8 Foods That You May Not Know Is Causing Constipation
“It is estimated that 55 million adults in the United States, approximately 28% of the population, are constipated.”
A lot of people are constipated, one in five, to be more specific — especially women. And even if you’re getting a regular bowel movement, doctors always suggest you might get constipated. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, one of the following symptoms is all you need: fewer than three bowel movements in a week, straining to start or finish a bowel movement, having a stool quality that looks like stones and marbles, or feeling unfinished flushing.
If you think you may get constipated, there are numerous possible reasons behind it, from a lack of exercise and water to immense stress in your day to day life. But, one of the main reasons is your diet.
Here are eight foods that could be part of the issue.
1. Drink Milk:
Drinking plenty of water can help with constipation, but the only thing that will help you stop your constipation is by drinking milk. It may cause diarrhea in some cases, because it is harder to digest, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In reality, an older, weaker study of chronically constipated patients found that they did not have any bowel movements up to 15 days; drinking cow’s milk is what finally solved the issue. Fortunately, you have an ever-growing number of plant-based milk to choose from.
2. Red Meat:
Although red meat may not trigger diarrhea that you feel explicit, there’s an explanation of why it has you so backed up. While you consume a lot of it, it gets in the way of the plant-based foods — like fruits and veggies — which are loaded with digestion-boosting fiber that enables you to defecate, having left you constipated. So it may be time to pull the plug, for the sake of your bathroom trips — or lack of them.
3. Pre-made dinner:
Tempted to make a frozen dinner? Needless to say, it will not do your digestion any good despite just saving your time. The National Institute on Aging says trying to eat from the frozen food section or in boxes on store shelves alike prepared foods are low in fiber (and high in sodium).
4. Cheese:
Milk is not the only criminal to feature on this chart. You would also like to place the cheese plate. Eating high amounts of cheese can also cause diarrhea, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Alternatively, search for some of the popular vegan cheese alternatives that are packed with plant-based components, such as this sharp, tangy variety or dairy-free Nacho cheese sauce.
5. Unripe Bananas:
Although ripe bananas consist of high levels of fiber that can help move stuff, unripe bananas that are still filled with starch — have the opposite effect, inducing constipation or exacerbating the pre-existing illness. However, if you are backed up, ensure that you don’t eat the fruit unless it’s bright yellow.
6. Food that is fried:
As they are packed with fat and low fiber, fried foods slow down your digestive system, making it much easier to get backed up.
7. Chocolates:
Yeah sure, it is even chocolate that got a mention. The sweet treatment is known for causing diarrhea, so it was the most commonly mentioned food for patients who blamed their constipation in one study. Did they refer to any offenders? The answer to that was — Bread and Black Tea.
8. Processed or Packaged Foods:
A further common cause of diarrhea is eating processed grains when it comes to cooking. While you are fine at using whole-grain alternatives, anything that is made with white flour, whether it is pasta or bagels. It should be a big NO.
