Too much fiber

[blondie09]

I don't know if this is the corect place to ask this question, but I have a problem. I eat beans monday-friday for lunch, and have been doing this for about 1 year. I also each air popped popcorn for dinner about 4 times a week. I drink water all day mon-friday. Every once in a while I have a terrible time going to the restroom. To the point where I am in terrible pain. So far everything I have read, I have been doing. So what gives? Any takers?:grr:

[3LittleBirds]

I think too much fiber would cause the opposite problem. I eat between 40-60 grams of fiber each day and I definitely don't have that problem. Have you tried drinking tea or coffee? They can have a laxative effect. There's even an herbal tea made specifically for your problem. I think it's called Smooth Move. :)

Sorry I can't be of much help.

[Digger]

Oh I had that problem when I first went veggie. The sudden increase in fiber can stop you up like a clogged drain. What happens is all that fiber needs plenty of fluid to move through ya and if you don't drink enough it can ball up in your intestines. You already stated that you drink plenty of water though. That's all I needed to get it moving through me. Maybe back off a little and increase your fiber more gradually.

[leminchyl]

maybe try throwing in some fruits. eat an apple and leave the skin on; eat a banana; or eat something like grapes that also have thick skins. nuts and seeds should help, too-- since the body can't really digest them, they just pass through.

[a7dk]

You may need more of a different kind of fiber (either soluble or insoluble; I can never keep them straight) but I would recommend eating apples. I have this problem somewhat regularly and eating apples always clears it up. I think most of the fiber is in the skin though, so be sure to eat the skin!

[Dirty Martini]

Or maybe you just need to improve your diet by including a lot of vegetables. Do you really only eat beans for lunch every weekday? Do you really only eat popcorn for dinner 4 times a week? If so, YOU HAVE A VERY UNHEALTHY DIET.

You need both types of fiber.
Beans = soluble, meaning they slow digestion.
Veggies & popcorn = insoluble, meaning they move things along.

You could also need more fat in your diet. Fat isn't a bad thing (unless it's trans-fat). Try to aim for 30% of your calories from fat in your diet, or more. This will also help with constipation quite a bit. More than fiber does, IME. As long as you're eating moderate amounts of fat (aiming for mostly monounsaturated), things should improve. Cook with olive oil, use olive oil salad dressings, add ground flax seed to your food, put butter on your popcorn (real butter or stuff made with olive oil), eat whole eggs, etc.

[blondie09]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. Unfortuntly, I do all of them already. I do eat fruit. Bananna in the morning, followed by grapes, or an apple, or pineapple. I also drink a few cups of coffee everyday. And like I said before, I haven't just introduced fiber in my diet, this has been over a year and a half. I eat alot of beans in my soup. And sometimes for dinner I will have popcorn plain, or I will have wild rice with black beans in it. I eat all day long, just healthy foods. I do have my share of fats also. That is why I am at such a loss with this, because I have done everything, and still have problems. It isn't all the time, but when it happens, It is very painfull, to say the least!!!!!!!! I have even cut back on the popcorn because of this problem. Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

[3LittleBirds]

If you've been experiencing this over a year and a half and you don't think that diet is an issue, then I think it's time to see your doctor.

[a7dk]

If you've been experiencing this over a year and a half and you don't think that diet is an issue, then I think it's time to see your doctor.

Definitely!

[Phil Scafe]

Coffee and nicotine can cause problems in this area. Prune juice helps in amazing ways! Good luck. Also don,t forget to exercise. A half hour walk will help shift things around and get them flowing. If you do drink the prune juice, stay near to a bathroom.

[blondie09]

:wayne:Thanks everyone

[entre_mundos]

Beans and popcorn don't have any fat. You are having trouble going to the bathroom because you need more fat.

Think of it like this, the world is full of trees (well, was) and people extract oil from the earth to run cars. It's like a salad, lots of green and a little bit of oil. The green supplies you with the nutrients and fiber and the oil keeps things running smoothly.

[entre_mundos]

Also, I would try to eat more than just popcorn for dinner. You could be severely deficient in certain vitamins and minerals.

[SomebodyElse]

Beans and popcorn don't have any fat. You are having trouble going to the bathroom because you need more fat.

Think of it like this, the world is full of trees (well, was) and people extract oil from the earth to run cars. It's like a salad, lots of green and a little bit of oil. The green supplies you with the nutrients and fiber and the oil keeps things running smoothly.
Yes they do. All whole foods contain fat. Fat is not a cure for constipation either. It'll get deposited in your fat stores long before it reaches the colon. Unless you drink it by the cup, which is not a good idea.

[rabid_child]

I find a few days of a handful of prunes a day will fix any slow plumbing problems. :o I would agree though that if this is an ongoing problem despite increased fiber/water, you might have something else going on that a doctor should have a look at. Do you have a lot of stress in your life? That can stop things up.