What to Eat if You Get Constipated (adults & kids)
Constipation is the opposite of diarrhea – it’s when stool tends to stick around longer than necessary. Often, it’s drier, lumpier, and harder than normal, and may be difficult to pass.
Constipation often comes along with abdominal pain and bloating. And can be common in people with certain gut issues, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
About 14-24% of adults experience constipation and around 5% of pediatric appointments are due to constipation. Constipation becomes chronic when it happens at least three times per week for three months.
For children, three or less bowel movements a week should be investigated even if there are no other symptoms. Typically, children will complain of tummy ache and may be distressed when trying to pass a stool.
Constipation can be caused by diet or stress, and even changes to our daily routine. Sometimes the culprit is a medical condition or medications. And sometimes there can be a structural problem with the gut. Many times, the cause is unknown.
Very young children can be sensitive to changes in formula milk, the introduction of solid foods or the introduction of cow’s milk. It is always important to rule out any food intolerance especially to dairy (a major cause of childhood constipation).
Whether you know why or not, there are some things you can do if you get constipated.
1 – Eat more fibre
You’ve probably heard to eat more prunes (and figs and dates) if you get constipated.
Why is that?
It comes down to fibre.
Dietary fibre is a type of plant-based carbohydrate that we can’t digest and absorb. Unlike cows, humans don’t have the digestive enzymes to break it down. And that’s a good thing!
Even though we can’t digest it ourselves, fibre is very important for our gut health for two reasons.
First, fibre helps to push things through our system (and out the other end).
Second, fibre is an important food for feeding the friendly microbes in our gut.
There are two kinds of fibre: soluble and insoluble.
Soluble fibre dissolves in water to make a gel-like consistency. It can soften and bulk up the stool; this is the kind of fibre that you want to focus on for helping with constipation. Soluble fibre is found in legumes (beans, peas, lentils), fruit (apples, bananas, berries, citrus, pears, etc.), vegetables (broccoli, carrots, spinach, etc.), and grains like oats.
Psyllium is a soluble non-fermenting fibre from corn husks. It’s been shown to help soften stools and produce a laxative effect.
Insoluble fibre, on the other hand, holds onto water and can help to push things through the gut and get things moving. It’s the kind found in the skins and seeds of fruits and vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, celery, courgette, as well as the skins of apples, pears, and potatoes.
It’s recommended that adults consume between 20-35g of fibre per day. Children’s needs are dependent on their age. To give an approximate idea you can add 5g to their age. Therefore a 3-year-old would need around 8g of fibre a day.
If you are going to increase your fibre intake, make sure to do it gradually. Radically changing your diet can make things worse!
With children, it is worth writing a food diary and then looking at how much of their food is coming from dairy, gluten, wheat and anything else binding (processed foods etc.). Check to see how much fibre they are eating. Children can be fussy with vegetables and are often carb happy, which will increase the risk of constipation!
NOTE: This is why some people struggle on a detox diet that includes smoothies and lots of extra veg & fruit!!!
And, it’s also very important to combine increased fibre intake with my next point to drink more fluids.
NOTE: There is conflicting evidence on how fibre affects constipation. In some cases, less insoluble fibre may be better, especially if you have certain digestive issues. So, make sure you’re monitoring how your diet affects your gut health and act accordingly. And don’t be afraid to see your healthcare provider when necessary.
2 – Drink more fluids
Since constipated stools are hard and dry, drinking more fluids can help keep everything hydrated and moist. This is especially true when trying to maintain a healthy gut every day, rather than when trying to deal with the problem of constipation after it has started.
And it doesn’t only have to be water – watery foods like soups, and some fruits and vegetables can also contribute to your fluid intake.
Always ensure you’re well hydrated and drinking according to thirst; this is recommended for gut health as well as overall health.
Make sure to check your child’s water intake too. You might be surprised how little they actually drink!
3 – Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial microbes that come in fermented foods and supplements. They have a number of effects on gut health and constipation. They affect gut transit time (how fast food goes through us), increase the number of bowel movements per week, and help to soften stools to make them easier to pass.
Probiotic foods (and drinks) include fermented vegetables (like sauerkraut and kimchi), miso, kefir, and kombucha.
More research is needed when it comes to recommending a specific probiotic supplement or strain. If you’re going to take supplements, make sure to read the label to ensure that it’s safe for you. And take it as directed.
In my experience, I’ve found probiotics to be incredibly helpful for treating childhood constipation.
4 – Lifestyle
Some studies show a gut benefit from regular exercise.
Ideally, aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes most days. The same goes for kids!
In terms of stress, when we’re stressed, it often affects our digestive system. The connection between our gut and our brain is so strong, researchers have coined the term “gut-brain axis.”
By better managing stress, we can help to reduce emotional and physical issues (like gut issues) that may result from stress. Try things like meditation, deep breathing, and exercise.
And last but not least – make sure to go when you need to go! Don’t hold it in because that can make things worse.
This is particularly relevant with children. There can be some fear around going to the toilet. Some children will purposely withhold their stool until they can go in a familiar and safe place. Have a chat with your children about any fears around going to the toilet.
Conclusion
Optimal digestion is so important for overall health. Constipation is a common problem.
Increasing our fibre and water intake and boosting our friendly gut microbes are key things we can do to help things move along.
And don’t forget how lifestyle habits can affect our physical health! Exercise, stress management, and going to the bathroom regularly can also help us maintain great gut health.
If you are concerned about your child your first point of call is your GP. It is better to check for any underlying issues. If you simply end up with a life time supply of movicol then I highly recommend you look at the above and get professional help to treat this issue naturally.
I have a lot of experience in helping both adults and children with digestive issues. If you need one to one help with anything bowel related, please do not continue to suffer! Find out how I can help you HERE.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
