. I don't remember what I was mainly eating on my cooked zero carb but since I started raw primal I haven't added cheese. Now my stools are extremely soft and with pieces of undigested raw fats.
I really regret not having a good diary of my days of cooked zero carb to realize what has changed now. Probably this problem is going to come back because of my irregularities dieting so I'll start a food diary now and see what is happening so this phenomenon could be explained better.

[norawnofun]

A food diary is essential to keep track of the progress and mistakes you did. I strongly suggest to do one otherwise you won´t progress much. I am a bit confused about what you wrote. You said that you transitioned to a raw primal, which means added dairy, but you say you didn´t add cheese. So now you eat raw meats plus raw dairy except cheese? So things such as raw butter and raw milk? My stool was never fully hard, it´s nearly always hard at the beginning, but then perfectly soft afterwards, which I find strange, as something is blocking the "passage". However, since I started drinking still water with all my meals today, which I never did due to fear of interfering with HCI, it seems things are going much easier. I also see small blood particles sometimes, i read that this can be normal but that this can also indicate a problem.

[thehadezb]

Yes, I just eat butter and cream. Not cheese or milk because is hard to get.
The same thing. My stools were hard at the beginning and soft the rest of it.
I will start my dairy now, it's really essential to determine what works for you.
Interesting, I think I'm going to start drinking half a cup of low-alcohol high-acidic drinks and see if that helps my digestion. Recently I have problems with trapped gas and incomplete stools.