White bread is made with refined white flour, which can worsen constipation. 100% whole grain bread is high in dietary fiber, and fiber carries water straight to your stool to soften it. Watch that the bread you're buying starts with the word “whole”.
White bread
This may slower your bowel movements and cause constipation. Opt for multi-grain or whole wheat bread if you want to. Also, instead of consuming plain buttered toast, make a sandwich with fresh veggies to add fiber to your meal," suggests Delhi-based Dietitian Dr. Simran Saini.
White bread is made with refined white flour, which can worsen constipation. 100% whole grain bread is high in dietary fiber, and fiber carries water straight to your stool to soften it. Watch that the bread you're buying starts with the word “whole”.
Insoluble Fiber
Food that includes more soluble fiber are oats, chia, barley, spinach, flax seeds, fruits, etc. Food that contains insoluble fiber are cereals, whole grains, legumes, vegetables such as broccoli, brown rice, etc.
Foods that help ease constipation
Consider adding some the following fibre-rich foods to your diet to help ease constipation: High fibre cereals such as: bran flakes, Weetabix, porridge, muesli and shredded wheat. Whole grains.
Eating a lot of high-fat meats, dairy products and eggs, sweets, or processed foods may cause constipation. Not enough fluids. Water and other fluids help fiber work better, so not drinking enough liquids can contribute to harder stools that are more difficult to pass.
“On the opposite end of the spectrum, fermented dairy products such as yogurt or kefir can improve gut health and may decrease the likelihood of constipation,” she notes.
Eating When you Have Constipation. Try these things to relieve your constipation: Do not skip meals. Avoid processed or fast foods, such as white breads, pastries, doughnuts, sausage, fast-food burgers, potato chips, and French fries.
If you eat a lot of high-fiber foods but experience slow digestion, you may still feel bloated or constipated. The slower your food moves through your digestive tract, the more time it has to absorb water and create hard, difficult-to-pass stools.
Foods to Avoid When Constipated
Slattery cites cheese as a particular constipation culprit. “Really high-fat foods slow down digestion,” she says. “Fats are tricky to digest, and take a long time for the body to break down.
Yogurt is usually an entry on many healthy food lists, but it may not suit everyone because it's a dairy-based food after all. You are more likely to develop constipation if you're eating Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt.
The fats in olive oil can help smooth the insides of the bowel, making it easier for stools to pass. It can also help the stool hold in more water, keeping it softer. One tablespoon of olive oil, taken on an empty stomach in the morning, may relieve constipation for many healthy adults.
Dulcolax® Liquid Laxative is a stimulant-free laxative made to relieve occasional constipation fast. Each 15 mL dose contains 1200 mg of the active ingredient, magnesium hydroxide. Within 30 minutes to 6 hours, it works naturally with your body to draw water to the colon and help you go.
Some people have them three times a day. Others have them just a few times a week. Going longer than 3 or more days without one, though, is usually too long. After 3 days, your stool gets harder and more difficult to pass.
Making dietary changes: A diet that is high in fiber can make stools easier to pass. Fruits and vegetables are examples of foods that are rich in fiber. Drinking plenty of water: Drinking more water can help soften the stool.
Laxatives work in different ways, and the effectiveness of each laxative type varies from person to person. In general, bulk-forming laxatives, also referred to as fiber supplements, are the gentlest on your body and safest to use long term. Metamucil and Citrucel fall into this category.
For most people constipation rarely causes complications, but people with long-term constipation can develop: haemorrhoids (piles) faecal impaction (where dry, hard stools collect in the rectum) bowel incontinence (the leakage of liquid stools)