Loose Stool

[Issangeorge]

A question I have been having a runny stool recently, not diarrhea, but my stool is quite often loose. Recently I have been eating a lot of oatmeal in various forms, and cashew nuts. Would that cause my stool to be loose? I am not sick, feel great, and there is no visible blood in the stool. I don't really want to go to the doctor if it is nothing to be concerned about and just caused by my change if diet.

[Sheryl]

Oatmeal is high in fiber and would increase the volume and softness of stool but not usually to the point of being watery unless you are really overdoing it.

If it is not watery, just very soft, then I would not worry about it.

[Issangeorge]

Not really watery, more like a cow plop, probably just the fibre. I have been lax on eating fibre, and trying to lower my LDL so eating a lot more now.

[Sheryl]

Yes, its the fiber. Not to worry.

[Issangeorge]

Thanks. Saves a trip to the doc.

[arjunadawn]

Gosh this reminds me once my mother sent me a care package overseas. It contained my favorite shredded wheat cereal. I only had x amount of milk and knew I could get no more safe milk before the cereal went bad so I ate the box over two days. Result? Same as this OP. At least you get a cleanse of sorts. Feel better.

[Jingthing]

Fiber is your friend.

Here is probably more than you want to know about it:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/national/fiber/1940/?hpid=hp_no-name_graphic-story-b%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Fiber comes in two types. The first kind, soluble fiber, forms a gel when

mixed with water and puts the goo in such

foods as oatmeal and lentils. It works like

tiny brooms, grabbing cholesterol from

digestive juices and sweeping it out of our

bodies, said Boston University nutrition

professor Joan Salge Blake.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Jingthing

[Schillaci]

Oatmeal should do the opposite, from what ive read, as its a source of fibre it should contribute to hardening the stool. The bristol chart can be helpful if you google it.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Schillaci