Foods You Should Avoid When Constipated

Constipation is the inability to eliminate waste from your body, or when eliminating that waste, the stool is dry, hard, small, and difficult to eliminate. Constipation is usually the result of a bad diet. Three basic causes of constipation are dehydration, or diets that are either high in fat or lack fiber.

Dehydration:
If you are constipated due to dehydration, it is good to avoid drinks like; coffee and alcohol, which will increase the dehydration level. The best thing to do in this instance is to drink more than 8 glasses of water a day, drink more sports drinks with electrolytes, and increase your salty food intake. Avoid things like; coffee, caffeinated teas, sodas, alcohol, milk, and chocolate.

Lack of Fiber:
Most people do not get the recommended daily intake of fiber (25 grams) a day. This can impact your ability to digest your foods and eliminate waste. Fruits and vegetables are a great way to increase your daily fiber. Increasing fiber can help clear up constipation. Fiber also needs water to operate properly in your digestive system. It is important to never underestimate the power of water. Additional foods to avoid are; potatoes, crackers, bread, many soft foods have very little fiber in them, and any refined or processed foods that have had fiber removed during the manufacturing process.

High in fat:
Reducing your intake or avoiding completely foods high in fat like; meats, sweets, and dairy products like; milk and cheese.

If you have identified what your are eating that is causing constipation then avoiding the foods listed here should help in reducing or eliminating your constipation. If you don’t know what is causing the constipation it might be helpful to start a food journal. Documenting what you are eating will make the cause more visible to you. If you don’t find relief to your constipation after eliminating these foods you may want to see your health care professional as constipation is a symptom not an illness.