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Comment by tonyedgecombe | Hacker News Reader

Poor diet seems most likely. In particular too much focus on protein and not enough fibre.

Most people get enough protein but only 5% of Americans get enough fibre in their diet.

I wonder how much of that is because if you hear fiber is good for you and then you start doing fiber supplements or eating foods with more fiber, you immediately get gassy for like four days and it hurts. So one just goes, I'll just keep eating hamburgers then...

Apparently (heard from several sources, haven't tried myself), sticking with it for a few weeks causes your gut biome to adapt, then you gas anymore.

That's correct. Also, avoid refined gassy fibers like inulin. Psyllium and acacia are among the best, especially when increased gradually and with enough water. Remember to take them 2+ hours away from medicines.

i concur, a few weeks is all it takes to get completely accustomed to massive fiber intake. I bio-hacked myself to "pass" a cholesterol screen to avoid getting statins. so for 3 months i basically switched to extremely high fiber (steel-cut oats, fruits, vegetables, beans, mushrooms, whole-grain everything). the first couple of weeks did suck, but now it's just normal and i don't see what the big deal about eating healthy is.

Like, chicken nuggets make me slightly nauseous now. they probably always did, but i always feel/felt poor after eating, for decades. Now i know it's because it's not healthy. (obviously).

I have never heard anything negative about high fiber consumption other than "gas".

thanks for the 2+ hours away from medicine for supplemental fiber. curious if i have a medicine i am supposed to take "with food" - 350 kcal to be exact - should i avoid high fiber for that "meal"? 350kcal is a lot or a little, depending on what you're eating. It's like 5 eggs, or a small-ish candy bar.

Psyllium and acacia cause almost no problem gas. Acacia does ferment but slowly, so the gas is not even noticed. You absolutely must avoid bulk gel-forming supplemental fibers such as these around all medicines and supplements. You don't need to avoid medicines around high-fiber foods alone though.

thank you very much. I will, of course, consult with my PCP as well. I told him what i was doing when he said "your cholesterol is approaching 'too high'", i came up with a researched plan, and gave him the details. So he got to see, too, exactly how fast a dedicated person can change their blood chemistry. Maybe they had seen before, who knows, but for sure, they noticed it this time.

When he called after the second test, 3 months after the first (12 weeks), you could hear the smile and excitement over the phone. "Giddy" almost. And this is a Dr. a few years from retirement, according to him...

You're a hero to accomplish it how you did. Psyllium will make it easier.

Your PCP may not really have experience with supplemental fibers. From a safety pov, people go wrong with it by drinking insufficient water, or if they have swallowing difficulty, or if there is an insufficient gap with meds.

With regard to foods, also 1 tbsp milled flaxseed is a godsend, but drink water after eating it too.

Pantethine is a safe and interesting supplement to consider for lipid profile optimization.

Like you, I no longer crave chicken now, although I do supplement almost all micronutrients.

Several factors related to eating habits may play a role, including poor diet quality, protein and fiber intake, consumption of ultra-processed foods, and exposure to hormones and chemicals that are banned in some other countries.

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