Customer Reviews

Fiber Menace: The Truth About the Leading Role of Fiber in Diet Failure, Constipation, Hemorrhoids, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, and Colon Cancer

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I had to order this book via Amazon USA because it is not available in Europe. His basic recommendations, not do eat too much fiber and not to overdose water intake, seem to make sense. His hints how to fight obstipation caused by low-carb/low-fiber-diets are also as reasonable as the recommendation to make the transition vom a high-fiber/carb-diet to a low-fiber/carb one slowly to prevent negative side effects of the carbohydrate withdrawal.

But there are also some serious flaws. First is his completely wrong reception of the cause of Atkins' death. As we know, Atkins died from an accident with severe damage of his skull and brain. At the time of this accident he was not obese at all and did not suffer from heart disease. But Monastyrsky states Atkins died from a cardiac arrest, "unquestionably from obesity-related complications [...] and he died morbidly obese". Monastyrsky also seems not to have really understood the principles behind ketosis. I certainly do NOT endorse the Atkins-Diet nor his very problemable "induction phase", but I really dislike lay-journalists/writers who investigate inaccurately or do not fully understand what they are writing about.

Secondly Mr. Monastyrskys calculations about the daily need of carbohydrates (200 g/day is way to high) and the maximum intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins to allow fat loss are quite weird. He claims that only with NO carbohydrate and max. 1 gram of fats and proteins per kg bodyweight, weightloss would be possible. Following this idea, a person of 75 kg would be allowed to have NO carbohydrates, 75 g fats and 75 g protein per day. This sums up to 975 calories - a very very low energy diet that virtually forces the body to engage all its energy-saving capabilities and will be the best basis for rapid regain of weight after stopping this very questionable approach. "Hello jo-jo". Weight- and fat-loss occurs as a matter of course with every longer lasting reduction of energy-intake below the requirements of the body. There is no scientific proof for Mr. Monastyrskys ideas concerning the required mix of macronutrients at all.

Thirdly Mr. Monastyrksy misinterpretes the term of "waterintoxication" he cites from the Schmidt/Thews-Textbook of physiology. Schmidt/Thews say that taking LARGER AMOUNTS of hypotonic solutions WITHIN A SHORT TIME into the body may cause waterintoxication. This is a wellknown fact inside the medical world, but it is crucial to see the term WITHIN A SHORT TIME, Monastyrsky seems to peculate in his further interpretation. The official recommendation of "8 glasses of water a day" may be questionable, but does of course NOT lead to "water-intoxication" when taken - as supposed - throughout the day. Only taking big amounts of hypotonic fluid all of a sudden may cause problems in the stated way, but nobody recommends this.

Fourthly Mr. Monastyrsky is very eager to promote the selling of his quite expensive food-additives through his website he cites over and over again throughout his book. This is very annoying.

Summary: Mr. Monastyrskys ideas seem to make some sense specially for people who experience problems from consuming too much fiber. But there is no adequate scientific evidence for his allegations. Readers who want to follow his suggestions therefore should be careful not to be drawn into esoteric spheres where they might lose their sense for reality. Monastyrsky might also have considered to publish his thinkings in an article in a medical or journal of nutrition (but that would have arisen the 'danger' of an external quality-control). His basic ideas would fit comfortably in a relatively short article and it does not seem to be necessary to spread it redundantly over more than 280 pages.

This book contradicted the "conventional wisdom" about fiber and water-intake that I had been living under for more than 20 years. The science was laid out in terms that an educated layman could easily grasp, and the refutation of "conventional wisdom" was set forth in a way that was logically inescapable.

I am a hard guy to persuade, but I took the findings of Mr. Monastyrky to heart, and changed my fiber and water intake as he recommended, and within a day or two, my body was functioning better than it had in 20 years.

It was like trying to run a race with lead shoes, and discoverying again what it was like to run, when you got rid of them.

Mr. Monastyrsky's recommendations and reasons will in time replace the misinformation and misdiagnosis about fiber and its supposed benefits that have caused us so much grief. Readers of this book will congratulate themselves that they were years ahead of the curve.

