Switching to healthy breakfasts but becoming constipated.

sheps1990

Hello all.

So I generally eat very healthy lunches and dinners but had been frowned upon for eating Bran Flakes for my breakfast as cereals have high sugar content...

I have tried two different things and both have led to long-term constipation.

1. Because I could not imagine eating anything other than cereal, I tried a healthier cereal option in the form of All Bran. This constipated me for a week until I went back to eating Bran Flakes and I pooed every day again.

2. This week I tried very natural food sources for breakfast in the form of boiled eggs, and spinach/tomato omlettes. Again I have been bunged up this week until last night I grabbed the Bran Flakes and "hey-presto" no more than two hours later I managed to poo.

What I want to know is;

Why is this happening?

&

Are Bran Flakes really that bad for me when they make me go?

tigersword

Sugar is irrelevant. Eat what you want.

shred_me_up

bran is fine! sugar is fine! do what works for you, your body knows best

Via_14

Bran is good coz its high in fibre Hence the bowel movements.

padams2359

Do what works for you. Fiber One makes some great bars at 90 calories. They have been my substitutes for sweets also. The brownies and cinnamon coffee cake are the bomb.

graceire

Do what works for you. Fiber One makes some great bars at 90 calories. They have been my substitutes for sweets also. The brownies and cinnamon coffee cake are the bomb.

Great cereal, too. I have Fiber One Honey Clusters several times a week. Hasn't hurt my weight loss!

mloumason

Remember calories in calories out do what is working for you if you want your cereal everyday have it if you want want something else have it. I've tried dieting for fifteen years and only now that its no longer a diet but a lifesyle change is it all working.

iechick

If you like the bran flakes then eat the bran flakes!

NonnyMary

ugh,,,, eat the bran flakes, there is nothing worse than constipation where you are sick till 2:30 in the morning from not eating enough fiber and water.

sunsetzen

If you are constipated from adding fibre to your diet, you should drink more water to balance that out.

Or look at the rest of your diet. Are you eating enough fat? Too much dairy?

Mokey41

Eat the bran flakes if they fit your budget. Also, you don't eat bran flakes and 2 hours later it's worked it's magic. It takes at least 6 hours for some one with a fast digestion rate to see food move through, average is 12 hours and for some it can be up to 72 hours. We'd all be dead if all our food moved through our systems in 2 hours.

cdahl383

Shredded Wheat, Kashi GoLean, Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Oatmeal, etc. All those are things I eat for breakfast throughout the week along with a glass of OJ and a protein shake. Never have any problems with those things since they're all high in fiber.

If you like the bran flakes stick with them, just make sure you dont go overboard dumping it in your bowl (watch serving size, etc) and you should be fine.

sheps1990

Eat the bran flakes if they fit your budget. Also, you don't eat bran flakes and 2 hours later it's worked it's magic. It takes at least 6 hours for some one with a fast digestion rate to see food move through, average is 12 hours and for some it can be up to 72 hours. We'd all be dead if all our food moved through our systems in 2 hours.

I'm simply describing what happened to me last night telling it like it is. I ate eggs for breakfast from mon-fri no poo. Decided f-it and ate some bran flakes at 9pm last night and no later than 11pm I did a poo. I'm convinced the bran flakes pushed this through.

evileen99

I'm eating bran flakes right now.

hwoeltjen

When you eat things like eggs....or other high protein sources...you need to make sure you are getting enough fiber in your diet. Protein will constipate you....especially if you are eating a lot of it.

Too much of anything will cause problems. If it isn't the protein you need to start eliminating things from your diet to identify what is causing the problem.

If you are eating enough fiber you may want to try some enzymes to help you out. You can get them in most health stores. Digestive enzymes will help you clean your digestive tract out.

However, without knowing the cause it is difficult to give you advice. Pay attention to your fiber intake...if you are eating a high protein diet make sure you are getting that fiber in. Past that...identify the food sources causing your problem.

MeanderingMammal

Eat the bran flakes if they fit your budget. Also, you don't eat bran flakes and 2 hours later it's worked it's magic. It takes at least 6 hours for some one with a fast digestion rate to see food move through, average is 12 hours and for some it can be up to 72 hours. We'd all be dead if all our food moved through our systems in 2 hours.

I'm simply describing what happened to me last night telling it like it is. I ate eggs for breakfast from mon-fri no poo. Decided f-it and ate some bran flakes at 9pm last night and no later than 11pm I did a poo. I'm convinced the bran flakes pushed this through.

All strikes me as a bit psychosomatic if I'm honest.

If you're constipated you're not getting enough fibre in your diet, but that would mean that the rest of your diet isn't as healthy as you suggest it is. As above, it would be very unlikely that a sudden dose of fibre would have a significant effect in the space of a pairv of hours.

That said, if you're able to fit bran flakes in to your budget, then eat them.

HeidiCooksSupper

Fiber is very important so enjoy your bran flakes. I have All Bran most mornings and it is doing what's needed. Lots of other things are high in fiber, too, like many vegetables and fruits. Beans tend to be very high fiber. Google 'high fiber food list" and you'll find lots of ideas.

There are different types of sugars and carbohydrates. The MFP numbers lump these together so you may be eating something you need, like a high fiber cereal, and the sugar number on MFP will treat it just like a candy bar in terms of numbers. Fibers are technically carbohydrates but they are something you need to have every day to maintain digestive health. Look at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/fiber/ for good information about fiber needs and sources.

skylark94

I eat wheat bran flake cereal nearly every day, sometimes for breakfast and a snack. I even put 1-2 tsp of sugar on it. If you like it, eat it.

peejay65pj

I know this is probably the wrong thing to say, but....lol.....in the old days before MFP, a McDonalds breakfast worked better than a laxative for me.....I'm sure it's something to do with the fat content, not the fibre in that case...lol

kregerems

Find cereals high in fiber, Oatmeal can be one, and alternate. Also try eating a fruit in the morning for breakfast and most important, make sure your drinking plenty of water. Believe it or not, if your not drinking enough the body can absorb the water it needs from your colon hence the constipation. I notice a few people suggested Fiber One bars, they are a great source of Fiber.

Ang108

I would suggest that you check your liquid intake as well as fiber. Bran without enough liquid will constipate you even more.
I would suggest that you eat fruits and vegetables or high fiber foods and drink enough and wait a few days. Usually constipation that is not caused my certain meds is caused by lack of fiber, moisture or through a sedentary life style.