How to make the fats more digestible?

[happyseal]

So I have a particularly slow digestion. I’ve even added enzymes and I do take ACV, but I still struggle with fats, no matter the source. But anything high fat is worse.

Well, I struggle with anything heavy like beans, legumes, nuts, fats, etc.

How do you make the fat more digestible?

[Subtle_badger]

I think this is about your microbiome. I used to follow Dean Ornish (extremely low fat). When I would visit my parents, I just ate what they served, and they did not restrict fats, so lots of olive oil and butter, and traditional cuts of meat. Not high fat, but much higher than I was eating. Later that evening, I would be in extreme gastric distress 🚽 I believe my gut bacteria colonies had little element that could handle fat. Later I abandoned Ornish, and slowly increased the fat and my body coped fine.

I would suggest cutting fat back to the level your body tolerates and then slowly increasing it. The bacteria that likes fat should gradually increase as you increase the fat.

Note: I am not a doctor and I have no real knowledge of what I am saying. It's an idea. If that idea resonates, please use it.

[happyseal in reply to Subtle_badger]

Ohh thank you for your detailed and clear answer. I’ll try it out and increase fat slowly. Really thank you 😊

[basten in reply to Subtle_badger]

Also if you have bad acid reflux you shouldn't have fat caffeine chocolate onion garlic mint spices tomatoes. Its all about each individuals needs and any underlying issues they may have. I have slow bowel transit too and if I eat bread I dont go for days sane for rice and pasta and eggs

[happyseal in reply to basten]

I have noticed issues with garlic and onion...but I have to pay more attention to tomatoes I guess. Spices are tricky as well. Yes bread makes me constipated too. Interesting about eggs. I’ll try to be more aware of how the other things influence my digestion. Thank you 🙏

[basten in reply to happyseal]

Well when my dog had the runs I'd give her scrambled egg and then she stopped the rubs but got a bit constipated !!

[happyseal in reply to basten]

Interesting...hehe

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador]

I think the most likely explanation here, as the badger said, is that you're simply not used to eating fats. AFAIK your gut bacteria don't have a major role in fat digestion ... although they do help you with dietary fiber - they ferment it and produce carboxylic acids (also called 'short chain fatty acids') which your body can use. I'm just wondering if the problem is not the fats as such, but the extra veg that you are (I assume?) adding to your meals to replace the starches.

When I first tried "going keto", I did struggle a bit with getting the requisite amount of fat into my meals. I'd spent so many years cutting the fat off my meat (or eating lean cuts like chicken breast) that I found it unpalatable. However, with some perseverance (a week or so) this resolved itself. I can now honestly say that I prefer fatty cuts of meat, like chicken leg portions or crispy bacon (which I would not have touched with a bargepole 20 years ago). Stick with it and hopefully you'll be fine.

There's not much point taking enzymes etc. They're unlikely to make it intact past your stomach, and your body makes its own anyway.

Do you have any particular symptoms when you eat fat? Bloating, or ... ? There are a few people who seem biologically tuned to eat carby diets rather than fatty ones, but they're in a definite minority!

[happyseal in reply to TheAwfulToad]

I don’t think I’m tuned to eat carbs, they do make me gain weight and be constipated. But fat, it depends on how much I eat in one meal or the type of fat or combination. For example, nuts make me bloated so I cannot eat a lot and have to soak them. But other fats like coconut actually gives me diarrhoea...other fats that are not so healthy, from dairy or things like that makes my digestion stop completely. I then feel like the food doesn’t live the stomach or something. But interestingly enough, I’m fine with avocados no matter what.

Thank you for sharing...I’ll give it time and slowly add different fat options while observing what works best and give my body time to adapt.

[help2020]

Hi happyseal thank you for raising this subject. Toward the end of my second week I had terrible experiences on the loo! Needless to say I had to take Imodium melts instant! I pretty much assumed it was the huge increase in fat I was digesting and then I started to worry I had issues with my gall bladder but I need not have worried. It calmed down and I’ve adjusted my fat intake naturally as I’ve progressed through. I’m eating about 30g of fat less per day now. I just don’t have the appetite for that amount of fat at the moment so I think your body will adjust.

Good luck.

[happyseal in reply to help2020]

Thank you for sharing...it seems to be getting better now. I guess is just a matter of time as you say.

[Cosmo501]

Hi happyseal ! I’ve just come across your post from last month. Wondering how you are, and how you’re doing with your digestion?

😊 xx