10 Foods to Avoid for Constipation Relief

You are said to be constipated when you have fewer than three regular bowel motions per week or if they are painful and challenging to clear. It can result in prolonged stooping and straining.

It causes you to experience irregular or difficult stools, which may accompany bloating, stomach pain, a bad feeling after passing stools, and other similar discomforts. Constipation can occur for various reasons, including dehydration, a lack of dietary fiber, insufficient exercise, or as a side effect of some drugs. Also, anal fissures or piles may develop due to persistent constipation.

Each person once in a while will have constipation. However, you can successfully prevent or treat constipation by avoiding specific foods. Here is a list of foods directly or indirectly contribute to constipation. Therefore, to encourage improved digestion, you should avoid eating these items.

10 Foods to Avoid During Constipation

1. Unripe Bananas

Unripe bananas can induce constipation because they contain a starch-resistant substance that is challenging for your body to digest. In contrast, ripe bananas are proven to treat constipation. Additionally, it contains tannins, which slow down how quickly food travels through the digestive tract.

Here's a hint on how to tell an unripe banana from a banana that's ready to eat: Fully ripe Bananas have no brown spots and are yellow. They are also simple to peel. Therefore, opt to consume ripe bananas rather than unripe ones.

2. Caffeine

Coffee and cold drinks both contain caffeine. While coffee is a stimulant and may produce diarrhoea, consuming too much of it might dehydrate you and make you constipated. To avoid making your problem worse, avoid drinking coffee if you are constipated or dehydrated.

3. Fried Foods

It takes longer to process greasy, fried meals like French fries, doughnuts, onion rings, and even highly breaded items like fish than healthier alternatives. It might cause them to slow down your digestive process, which is the complete opposite of what you want if you're experiencing constipation. Oily, fried meals might cause more frequent, looser bowel movements in some individuals.

Others who substitute fried, greasy meals for dietary foods high in fibre, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, may have constipation as a result of their insufficient fibre intake. The traditional fast-food meal consists of a protein and carbohydrate (burger and fries), neither of which are good sources of dietary fibre.

4. Frozen Dinners

While meals in a box are often convenient, they seldom have the same nutritional value as meals you make yourself, making them foods that might induce constipation. The three main ingredients that are bad for the digestive system and are known to wreak havoc on the digestive tract are salt, fat, and preservatives. Not all frozen meals are unhealthy or problematic to digest.

Frozen fruits and veggies might be a straightforward, affordable approach to increasing fiber intake and curing constipation. Reading the labels on frozen foods is vital since their nutritional value varies. Find meals that are low in saturated fat and high in fiber from veggies and whole grains.

5. Dairy Products

Some people may have constipation from cheese and milk. These items' high fat and low fiber content may constipate some individuals. There is, however, no research or scientific proof to back it up. However, limiting the intake of milk and dairy products has been seen to improve constipation in some people. The sensitivity to the protein in cow's milk may cause this. Try yogurt, which is probiotic and beneficial for the digestive system and may help you with constipation, rather than giving up dairy products entirely.

6. Red Meat

When taken often, red meat replaces alternatives high in fiber. It contains little fiber but is heavy in fat and protein. Foods rich in fat require more time to digest. Additionally, it has stiff protein fibers that may be challenging for your body to digest. Constipation can also result from a low-fiber diet. Therefore, it is advised to substitute protein- and fiber-rich alternatives for red meat in the diet, such as beans, lentils, and peas

7. Chocolate

Much fat in the chocolate might take longer to digest. People with irritable bowel syndrome could experience chocolate effects more frequently. So, minimize your chocolate consumption.

In addition to the previously stated items, cooking meals in aluminum containers might cause constipation. So, cooking in certain types of containers should be avoided.

Iron-rich foods like spinach may make constipation worse. Some people may frequently have firm stools after taking iron and calcium supplements.

Constipation can cause uncomfortable symptoms to last all day. This illness is rather typical. One can eliminate constipation or make the digestive process more manageable by choosing better diet alternatives and avoiding the items above.

8. Refined Carbs

Refined carbohydrates are also present in many pastries and highly processed snack items, which might harm digestion. White bread and white rice are additional offenders in this group. Fiber is removed from refined carbohydrates during processing. By selecting these items, you're passing on an opportunity to increase your diet's fiber intake, which can aid constipation. Constipation may be significantly reduced by replacing those meals with whole-wheat bread and brown rice.

9. Processed Snacks And Desserts

Potato chips, pretzels, cookies, pastries, and other processed snack foods have low water content and high salt, processed sugar, and fat levels. All these elements together produce constipation. Additionally, the nutritional fiber content of these snacks is sometimes subpar. Because of the low fiber intake, If these items replace fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the diet, constipation may result. Choosing foods with much water and natural sugars is advised.

10. Alcohol

Large alcohol consumption can increase the quantity of fluid lost through urination, which might result in dehydration. Constipation and kidney stones are potential side effects of dehydration, which can contribute to more significant dehydration. So, avoid drinking alcohol and stay alert.

Conclusion

Although it may seem inconvenient, constipation is a sign of good intestinal health. It's essential to recognize the meals that could be causing your constipation because they could be making it worse.

Another benefit of doing this is that it can help prevent other health problems caused by eating fried meals, too much red meat, and insufficient fiber. You may avoid constipation and improve your general health by changing your diet.