Fiber Menace
By Konstantin Monastrsky
(Pub. by Ageless Press, 2005)

From a symbolic cover illustrating a cereal bowl full of gold screws, the insightful book, Fiber Menace, reveals the disastrous effects that our modern high-fiber nutritional dictates may have on the proper functioning of the digestive system. From purely a perspective of the problems that a high-fiber diet creates--of large stools that stretch the intestinal tract beyond its normal range and eventually cause intestinal damage and bowel problems, including hernias, hemorrhoidal disease, constipation, malnourishment, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease, to drastically upsetting the natural bacterial flora in the intestinal tract--Fiber Menace describes major health issues that can develop from eating what's considered a modern healthy diet that is high in fiber from fiber supplements, grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes.

The book also details the problems with over-hydration. The recommended 8 glasses of water a day may cause problems such as constipation, mineral depletion and imbalances, which can factor in digestive disorders, kidney disease, degenerative bone disease, muscular disorders and even cardiac arrest from electrical dysfunction. Pointing to traditional healthy cultures, we find that people did not drink large quantities of water because a clean water source was not guaranteed. Instead, they stayed hydrated with dairy, fermented beverages and bone broth soups, which have incredible nutrient qualities and are not flushed through the body as plain water.

The author of this book is a brilliant man who suffered a life-threatening illness from years as a vegetarian. Mr. Monastyrsky is a pharmacologist, and after immigrating to the US from the Ukraine, pursued a career in high technology. He worked in two premier Wall Street firms: as a senior systems analyst at First Boston Corporation and as a consultant at Goldman-Sachs & Co. He has also written two best-selling Russian language books, entitled Functional Nutrition: The Foundation of Absolute Health and Longevity, and Disorders of Carbohydrate Metabolism.

I was fascinated with this author's perspective as I also suffered a life-threatening digestive illness and recovered through eating a nutrient-dense diet, which happens to also be a low-fiber diet. For years, I ate lots of fruits and vegetables--mostly raw--ate lots of grains and faithfully drank 8 glasses of water daily. I ate some meat and dairy and very little fat-- and definitely no butter! I developed severe intestinal damage from undiagnosed Celiac disease and a hiatal hernia, but am convinced, from reading this book, that many of my digestive problems may have been equally caused from a high-fiber diet as a factor in the intestinal damage and severe malnutrition that I suffered.

The author discusses that a low fiber diet and not eating anything that your great, great, great, great grandmother wouldn't eat will heal digestive illness. He advocates eating a high protein diet with foods that are easy-to-digest, build up the intestinal bacterial flora and supply ample traditional fat. These are the same principles that I found effective in building health from a very depleted condition.

This book focuses on what not to eat and why. Mr. Monastrysky explains that the human teeth are fashioned to chop flesh and our digestive system is built to handle mainly protein digestion with small amounts of fiber. When we eat too much fiber, digestion lasts longer and fermentation occurs, damaging the bacterial flora and causing problems such as bloating, flatulence and enlarged stools, which can lead to problems such as constipation or diarrhea, IBS, and diverticular disease.

We must consider however, that many healthy cultures successfully ate a mixed diet that included ample fiber from grains, vegetables and fruits. However, the missing component in the success of their diets compared to many modern mixed and vegetarian diets, is that healthy diets supplied adequate fats, vitamin A and D, easy-to-digest bone broth soups, traditionally fermented foods that promote a healthy intestinal flora and high-quality sources of protein. Although Monastrysky suggests high-quality protein, fats, and building intestinal flora as important, he leaves out discussion of the necessity of adequate vitamins A and D. Our modern diets are inadequate for intestinal health not merely because of a fiber issue, but that we lack the crucial components that are found in healthy cultures, in our diets that allow us to absorb nutrients and maintain proper digestive function.

He cautions the reader of problems with switching to a low-fiber diet in the first stages; that it is important to gradually cut down on fiber and make sure you are getting adequate fats and foods that build the intestinal flora. As stools are smaller, the urge to go to the bathroom will be less pronounced, so it is very important to pay attention to the "urge" signal so that the stools don't harden and cause constipation. Interestingly, he points out that a healthy stool is easy to pass, rather small in diameter and is mostly composed of bacteria leaving the body as proteins are digested completely before hand. He also sites that fiber is not necessary to have regular stools, as we have been led to believe, and that some of the healthiest cultures had very little fiber in their diets.

