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.
Fiber is not always the answer
For example, in “slow transit constipation,” a condition where the bowel does not move things quickly through, fiber sits in your gut and can make you feel worse. Long story short: If fiber makes you worse, don't just add more. See your doctor.
Your new diet lacks soluble fiber.
These foods, which are rich in a type of fiber called soluble fiber, are often replaced by lower-carb alternatives like leafy greens, berries and nuts, which are rich in a type of fiber called insoluble fiber.
Guidelines to Treat Constipation
Gradually increase the amount of high-fiber foods in your diet. Choose more whole grain breads, cereals and rice. Select more raw fruits and vegetables -- eat the peel, if appropriate.
Drinking more water. Using fiber supplements like Metamucil. Taking laxatives like Miralax, Exlax, saline enemas, and more. Exercising regularly.
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 find Metamucil is not working for you, call your doctor for advice. Also, call your doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking if you have had a sudden change in bowel habits in the past two weeks or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Metamucil (psyllium husk) is commonly used to relieve constipation. It's available over-the-counter (OTC). And since Metamucil actually refers to a line of products, many versions of it are available. It's often recommended as a possible first-choice option for treating constipation.
Perform stimulation with your finger every day until you start to have a regular pattern of bowel movements. You can also stimulate bowel movements by using a suppository (glycerin or bisacodyl) or a small enema. Some people find it helpful to drink warm prune juice or fruit nectar.
We recommend taking Metamucil three times per day at mealtimes as a convenient way to get the benefits of Metamucil.
There's no evidence that daily use of fiber supplements — such as psyllium (Metamucil, Konsyl, others) or methylcellulose (Citrucel) — is harmful. Fiber has a number of health benefits, including normalizing bowel function and preventing constipation.
Yes. MOVICOL® has an effective but gentle mode of action and is an appropriate first choice treatment for both occasional and chronic constipation. (But before you try a laxative, it is recommended that you try modifying your diet, water consumption and exercise routine).
The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person. 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.
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)
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.
Dairy Products
“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.
A doctor may recommend oral laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol (MiraLax) or bisacodyl (Dulcolax). A person should take the tablet as the doctor, pharmacist, or instruction leaflet advises. Polyethylene glycol comes as a powder to dissolve in water or another drink.