Wheat

Body: 

I'm interested in the effect of eating wheat on BMs.

I'm eating a lot of fibre - I can't fit in any more into my day (I'm not a huge eater anyway) and I heard that eating over 40g of fibre a day affects the absorption of calcium, iron etc. I'm trying to gain most from food sources, as well as a couple of doses of metamucil. But I'm still having trouble with BM's and get pain from rectal pressure.

My mum suggested cutting out wheat and I've read on here that a lot of you don't eat wheat products. But I'm wondering if that has to do with your prolapses or if it's just a healthier way of eating. My mum hasn't got prolapse but has cut out wheat as she feels better for it. So, I'm going to try it and see if it makes a difference. What do you think?

I personally have significantly decreased my consuption of wheat. mostly because I was trying to watch my weight gain while I was pg (I typically gain over 45 lb) and I didn't want to limit my protein or fruit consumption. the habit kinda stuck once the baby was born and now when I eat alot of wheat (say, over two slices of bread) in one day I feel it. not so much in the prolapse, but my digestive system definitely lets me know it isn't happy. I can eat more whole wheat than white flour, but I limit the whole wheat too.

anyway, why not give it a try? you've got nothing to lose and if you see no difference you can always add it back in to your diet. my only recommendation, and this is any time you want to make a major dietary change, is to make sure you have plenty of other foods around that you will eat instead. much harder to stick to it if you are hungry.

I think my daughter has a problem with wheat, she's 23, so she can take care of herself, but I tried to make some muffins out of rice flour, and they were really good.

Red Mill flours and grains have a lot of substitutes for wheat.

Judy

Hi All

I reckon if you try cutting out a food altogether for a few weeks, you will know if it is bad for you, because unpleasant symptoms will ease or disappear.

I also figure that a more diverse diet is better than a more limited diet.

There are no magic bullets in the food line. All foods are good. If you eat a lot of one food it makes less room for the other foods.

A variety of grains is better than a diet heavy in one particular grain. Whole grains are better for the body than refined grains.

Likewise with fruits, vegetables, fats, sugars, protein sources etc, more variety is better.

Use salt only where it is needed, then you can have as much you like on ya chips (fries)!

The healthy food triangle makes good sense.

Make sure you include a little good quality chocolate.

After that it is whatever rocks your boat!

Eat to live, not live to eat.

Cheers

Louise

The interesting thing is that when we switch to whole grains to add fiber we also gain compounds such as phytates which in excess can bind with minerals such as calcium and cause trouble. Wheat is particularly high in these substances, sometimes called "antinutrients". An antidote to this is to soak grains overnight in an acid medium before baking with them. You can also sprout the wheat or ferment it like in sourdough. I find it easier just to limit my wheat consumption. You can find more info at the Weston Price Foundation www.westonaprice.org or at www.suegregg.com (go to the directory and click on "talking food pages" either 2 stage process or sprouted bread.)