Category Archives: Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

Do High Protein Diets Cause Constipation?

Eating too much protein can undoubtedly cause constipation. In fact, many high protein diets such as the South Beach Diet and the Atkins diet remove starchy, fiber-rich foods from the diet. These diets were really the forerunners of the current paleo diets that have become so trendy.

The Induction Phase of the Atkins diet recommended avoiding a lot of foods with significant fiber content. Potatoes, whole grain bread, carrots, and the like were all off-limits. Yet, these are the foods that provide energy and help bulk up the stool.

Atkins really promoted a high intake of meat – from bacon through to chicken breast. Dr. Atkins even allowed two to three tablespoons of heavy cream daily.

Plunging into a high protein diet can be hard on the digestive system. The body is not used to that amount of protein, and either is the gut microbiome. I used to regularly see patients at week two or three of the Atkins induction phase with significant constipation. In fact, if you look at the book written by Dr. Atkins, he recommends Metamucil because he knew constipation was going to be an issue.

Ironically, Dr. Atkins was obese when he passed away. I believe that the doctor who designed the South Beach Diet also passed away due to heart disease.

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I am not a fan of high protein diets. If you look at the diets I recommend, they contain protein, but they also include vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, and whole grains like brown rice.

High protein diets can lead to kidney damage. They can also contribute to heart disease, make cholesterol problems worse, and set the stage for significant constipation.

Meat doesn’t contain fiber, which makes its passage through the gut quite slow. It’s essential to balance your protein intake with vegetables and other fiber-containing foods.

I’m not a huge fan of vegan diets, but I am a strong supporter of vegetarian diets. I also support reducing meat intake for anyone following an omnivore diet. Personally, I regularly eat meals that contain no meat at all. I don’t think it’s healthy to eat meat every single day of the week. Animal fat is where toxins are stored, so the more meat you eat, the more toxins you are ingesting.

If the protein in your diet seems to be causing constipation, digestive enzymes may help. It may also help to cut back on the amount of protein you are eating. Fish protein is easier to digest than beef. Some countries, such as England, recommend not eating any more than 250 grams of red meat per week.

My recommendations are to eat less red meat, eat more white meat, and eat more fiber. Those three things will help your constipation quite a lot.

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Questions & Answers

The Impact Of Hydrocodone On Bowel Function

Hydrocodone is an opioid drug used for pain relief. There are many different types of opioids available, and they all serve the same purpose: blocking pain. However, this pain relief can come at a high cost. Opioids work on the nervous system, and when you start impacting that system, there is a trickle-down effect to other systems, including the GI tract.

Hydrocodone has a powerful impact on the digestive system. Dry mouth, constipation, and gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach) are side effects of hydrocodone.

I read an interesting study on hydrocodone that reported this drug paralyzes regions of the small intestine, particularly the middle of the jejunum (the middle section of the small bowel). Hydrocodone slows the movement of stool through the middle of the jejunum. Hydrocodone also decreases the urge to defecate, which further slows the passage of stool through the GI system.

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It makes me wonder why anyone would want to take this medication. I can understand taking painkillers in the immediate aftermath of surgery, but I don’t understand taking hydrocodone chronically. It is crucial not to use opioids to manage personal or emotional issues.

The amount of time I spend in the clinic pointing out the side effects of opioids is astonishing. Many people take hydrocodone for the long-term without making the connection between the drugs and side effects like GI dysfunction.

Like any narcotic, hydrocodone must be used very cautiously. If you are using this drug, my suggestion is that you go see your primary healthcare provider. If at all possible, you’ll want to find a way to get off this medication. The opioid crisis in America is costing a lot of lives, don’t let it ruin yours.

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Questions & Answers

The Impact Of Chocolate On Bowel Function.

Many people have the false belief that any type of chocolate is good for your health. Chocolate is indeed good for you if you eat it in an unprocessed state. Raw cocoa is a very healthy food that is high in flavonoids.

But, if you’re buying the typical chocolate bar available at the grocery store, chances are it is full of sugar, artificial flavor, and unhealthy fats. This type of chocolate isn’t really chocolate as far as I’m concerned. And you shouldn’t be eating it.

There are delicious, high-quality chocolate products available in different tropical areas. But that’s not what you can get at the corner store.

Industrial chocolate can be very constipating food for some people. Particularly in women, chocolate can cause gallbladder and liver problems.

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I’ve seen many people addicted to chocolate – eating two to three candy bars per day. If you eat chocolate regularly and you’re constipated, there may well be a link. There was a survey done some years ago in which people had to identify which foods they considered the most constipating. Chocolate came out on top.

Now, if you have a well-functioning bowel, a couple of squares of 70% cocoa chocolate per day isn’t a problem. Just make sure you can stop at

one or two squares. For a lot of people, chocolate is like wine, it’s hard to stop at one.

Even if you’re only eating high-quality chocolate, you can’t get away with eating a large size bar every day. It’s not healthy to eat that much chocolate, and as a constipating food, you may regret it.

If you are a big chocolate fan, consider adding digestive enzymes to your diet. The enzymes will help break down the fat in chocolate more effectively. However, if you’re constipated, I wouldn’t go this route. I’d give up chocolate entirely.

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Questions & Answers

Manage Your Constipation with CanXida Restore

Probiotics are fantastic for constipation, especially the bifidobacteria strains which live in the large intestine. Probiotics aid the movement of stool through the intestinal tract by lowering the pH. Maintaining an appropriate pH supports digestive processes and suppresses dysbiotic bacteria, parasites, and yeast. Probiotics also increase the power of the immune system.

Through my clinical work, I have noticed that clients with the highest beneficial bacteria counts have the most regular bowel movements. Clients with low numbers of beneficial bacteria tend to have more bloating, gas, and constipation.

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Do yourself a favor and take a probiotic at least once a day if you’re constipated. Better, still, take probiotics mixed with digestive enzymes. This combination is even more effective for constipation than probiotics alone.

If you struggle with constipation, check out CanXida Restore, my product with the green label. CanXida Restore contains several probiotics, including bifidobacteria, and several digestive enzymes.

Take one tablet a day of CanXida Restore with food. It will help your bowel work a lot better. CanXida Restore is particularly useful for constipation if you eat foods that contain prebiotic fibers. However, I strongly recommend against taking a probiotic product that also contains prebiotics. In my experience, that combination can lead to significant GI side effects.

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Questions & Answers

Ferrous or Ferric: Which Iron Should You Take?

There are two main types of iron supplements: ferrous and ferric. Ferrous supplements tend to be less problematic than iron in a ferric form. Ferric iron can only be converted in the body to ferrous iron if there is plenty of vitamin C available.

After you take an iron supplement, it’s a complicated process for the iron to be broken down and absorbed by the small bowel. If the iron doesn’t break down properly, it will end up feeding pathogenic bacteria further down the GI tract. Iron-loving bacteria (also called siderophilic bacteria) can make some people very sick.

If you’re someone who feels quite sick and gets a lot of gas and bloating after taking iron, it’s worth having a comprehensive stool analysis or a SIBO breath test. Find out what kinds of bugs you have lurking in your gut.

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Ferrous supplements are generally not constipating. There are a lot of new iron supplements on the market that have been designed to minimize constipation as a side effect. In addition to tablets, there are liquid iron supplements that won’t slow down your bowel movements.

Some old-fashioned doctors will still prescribe ferric iron. This form of iron can be quite constipating as well as causing nausea and black stool. Some people even vomit from ferric iron supplementation.

If you need iron, take the ferrous form and make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C. You’ll benefit from the iron without suffering significant side effects.

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