Less Fiber, Better Bowels?
Stopping or reducing dietary fiber intake reduces constipation and its associated symptoms.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
High-fiber eaters with constipation saw zero improvement in bowel frequency or symptoms after six months.
Medical guidelines for decades have recommended high fiber for constipation. This study shows that for a large subset of patients, fiber doesn’t just fail—it may actively maintain symptoms.
Practical Takeaways
If you have chronic constipation, try eliminating all plant-based fiber (veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes) for 2–4 weeks and track bowel frequency, bloating, and straining.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
High-fiber eaters with constipation saw zero improvement in bowel frequency or symptoms after six months.
Medical guidelines for decades have recommended high fiber for constipation. This study shows that for a large subset of patients, fiber doesn’t just fail—it may actively maintain symptoms.
Practical Takeaways
If you have chronic constipation, try eliminating all plant-based fiber (veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes) for 2–4 weeks and track bowel frequency, bloating, and straining.
Publication
Journal
World journal of gastroenterology
Year
2012
Authors
K. Ho, Charmaine Tan, M. A. Mohd Daud, F. Seow-Choen
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Claims (10)
People who cut back on fiber didn’t just feel better right away—they kept feeling better for at least six months.
People with constipation who stopped eating fiber completely stopped having blood in their stool, while those who kept eating fiber still had bleeding.
Everyone with constipation who ate a lot of fiber felt bloated—those who cut back felt bloated less often, and those who stopped fiber entirely didn’t feel bloated at all.
Complete elimination of dietary fiber from plant sources can resolve symptoms of chronic constipation, including infrequent bowel movements, bloating, straining, abdominal pain, and anal bleeding.
For people who have trouble pooping and feel bloated, stopping all fiber-rich foods like veggies, fruits, and whole grains for six months helped them poop daily, stop straining, and feel less bloated.