Not really parenting, more health: fibre

[MrsD'ville mkII]

But I'm bunging it in here anyway... Is there such a thing as too much fibre? I have had the world's most delicate constitution since two nasty bouts of food poisoning within six months, one of which was campylobacter. That was about four years ago and ever since my system goes into 'eject' mode at the slightest provocation. It hasn't been discernably better or worse since being pregnant this time.

We eat a pretty high fibre diet with 100% wholemeal bread crammed with as many nuts and seeds and the breadmaker will hold, I buy wholemeal pasta, pittas and wraps, I buy cereal such as Weetabix, Shredded Wheat and porridge and make my own (oat-free) meusli which is also bursting with dried fruit and everything under the sun (barley, millet flakes, quinoa flakes, rice flakes etc). It has to be oat-free as oats give me really terrible tummy ache.

Today has been the last straw really as my tummy has been painful to the point where I only lasted an hour at work and had to run to the loo twice. I feel physically flat much of the time and haven't had good energy levels for a while, long before getting pregnant. I'm wondering if I'm simply eating too much fibre and my food is shooting through me at such a rate that I'm not getting the benefit of it. I had to more or less give up fruit a month ago as its effect was so vicious. That was bad enough - the thought of switching to white bread and nutrition-free cereals is horrible. My husband is vegetarian and likes Quorn and Cauldron foods but they do me no favours, and I overreact to pulses, so I'm a disaster area really!

So is there such a thing as too much fibre? Is it Mother's Pride and Fray Bentos pies for me from now on?!

[Annpan]

I think... I think.... I was told when I was pregnant not to eat to much high fibre food.

But lower in fibre doesn't need to be unhealthy, cornflakes and rice crispies rather than all bran, white rice instead of brown rice, etc

[Silver Ether]

I can't eat to much fibre... It makes me constipated yep does opposite of what they tell us.

Have you thought about leaving of the wheat products for a while... oats have gluten in them so that could explain why you have bad stomach ache from them. I stopped eating oats a long time before I gave up wheat all together because they gave me upset tums and very bad indigestion. the beginnings of IBS for me leading to boarder line coeliac.

[red]

if you eat a lot of fibre you have to make sure you get plenty to drink too.

Your symptoms sound a bit IBS ish. might be an idea to keep a diary and see if particular foods set you off.

[mrsflibble]

there is such a thing as too much fibre IF you have had campilobacter. after that rather nasty infection you should be treating your constitution very careful for up to a year or you would wind up with full blown IBS. avoid nuts, too much cereal, too much fibre, wholemeal bread but keep your intake of veg quite high and try to fit in some form of pro and pre biotic.

after campilobacter 18 months (chicken livers) ago the only thing my mum has avoid are nuts and pulses. I on the other hand react badly to too miuch fat or wholewheat bread. my infection was two years ago and I still get "jip". James also had it at the same time as me, he avoids wholewheat bread since our GP linked the reactions. he can't eat too many nuts either. be careful.

[Ellendra]

Certainly its possible to have too much fiber, we only have one stomach after all :p

Just be sure dietary changes are done slowly, sudden changes can trigger worse symptoms.

[MrsD'ville mkII]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, some very sensible ideas in there. I really struggle with the idea of eating white and refined things, so I'm going to ease myself into it gently. First move is making 50% wholemeal bread rather than 100% and laying off the seeds, and moving from meusli to cornflakes. Earth-shattering stuff eh?!

[Green Aura]

There's a particular condition, I think it's diverticulitis - but it's a long time since I learned all this stuff. Anyway it requires a low-residue (i.e. low fibre) diet. If you've only been suffering since your illness it might be worth getting yourself checked out.

[MrsD'ville mkII]

Thanks, I'll look up diverticulitis. I have heard of it but couldn't have told you what it was!

I've modified my diet and noticed definite improvements. I'm now trying to fine-tune to identify things that really don't agree with me. I think Quorn is right up there. I've cut out meusli altogether and really cut back on nuts. I'm still eating too much sugar as low-fibre and sugar often go together when you're out and need to eat between meals, as greedygorps moi does so often, but I'm working on it (she says, trying not to think about the chocolate digestives...).

[Mrs Wombat]

My mother suffers with diverticulitis hope I spelt it right. It is caused by perforations in the bowl wall which when nuts or seed get into them they cause the most dreadful stomach cramps which tend to put you into the hospital. My mum can't have any sorts of nuts or even tomato seeds. And coconut sets her off too for some reason. Horrible thing. I hope its not that. Mr Wombat picked up a stomach parasite from Asia and after that it was quite a while before he could eat normally again without problems. Slow down on the fibre and give your system a break and then hopefully after a while you can increase it. Oats are very good for your heart but then so is a lot of things. Not everyones system is the same either so what works for one is not necessarily good for someone else. I have to eat way more fibre than normal for my body to function properly and chocolate constipates me! go figure. Your body during pregnancy will act quite differently to foods so listen to your body and try to eat healthy.

[Green Aura]

I too hope it's nothing nasty like diverticulitis etc. The general advice however is always consisitent. Any change in bowel habits should be investigated. So get cracking!!!!

[Thomzo]

Too high a proportion of anything in the diet can be bad for you. I have lots of tasty bread recipes that only use 2oz wholemeal flour to 10oz white. Then add carrot or beetroot and a handful of seeds. Still very tasty and interesting and much healthier than boring white. Also you could make your own meusli. Mix something like cornflakes or rice crispies with some barley flakes, fruit and nuts. You control the fibre content.

I must admit that I sometimes get into the habit of replacing my evening meal with a bowl of bran flakes and sultanas, cos I'm lazy. But I have realised that it has a nasty effect on my stomach.

And definitely drink lots and lots. Warm water is better than cold as cold water can upset a delicate stomach.

Zoe