Did you know: Seeing undigested food in our stool is more-often-than-not normal?
In clinic, many patients tell me they avoid certain foods after noticing them in their stool, assuming they can’t digest or tolerate them.
But the fact is, we don't break down some parts of certain foods meaning we may see these in our stool, and that's very normal.
This is due to insoluble fibre - found in foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds - which doesn’t dissolve in water. Sweetcorn is a great example of this!
Our body absorbs the nutrients it needs from these foods, but the insoluble fibre moves through our gut largely intact. It helps add bulk to stool, supports regular bowel movements, and can even aid gut health.
If our stools are well formed, like a sausage, we may not see these undigested bits of food but if we have looser stools, perhaps due to a flare, a stoma or a J-Pouch, these undigested food particles may be more visible.
There are some instances where reducing or breaking down this insoluble fibre may be needed, such as:
during a flare
post surgery, or
with strictures
But any changes to your diet should be made under the guidance of an IBD specialist nutritionist or dietitian.
However, if you have persistent diarrhoea or changes in your stool, unexplained weight loss, and other GI symptoms like pain, bloating and gas that are unexplained, alongside undigested food in your stool, its always good to check with your GP or IBD team.
So... Avoiding foods you see in your stool isn’t necessary!
Over-restricting our diet unnecessarily can make eating stressful, increase our risk of nutrient deficiency, and make it harder to maintain healthy balanced diet.
If you’ve been avoiding certain foods consider working with an IBD specialist to explore safe ways to reintroduce them and support your overall health.
If you would like support with your IBD, we can help you.
We are a nutrition and dietetics clinic specialising providing exceptional care to improve the quality of life of people living with IBD. We bring clarity around food and IBD and remove uncertainty and fear around food.
Our IBD specialist Nutritionist (Clemmie) and specialist gastroenterology and IBD Dietician (Jess) both have IBD too so ‘get it’ and are so passionate about helping others with IBD.
If you would like support with your IBD please book a free initial call via the button below so we can find out more about you, discuss how we can help and take you through our appointment options.
Disclaimer: All content found on the nalmclinic.com website, including: text, video, or other formats have been created for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor, consultant or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
We are all wonderfully unique and what works for one person may not work for another so please seek help and advice before changing your diet to work out the right way forward for you.