Too much fiber? The other side to a good story....

I too have been guilty of this -- of writing columns in which I have advocated lots of fiber as a godsend to fat loss goals... I have since become a bit chary about this "too much" thing-- and a lot of it because of my yoga background and the Bihar school of books which write about not having too much fiber after fasting etc..

Read this article by me in Rediff.com here for what all I have learnt on this topic, since my greenhorn days as the know-it-all:)


Shameem Akhtar

Intake of excessive fibre can lead to electrolytic imbalance, fatigue, excessive gas, inflammation of the intestinal tract indigestion and acid reflux.
Fibre is touted as a miraculous stuff that can do wonders not just with weight control but also with your overall health. Every food item -- from biscuits, to cereals, even cooking oils -- are using loud speakers to announce the high fibre content in their products. Then, of course, spooning in fibre must be the best thing you did to your body.
Nobody is talking of moderation or circumspection. But perhaps it may be the time to do just that, advises Shameem Akthar, yogacharya trained with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center.
She offers circumstances when too much of a good thing can be actually bad. And why, it is best to understand what you wish from your fibre-intake before you go rushing into self-prescribe...