Can too much fiber upset your stomach?

An overload of fiber in your diet can cause diarrhea and worsen irritable bowel syndrome. Typically, a form of fiber is used to treat these problems. Because fiber soaks up a lot of water, it generally bulks up your stools and smooths their page out of your system. However, excessive fiber can speed this process up. Here again, you need to go slowly in fiber intake. Also, be sure to eat a variety of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fibers form a gel-like coating in your intestinal tract, which delays the emptying of your stomach. Insoluble fiber doesn't dissolve in water and has an effect similar to laxatives. Sources of soluble fiber include oatmeal, lentils, apples, oat bran, beans and peas. Insoluble fiber sources include nuts, barley, bulgur, raisins and the skins of root vegetables.