Nutrition Guidelines & Diets for Constipation  

Dietary & Behavioral Tips for Constipation

Alternative Therapy for Constipation

Herbal/Natural Products for Constipation

Alternative Dietary Recommendations for Constipation

Nutritional Supplements For Constipation 

Almost every adult has experienced constipation at one time or another. Constipation refers to infrequent bowel movements that are hard in consistency and often painful to eliminate. A number of factors can contribute to constipation, such as prolonged immobilization (bed rest), inadequate exercise, inadequate intake of fiber and fluids, irregular eating habits, and stress. Other common contributors include the ingestion of certain medications (aluminum hydroxide antacids and antihypertensive agents, for example), narcotics (codeine and morphine), and iron supplements. In addition, several conditions are associated with constipation, such as colon cancer, diabetes, hypothyroidism, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures.   

If you currently or frequently experience constipation, the sections below -- which provide general suggestions for preventing and treating constipation as well as information about alternative therapies-- may be helpful.

Dietary & Behavioral Tips for Constipation 

The following dietary and behavioral tips may help in the prevention and treatment of constipation:

·      Drink plenty of fluids (8 to 10 glasses a day for adults).  Inadequate fluid intake is a common cause of constipation. Water and other liquids add bulk to stools, making bowel movements easier. 

Note: Although coffee and tea can be effective laxatives, if they are caffeinated the caffeine may contribute to constipation in some people.  

·      Increase your intake of high-fiber foods.  Fiber helps to keep your bowels regular. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, cooked whole-grain cereals with added bran, and other foods containing whole grains such as amaranth, oat bran, quinoa, and rye.  Also try applesauce, barley, bran muffins, legumes, and cooked prunes and prune juice. For information about the benefits of specific types of fiber, see soluble and insoluble fiber.

                    Note: When increasing your intake of fiber from whole grains, be sure to increase your intake of water as well -- to at least eight glasses a day. Fiber from whole grains absorbs water from the stomach and the intestines as it passes through undigested. 

·      Try several cups of hot or warm tea or water in the morning in order to distend the stomach and stimulate the bowels.  

·      Exercise daily. Lack of exercise or lengthy bed rest can cause constipation. Try a half-hour walk after meals. If you are confined to your bed and suffer from chronic constipation, medications may offer the best solution; consult your doctor. 

·      Try to establish a regular pattern of eating. Irregular eating habits may contribute to constipation. 

Alternative Therapy for Constipation  

Complementary and alternative therapy comprise a wide variety of practices and treatments, including the use of herbal preparations and of vitamin and mineral supplements. Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, and whether you are interested in alternative therapies to prevent or treat a specific disease or to improve your general health, you should be aware that many treat­ments have not been thoroughly re­searched and scrutinized for safety and efficacy and may not be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Although some complementary therapies (acupuncture for nausea, for example) have been shown to be safe and efficacious, others (the use of some individual herbs and supple­ments, high‑dose vitamin and mineral regimens, and radical diets) have brought about toxic side effects.  If you prefer alternative therapies, or if you believe that you have exhausted the available therapies of conventional medicine, the information that follows may be helpful to you. The therapies presented here, however, are by no means intended to replace standard, appropriate medical attention and treatment.                 

Herbal/Natural Products for Constipation 

The table below provides information about herbal/natural products that may be helpful if you are experiencing constipation. 

Note: You should use alternative therapies to treat a specific health condition only after you have received an accurate diagnosis from a qualified doctor or other medical professional.  Be cautious of anyone called an "herbalist," an "herb doctor," or a "health counselor"; these job titles are not regulated. Remember that good health depends on proper medical care. 

Caution: In some cases herbal/natural products may interact negatively with other medications. Such interactions can be dangerous. Herbal/natural remedies are not regulated and their quality is not controlled. Moreover, although an abundant supply of information about alternative treatments and remedies is currently circulating, little of it has been scientifically validated. Consult your doctor before using any herbal/natural remedy, and remember always to make your doctor and pharmacist aware of any therapeutic products you are using. Your doctor and pharmacist can assist you in determining which herbal/natural products are safe to use with the drugs you are taking.

Do not use herbal/natural products if you are pregnant, and do not treat infants or children with herbal/natural remedies without a qualified doctor's approval and guidance. 

Table 1. Herbal/natural products commonly used in the treatment of constipation.

Alternative Dietary Recommendations for Constipation 

For both children and adults, the first steps to preventing and treating constipation through diet are to increase the intake of fiber and to drink plenty of fluids.  Adults should try to raise their fiber intake to 35-40 grams daily, and their fluid intake to 8 to 10 glasses daily. For recommended amounts of fiber and fluid intake for children, consult your pediatrician. 

Foods that are high in soluble and insoluble fiber are recommended. Soluble fiber, which may help to lower blood cholesterol and control blood sugar, is found in apples, barley, dried beans, carrots, oats (such as oat bran and oatmeal), oranges, and rye. Insoluble fiber (or roughage), which helps to keep bowels regular, is found in whole-grain breads and cereals, dried beans, fruits and vegetables with skins, pasta, seeds, and wheat bran.  

Because each of these types of fiber has distinct beneficial functions for improving your general health, you should be sure to provide your body with both by eating a variety of fiber-rich foods -- even when you are not experiencing or trying to prevent constipation. The National Cancer Institute recommends a daily fiber intake for adults of 20-35 grams. The average American adult consumes only 7-8 grams of fiber each day.  

Note: In order to increase your tolerance to an elevated intake of fiber, be sure to add fiber-rich foods to your diet gradually. 

The list below provides additional dietary recommendations for preventing and treating constipation:  

·    Decrease your intake of refined simple sugars , as found in bakery goods, candies, and sodas. Diets including high levels of refined simple sugars, which provide only trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients, may contribute to constipation. Replace foods that are high in simple sugars with foods rich in whole grains.  

·    Limit your intake of milk and other calcium-rich products, which may contribute to constipation.  

·    Limit your intake of iron, whether by adjusting your diet or stopping supplementation. Iron is a common contributor to constipation.  

·   Include garlic in your diet. Garlic destroys harmful bacteria in the colon. 

Nutritional Supplements For Constipation 

The table below lists nutritional supplements recommended for people experiencing constipation. 

Note: Units for nutritional supplements may be given by weight -- generally in milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg) -- or by biological activity, which is measured in international units (IU).  Use care when comparing products to ensure that the units are identical. 

Table 2.  Supplements commonly used during periods of constipation. 

For related information, consult the following links: 

Constipation During Pregnancy

Dietary Fiber

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