{"id":3885,"date":"2021-05-26T14:47:18","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T14:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/?post_type=health&#038;p=3885"},"modified":"2021-05-26T14:47:18","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T14:47:18","slug":"vegan-constipation-bloating-gas","status":"publish","type":"health","link":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/health-fitness\/vegan-constipation-bloating-gas\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegan Constipation, Bloating &#038; Gas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-3886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/constipation.jpg\" alt=\"Constipation\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/constipation.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/constipation-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/>We have talked about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/health-fitness\/health-reasons-to-go-vegan\/\">health reasons for going vegan<\/a> at great length and it our firm belief that a vegan diet can be incredibly healthy. It is also the view of the <a title=\"NHS: Vegan Diet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/live-well\/eat-well\/the-vegan-diet\/\">NHS<\/a> who state that with \u201cgood planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs\u201d. It is also, clearly and demonstrably, the opinion of the many world class <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/health-fitness\/vegan-sports-stars\/\">sports stars and athletes who are vegan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Despite this, many falsehoods and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/articles\/vegan-myths\/\">myths about veganism<\/a> remain. One area of concern that is commonly cited is digestion, with people assuming that a plant-based diet means issues, such as constipation, bloating, gas and flatulence are inevitable. In this piece, we will look at vegan digestive issues in general and more specifically try to separate the fact from the fiction when it comes to veganism and the issues mentioned. Does veganism make bloating, gas, constipation and the like worse or does it perhaps even make them better?<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimerbox\">As usual, when it comes to health issues the following information does not represent medical advice. Whilst a healthy vegan diet will \u2013 spoiler alert \u2013 usually help with the conditions mentioned, if you are experiencing any severe pain or ongoing issues in this regard your doctor should be the first port of call.<\/div>\n<h2>Veganism &amp; Constipation<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3889\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gut-health.jpg\" alt=\"Gut health\" width=\"850\" height=\"567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gut-health.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gut-health-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gut-health-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The digestive system is a complex one and an example of how the human body is a wonderful and finely honed piece of machinery. There is still a lot we do not fully understand about digestion and how the body metabolises food and there are many factors that impact upon it. Most of the issues we are looking at in this piece are interrelated too but here we will look most closely at the sometimes very uncomfortable affliction of constipation.<\/p>\n<h3>Causes of Consipation<\/h3>\n<p>Once again we defer to the NHS, who list the following as possible causes of what can be a painful and distressing issue:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Not eating enough fibre<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Not drinking enough liquids<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of movement and\/or sitting\/lying down for too long<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of exercise<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Ignoring or not recognising the urge to go to the toilet<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Changes to daily routine or diet<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Possible side effect of some medicines<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Mental issues, such as anxiety, stress or depression<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Less commonly by some specific medical conditions<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This fairly lengthy list of possible causes, some of which are or can be related to one another, illustrates how the issue of veganism and constipation might be confusing. One of the most likely causes of constipation is a diet that is low in fibre, with the consumption of high-fibre foods the most common, simplest and best home remedy. We talk a little more about this in our feature on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/health-fitness\/natural-laxatives\/\">veganism and natural laxatives<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, changes to one\u2019s diet can cause constipation and, perhaps counterintuitively, this includes adding more fibre to your diet. The body can adjust to many things but equally that means it can get used to many things. If your body is accustomed to a relatively low fibre intake, a sudden increase can throw it out of sync and one of the impacts of this can be constipation.<\/p>\n<p>Constipation caused in this way can often be relieved by drinking more water. However, generally speaking, such issues will pass as your body adjusts to its new fuel. Once it does become accustomed to the higher amount of fibre you are consuming your constipation go away and indeed you are then far less likely to suffer from the issue in the future.