# High-fiber diet bad for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879 "2010-05-18T14:01:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879/1 "2010-05-18T14:01:44Z")
My MIL just came back from a doctor’s visit for a digestive complaint with the following instructions: - Bland diet (OK) - No fatty or fried foods (OK) - No alcohol (OK) - “No hi-fiber foods, such as nuts” (WTF?) Someone help me understand this. First off, fiber is considered important for intestinal health and smooth function. I don’t know why on earth it would ever be considered bad. Secondarily, nuts are fatty foods, and AFAIK aren’t considered in the “hi-fiber” category. Can anyone shed light on this? Obviously this is not a request for medical advice as she is under the care of a doctor; I’m just asking how any of this makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879/2 "2010-05-18T14:06:10Z")
Low fiber diets are recommended for those needing bowel rest. Often, folks who are on chemo or radiation may need this diet, but also some folks whose intestines are hyperactive may find that they have fewer symptoms with less fiber. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879/3 "2010-05-18T14:08:52Z")
"Bad?’ no Possibly irritating to whatever her current condition is? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879/4 "2010-05-18T14:37:16Z")
This is a good example of not taking someone else medical advice and applying it to yourself (or making generalizations). Obviously her doctor is treating her for a specific condition. Myself, a high fiber diet (along with exercise) has helped lower my bad cholesterol and raise my good cholesterol levels into areas I never thought achievable and I thank my doctor for prodding into doing so. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879/5 "2010-05-18T15:01:15Z")
What QtM said. Yes, as a general rule, most of us should eat lots of fiber, but there are specific conditions (hyperthyroidism, diverticulitis, IBD, pre-surgery and more) where low fiber is better for some people. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879/6 "2010-05-18T15:23:03Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > This is a good example of not taking someone else medical advice and applying it to yourself (or making generalizations). It’s a good example of a General Question. Asked and answered in post 2, move along please. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879/7 "2010-05-18T15:45:12Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Low fiber diets are recommended for those needing bowel rest. \ What a…descriptive term. I’m going to try to work that into conversation now. 🙂 I’ve been battling with stomach/intestinal problems for years now, and one thing I’ve learned is it’s far from an exact science. Basically you go to the doctor, she says try low fibre, that doesn’t work, she says try high fibre, etc. etc. Someone posted on this board recently that metamucil three times a day is really helping their IBS. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-fiber-diet-bad-for-you/539879/8 "2010-05-18T16:54:18Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’ve been battling with stomach/intestinal problems for years now, and one thing I’ve learned is it’s far from an exact science. Basically you go to the doctor, she says try low fibre, that doesn’t work, she says try high fibre, etc. etc. Someone posted on this board recently that metamucil three times a day is really helping their IBS. The bowel has a mind of its own, and our understanding of why it does what it does is only slightly more advanced than our understanding of the human brain and mind.