OKay, ahem, kind of embarassing question

[pmmahan]

With all the talk of whole grains around here, I have been trying to incorporate MORE into my diet. I have always eaten bran cereal, and beans, etc. So I have been eating Shredded Wheat and Bran and Complete Bran Flakes. And my stomach hurts! So much (from the fiber I guess) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif So how do I get over this? will I ever?
Sorry, such a delicate topic.

[Grace]

Sorry to hear you're having pains. Yes, it does go away. You just have to get your system used to so much fiber. I would cut back a little, and add more fiber slowly. Once your system is used to it, you'll work the opposite way (you won't feel so good when you don't eat enough fiber!)

Hope you're feeling better soon, and if it's gas pains your having (sorry to be so indelicate!), take a GasX pill or one just like it. They help a lot.

[Karen from VA]

Are you drinking lots of water? It really helps to "keep things moving."

Karen

[SusieO]

It may take a while, but you will get used to the added fiber in your diet. And I can attest to the fact that, as Grace said, you won't feel so good if you don't get enough. In observance of Passover, I've been getting most of my fiber from vegetables this week. No bread, beans, or whole grains, and I am miserable. I would kill for a bowl of Kashi cereal! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Oh well, just another couple of days to go. Sorry for whining!

[Sara Emily]

I know EXACTLY what you mean! A few quick suggestions - From your pharmacist, you can buy charcoal tablets. If you take two to three before eating a food you are likely to have problems with (such as a large bowl of beans, etc.), it really helps to absorb the excess gas produced and has no side effects. People in Latin countries have been doing this for years and it IS helpful.

Another thing to consider is that when you eat more fiber and have more bathroom visits, sometimes you also lose more of the good, friendly bacteria in your system that is seemly. As a result, you hurt after just about anything ELSE you eat after that point, since the friendly bacteria are no present in sufficient numbers to help break down your food and eliminate it. CL did a story a few issues ago about "probiotics," which is simply these FRIENDLY little guys. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Yogurt with live, active cultures can help, as can OTC capsules that contain these cultured bactieria. Again, no side effects and IT WORKS! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Please give these solutions a try and I think it will help you IMMEASURABLY, as it has us!

[Grace]

I will also second the use of the probiotics. I have used them for years, and find they help me immeasurably. When I got salmonella food poisoning about 12 years ago, the doctors gave me NOTHING (they claimed there was nothing to give me - I just had to ride it out). That's when I discovered the probiotics. It was like a miracle. I have been a BIG believer ever since, and use them whenever I travel (you'll never get Montezuma's revenge again!), and I also use them just in general to keep myself healthy. They also help prevent yeast infections.

[KValley]

Grace and Sara Emily-

Do probiotics help with constipation or diarrhea or both? I travel often and constipation is a problem- air travel, change of routine, change of diet, whatever. I always pack a tupperware container of All Bran to munch on, but I'd like to try other natural remedies.

Thanks, Julie

[Grace]

Julie, I don't know if they'd help with constipation as much. They're mostly for when you eat something that your system's not used to (even drinking water in a foreign country where the water is safe - the mineral content is usually different and can mess up your system), or when you're trying to fight off some bacterias (which are the things that usually cause diarrhea).

They're also good when you take antibiotics. The antibiotics kill ALL bacteria - they can't distinguish the "bad" ones from the "good" ones, so taking probiotics when you are prescribed antibiotics is an especially good idea.

I think your idea of eating more fiber when you travel is a good one, but even more important I think would be to drink as much water as possible. Constipation is often caused by dehydration, and goodness knows travel (especially air) dehydrates you a lot.

Bottom line is, I wouldn't recommend probiotics for constipation in particular, but I would for general health and for travelling. Hope that helps!

[hka]

I'm interested in the probiotics. Can you get this over the counter? It didn't sound like a prescription type thing. Also, when did CL do the article on this? I must have missed that one.

[KValley]

THanks, Grace! And you're right about the water. I telecommute from home, which makes it easy for me to consume about 80-90oz of H20 during the day; I know -as hard as I try- that I don't get near that when I'm travelling- just not as feasible! But I think I'm really going to try to consume more.

My husband and I were a Peace Corps volunteers in Africa several years ago and went through more types of gastrointestinal distress than I care to recount (or that you'd ever want to hear). Talk about marital bonding. ANyhow, our systems have never been the same, but I wish we'd had probiotics and All Bran with us in the Sahara!

[Sara Emily]

hka, I just checked for you, and it was the Jan/Feb 2001 issue, beginning on page 44. You can certainly get these OTC from your pharmacist or health food store. My favorite is one I get mail order from a neat company for women called As We Change. They have a web site. It is called D-Pro, and has a whole VARIETY of wonderful, helpful flora for your "inner recesses." http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

In the CL article, they listed one called Culturelle, and a few others. One thing that I found PARTICULARLY interesting is that they pointed out that Stonyfield Farms yogurt (at most grocery stores in 8 oz. servings) has SIX different probiotics in it! I was impressed! I have always liked their brand, but it is usually just a little more expensive that some of the others, so I have bought it on a very occasional basis. Now, knowing this, I gravitate to it and enjoy it immensely. They ought to advertise this positive feature of their product in some of their great ads.

According to the article, there is also some evidence that probiotics help reduce heart attack risks. So, there is every reason to take them and no downside!

[pmmahan]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!!

[hka]

Thank you SaraEmily! I'm going to pull that magazine out and check out the article. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif