Don’t Eat Your Fiber (and How to Heal Constipation)
Jun 15th 2009 · by Catherine Osthaus
Constipation is a big problem for a lot of people. Especially those that are transitioning to a low carb, low fiber diet. Did you know that this transition to low fiber is actually very beneficial to your colon health?
Of course constipation is not good, but using fiber to relieve this constipation can be very damaging. Fiber may actually be the cause of your constipation.
Konstantin Monastyrsky, the author of the Fiber Menace describes how all our belief systems about the virtues of fiber have been all lies.
- Fiber does not prevent colon cancer
- Fiber does not prevent breast cancer
- Fiber does not lower cholesterol
- Fiber does not reduce the risk of heart disease
- Fiber does not regulate blood sugar
- Fiber does not reduce the risk of diabetes
- Fiber does not decrease appetite
- Fiber does not help with weight loss
- Fiber does not keep the colon clean
- Fiber does not help stop diarrhea
- Fiber does not ease constipation
Watch these videos as Konstantin Monastyrsky explains the fiber misconceptions with scientific studies.
I have found 2 effective ways of regulating bowels without the use of fiber.
Lacto-fermented foods and coconut oil.
The lacto-fermented foods provide my gut with beneficial probiotics and enzymes required for food digestion as well as nutrient assimilation. The coconut oil stimulates bile production.
Dietary fat stimulates the release of bile from the gallbladder, which, in turn, stimulates the gastrocolic reflex. This in turn stimulates peristaltic mass movement, which, in turn, stimulates defecation. Source.
For healthy bowel function I try to eat lacto-fermented foods with every meal and take 2 tablespoons of coconut oil daily.
Share your thoughts!
5 Responses to “Don’t Eat Your Fiber (and How to Heal Constipation)”
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Oooooh, this is just the type of “politically incorrect” post that I love, thanks for getting the truth out!
Kelly
Moderation is the key to a healthy and happy life. Lacto-fermented foods certainly have great health benefits for the gut. Fermented foods have been used for centuries to protect our gut while giving us flavor. Foods like sauerkraut, miso, pickles, kimchi are used all over the world without much thought to their health benefits. The fermentation process improves the healthy bacteria in your gut. But, soluble fiber, like inulin (from chicory or artichoke), can help these good bacteria multiply faster to help your body get healthier.
As for coconut oil helping with constipation, that’s probably true too. Many cultures use oil for that purpose – castor oil is probably the best known. But, you have many cultures that use olive oil, flax oil or fish oil for many health benefits including constipation.
I believe that nature designs food the way it does for a reason. It’s not a mistake that vegetables contain fiber or that sweet fruits contain fiber and pectin. People don’t get constipated because they ate a plate of fruits and vegetables. They get constipated if they don’t eat a balanced diet or if they take too many fiber supplements without taking enough liquids. So, their system seizes up.
and coconut oil
what about coconut flour? I’ve read Fiber Menace and it makes a lot of sense to me. I agree about coconut oil and cultured veggies. I noticed some of the recipes you posted have coconut flour. I would love to try this because i can’t have grains of any kind and thought it would be nice to have zucchini pancakes or bread every now and then. I think i had colitis symptoms on account of blood/mucous in stools. Now i’m following a diet based on the book: Gut and Phycology Syndrome. It’s really an intro diet with a lot of broths. Very low fiber diet.. and it’s working well for me.
At a later stage i’d like to try the coconut flour but… it has soo much fiber..and that too insoluble. About 95% is insoluble. I’d love to know what you thinka bout this.. Wonder what mr. monastyrsky thinks of it.
Thanks.
I just checked and 2 tbs coconut flour has 6 grams of fiber. As much as i’d like to have those pancakes, this worries me because it seems the same as taking one of those phsyillium supplements.
Do I need to be worried?
I would follow the GAPS protocol on introducing new foods. I know the introductory diet is extremely restrictive. I was only able to follow it for three days. Those three days I felt so wonderful and had no symptoms at all.
The thing is that healing involves a mindset. You want to heal more then the “”illegal foods”. I wish I could say that I am there but I just can’t seem to give up dairy. It has been on my mind to give it another try though!
You are doing well so that means GAPS is working. Allow time for healing and then start to reintroducing foods one at a time, checking for symptoms and reactions.