If you're worried about getting enough nutrients in your diet from cutting down on raw vegetables and fruits, remember nutrient-dense foods contain concentrated nutrients from the animals that "chowed" down on literally bushels of fresh green grass to produce a food that contains all of the vitamins and minerals found in fresh produce and more, in a concentrated form that is easy to digest. Also, if you have suffered from any digestive disorder, it is difficult to absorb the vitamins and minerals from raw produce, and raw produce can be extremely irritating to the intestinal tract and keep it from healing. When healing from any digestive disorder, beet kvass, fermented vegetables, vegetables in bone broth soups and steamed vegetables with butter are much better tolerated.

From a perspective of the benefits that a low fiber diet has to optimal digestion, following the Weston Price Foundation's principles of eating nutrient-dense foods for building health will lead you in this same direction. Many thanks to Konstantin Monastyrsky for writing this important book.


Kathryne Pirtle

I would love to tell you how this book has helped me with my daughter. She is 20 years old and has severe cerebral palsy, full care, and in a wheel chair. Among many other problems that occur as a result of this condition she has always had severe bowel problems and constipation. I have been to the hospital, probably, atleast 20 times over the years for being in alot of pain, pain with fevers, pain and fever with seizures, constipation, impaction, & coming away not knowing much. That didn't count all the times I didn't take her to the hospital. The doctors didn't know what to do except give her tranquilizedrs, enemas, suppositories, medicines galore, and no hope because it is all blamed on CP. In July 2007, I spent nine hours in the emergency room with her screaming in pain. Fevers, excruciating pain, constipation, tons of mucus, malabsorption, undigested food, toxic bowel, you name it she had it. She had tons of testing, drugs for tranquilizing, stuff to drink for the C/T scan, anti-nausea drugs, ibuprofen, enema, and more. The upshot was that she was impacted and they suggested 4 doses of Miralax, 5 days of 10mg. of Ducolax, and the big question: Would I consider a colonectomy? I went home and basically cried again. She shouldn't be suffering like this just because she has cerebral palsy.

This summer I fortunately and coincidentally received a new russian speaking aide for my daughter and she was reading one of Mr. Monastyrsky's books in Russian. I was interested, but, didn't quite understand what she was trying to tell me. All I knew was that it was so different from all of the things I have been reading and trying. I looked up the name and found that he just published it in English and I bought it. At the time I was trying enzymes & probiotics again along with a new nutritionist who helped me get her away from fruit juice and drinking water by adding stevia and a little organic black cherry or blueberry fruit juice to color it. Once again we got into trouble with all the symptoms I told you about. After reading the book and using one round of the suggested protocol of L-Glutamine, Ascorbic acid powder and the excellent probiotics, I stopped all grains and legumes which consisted of oatmeal, brown rice, lentils, black eyed peas etc. (I already was not giving her wheat). Now, it has been four months and I only give her one dose of Miralax only because I am afraid to stop but I will try ending even that now. What has happened was TRULY A MIRACLE. SHE IS BASICALLY FREE FROM ALL THE HORRIBLE SYMPTOMS except for very occasional constipation which is not a nightmare anymore. SHE IS SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS. She is alert, happy, and so improved that I see her finally gaining strength and weight and who knows what she can accomplish. I could go on and on. It is so hard for people to make changes when you always hear the opposite of the answer, ie: Fiber, Fiber, Fiber...My suggestion would be to read this book and think out of the box. That last herendous nine hour hospital visit costed my insurance company something like $7000.00. This initial FIBER MENACE remedy for my daughter was the cost of the book and the recommended protocol the author suggested, maybe $120.00.

Fiber Menace is a fascinating read. I received an advanced copy of Fiber Menace for review. Before reading this book, I thought I knew a lot about nutrition. I thought I had a great grasp on fiber's role in our diet and on the importance of consuming plenty of it...Fiber Menace convinced me that the "truths" I had absorbed from other books, articles, and the food industry were in fact highly questionable. Fiber, it turns out, can actually be very harmful in the quantities recommended by the "establishment." Our bodies become addicted to it -- and then depend on it to stay regular. Basically, we get into a vicious cycle. Fiber Menace explains how that happens, what the results are (frightening and not always apparent until later in life) and what to do about it now. Since reading the book, I've changed my diet. For example, I've cut way back on fiber, I don't rely on drinking water to force down the food (as I've discovered this is not how our bodies function), I've stopped forcing myself to drink those 8 glasses of water daily, etc...the result is that I'm already starting to feel better after a relatively short period of time.

