DEAR HARRIETTE: After upping my fiber intake following a trip to my doctor, I have been having a very rumbly stomach. I need to pass gas much more frequently than in the past. I've been eating a ton of beans and broccoli, so my weight is going down, but my embarrassment has been going up. Sometimes I cannot even excuse myself. What can I do about this completely mortifying problem? My doctor did not tell me to expect this. -- Toot Trouble, Brooklyn, New York
DEAR TOOT TROUBLE: The first thing you should do is call your doctor. Check in with him and describe exactly what your diet has been, including what the increase in fiber has been. Your doctor may choose to have you modify the quantity of fiber that you are consuming.
You should also drink a lot of water. In order for the fiber and nutrients to move through your body easefully, you need to be properly hydrated. Adding fiber without balancing that addition with at least an equal amount of water could be clogging your system rather than helping it to cleanse.
Finally, do some research on fiber sources. Beans are known to produce gas for many people. Look for foods that are gentler on your system that will lead to the same goal.