What Foods Cause Constipation?

There are a great many foods on the market that contribute to poor diet and the resulting affect of constipation, many of them being processed foods which have little fiber and a lot of cheese, salt and fats. In order to evade constipation we need to reduce or remove certain foods from our diets. Some of these may surprise you.

The Following Foods Can Increase Your Risk for Constipation:

• Soda and/or Coffee: Caffeinated beverages dehydrate the body and sodas contain excess sugars. The fact that carbonation and caffeine increase blood pressure should make you consider reducing their use significantly or avoiding them altogether.
  
• Dairy: Things like milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese are fine in smaller doses but when we eat too many of them (as many of us do) it slows the digestion.
  
• Protein: Protein is another food that is very helpful in the right amounts but meats don't need to be eaten in larger amounts or more than a few times a day. The average serving of meat should be about the size of a pack of cards.
  
• Processed Foods: These are foods like chips, white bread, tv dinners, and fast food most of the foods that are made to be easily prepared and eaten.
  
• Bananas: Too many can slow digestion contrary to popular belief.
• Fried Food: Fats can aggravate your stomach and slow elimination. Fried foods are also high in cholesterol as well as trans and saturated fats and therefore another food that should be eaten sparingly if not removed from your diet.
  

It is easy to get caught up in eating fast or ready-made meals when you have limited time but it can have side effects for your health, repeated bouts of constipation can lead to other health problems including irregular heart-beat and a higher risk for a blockage. It also puts you at higher risk for colostomy surgery. If you have a medical condition or take medications that can raise the risk of constipation its best if you avoid these foods altogether to better aid the elimination process.

Foods that help keep Constipation at Bay Eating healthful foods doesn't have to be hard or time consuming; there are a wealth of fruits, veggies, juice and nuts that are just as easy to pick up as a snack bar or a soda. Meals that contain salads are very easy to prepare with salad kits that need only dressing and a serving of protein. Bagged and frozen veggies are also easy to find in the store and contain more of the vitamins you need than canned veggies.

Drinking plenty of fluids is just as important as eating enough fiber, these fluids are needed to soften stool and to provide enough fluid for the colon to excrete to pass it through the body. Combining your improved diet with regular exercise 2-3 times a week will help to improve the way your body digests by building the muscles of the intestines and providing momentum to the bowels.

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