Customer Reviews (37) 
takes 'you are what you eat' to the next phase
Even as a younger healthy person, I suffered from intermittent constipation in my teens, 20's and 30's. In 1997 I had a career change and studied to be a personal trainer. That bought about an interest in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. That lead to low CHO/low gluten/higher fat&protein eating and a change in exercise routine (suffice to say that I feel the same way about Spinning classes that Konstantin Monastyrsky feels about All Bran). Over the years, my persistent intestinal problems gradually improved...especially when I cut most legumes from my diet. I also lost a few of those last cosmetic pounds that most women find impossible to shed.As of 3 years ago, my internist suggested that I up my magnesium supplementation and take omega-3 fish oil caps. I've not been constipated since (even when I travel). So how did I come to read I Konstantin Monastyrsky's book?
As I said, everything had been moving right along until my second(I'm now 56 years old)colonoscopy this past June. A week after the procedure, I still hadn't 'gone'.After that, I had to use suppositories to get things moving again, but I was still out of sorts (type 1 on the BSF scale) compared to regularitybefore the procedure. Concerned, I typed "constipated 3 weeks after colonoscopy" into Google. Well, I got many hits...all of them from patients on message boards, but absolutely nothing on Medscape, WebMD, etc that either predicted the problem, or suggested remedies for it. Most patients who posted messages said that their MD's said that the post-endoscopy constipation was "no big deal" and prescribed fiber laxitives. Mr. Monastyrsky's web site was the only one that addressed the issue on his "Death by Colonoscopy" page. I went on to read his other articles. It gave me a lot to think about, but also some reasonable remedies.
Knowing something about nutrition, and the need to replace intestinal flora after anti-biotics or stomach viruses, I followed his sensible advice (started taking a good pro-biotic and eating 3 oz of full fat Greek yogurt a day...things are starting to move along again) and decided to order his book:
For me, it is preaching to the converted...by personal experience I am in 99% agreement with Mr. Monastyrsky's theories. The book contains a lot of dense anatomical and physiological terminology that is distilled into an easy to read format...quite well written, particularly by someone for whom English is not a first language. Other reviewers have criticized the author for needless repetition, but I can see the reason behind the re-iteration being cause and effect regarding fiber's impact on multiple diseases, conditions and syndromes.If "The Fiber Menace" had not been self published, a commercial publisher probably would have excluded the most interesting chapters that describe the individual pathologies impacted by fiber consumption and then replaced them with 50 pages of PhotoShopped before and after pictures along with useless recipes to 'bulk up' the book (a metaphor for fiber).
Unlike a couple critical reviewers, I don't begrudge anyone's right to make money from the sale of a worthwhile product. I believe that anyone who puts the kind of time and effort that Mr. M has into researching and writing a worthwhile book and web site should be able to profit from his time and knowledge. If Jamie Lee Curtis can be paid big bucks for hawking the over-processed Activia goop that passes as 'natural' yogurt, than Mr.Monastyrsky can sell pharmaceutical grade supplements (as long as they are as he represents them).
There was one technical matter I take issue with and that appears on page 64 where Mr. M says that the liver converts proteins and fatty acids into glucose. This is a misnomer: Gluconeogenesis does indeed convert protein into glucose, but not cannot convert fat (Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry pg 613). The only element of a fatty acid that can be converted to glucose is the glycerol componant of a triglyceride. His dismissal of ketosis is thus a little misleading because ketones are indeed created when the body runs short of stored or dietary glucose and must break down free fatty acids into small enough carbon units to pass into and energize the brain. (Later in the book, however, Mr. M accurately describes gluconeogenesis as the process by which lean tissue is broken down and converted into glucose.)
But Mr. Monastyrsky's conclusions about the Atkins diet and his elegant explanation of phantom weight loss comports with what I have learned about misconceptions of so-called "ketogenic" type diets . I could write my own book about that as I have spent 12 years attempting to convince clients that ketosis is not the magical metabolic nirvana that Atkins marketing claimed it to be. "Fiber Menace" has given me vocabulary to clarify my explanation in the future.
There are a few other points that may cause confusion: At one point in the book, Mr. M states that hi protein meals should be limited to one a day (again, his reasoning is understandable...that it takes a lot of organ resources to digest protein)...but if one is cutting down on carbs and fiber, and fats accompany animal proteins in their natural state, what else is there to eat beside CHO? I think what the author should have said (but didn't because his stated mission is not a 'diet book' per se), is that when total calories are reduced, so are the stresses on the body's digestive organs...that if one is over eating 50% more calories than are necessary, converting those calories from CHO to protein/fat will be a minor improvement on over stressed organs. But again, his advice of gradual downward titration from CHO to higher levels of Fat and protein is otherwise clear.