<\/p>\n<h3>Men &amp; Women Fibre Intake<\/h3>\n<p>That said, in some cases eating too much fibre can cause more sustained digestive problems. This is rare though, with most people in the UK (as a whole) eating too little fibre. The <a title=\"Fibre Intake In UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.org.uk\/nutritionscience\/nutrients-food-and-ingredients\/dietary-fibre.html\">British Nutrition Foundation<\/a> suggest that men in the UK consume around 20g of fibre per day, with women eating just 17g, both well below the recommended 30g.<\/p>\n<p>Given those numbers it is fair to assume that very few people are reaching the sort of levels of fibre intake required to cause longer term gastrointestinal complications. It is believed that for most people eating up to around 70g of fibre should be fine and indeed the US recommended intake for men is almost 40g per day.<\/p>\n<h3>A Nutritious Vegan Diet Contains Plenty of Fibre<\/h3>\n<p>Veganism fits into this picture because in general vegans consume more fibre than people who consume animal-derived food products. Various studies back this up, including one which showed that <a title=\"Diet Type And Fibre Intake\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/2991173\/\">vegans ate around twice as much fibre as omnivores<\/a>. If you are new to veganism, short-term constipation may even be one of the side effects, sometimes mistakenly believed to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/articles\/meat-withdrawal-when-going-vegan\/\">\u201cmeat withdrawal\u201d<\/a>. However, rather than viewing veganism as a cause of constipation, it is probably better to view it as a way of relieving and avoiding it.<\/p>\n<p>Whilst in the short-term you may experience some changes in your bowel movements, the bigger picture is likely to be positive. Of course, this whole argument is based on the assumption that as a vegan you will be eating more fibre. In general, this is likely to be the case, as research has shown. There is no fibre in animal products, with all dietary fibre coming from plants and vegan staples, such as legumes, nuts, seeds, fruit, veg and wholegrains. Therefore, the various studies are backed up by logic but of course not all vegans will be eating a nutritious, balanced and fibre-packed diet.<\/p>\n<p>Simply going vegan will neither automatically mean you eat more fibre, nor necessarily mean you will avoid constipation. If you eat a very poor vegan diet that lacks the natural foods mentioned above and is instead packed with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/restaurants\/best-vegan-fast-food\/\">vegan fast food<\/a>, processed items and food that is just generally of poor nutritional value, then this may well be the cause of constipation and the other issues we look at. Equally, even a diet packed with fibre may result in constipation if it is accompanied by a lack of water and fluids, too much stress and very limited physical exercise.<\/p>\n<h3>No Direct Link Between Constipation &amp; Veganism<\/h3>\n<p>There is no direct link between veganism in and of itself and constipation. However, a healthy vegan diet that is high in fibre is likely to prevent constipation and relieve it should it occur. That said, a sudden and significant increase in fibre consumption may lead to short-term constipation. This will usually pass very quickly once your body adapts. That said, a diet that is very high in fibre can also cause gastrointestinal problems, such as bloating, gas and constipation.<\/p>\n<h2>Vegan Bloating &amp; Gas\/Wind<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3888\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/bloating.jpg\" alt=\"Bloating\" width=\"850\" height=\"567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/bloating.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/bloating-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/bloating-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When it comes to gas, bloating and constipation, and whether a vegan diet helps or hinders these issues, the answer is largely the same. These are all similar and often related problems and whilst they can all be caused by a range of factors, their link to veganism is broadly equivalent.<\/p>\n<p>Constipation can cause bloating, as can eating too quickly, especially if that means you take in air whilst you eat. Food intolerances and the more serious Coeliac disease (read about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/is-it-vegan\/gluten\/\">veganism and gluten free foods<\/a> here) can also be to blame, as can irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and excess farting or gas.<\/p>\n<h3>Foods Linked to Causing Bloating &amp; Gas<\/h3>\n<p>Clearly, if changes to your diet made when becoming vegan have led to constipation, this might also explain your bloating. Dietary changes may also mean you are eating more of a certain food that you could be intolerant too. However, there are certain foods that are generally more linked to causing bloating.\u00a0Whilst this can vary dramatically from person to person, foods often cited tend to be vegan staples, with the following all possible culprits.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Onions<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and sprouts<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Beans, lentils and legumes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As well as possible causes of bloating, the above are also likely to cause excess wind. In the case of some legumes this can be reduced by soaking them and making sure they are thoroughly cooked but always follow the instructions for the relevant food.