Author Konstantin Monastyrsky boldly challenges many truths about diet and nutrition, taking to task Dr. Atkins and many other diet gurus whose teachings many of us had taken as gospel (often with mixed to poor results!). His writing style is very accessible and engaging.

I can truly say after reading "Fiber Menace" by Konstantin Monastyrsky, that a lot of my previous suspicions were confirmed. I'd already been eating pretty low carb and thereby low fiber for several years after having discovered I had a gluten intolerance that caused me to have back to back sinus infections. My doctor suggested avoiding all gluten for a month to see if it might help. Since then I have had no sinus infections whatsoever and have been able to lose some weight as well.

In the book the author states that "If you're healthy and your weight is normal, you may stick with your usual diet, but just cut down on foods high in fiber, such as bran, whole-wheat bread, cereals, or beans. That's
really all you need to change." It may only need to be more strict for people who already have severe digestive disorders.

My diet has of necessity been pretty strict with my gluten intolerance, probably more so than the author would necessarily recommend, but I've found it bears out most of what he says about the digestive system and gut healing when fiber (and a lot of carbs) are withdrawn from the diet for a long time. At one time I'd had a hiatyl hernia and major heartburn, but that healed and I experience no more heartburn. It's sad that in our society we automatically turn to prescription drugs to deal with these things when they are very much curable with diet.

In the last five months, while making a point of cutting down on fiber and excess water consumption, I have lost 31 pounds and my HDL cholesterol has also gone up somewhat, which puts it in the high range. My cardiac risk ratio has gone down significantly as my CRP test showing heart inflammation is also down quite a bit.

I look forward to seeing more from Konstantin Monastyrsky.

L. Myers

This book is impressive. I read it thoroughly, even though I didn't feel its recommendations applied directly to me because I haven't been on any diet, haven't had digestive problems, and have generally followed what would probably be identified as a "moderate diet."

For one thing, it conveys technical (chemical, medical) information in a conversational way that enables a layman like me to understand it. And it writes about a subject not considered to be "discussable" in polite society (i.e. digestion, bowel movements, etc.,) in an open and unaffected way. This is probably the sole time I have read anything at all about this subject. It "puts the subject on the table."

The opening, about Graham and Kellogg, those symbols of healthy diet, is something of a shock to read and discover in their own words, their "philosophies" about food and health. That is almost entirely unknown today.

I have been suffering from severe constipation for many years and tried all the methods known to traditional medicine, including eating fiber, of course.
A year ago I met the author of this book and got help that allowed me to improve my condition dramatically. A lot of what I learned from the author is now available to everyone in this book. It's going to help a lot of people!
If you have any kind of digestive disorder (and constipation, in particular) you must read this.

For years, I thought that by eating Fiber One and Psyllium I was doing my body a favor. As I gradually weaned myself off processed foods and starting eating fresh & fermented fruits and vegetables, good fats like coconut oil & butter, homemade Kombucha & Kefir, low and behold I found that I didn't need all that fake stuff to keep everything moving.

This book describes a condition most of us who eat the Standard American Diet are afflicted with and don't realize it - "disbacteriosis". When fiber eliminates the friendly bacteria throughout our digestive system, we are exposed to a whole host of problems.

Highly recommended for anyone suffering from all digestive related illnesses. As well as for folks who want to avoid them.

The information in this book is solid, easy to read, and practical. It can be implemented, as our family did implement it. I am grateful because my daughter no longer struggles with constipation on an ongoing basis. I no longer fear butter and have not struggled with my weight, either since getting the fiber out. I never would have eaten butter in the past AT ALL but I've had no problem now, as I have employed a low fiber, low carb diet. I have been delighted that I am not bloated off and on anymore, either. My husband likes my basic cooking. The author is very up front about the transition that it will take and gives tools to accomplish it. This works. Don't be discouraged -- there is hope.