I think the author would have better served his average reader by including more specific macronutrient balance guidelines. There is only instance where he gives an indication of how much daily fiber is advisable. There is also some confusion about the difference between soluble (which he says is digest able and may help intestinal flora) and insoluble fiber (which is not) that could have been explained better. I wish he had a more comprehensive list of foods that contain both kinds of fiber than the limited one in the last chapter. But, as Mr. Monastyrsky says at the end of the book, there are many other sources of that information available in book stores or the internet.
Water: I liked his advice about appropriate hydration, although I have been convinced from other reading that minerals in 'mineral water' are in-organic and as such cannot be absorbed. As another reviewer said, the author reaches an exaggerated conclusion about toxic results of over-hydration (although there was a famous case of a woman dying in NYC from drinking gallons of water in a very short period of time and while holding her urine in order to win a computer game contest). I can tell you that about 10 years ago, I was induced to try a 'Super-Hydration' program of drinking a gallon of water a day. After a year, I had little to show for it other than huge quantities of expensive urine. Subsequently I drink only water only when I'm thirsty (no juice or milk) and never during meals and have suffered no effects of de-hydration (constipation or otherwise) since.
This is a worthwhile read. Because of social mores, we tend to ignore the warnings of digestive distress. This is at our peril. A cat owner can tell you that one of the only ways to detect sickness in a feline early enough to do something about it is to observe what they leave in their litter box (perhaps it is true that most important lessons can be learned from your pet).
Reading The Fiber Menace will contribute much valuable information to anyone who is concerned about their own health and that of their loved ones.
god like yet simplistic.IBS-C victim
At the young age of 21 I was struck down by ibs-c.now! I'm 22 years old at the pinnacle of health due to fiber menace.This book is more like a bible.it has kept my life from shambles when the doctors sent me around town to specialists which resulted in more fiber and less hope.On the other side of all this, im glad that I have encountered this problem.I was vegan/vegetarian for 3 years and now I have frowned upon the ignorance I bestowed upon.you will learn that low carbing/fibering is the best thing for you IF DONE CORRECTLY! I was never a big fan of fiber (post diagnosis) seeing as it bloated me with the "daily amount" recommendation.I feel like my entire life has been mislead with a so called healthy conscience.Read this book; it will change your life and mark my words.Follow every step from dietary fat to high grade supplements. I went from years of straining, hard stools and hemmoroids to easy/senseless stools.Now! you tell me while being a vegetarian why should I have digestive problems with the innocent carbs and fiber plan ? Death becomes you if you follow what you have been lured into.I don't let anyone tell me how unhealthy it seems.Read and learn what Konstantin has to say. The logic is accurate and he was a sufferer of IBS and other illnesses as well.There is more than just digestive problems the longevity diet can prevent.Get the book and see for yourself.I could persist to proclaim what I have been taught from this blessing. Lets just say I owe Konstantin more than just this review.
when the doctors told me lifelong.... i found Konstantin's studies and...... he gave me a long life!!
Not just about fibre
This extremely useful book gives the reader a complete understanding of how the human digestive system is supposed to work and debunks many myths both past and present. Whatever issues you may have with digestion, I can guarantee that this book will cover it. Although the focus is on the damaging effects of too much fibre, there is a vast amount of helpful information not only on how to keep one's system running smoothly but also how to recover from any damage already done, even if serious.
This would be an excellent book if it was not for the massive amount of unnecessary repetition which detracts from the well-researched content. Unfortunately this made the book harder to read and at times a little confusing, although obviously the author is motivated by an intense desire to help and inform the reader which is laudable. A more concise volume would be easier to absorb and retain, however, anyone seeking an answer to a specific problem should find what they are looking for.
The fiber theory in this book is TRUE
It seems we barely know what is really good for our bodies. Until dramatic progress in molecular biology are made, we are in the dark and can only experiment. I believe entire walls of concepts will collapseas we gain knowledge.
The fiber myth might well be one of them. As the author says, some population like Inuits live with extremely low levels of fibers, and to my knowledge, they are not reputed to be the most constipated / unhealthy people on the planet.
Anyway, the principles in this book have changed my life and there is not a single day that I don't benefit from what I learned.
My story is a long one so I will try to make it short, although I could write a book about it (and thinking of creating a website).
I have a tendency to constipation. Since I was a kid. Since no medical condition could justify it (I exercise, drink water, got a colonoscopy, feces analysis, blood analysis, rectal examination....) I wastold to increase fibers ingestion by certified doctors here in france.
So I tried to load myself with brans. Did it for years. Retrospectively, I well see it didn't help AT ALL.
Like 10 years ago I bought a new brands of cereals, rich in fibers, with dried fruits. Tasted so good I ate a lot of it. This lead to a fecalom, which is an obstruction of the colon by huge amount of feces. Constipation is NOT a problem of quantity of stool. It's not because you don't produce enough feces that you don't have your bowels movements. So fiber megadosage is totally useless and in my case resulted in accumulation in a fecalome that I had to remove with my finger, millimeter by millimeter, which took 36 hours. This clearly showed me the real DANGER of hard, insoluble fibers, and since this medieval torture day, I totally reduced my voluntary intake of fibers from cereals products.
So now that I had to stop the brans, how would I fight against constipation ?
I started to supplement my diet with cruciferous and fruits. What was the result: endless bloating and alternate of constipation to diarrhea. I spent next years with gut troubles, gas, and diarrhea. This was different from the effects of the bran fibers: cereals fibers didn't created diarrhea and pain, it was another kind of gut trauma. It culminated about two years ago, while on a high fiber diet from vegetables (particularly cruciferous), I would only have 1 or two bowel movements per week, only diarhea. Went to see a doc, got feces analysis, and doc recommended even more fibers from bulk laxative. It didn't help at all. Couldn't make love to my girlfriend anymore because i felt so unconfortable. Life was ruined, I was bloated like a balloon, still, couldn't have a normal bowel movement without diarrhea. Life was ruined.
A desperate search on amazon about constipation got me a listing of a few books, including this one. The title immediately got my attention, since this was the first ever resource that has a negative stance against fibers.
I ordered the book, read it.
After two years following the principles in this book, I can testify that its foundations are correct: fibers are generally not good for human guts and cause more trouble than they solve. It doesn't mean you must totally suppress them, since there are some in all kind of food, but it is criminal to voluntarily increase their consumption to solve problems such as constipation. Fibers can have traumatic effects on the very fragile equilibrium of intestinal flora.
Having suppressed all brans and cruciferous fibers from my diet (I still consume cooked vegetables and moderate fruits), I have virtually eliminated all bloating, diarrhea, and pain in the gut.
This didn't cured my chronic constipation, but this book thought me ways to improve my condition dramatically: to keep my feces hydrated and easy to pass, I cultivate the flora of my guts and I supplement in minerals. I may sometime supplement with macrogol molecule, which is not recommended by author. If ever I got a constipation day, I will do a C flush in the next morning that will put me right back on track with a 100% efficiency. All this I learned from this book.
Do do this, I alternate with products found in this book, but since formula is on products, I see myself purchasing alternative brands: you are really not forced into the products in this book: I certainly don't think this book is only a trick by the author to sell his products: my life was radically, positively altered by what I learned in this book.
So what are the results after a couple of years of applying the principle thought in this book: I can spend entire consecutive WEEKS with a daily normal bowel movement, with a looooong stool. No pain. No diarrhea. I forgot I was able to produce these long normal stools instead of those solid little rocks I could have used to break a window.
I feel so sorry now when I see all these people consume these huge salads of cruciferous andthen complain of bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. I try to tell them that what they it isn't physiologically adapted to their gut but they don't want to listen: they absolutely want to consume their fibers and 2 liters of water.
The world needs to know.
Sounds Reasonable, But Is It True?
A lot of this book talks about the diseases of the alimentary canal and the author's reasoning as to why fiber is a culprit. This can all be skimmed. As far as advice goes, the author suggests that healthy individuals merely cut back on their fiber intake. (The not-so-healthy need a stricter regimen.)
After a month of reduced fiber intake, I see no change in my bowel situation. This isn't all that bad, since after 30 years of All Bran breakfasts and double-vegetable portions, I'm happy as a clam to be eating Cheerios and macaroni-and-cheese again.
Late in the book, the author directs us to his website, where he's selling various health supplements. (An "aha!" moment, to be sure.) Curiously, after harping throughout the book about the important role of potassium in our diets, his highly-touted Hydro-C supplement has just a tiny amount of it -- a minuscule 1% of the daily requirement! This leads me to question almost everything in this book (which directly contradicts what everyone else on Earth is saying: "More fiber! More water!").
If you're overdoing the fiber, I suggest you cut back and see what happens. Overall, be skeptical.
UPDATE: After several months, I'm glad I read this book. I've stuck with my reduced fiber (i.e., normal) diet, and the bowel situation is a bit better than on the high fiber diet. I take Miralax about twice a week to keep things rolling along, so to speak, but this is far better than daily doses of All Bran and broccoli. These days it does seem odd whenever I hear the mantra to stuff my face with tons of indigestible food matter; the author may actually be on to something.
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