<\/p>\n<p>That said, many people complain about simple carbohydrates and refined foods causing bloating, whilst meat is also linked with this and gas. There are a number of variables that affect all of these digestive ailments but when it comes to veganism, most will pass once your body becomes more accustomed to the likely higher fibre intake.<\/p>\n<h3>Veganism Can Help Overall Gut Health<\/h3>\n<p>Once that happens, assuming there are no other explanations for your bloating, gas or wind, as listed above, you should find that such problems are reduced if you are eating a healthy vegan diet. This is because most plants are generally easier for your body to process and digest than certain animal products.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, whilst fibre-rich food can make you feel fuller and does create gasses when it is digested, in general, it is one of the best options for improving overall gut health.<\/p>\n<h3>The British Medical Journal Findings<\/h3>\n<p>A wide range of fibres helps your gut flora to flourish and increasingly scientists and nutrition experts are linking a healthy and varied gut microbiota to a range of better medical outcomes. As a <a title=\"BMJ And Role Of Gut Microbiota\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/content\/361\/bmj.k2179\">British Medical Journal (BMJ) study noted<\/a>, \u201cLower bacterial diversity has been reproducibly observed in people with inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, type 1 diabetes, atopic eczema, coeliac disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and arterial stiffness\u2026\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The BMJ added that recent studies have shown that \u201cmajor increases in dietary fibre can temporarily reduce diversity\u201d which further adds weight to the argument that some of the issues we are talking about here may be related to an adjustment period as your body adapts to a higher level of dietary fibre.<\/p>\n<h2>Tips to Reduce Vegan Gas (Farting) &amp; Bloating<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-3887\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/stomach-acid-farting.jpg\" alt=\"Stomach acid farting\" width=\"350\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/stomach-acid-farting.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/stomach-acid-farting-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/stomach-acid-farting-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>When it comes to constipation, it is very much true that this will pass once your body adapts. You can help this process by slowly transitioning to a diet that is higher in fibre. Obviously, if you have decided to become vegan you will want to do that straight away but it is still possible to gradually introduce your body to a diet that has more fibre. Doing this should certainly reduce the severity of all of these digestive issues.<\/p>\n<p>However, when it comes to farting and bloating, it may not be the case that your body simply needs time to adjust and depending on what sort of foods you are eating a lot of they could be more permanent. There is no reason that a vegan diet per se will lead to these problems but certain types of vegan diets may well do.<\/p>\n<p>Legumes are one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/food-drink\/high-protein-vegan-foods\/\">best vegan sources of protein<\/a> so people, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/health-fitness\/bodybuilding\/\">vegan bodybuilders<\/a>, will quite probably be going pretty hard on the beans, lentils and pulses. Vegan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/health-fitness\/vegan-protein-powder\/\">protein powders<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/health-fitness\/vegan-protein-bars\/\">protein bars<\/a> can limit the sheer volume of such foods some vegans will need to eat but most people, be they pro athletes or just vegans wanting to maintain a healthy diet, do not want to rely solely on protein supplements.<\/p>\n<h3>A Note on Legumes<\/h3>\n<p>Nuts, seeds and other vegan staples, such as <strong>quinoa<\/strong>, can be good sources of protein too but most vegans are going to be eating at least some legumes. Even noe vegans should be though as they are a great source of fibre and minerals as well as protein and are generally considered to be among the healthiest foods out there.<\/p>\n<p>Nutrient-packed though they are, for some, even many people, vegan or not, these foods are going to lead to gas. As said, soaking some beans and lentils can lessen this by making it easier for our bodies to fully digest them.<\/p>\n<h3>Staying Hydrated<\/h3>\n<p>In addition, staying fully hydrated tends to help, especially around mealtimes (though some people find that drinking with food can increase bloating!). That said, avoiding fizzy drinks is likely to help, with plain old (still) water the best option. In addition, cooking vegetables is likely to help as opposed to eating them raw and making sure legumes are properly cooked is also beneficial. Adding ginger, turmeric and cinnamon to dishes can also help.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately though, farting and burping are common and natural bodily functions. Unless they are really excessive or painful you should accept them as such. The many benefits of veganism certainly outweigh a bit of extra gas and it should be noted that many claim that the farts of vegans are far less pungent than those of omnivores. This is not something we are prepared to investigate, however.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3886,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/health\/3885"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/health"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/health"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}