Too Much Fiber Side Effects

When I had to start making rounds to the doctor and was told that I had made the cardinal mistake of consuming "too much fiber", my belief system took a big blow. I started wondering, is too much fiber dangerous? Can having too much fiber really make you sick? No kidding! Being a salad and fruit loving person, my fiber intake was always on the higher side, and I always thought that it was healthy to have a high fiber diet. The more the merrier, right? Wrong.

Despite the benefits of fiber, too much fiber intake can have its own set of side effects. I learned it the hard way, so you can opt to equip yourself with information without the nasty experience of what does too much fiber do to you. Continue reading to know, "Can consuming too much fiber rich foods hurt you?".

An average individual requires approximately 25 grams (for women) to 30 grams (for men) and approximately 20 grams (for kids) of fiber daily. Side effects are mostly noticed for individuals who consume higher than about 45 grams of fiber in a day. So, let's just say that if your fiber intake per day is 50 grams, you are having too much fiber!

Side Effects of Too Much Fiber

What are the side effects of too much fiber in diet? Unfortunately, too much fiber has a host of uncomfortable and highly embarrassing side effects. Let's see what potential harmful effects of too much fiber include.

• Flatulence: Embarrassing and highly uncomfortable. I can only imagine a day at work, spiced up with flatulence. Flatulence is a condition wherein mixed gases are expelled through the rectum. High intake of fiber can aid the process and cause you much shame as you "pass the gas".
• Diarrhea: It is a condition wherein the sufferer undergoes liquid-like bowel movements. This constitutes loss in body fluids, salts and other nutrients. It causes death in extreme conditions.
• Abdominal Discomfort: This one is not so embarrassing, but uncomfortable nonetheless. The queasy feeling in your stomach can be enough to put you off work, play and pleasure. If you know what I mean!
• Constipation: Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs excess water and this results in hard or no feces. If you wish to know, "Can eating too much fiber rich foods cause constipation?", the answer is - Oh yes it can! Constipation is annoying, painful, uncomfortable and generally awful.
• Blockages: Too much fiber can lead to a possibility of a sever blockage. It has been seen that patients need to get operated to get rid of the blockage caused due to too much fiber.
• Weight Gain: Too much fiber can also cause you to gain weight. However, you can lose this weight without much trouble. I also asked a few dietitians, "Can having too much fiber make you bloated?". Yes, it can!

But, seriously, is too much fiber a bad thing? Well, that is arguable. Several people live comfortably on diets that contain high fiber levels. The difference is that those people also maintain high water intake. Too much fiber with not enough water intake is the reason behind these terrible side effects. So, if you are suffering from the above symptoms, you are doing something wrong here! As long as you are making sure that you maintain the fiber-water balance you will not suffer from "too much fiber side effects" or "problems with drinking too much water". The two balance each other out.

Another fact that one needs to be well aware of, is that even though fiber makes the travel (of food through the digestive track) faster, too much of it can cause one to feel "full". This can make one get tricked into believing that enough nutrients have gotten consumed. Beware of that! More so, too much fiber can lead to lesser iron and calcium absorption. I need not remind you that this can lead to further health hassles. So, is eating too much fiber bad for you? Well, it has the potential to be. Hence, best is to avoid consuming too much fiber.

Alright, this article was not to scare you off fiber. Don't forget, adequate fiber consumption is required by the body, beyond that should be monitored. This is where I sign off!!