LCHF and constipation

[basten]

I find that eggs milk full fat cream seems to constipate me. Does anyone on this diet have trouble with constipation.

Also there is a good site to visit Gutsense.org

[Sheperdess]

I include avocados, lots of green leafy veg like spinach, cabbage, broccoli. Also, aubergine, peanuts, high-cocoa dark chocolate (90%) and chia seeds. Eating all of these foods mean I have enough fibre. I did try psyllium powder but the texture is horrible 🥴

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador]

It can happen in the early days. I'm not sure that being egg-bound is actually something to do with eggs, it's just a transient side-effect of switching to low-carb eating. Don't worry, things do go back to normal! As someone mentioned elsewhere, it helps to drink more than you otherwise might.

[basten in reply to TheAwfulToad]

I have got slow bowel transit. I have to take laxatives. Haven't been properly since the eggs cheese etc. When my dog had diarrhoea I always gave her some scrambled egg then the next hardly anything at all. !!! Two days later back to norm. However I know I'm not a dog ha ha

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to basten]

Even if you have genuine slow bowel transit (which is pretty rare) a lot of people who become chronically constipated on "healthy" high carb diets find that it goes away on LCHF ... eventually! Unfortunately, the first few weeks tend to be less-than-regular.

[basten in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Well I've had two tests for it now last one 2 yrs ago. The consultant says I have it

[Missdoubleyou]

I felt like that for a couple of weeks but now I am a perfect pooer!

Maybe you can hang on if you haven’t been LCHF for long?

[Subtle_badger]

I've been low carb for 7 months, and I have a much slower transit than I did when I ate carbs. I wouldn't call it constipation, because I am not suffering. It's more I notice that I haven't been, than I feel discomfort. My body seems to be functioning perfectly, just more slowly. No noticeable discomfort, and when I finally go, it's normal.

I tried upping fibre. Big mistake. That seriously bunged me up. I guess I just have to live with this new normal

[Subtle_badger in reply to Subtle_badger]

No. I have to take this back. I do suffer from constipation. I am not sure what the remedy will be. At the moment I am using an osmotic laxative (which shouldn't be habit forming) every 4 or 5 days while I try to resolve the problem.

I assume I haven't got my diet quite right. It's not too little fibre. Aprilbaby acid drink probably won't work, as I drank 2 tbsp of ACV while fasting on two different occasions, and nada.

I will puzzle this out!

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Subtle_badger]

Beer usually does the trick for me

I found that constipation is one of those things that recurs in bouts on LCHF, and it's one of the more persistent side effects. However those bouts do become less and less frequent until they disappear entirely. YMMV of course.

[Aprilbaby in reply to Subtle_badger]

I just think everyone is different but with no gallbladder its a case of experimenting if you have a gallbladder then it probably won't work for you

[Subtle_badger in reply to Aprilbaby]

I think you are mixing me up with someone else. I have a gallbladder (I assume, I've never checked 😁) and I've lost 20 kg.

[Aprilbaby in reply to Subtle_badger]

Su tle_badger i was just saying me and basten have no gallbladder so we are in same boat what i meant was if you have a gallbladder then it probably won't work for you acv drink

[Subtle_badger in reply to Aprilbaby]

Ah, right.

But you aren't the only person who recommends cider or lemon juice for constipation, so it does work for those who have gallbladder, just not me.

[basten in reply to Subtle_badger]

Unfortunately for me I've taken osmotic laxative for 4 yrs now so I guess my bowels wont work well without it and the damage is done. That's because of medication I once didnt take it and didnt go for 2 weeks . I've also got to sometimes use Peristeen colonic irrigation what my consultant put me on but I try not to use it too much . Good luck . Some people are lucky. I've suffered constipation since a child

[Subtle_badger in reply to basten]

I don't think so. Stimulant laxatives make muscles respond, and if you use them to much, the muscles will stop responding without them.

Osmotics work by the simple physical fact that water is drawn from areas of lower mineral concentration to higher. It's not affecting your body it's just physics. No matter how long you take them, you won't change the laws of physics.

The reason you are constipated without them is because without them you poop is dryer. You still have the same problem that made you start taking it.

[basten in reply to Subtle_badger]

Ok. I used to just fine until I was put on lots of different meds.

[Subtle_badger in reply to basten]

Are you off all the meds? If not, I would assume you still have the same problem, and the same fix is still working.

Even if you are off them, then maybe the drugs broke you, or maybe the laxatives did. My research didn't find anyone who would state absolutely that osmotic laxatives would cause problems in long term use, but I could find any studies that they did. I will be cautious, but I doubt your use of laxatives broke anything.

