What food is best for constipation

Índice Show

4. Dried Fruit... especially Prunes
5. Raw green vegetables
7. Yogurt and kefir
8. Healthy fats
10. Chia Seeds

Chances are you've experienced constipation at one point or another. If the problem is more than occasional or includes severe pain or bleeding, it's important to check in with your doctor, as these symptoms can be a sign of a more serious digestive disorder. But in most cases, constipation is just a sign that your diet needs more fiber and likely fluid as well.

According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommended dietary allowances, women ages 31 to 50 should aim to eat at least 25 grams (g) of fiber daily, while men in that age range should eat about 38 g. And as we grow older, our fiber requirements drop: Women 51 and older need about 21 g daily, while men should get at least 30 g of fiber. Getting adequate fiber has longed been known to play an important role in maintaining weight and helping prevent obesity. And a growing body of research, such as that discussed in a review published in January 2013 in Advances in Nutrition, suggests dietary fiber plays a key role in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, which affects several other aspects of our health.

If you need to increase your fiber, add it to your diet gradually to avoid bloating. You don't want to suddenly go from eating 10 g of fiber a day to 25 g, says Charlene Prather, MD, MPH, a professor of internal medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Also, when adding more fiber-filled foods to your diet, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to help the fiber flow properly through your digestive tract.

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For a sweet constipation remedy, take your pick of luscious raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. “All are examples of fruits that have a good amount of fiber,” Dr. Prather says. A cup of fresh strawberries provides 3 g of fiber, while the same size serving of blackberries will provide 7.6 g, and raspberries 8 g. Berries are low in calories, so you can eat a big bowl of plain berries with low-fat whipped cream as dessert, toss them on your breakfast cereal, or mix them into pancakes.

“Popcorn is a great low-calorie way to get more fiber in your diet,” Prather says. But if you pile on the salt and butter, you could undo some of its benefits. Go for air-popped popcorn or a healthy variety of microwave popcorn. Popcorn is a whole grain, and increasing the whole grains in your diet is an effective constipation remedy.

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Cup for cup, beans and lentils provide twice as much fiber as most vegetables. A ½ cup serving of navy beans will provide 9.5 g of fiber, while a similar size serving of pinto beans provides 7.7 g. Lima, great northern, and kidney beans have a little less, but still pack a whopping 4.5 g or more of fiber per ½ cup. Beans are incredibly versatile, and can be tossed into salads, soups, casseroles, or pasta dishes.

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Dried fruits, such as dates, figs, prunes, apricots, and raisins, are another great source of dietary fiber that acts as constipation relief.

“Prunes, in particular, are great because they not only are high in fiber, they also contain sorbitol, which is a natural laxative,” Prather says. Like fiber, sorbitol is a type of carbohydrate and has a molecular structure similar to sugar.

Since fiber isn’t digested, it retains water as it passes through your gut. This water softens your stool, helping to relieve constipation. Just remember that dried fruits are also packed with calories and may contain added sugar, so if you're watching your waistline, be sure to keep an eye on your portions and choose varieties without added sugar.

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If you want to keep constipation at bay, the bread you eat should be made from 100 percent whole grains. Whole-grain breads are low in fat and high in dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates. Check the label before buying: The first ingredient should say “whole” before the type of grain, such as “whole-wheat flour.” Don't be fooled by "seven-grain" and "multigrain" breads, which are made from enriched flour. These products may contain several different grains, but there's no guarantee that any of them are whole grains. Look for bread that contains at least 3 g of fiber per slice. Prather’s tip: Diet breads are often higher in fiber. “Bakers make diet bread light by putting more fiber in them,” she explains.

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Years ago, high-fiber breakfast cereals tasted like cardboard, but not anymore. “There are so many wonderful high-fiber cereals now,” Prather says. Choose a cereal that has at least 6 g of fiber per serving. Or, if your favorite cereal doesn’t have a lot of fiber, add your own by sprinkling a few tablespoons of wheat bran, chia seeds, or ground flaxseed on top.

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Like beans, broccoli is a superstar source of fiber. It's also low in calories and a great source of nutrients. For the best fiber bang for your buck, eat your broccoli raw, because cooking it can reduce its fiber content. But if you prefer it cooked, try steaming, broiling, or baking your broccoli to avoid extra calories. You can toss it with a small amount of olive oil, salt, and pepper for additional flavor.

Constipation can make you feel bloated, and eating more fruit can be a constipation remedy because it, too, is high in dietary fiber. Plums, pears, and apples are good choices because much of their fiber can be found in their edible skins — and they're also high in pectin, a naturally occurring fiber. Both an unpeeled small pear and a medium apple with skin contain 4.4 g of fiber each.

Nuts are yet another fiber powerhouse. Among the best are almonds, pecans, and walnuts. A 1-ounce serving of almonds provides 3.5 g of fiber, while a similar size serving of pistachios will provide 2.9 g of fiber, and pecans 2.7 g. Just be sure to watch how many you eat, because nuts are calorie-dense. Prather offers this trick for gauging how much to eat: Cup your hand and fill only the palm part.

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Good news, potato lovers: One medium baked potato, with skin, has 3.8 g of fiber. Even better, a baked sweet potato with skin provides 4.8 g of fiber. Boiling and mashing potatoes — with the skin — is another good way to serve them. You can skip the french fries, as they are high in unhealthy saturated fat. Instead, cut potatoes in the shape of fries, spray them with a little olive oil, sprinkle with your favorite seasonings, and bake in the oven until crisp. They’ll taste like french fries without the added calories and unhealthy fat.

