“Can you suggest the proper diet for someone suffering from constipation?”
My mother has a problem with constipation, which keeps happening. She started to take laxatives, and they help, somewhat, but we'd rather her not depend on them and take them often. Is there a diet that would actually help her?
6 Answers
NutritionistPropernutrition
To relieve constipation, focus on a diet high in fiber, both soluble (found in oats, beans, fruits) and insoluble (found in whole grains, vegetables). Stay hydrated with plenty of water and consume probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented foods. Include healthy fats from sources like flaxseeds and fatty fish, and avoid processed foods. Natural laxatives like prunes, flaxseeds, and chia seeds can also help. Limit dairy if it worsens symptoms, eat smaller, more frequent meals, and engage in regular physical activity.
The best diet for constipation is a moderate fiber diet (beans, whole grains and veggies) (too much fiber can actually increase constipation). You also want to make sure she's well hydrated and not eating too much meat (red meat no more than 1x/week, chicken 4x/week and fish 2-3x/week). Lastly, exercise is essential for healthy BMs. Please feel free to schedule a 15-min free phone consultation with someone on our team to discuss further. https://www.sageintegrativehealth.com/
Hi there, Constipation can be caused by several factors- medications decreased water intake and not enough fiber in the diet. Increasing fiber daily can help reduce the symptoms. Here are some ways to add fiber- whole grains, oatmeal, blackberries, blueberries, pears, apples, leafy greens. You want to add at least 1-2 cups of fruits/veggies per meal. If this is not possible, you can ask her dr if you can add a fiber supplement- metmucil, psyllium husk, etc.
Constipation is primarily a fluid:solid food ratio imbalance.
Drink more pure water. Avoid sodas, diet sodas and fruit juices. Drink Smooth Move Herbal Tea. Make sure your mother gets a lot dietary fiber. Ground Chia seeds and Flax seeds are a good source of dietary fiber. An apple or avocado are excellent sources of fiber.
Adequate water intake (half the body weight in ounces at a minimum) and fiber is important for regular bowel movements. I recommend she get at least 40 grams of fiber a day to help with constipation but that has to be along with water. Magnesium at night can also help.