[basten in reply to Subtle_badger]

Thanks yes still on meds and have to take the Laxido cos of them. It's just a viscous circle and not pleasant either way little choice ☹☹

[Subtle_badger in reply to basten]

Thanks for the reply. Had a look at Laxido, and that is some serious sh*t.

It might deplete you of water or minerals in the short term, but in the long term, it won't damage you. It's hard stuff, and you need to be cautious, but I don't think it will break your body's response.

My ill-informed advice would be to keep taking your medication, and you laxatives. Look at dropping you mediation, and if you do, drop your laxatives too. And don't settle on random carb walks as some sort of natural migration.

[basten in reply to Subtle_badger]

Yep med review end of month. !!

[Subtle_badger in reply to basten]

🤞

[Subtle_badger in reply to basten]

Take up your concerns about the laxatives at that time. I am not any sort of expert. My light googling will not compare with your doctor's knowledge.

They are useless on food, but they do understand pharmaceuticals.

[Subtle_badger in reply to Subtle_badger]

Not a bad days work: I am pretty sure I have diagnosed my problem: low magnesium. This would also explain my cramps, which I still get. I use lo-salt in my coffee, so think I am getting plenty of potassium and sodium.

More magnesium in my diet will draw more water into my colon and take hopefully take me back to previous habits. I tried 1 teaspoon of epsom salts (about 500mg of magnesium - a little above the RDA) this morning. That solved the problem a touch more - ahem -dramatically than I would like. So I will try half a teaspoon tomorrow, and see how that goes. Maybe even 1/4 will be enough.

Once I have titrated the dose so I go at least every couple of days, I may switch to another form of Mg that isn't so nasty to ingest 😂 I will also look at foods that contain magnesium, which is better as there maybe other micronutrients I am missing in those foods.

[Aprilbaby in reply to Subtle_badger]

Thats what i told basten to have magnesium supplement on her other post hehe

[Subtle_badger in reply to Aprilbaby]

👍

The osmotic laxative I was referring to was epsom salts in larger doses. So what really happened today was a change in thinking: instead of regarding that as a fix for a problem with a different cause, maybe it's actually directly addressing the problem.

The only way to tell is to lower the dosage so it doesn't have a dramatic effect, and see if it the problem disappears.

Also, I have been dodging magnesium supplementation because there are so many forms, and I couldn't find anything suitable on the high street, so postponed it.

[Aprilbaby in reply to Subtle_badger]

I've been taking magnesium supplement tabs 375mg since January this year seems to help with my tummy and helps me sleep i buy mine off Amazon now as supermarket stopped doing them for some reason i also use low salt or Himalayan salt i dont drink coffee anymore so i dont add salt to it anymore i drink herbals

[Subtle_badger in reply to Aprilbaby]

But which form? 😕

healthline.com/nutrition/ma...

I developed a bad case of analysis paralysis.

(i might stick with the epsom salts: it's super cheap, and I have got used to the taste)

[Aprilbaby in reply to Subtle_badger]

Magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate

[basten]

Ok that's good. Yes too much fibre will just swell and harder for bowels to shift. That's why I dont take Fibregel with psyllium in . Gutsense web site is very good . I've also got the book Fibre Menace. Stools should not be gi normous. It's all makes interesting reading

[Hidden]

I've had one bout of constipation in the 3 years been LCHF. It got quite bad so I forgot my normal eating regime and quite a lot of fruit, berries. That worked well, very well in fact!, then I went back to normal eating and my motions have been normal and regular since.

Good luck, it's not much fun when it happens.

[basten in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[over61andstilltrying]

I had problems and use this

amazon.co.uk/Organic-Blond-...

Once a day, between courses at lunch, I put one level teaspoon in a glass and add perhaps 350ml water, stir and drink. Probably re-stir a few times in the process of drinking the water. It is odd as the husk swells, but has been effective for me. Ten I enjoy my ramekin of greek yoghurt, blueberries, strawberries and flaked almonds.

I have had problems in the use of the small room for years. Pre LCHF days I found a few prunes soaked overnight in orange juice helped, but obviously I don't have those now. I do hope you find a solution that suits you.

I use the husk in various recipes as well.

PS Just saw a comment of yours which may mean this isn't for you.

[basten in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thankyou for info

[Aprilbaby]

I had this problem at the start i go once or twice in morning everyday like clockwork i find 1tbsp lemon juice and 1tbsp apple cider vinegar in a glass of water down it wait 10 minutes and i go hope this helps

[basten in reply to Aprilbaby]

Thankyou

[S11m]

This sounds like a good cure for the diarrhoea you mentioned in your other post.

[Hidden]

I had that when I was on it! One of the many reason I didn't continue to be honest!

[kkmworldno1]

Ground Nuts might cause Constipation.

Drink lot of water (warm) thoughout the day in small sips/gulps, at some regular intervals, will help