I have 3 questions: (1) It has been my understanding that medication should not be taken with high fiber foods because the medication can go through the intestinal tract too quickly to be absorbed. What about magnesium? If you are taking enough to just about cause diarrhea, is the effect of the medication being compromised? I'm not brave enough to go off my medication yet, although I am now taking 1,000 mg of magnesium. So far I have not had diarrhea. (2) Can you take too much magnesium? If so, other than diarrhea, is there anything dangerous to be aware of. (3) What about fiber and medication? Does anyone know if this is true? I am careful to not eat my high fiber cereal (flax/low carb) 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking my heart medication. Don't want it flushed right out of my body. Should I be concerned about this? Thanks!!

VPH,

The only things that I have read about Mg. overload are, that after you've reached the amt. to be taken, and are taking it for a while, the body will then have built its stores back up. You will supposedly know this when diarrhea starts happening, then you back down to 400mg. Also, Mg. overdose causes sleepiness and depression of the CNS, per Great Smokies lab report.

Richard

When considering fiber intake, bear in mind that the issue is transit time, or the amount of time it takes for ingested food to make its way through the digestive process, to include excretion. The fiber you eat today will take a day (at the very least ) to make its way through your system. In most cases, an individual's transit time can be upwards of 36-48 hours, even longer when too little fiber is ingested daily. Check into the issue of soluble and insoluble fiber (wheat vs oat, for example) for the effects on cholesterol, as well as transit time.

In essence, you cannot "flush" nutrients out of your body on the same day you ingest fiber. Your excretion today is largely the result of your diet two days ago.

Jerry,

That which I eat typically passes thro after 14-20 hours..... at least beetroot does at any rate!

Mike F.

My transit time seems to be about 12 hours. Last nights tea is always evident in the morning. It is more noticeable if I have eaten oat cakes when cheating. As this changes them completely.

Fran

Jerry,

I haven't seen you post in a while, and wondered what the heck happened to you. Hope all is well with you. I've rec'd. all my tests and had my meeting with Dr. Gersten, last week. I've been studying like crazy, to get an even better understanding of what's going on within my body. I'd be interested to know how your test results turned out. If you're willing to share, I'm all ears, or should I say, eyes.

I'm trying to make some sort of order, out of all of it, even though the doctor laid out a well thought out plan. My wife and I made a spread sheet last night, on all the supplements, and their ingredients, the doctor wants me to take, as the list is extensive; twenty five supps to be exact, including tryptophan. It was good that we did a spread sheet, as the Ca. was too high, in combination with other supplements. It was coming in at about 1800mg per day. I've been Paleo now for about 9 mths., and, although, flecainide is working well again, I have had two breakthroughs now, one more recent, that I hadn't mentioned here.

I'd be curious, if you have anything to share, if you so desire. Take care.

Richard