Fiber is a natural substance found in fruits, vegetables and grains. Dehydration Keeping your water intake the same while increasing your fiber will likely lead to dehydration. Take it easy when you attempt to increase your fiber. What causes it: The right amount of fiber reduces the chances of constipation, while too much can cause it. It is an essential part of healthy digestion. Gradually increase your water intake as you increase your fiber. Make it a group effort from fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts. What causes it: Insoluble fiber moves through the body without being digested, and there are certain foods that are high in fiber that are known for increasing the amount of gas in your system. This is because fiber uses up a lot of water in your system, and can leave your internal organs deprived of what they need. We constantly hear about the positive benefits of fiber, but despite all these benefits, too much fiber can cause several health problems. Read below to learn about what can happen when you eat too much fiber. Cramping Cramping occurs because the body cannot properly break down fiber. For example, a chicken breast served with a spinach salad and a baked sweet potato gives you plenty of fiber, vitamins, minerals, but not too much fiber since the chicken contains zero fiber. Additionally, fiber adds bulk to your diet, making you feel fuller sooner and longer. Malabsorption According to Colorado State University, because fiber binders to other foods, fiber could bind to nutrients and eliminate these minerals and vitamins without the body being able to absorb them. It helps aid digestion and can prevent constipation. Broccoli is one high-fiber vegetable known for causing digestive difficulties. Diarrhea If you increase your fiber intake too suddenly, then your body will not have enough time to adjust.
This happens because of the water that fiber needs in order to do its job. But because fiber soaks up water it can result in stools that are hard to pass and spend too long in the digestive tract. The fiber will soak up the available water, leaving your body dehydrated. Finding the right amount of fiber to keep your digestive system balanced is key. If too much fiber is consumed, food digestion can be momentarily slowed or even stopped. This can lead to intestinal cramping and discomfort. By eating too much fiber, you may interfere with how your intestines absorb certain minerals. Ironically, when you get your fiber intake right you should experience far less gas and bloating than you did before increasing your fiber. But this is exactly what some dieters have reported when they attempt to get on the fiber train. By consuming too much fiber, you may increase this speed too much, which can lead to diarrhea. Often, too much fiber can lead to the malabsorption of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Getting more fiber without increasing your water intake can result in constipation. Some are embarrassing and uncomfortable side effects while others can lead to more severe health issues. One of the biggest benefits of fiber is that it increases the speed in which food moves throughout the digestive tract. Despite this side effect, this malabsorption is typically so minimal that it does not cause for much concern. This of course can be caused by drinking too little water rather than taking in too much fiber. 4. What causes it: Not drinking enough water while taking in too much fiber can leader to faster dehydration.
