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Can a lack of carbs be causing my constipation?

S

Sean-W

Well-Known Member
Messages
152
Location
Stoke-on-Trent
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
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Diabetes!!!
I've read that not getting hardly any carbs maybe a cause for my constipation on the LCHF.

Considering having a chippy tonight and seeing if that makes me go?
 
Sean-W said:
I've read that not getting hardly any carbs maybe a cause for my constipation on the LCHF.

Considering having a chippy tonight and seeing if that makes me go?
Click to expand...

It’s common that if you’re low carving, your body doesn’t produce much waste so you don’t need to go as often. Do you need to go but can’t, or have you simply not gone for a while?
 
wiflib said:
It’s common that if you’re low carving, your body doesn’t produce much waste so you don’t need to go as often. Do you need to go but can’t, or have you simply not gone for a while?
Click to expand...
I last went yesterday afternoon. Not a great visit but at least it was something. My stomach is continually bubbling and rumbling but thst can be hunger st times I know. I don't have any abdomen pains or cramps either. I'm not getting any great urges or consistent ones to go to the loo.
 
Low carbs caused me constipation. I didn’t use it as a reason to go to the chippy though! I increased my fluid intake and added seeds to my diet, flax and chia. I was already putting psyllium husk in my low carb coconut ‘porridge’ so I increased the amount of that too. Now I’m usually ok now.
 
I would think about increasing fibre. You can include some food that are high fibre but low carb as the fibre is non digestable so passes straight through but helps with ‘ transit issues ‘. Konjac noodles, chia seeds and psyllium husk powder are the ones I use
 
great minds think alike!
 
Rather than spoil all your hard work and go to the chippy tonight, buy some milled (ground) flaxseed. It works wonders sprinkled on wet foods, added to soups and stews, or mixed in yogurts. Chia seeds also do the same job. You don't need carbs. Just fibre and plenty of fluids.
 
My habit changed from daily before LCHF to every third day after LCHF. I put Chia seeds in soups and stews, too. It did take me a while to get the balance right but considering the huge change from a Western diet to LCHF I don't think it is too much trouble.
 
Also increase your salt intake a little, e.g. a stock cube in a mug of water two times a day. In the first few weeks of a low carb diet, our body needs more salt, and due to stopping eating processed food people often reduce salt when they start low carb....

(Unless your body is very "water logged" and hence for example you are on tablets to lower BP)
 
I don’t go every day. Less fiber equals less bulk. It only bothers me when I feel like I have to but that’s far rarer than just not going
 
I’ve gone from daily to every second or third day too.
 
I also learnt that lchf diet don't cause constipation because there is not much waste to expel.
 
Increasing fibre means you are pooing the fibre you’ve just eaten. True constipation is needing to go but unable to, a low carb diet means you don’t have wasted food to be expelled which is not constipation.
If you really want to go, grease the flume
 
tayelola said:
I also learnt that lchf diet don't cause constipation because there is not much waste to expel.
Click to expand...

I agree there is less to expel so less frequent bowel movements occur, however it can become hard and painful to ‘go’. I definitely had that for a while.
 
The chippy idea was a mere pipedream
I send my wallet with my gf to work so I cant spend!
 
I’m also finding I don’t need to go so much, glad it’s not just me! I was quite constipated before I started LCHF a couple of weeks ago, and that’s eased. Just less of it now! I do eat a lot of veg though.
 
I found the solids really difficult to cope with and tried variations of most things suggested in the above posts. It came to a point where I was on the loo for 45 mins trying to move a "big one"... after that I started to record (excel) my dumps alongside my food and BGs.... and it's not been so bad again...
I drink a fair amount of water and do the chia coffee breakfast every now and again.
Never been too keen on laxatives, thinking they tend not to be low carb.... and I have no idea if that is true or not.
Every other day at the moment, if it goes longer than that start to get a bit twitchy...
Good luck, it's not a great place to be.
 
I must be very odd. I had a problem or two right at the beginning, solved with eating seeds and drinking more. I haven't had a problem since - once daily, same time every morning, Nice and smooth, no issues. I don't eat much veg.
 
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