Constipation is a little awkward to talk about, but it’s way worse to suffer in silence. And you’re far from alone if you commonly experience the telltale signs: bloating, pain when you try to poop, and trouble relieving yourself regularly. In fact,42 million Americans deal with constipation every year.
The biggest constipation culprit is what you eat and that’s where the “F” word comes in. The key to pooping is having enough fiber in your diet, You want a good balance of soluble and insoluble fiber as well as enough water intake.
Insoluble fiber bulks up stool, which makes it easier to pass through your system, while soluble fiber attracts water, which helps your body process the fiber without discomfort. Be sure to add fiber to your diet slowly to let your body adjust without gas and stomach pain, The next time you need help keeping things moving, turn to the 10 foods that help you poop below.
Foods That Make You Poop
1. Oatmeal
The oat grains in oatmeal contain soluble fiber that help with digestive issues and support heart health-talk about a win-win! And it’s hard to be bored with oatmeal when you have all of these ideas to take it from ordinary to outstanding.
2. Water
H20 can’t stop, won’t stop with the health benefits. It not only keeps you hydrated, it also helps make bowel movements more regular. Yet another reason to hit the water cooler, stat.
3. High-Fiber Cereal
Start your day right with a bowl of high-fiber cereal. Just make sure the brand you pick contains 5 or more grams of fiber per serving, like All Bran and Fiber 1, Karlitz says.
4. Whole-Wheat Bread
Ditching white bread for the whole-wheat variety gives you an added dose of antioxidants and important nutrients one of which is insoluble fiber. The average slice of whole-wheat bread has nearly?2 grams of fiber, more than double what you get in white bread. Whole-wheat bread: 1. White bread: 0.
5. Strawberries
Just another reason to get your fill of nature’s candy. Strawberries are high in fiber, thanks to their edible seeds. Ripe bananas also have a substantial amount of soluble fiber, which Hassick says can help push waste through the bowels (you really needed that visual, didn’t you?).
6. Almonds
With heart-healthy fats and generally good-for-you attributes, nuts are no doubt small but mighty and almonds also come with a dose of soluble fiber. Two handfuls (23 almonds for those who are counting) have?3.5 grams of fiber.
7. Broccoli
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: Research suggests that if you don’t like veggies (and fruit for that matter), you’re much more likely to develop constipation. So it should come as no surprise that vegetables made the cut here. Broccoli packs 5.1 grams of insoluble fiber per cup, so you should probably listen to mom about that whole eat-your-greens thing.
8. Black Beans
Sure, we all joke that beans make you toot, but they do a little more than that. They’re solid sources of soluble fiber 1 cup of boiled black beans contains a whopping 15 grams of fiber making trips to the bathroom much more pleasant.
9. Yogurt
While experts recommend staying away from most dairy products(yes, that includes ice cream), if you’re battling constipation, yogurt may be the exception to the rule. The lactobacillus bacteria in yogurt can help keep you regular, Hassick says. Plus, research suggests that probiotics keep things running smoothly.
10 Prunes
There’s a reason doctors tell you to drink prune juice when you’re plugged up. The dried fruit contains sorbitol and dihydrophenylisatin, which can help alleviate constipation, says Justin Robinson, R.D., founder of Venn Performance Coaching and a Greatist expert.
In addition to food, some medications, including antacids and iron supplements, are known constipation culprits. Foods won’t cause constipation directly, And plenty of diets tend to be lacking in both departments. Low-carbohydrate diets tend to be naturally low in beneficial fiber, and high-fat diets can be hard on our digestive system. Since fat takes the longest for our body to digest, therefore slowing the passage of food into the small intestine and into the colon.
