What Happens When You Consume Excess Of Fibre-rich Foods

Too much of anything is bad. This is a very common phrase that we hear every day.

Today, people are aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Everyone is recognising the importance of healthy eating and exercising right. Our body is a machine which needs to be fuelled by the right kind of food for maximum efficiency.

Our body needs a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats and fibre in order to carry out all of its functions. Carbohydrates are the main energy sources.

Vitamins and minerals help carry out different functions of the body. Proteins are the building blocks of our cells and muscles. Fats are required for a smooth functioning of the body's chemical processes and fibre is important to ensure a smooth bowel movement.

It is important to consume the right amounts of each nutrient. Neither more nor less and that is what a balanced diet ensures of.

When people are on a diet, they tend to avoid fats completely and reduce their intake of carbs. Reducing carbs may result in fatigue and some amount of fats are required by our body in order to carry out its functions. Some people may also be consuming fibre-rich foods in excess, which may result in a lot of issues.

Fibre forms an important part of a healthy diet. It bulks up the bowels and results in its easy elimination. An average person requires about 20 to 40 grams of fibre every day. Eating more than that may create a lot of problems.

Here are a few side effects that you may experience when you are high on fibre-rich foods. Take a look.

1) Constipation:

Intake of fibre is required to avoid constipation. However, excess fibre does the exact opposite to us. Excess fibre absorbs all the fluids in the intestines, which leads to dehydration and the movement of bowels being restricted.

2) Diarrhoea:

Fibre is responsible for the speed at which your bowels move through the intestines. Too much fibre means more speed, which results in diarrhoea.

3) Stomach Bloating:

Bloating happens when our body tries to break down the food in the large intestine. Too much fibre is difficult to be broken down by the body and this leads to partial digestion. This is the main cause of the formation of gas and bloating.

4) Abdominal Pain:

Excess gas leads to pain in the abdomen area. When you are consuming too much of fibre, it becomes difficult for our body to break it down. This results in excess flatulence, which leads to expansion of the abdominal muscles and thereby pain.

5) Dehydration:

Fibre tends to absorb water from the intestines to bulk up the stools. Too much of fibre eventually absorbs all the water from the intestines and results in dehydration.

6) Intestinal Blockage:

This is happens when there is excess fibre and not enough water in the intestines. The excess fibre is not able to move due to shortage of water and hence this results in intestinal blockage. This is the worst form of a side effect due to having excess of fibre and this may even require a surgery to get rid of.

7) Difficulty In Absorbing Essential Nutrients:

Too much fibre can reduce the body's ability to absorb nutrients from the food, which results in deficiency. Too much fibre just mixes with the food and may not differentiate between waste and nutrients and tries to eliminate everything.

8) Acid Reflux:

Fibre in our food actually reduces the episodes of acid reflux. But too much of it is known to trigger the acid reflux. Too much fibre puts a pressure on the stomach and delays its emptying, which leads to acid reflux when the food stays for longer in the stomach.

It is important to know how much of your body actually requires each nutrient. Malnutrition or excess nutrition is both harmful for our body. Take the help of an expert to chart out a perfect balanced diet for you, so that your body is always able to serve you right by helping you stay fit and active.