Gut health/constipation

[infomaniac]

Hi, I posted recently that I was doing the Leaky Gut diet and was feeling OK. However, gradually (as always happens when I do anything low carb) I got totally bunged up. I was taking all kinds of things to help as I was due to go on holiday but nothing was really working so my case was full of digestive enzymes, charcoal, magnesium etc etc! However, once there and finding that trying to keep the diet up wasn't going to work, I took my foot off the gas a bit and though I didn't go mad I felt loads better and my bowels sprang back to life again. It's like a Catch 22. Low carb/gut health or eating carbs and having fully functioning bowels!

I have had gut issues for years but have come to the conclusion that I am much better with carbs in my life...unfortunately as I am trying to keep off grains that means going back to nightshades. I don't seem to suffer any ill effects when I eat them. Are they really that bad?

[greygoose]

I think some people are sensitive to nightshades, but I don't think they affect everybody. Tomatoes have a lot of health benefits, and potatoes are full of nutrients. I certainly wouldn't stop eating them.

[infomaniac in reply to greygoose]

I'm going to take your advice. I certainly feel better eating them.

[humanbean]

Why were you taking charcoal? One side effect of it is constipation!

Activated charcoal is safe for most adults when used short-term. Side effects of activated charcoal include constipation and black stools. More serious, but rare, side effects are a slowing or blockage of the intestinal tract, regurgitation into the lungs, and dehydration.

Source : webmd.com/vitamins-suppleme...

[infomaniac in reply to humanbean]

WHAT????!! I never knew that! I was bloated and really uncomfortable so I thought it might help, but it didn't do a thing...except obviously make matters worse so it seems

I've got Mag Citrate but I have to take loads before it has any effect and it worries me a bit.

Since coming off the leaky gut diet I've had rice, potatoes, peppers and feel like my body is working properly again. I am already GF but intend to keep off dairy but reintroduce my beloved carbs! I'll be fatter but it's better than being bunged up, bloated and miserable!

[Lindsayf in reply to humanbean]

Hi

Can you advise which brand and where you bought these from?

Thanks

[humanbean in reply to Lindsayf]

Do you mean magnesium citrate and vitamin C?

For magnesium I use this :

amazon.co.uk/Natural-Calm-S...

For vitamin C I don't have a regular product I use - I just buy something that doesn't cost a lot!

[Lindsayf in reply to humanbean]

My poor mum suffers terrible constipation . She will go 4 days without going to the loo and she tells me that when she does go it’s like rabbit poo. Would orange juice be okay for vit c?

[humanbean in reply to Lindsayf]

Well, I wouldn't use it - it's packed with sugar, and won't have enough vitamin C in it to do anything much to reduce constipation.

To get things moving your mother could buy vitamin C in tablet form, each tablet containing 1000mg (which is the same as 1g) vitamin C. Another possibility is vitamin C powder which is 100% vitamin C i.e. no other ingredients, and it will probably be quite a lot cheaper than tablets. Amazon sells lots of varieties of Vitamin C.

The dose of vitamin C per day would have to be an experiment. 1000mg is unlikely to be enough, but taking up to 5000mg per day shouldn't cause too much of a problem. But I would suggest building up slowly.

The most common way of supplementing vitamin C is with ascorbic acid, but there are other ways of supplementing it. See this link for other ways of supplementing vitamin C :

For general info : lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vit...

For supplement options : lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vit...

If your mother does buy the magnesium citrate it should be taken in the evening because it makes people feel a little bit sleepy. The maximum dose I would consider taking is whatever is required to give me about 300mg - 400mg magnesium per day. It is also essential that anyone taking magnesium has moderately healthy kidneys because the kidneys must be able to excrete any excess magnesium taken in.

Please note I am not a doctor and have no medical training of any kind. Please do your own research to confirm anything I've said.

[humanbean]

To help myself with constipation I use magnesium citrate and vitamin C.

Although I no longer need it, in the past I also took psyllium seed husk mixed in water and squash. It is a soluble fibre (I wouldn't take an insoluble fibre supplement) and it bulks up and softens faeces. You have to build up dose gradually and expect to have bloating and wind for the first week, but it wears off.

[Dinky99]

Hi .. When I eat low carbs I take Fibre in a drink which helps my vowels ., you buy it in pharmacy

[infomaniac in reply to Dinky99]

What is it called Dinky?

[Dinky99 in reply to infomaniac]

It's called Fibro Gel

[TupennyRush]

Hi there I've been having muesli which I mix myself in ratio of 75 gms dried fruit, 75 gms seeds/nuts, 200 gms oats and 100 gms oat bran (this is about s weeks worth). It has worked wonders for me.

I tried it after seeing a 'trust me I'm a doctor' programme that said that oats were the best prebiotic and worked better than yacult etc.

I eat mine with raw milk; yummy and probiotic...

[infomaniac in reply to TupennyRush]

It sounds absolutely lush but I'm not great with grains, and even GF oats bloat me

[TupennyRush in reply to infomaniac]

Pity as it's changed my toilet issues.... Although the first week I used it I was producing enough methane to solve the problem of our energy crisis but was told this was my body making the adjustment (a little good/bad bacteria war!) It dud settle down after a week or so and the results were amazing.

Good luck in finding an alternative

[Joyia]

Beetroot Juice which can be obtained in most supermarkets helps to keep the bowels open.

[infomaniac in reply to Joyia]

Really? I'm not a fan of beetroot but when needs be I'll try anything!