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Being backed up, or not able to poop, can be so frustrating and uncomfortable. Whenever I am in this spot, I am always heading to the store or browsing online for foods that help you poop— pront. "Constipation" is a sort of catch-all term for a few different phenomena. "Stools may be too hard or too small, difficult to pass, or infrequent—fewer than three times per week," says Brooklyn-based gastroenterologist Niket Sonpal, MD. "People with constipation may also notice a frequent need to strain and a sense that the bowels are not empty." There are a number of different causes for constipation, he says, including diet (specifically, a lack of fiber or healthy fats), lack of exercise, stress, and dehydration are some of the most common. What's "normal" for BMs varies, but in general if you aren't pooping at least every three days, you're probably constipated.

When you're dealing with some stopped intestinal traffic, changing your diet is a good first step. Consider "fiber FTW" your poop-friendly words to live by. The good news is that there are so many, very tasty, foods that help you poop. "Most dietary fiber is not digested or absorbed, so it stays within the intestine where it modulates digestion of other foods and affects the consistency of stool," explains Dr. Sonpal. There are two different types of fiber, he says, which each have their own benefits, according to Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD. "Soluble fiber" is made up of carbohydrates and dissolves in water (think: fruit, oats, barley, and legumes) while "insoluble fiber" comes from plant cell walls and does not dissolve in water (think: wheat, rye, and other grains).

1. Water

Other than building a campfire, I don’t know when water isn’t a solution. "Make sure you're drinking water—hydration, in general, will help push things out quickly," says Zeitlin. Flatwater with lemon is her first choice, but La Croix fans, fear not: The sparkling stuff will get the job done, too. Water keeps things moving because it loosens your stool and hydrates the membranes along your digestive tract. Hydrated membranes equals lubrication, and bada bing -– you’re feeling regular again.

There's a reason why that 9 a.m. coffee has often got you running to the office bathroom by 10:15. "Caffeine is a stimulant. We always think of it as stimulating our brain in the morning, but it also stimulates your GI system," says Zeitlin. This is because, according to the medical information library Statpearls, it stimulates your “gastrocolic reflex” i.e. the signal to your body to poop.

Caffeine isn’t a fibrous food so it’s not necessarily a sign your stool is getting the right about of fiber. The chemical just trips an alarm, so to speak. So, Zeitlin says, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough fiber and water as well.

Insoluble fiber is the material your body doesn’t digest. As a result, it makes your stool bulkier and less… dense. This is good! It helps it move along and out of your body, according to the Mayo Clinic.

"You want to make sure you're eating the skin because that's where the fiber is," says Zeitlin. Some of her and Sonpal's favorite high-fiber foods? Apples, raspberries, peaches, guava, and papaya.

4. Dried Fruit... especially Prunes

Your grandma was right all along—prunes are a tried-and-true constipation remedy for a good reason. Prunes are high in fiber as well as sorbitol, says Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD. "Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found in fruits which can speed up the GI system," she explained. But don't go overboard—sorbitol in excess can act as a laxative.

If prunes aren’t your vibe or texture, you can always add them to a smoothie with flavor masking ingredients like peanut butter or fruits. This is also a great chance to add other number-two-inducing foods.

5. Raw green vegetables

Yup, you guessed it—veggies have got a lot of fiber, too. "We're going to get the most amount of fiber from our veggies if they're raw, so you want to eat them salad-style," says Zeitlin. Some of her picks include broccoli, peas, spinach, kale, and artichokes, all of which are filled with fiber. If you're making a salad, add some beats for additional fiber and tomatoes for added hydration, and you'll be good to go... literally.

That AM oatmeal habit may be doing you more favors than you realize. It's high in—you guessed it!—fiber, which can "push things out quickly," says Zeitlin. Sprinkle on some nuts, seeds, and fibrous fruits as well.

7. Yogurt and kefir

Breakfast foods really are the MVPs of bowel movements, aren't they? These two foods are filled with gut-healthy probiotics that can help soften stools, Beckerman said, helping to ease things through your system.

8. Healthy fats

"We want healthy fats to kind of lubricate your stool and intestinal linings," explains Zeitlin. Think Nuts and nut butter, which pair beautifully with all that fiber-packed fruit. Olive oil is also a great pick and will make a delicious dressing for that raw green veggie salad.

9. Beans

Beans, beans the magical fruit...you get the point. Beans, Beckerman said, are full of fiber to help ease constipation symptoms. Incorporating them into your diet isn't just a gut-healthy win, they're also packed with protein and minerals.

10. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a great food for constipation because they are an excellent source of fiber and omega 3 fatty acids, according to the Cleveland Clinic. They’re also small and often tasteless so adding them to salads, smoothies, or even a glass of water is a great idea.

11. Tea

Some plants support your digestion and colon as well as being hydrating. Peppermint tea has stomach-soothing properties if you also have indigestion, while possessing the hydrating properties of water. Lemon verbena tea and licorice root tea have shown positive laxative effects in several studies like here and here.

12. Aloe

Aloe is a succulent plant that is often incorporated into juices and drinks, and it has shown impressive laxative properties in the text Herbal Medicines. Picking up an aloe juice or tea could really help get things moving. Just remember that you should be eating food-grade aloe, and not the topical kind.

On the other hand, according to Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, if foods that help you poop cause you to go immediately, it could be a sign of an allergy, sensitivity, intolerance, or that something was bad. So while you want to load up on foods that will move your system, you don't want anything that's going to make it happen too quickly.

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