Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

1

I started Paleo almost a month ago, and have been having diarrhea every day for about 3 weeks. I have no other problems (no stomach pains or nausea) with it, and am never actually running to the bathroom, just when I go, I have diarrhea. I've heard that this happens to some people because of the high amounts of fat in the Paleo diet, and also that some people's bodies do this as a way of adjusting to the new diet and "healing" itself. Any thoughts or advice on this? Thanks!

flag	asked Aug 13 at 20:16 Taylor 11●1●2

1

Please specify a typical day's diet, that will help us. I'm guessing your body's not used to the fat - better to amp up slowly. Or reduce it. And possibly not enough starchy carbs. I have IBS and I find a little white rice every day helps keep things firm, but not every PaleoHacker is big on rice. – Renee Aug 13 at 22:19

kurtis · Answer 1 · 2012-08-13 21:05:35Z UTC

It's hard to say without knowing what a typical day of eating looks like for you.

It could be too much fat. It could also be too much magnesium. Are you taking any natural calm? Drinking a lot of alcohol?

My poop is pretty much perfect unless I have a lot of coconut milk or grain exposure (including rice & corn). My gf has had some problems when she increased her fat intake yet I do fine on large amounts of animal fat and moderate amounts of coconut.

maeB · Answer 2 · 2012-08-13 21:42:00Z UTC

1

That happened to me the first couple months as well, so your body just may need to adjust. However, around the same time I switched completely to naturally-raised meats it stopped completely, so a hypothesis may be that the fat stores of grain/poorly-fed meat eaten in too-high an amount may cause diarrhea?

answered Aug 13 at 21:42

maeB
51●2

1

hmmmm...I can't see how grain-fed meat could cause diarrhea. I'm thinking it's more related to one's balance of fat, starch, fiber, calcium/magnesium and probiotics. And of course the body adjusting to the diet as well. – Renee Aug 13 at 22:21

I had the same thing when I ate a lot of CAFO meat. I think if someone has sensitivities to soy, grain, pesticides, cottonseed, etc. the byproducts of those most certainly get stored in the fat of the animal, and eating that animal fat can do the same thing as eating those things directly. – Happy Now Aug 20 at 3:04

Solera51 · Answer 3 · 2012-08-19 15:41:48Z UTC

I am having the same problem! I am only on my 4th day, but am feeling discouraged about continuing because of weird diarrhea poop. My typical diet over the last 4 days has been:

Breakfast: 2 eggs with mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes; black coffee; maybe cantalope or a peach
Lunch: Salad with lean meat (chicken breast, pork tenderloin, tuna) and homemade oil and vinegar dressing
Dinner: Lean meat with assorted vegetables (grilled chicken, grilled salmon, grilled pork tenderloin, etc.)
Snack: almonds, raw veggies, some fruit Drinking water all day long, with lemon or lime, with the morning black coffee and the occasional hot tea Advice appreciated!!! Have never had any problems with this - am wondering if I should add back in a morning bowl of oatmeal? Was hoping to go a full 30 days, but don't want to mess up my system where I've never had problems. Help!

Dajep · Answer 4 · 2012-11-14 10:42:05Z UTC

1

If you eat alot of nuts (as many paleoists do) that might be the reason. Many people are sensitive (allergic) to nuts (or certain kinds of nuts)

answered Nov 14 at 10:42

Dajep
11●1

uncle buck · Answer 5 · 2012-08-13 20:58:38Z UTC

0

No help for you, but I'm having the same problem. Strength in numbers!

answered Aug 13 at 20:58

uncle buck
1

Jonathan · Answer 6 · 2012-08-13 21:02:40Z UTC

0

SIBO?

Usually SIBO gets better when you go Paleo, but I've been battling SIBO since before Paleo and now that I've cut out grains and sugars, I'm also confused why I'm still battling it.

answered Aug 13 at 21:02

Jonathan
81●2

Can you state what the acronym stands for please? – PinkPika Aug 13 at 21:35

1

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Where the bacteria in your lower intestine (colon) get up into your small intestine. Aka Leaky Gut. – Renee Aug 13 at 22:18

Thank you for the reply, Renee – PinkPika Aug 19 at 15:26

yuzuquat · Answer 7 · 2012-08-13 22:51:57Z UTC

0

ha thats funny. i was getting quite severe constipation when i started paleo! i guess every body reacts differently :)

answered Aug 13 at 22:51

yuzuquat
141●1●5

Paleo and Diarrhea for 3 weeks?

7 Answers