Beef broth, chicken broth, vegetable broth, or broth-based soups are other great food to help constipation.
Help ease constipation: Described as a “laxative fruit,” tomatoes are high in water content and fiber. Eating tomatoes might help your hydration level and support normal bowel movements. Help protect yourself against cancer: Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins A, C and E and other antioxidants.
Consisting of a sizeable portion of liquid, as well as antioxidants and fiber, chicken soup is great at detoxifying the body. It aids in urinary tract health while softening stools and making them easier to pass. Chicken soup is thus also a good option if you have constipation.
Packed with fibre but low in calories, broccoli is one of the best foods for fighting constipation. It also contains sulforaphane, a substance that can help protect your gut from common digestive problems.
Beef broth, chicken broth, vegetable broth, or broth-based soups are other great food to help constipation.
Some foods can make you more likely to get stopped up. The most common culprits are dairy products, sugary treats, and high-fat meats. So go easy on marbled steaks and sausages, cheese, ice cream, cakes, cookies, and frozen or packaged meals, which tend to lack much fiber.
Regular baked potatoes with skin have about 3 grams of fiber and are also good options to prevent constipation. Avoid high fat, high calorie toppings such as butter or sour cream, which can make your constipation worse. Add more fiber to your baked potato by topping it with other veggies such as broccoli.
The fiber content in potatoes helps prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.
Osmotic laxatives such as polyethylene glycol (brand name Miralax) are well-tolerated by most older adults, and can be used daily.
For many people, eating more high fiber foods can help ease constipation. These foods include: most vegetables, including carrots, peas, broccoli, and okra. fruits, including apples, pears, berries, avocados, and oranges.
You may become constipated if you don't eat enough high-fiber foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Eating a lot of high-fat meats, dairy products and eggs, sweets, or processed foods may cause constipation.
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.
Kimball says any yogurt — not just those that advertise they're good for gastrointestinal health — can be a good source of probiotics that help relieve constipation. “I usually look for a low-sugar Greek yogurt,” she says.
Eat too much processed food.
Foods that have little or no fiber sit longer in your intestines. The extra time lets your colon soak up more water. That's a recipe for hard, dry stools. Do this: Cut down on fast food, chips, hot dogs, and some microwave dinners.
“The BRAT diet ― bananas, rice, applesauce and toast ― is one we recommend for a range of digestive issues, and it can help with both constipation and diarrhea.
Blueberries help to prevent constipation and maintain regularity for a healthful digestive tract because of their fiber content. Dietary fiber is also commonly recognized as an important factor in weight loss and weight management by functioning as a “bulking agent” in the digestive system.
If you have constipation, the specific types of fiber in fruits and vegetables like prunes, apples, kiwis, leafy greens, and Jerusalem artichokes could help moisten and bulk out your stools to make pooping easier.
All beans deliver over 10g of fiber per cup serving and provide a great mix of soluble and insoluble fiber. This makes them a great option for constipated folk.