High Protein Diet = Diarrhea?

[Kassie B. 1]

I am doing so well eating properly, but off and on for the last few days, I've had diarrhea... stomach cramps and loose stools... Immodium doesn't touch 'em. I've been taking Vitamins, eating fruits & veggies, too, & staying hydrated, but I was just wondering if it's the change to such high Protein eating...

I'm sure I'll adjust, but I figured I'd ask the pros.

[Billy363627 15]

some times a trigger food or drink messes with your bowls. In general a high Protein diet will give you Constipation. The trigger food that messes with me is coffee. I usually drink on cup a day and I drink it and 20 minutes later I am in the bathroom.. Are you eating anything ith a lot of fat or grease in it? sometimes it just happens, but it is usually caused by a trigger food..

[Foxbins 625]

If anything, the Protein stops me up...but I am low-carbing and so few fruits and vegs for me. My Calcium supplement has magnesium citrate in it--if it weren't for the magnesium I'd be stopped up. How much Water are you drinking? Added anything new to you diet recently?

[LissyinTX 1]

I would have to go against what everyone else says and respond with a yes to you. i have a hard time with the Protein Shakes because it leads to bad gas and diarrhea. I think for me though, I have an allergy to the soy and to lactose so I am trying new Proteins. If that is the only part of the diet that you have changed, it could be it.

[ybnormal 21]

I followed Atkins off and on for years and I suffer from IBS, the diarrhea kind and I can tell you that for me personally low carbing it would always "help" to constipate me. That being said, I wasn't eating fruits at all because they're higher in sugar and my veggies were also limited to those that were very low in carbs. Salads would sometimes do it to me but not when I ate romaine lettuce, only the Ice Berg. Lettuce is mostly Water so if that's all you're eating, that may be why.

Slimfast, Atkins shakes, all those would make me run for the bathroom so I cut those totally out. I'm going with a product called New whey simply because it's alot more Protein (I think 42 or 45 grams) for alot less liquid (3.5 oz) and hopefully this one won't bother me as much.

Hope this helps

Renee`

[Nancy Rivers 24]

When I did a liquid diet with a doctor before (it was medifast), I too had diarrhea. When I asked him about it, he told me that it was most likely due to lactose intolerance and to use "lactaid" before each shake. Apparently the lactose that was in those shakes was a different type of lactose that is in milk and cheese (which I can eat with NO issues) and it was that different form that apparently I couldn't tolerate. Using lactaid about 1/2 hour before each shake took care of of the diarrhea for me on that program. I don't know if that is an option for being sleeved, but check into it - it might help.

[Kassie B. 1]

Thanks, everyone... I'm not eating a lot of lettuce, so I know it's not that... I had read that some people react to an abrupt change in diet (adding a lot of Protein suddenly) could cause tummy uproars, but was of the impression it'd be Constipation like you guys have said, not the other... I spoke with my PCM today about it and she said that everyone's different, but to give it a week or two and see if it persists... I've been fine yesterday and today, so... here's hoping I've already adjusted. Thanks for all the input!