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Who should not eat fiber?

People with digestive ailments, such as Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome, may find that fiber aggravates symptoms. Even if you don't have an inflamed gut, consuming too much fiber can cause gas, bloating and digestive distress.

healthyeating.sfgate.com - Can People Be Fiber Intolerant? - Healthy Eating | SF Gate

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Fiber does more than keep you regular. Consuming adequate amounts also helps you maintain your weight and reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and type-2 diabetes. But not everyone can consume copious amounts of the bulky stuff, which is found in plant foods. People with digestive ailments, such as Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome, may find that fiber aggravates symptoms. Even if you don't have an inflamed gut, consuming too much fiber can cause gas, bloating and digestive distress. These symptoms may make you feel like you are fiber-intolerant, but such a diagnosis does not exist.

Too Much, Too Soon

If you add too many fruits and vegetables all at once to a low-fiber diet, you may suffer unintended consequences that may make you believe you're intolerant to fiber. Your body just needs time to adjust. The Dietitians of Canada website recommends adding fiber gradually over time to avoid gas, bloating and diarrhea. You should eventually aim to take in the Institute of Medicine recommendation of 38 grams of fiber per day for adult men and 25 grams per day for adult women. Some people can tolerate more, while others may be sensitive to higher amounts of fiber. You can only learn your body's reactions to different amounts of fiber through trial and error.

Insoluble Fiber and Gut Irritability

If you tend to have a sensitive gut, you may be less tolerant of insoluble fiber, contends licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of integrative medicine Chris Kresser. Insoluble fiber scrubs your colon and adds bulk to your stool, which helps decrease instances of constipation. If your insides are irritated, though, this scrubbing action can aggravate symptoms such as gas, cramping and diarrhea. Kresser lists vegetables such as bell peppers, green beans, leafy greens, peas, onions, celery, broccoli and cauliflower as being among the offenders. Stick to vegetables that are higher in soluble fiber, which may not be as irritating. These include carrots, winter squash, yellow summer squash, beets and sweet potatoes.

Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis and IBS

Several inflammatory gut conditions -- such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis -- may make you extra sensitive to fiber, as can irritable bowel syndrome. Although a low-fiber diet puts you at risk for Crohn's disease and IBS, those who have these conditions often find that fiber can be irritating, especially during flareups. These gut conditions can sometimes cause constipation, though, making fiber a necessity. For example, IBS sufferers may find that moderate fiber intake equal to the Institute of Medicine's recommendations helps alleviate constipation. It's a delicate balance, however, because too much can cause excessive bloating and gas. Ulcerative colitis usually affects the large intestine and rectum only, making you particularly sensitive to the scrubbing and bulking effects of insoluble fiber. Your doctor may recommend you stick to a low-residue fiber diet, which avoids insoluble fiber foods and has you stick to easily digestible options. If you do have one of these conditions, check with your doctor before experimenting with changes in your diet.

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Cleveland Clinic: “Constipation.”

Harvard Health Publications: “Probiotics may ease constipation.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Constipation.”

Kids Health: “Constipation.”

Kings College of London: “The effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials”

LiveScience.com: “Constipation: Causes, Symptoms and Solutions,” “Why does coffee make you poop?”

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