New member

Hello. I’m looking for advice on constipation, or at least I think I am! My poo is not hard it’s more that my body doesn’t seem to want to ‘go’. When I do go, it’s just a small amount. I eat lots of vegetables, no red meat. I make my own vegetable soup, my own yoghurt which I eat most days. I must admit I don’t like taking remedies, so can anyone help please?

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Hi and welcome to the Healthy Eating group, Hidden . Please check out the Topics section for ideas and suggestions on recipes and meals/snacks, take a look at the Polls/Pinned Posts/Events, as well. Also, please feel free to continue posting and commenting anytime. Meet the rest of the group members. We will try to answer your questions to the best of our abilities. We are a very helpful and understanding group who are into eating healthy.😀👍

For your issue, have you been able to talk to the doctor? Are you allergic to anything food/medication wise?

[Hidden in reply to Activity2004]

This is a fairly recent problem so I have only been trying to sort it myself by upping fruit, veg and cereals. I don’t have any allergies as far as I know

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Do you eat chocolate items?

[Hidden in reply to Activity2004]

Very rarely

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Try to eat some chocolate and then see what happens.😀👍

[Hidden in reply to Activity2004]

What a wonderful suggestion though what’s in chocolate that might do the trick?

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!😀👍

What type of chocolate do you like? Dark/light/semi-milk chocolate?

[Hidden in reply to Activity2004]

I love anything chocolate but don’t have it very often because of the calories

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Try some and see what happens.😀👍 Start small and don’t worry about anything.

[Ouanne in reply to Activity2004]

Do you drink plenty of water, that might help.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Ouanne]

I drink lots of water during the day. I have water with medication and at meals.😀👍

[Midori]

Your diet seems fine at first glance, Upping your fruit intake might help, plums, figs and similar are good, but there are two other possibilities. One is fluid intake; are you drinking enough, is your house so hot so that you perspire it out? Dark chocolate can help, the ones with less sugar are better.

The other common reason for constipation is lack of exercise, and I know this is hard to achieve right now, with the restrictions.

You say your body doesn't want to go, has this been going on for awhile? Or is it a new thing, if so it could be due to not being able to go out for exercise?

If you continue to be worried please see your GP, as it could have an internal origin.

Cheers, Midori

[Hidden in reply to Midori]

Thanks for your help, all good advice. I realise I don’t eat a great deal of fruit and I probably don’t drink enough water. I do try to walk every day for about 30 minutes which is all I can do at the moment, although I’m busy painting outside if the weather allows. At 72 I’m thankfully fit and very well. Another member advised me to eat chocolate.

I would estimate that this became noticeable about 4 months ago but it was on and off for a while. Maybe this is now my normal routine and I’m unduly concerned, things do change as you get older!

However, I shall take your advice and see how it goes.

[Midori in reply to Hidden]

Things like Grapes, raisins plums, prunes, figs can all help.

[Guds in reply to Midori]

5 prunes in the morning will help immensely. N dried apricots.Plenty of water during the day n exercise is must.

[Ouanne in reply to Guds]

Just a cautionary note about dried apricots. I was fine with them as a snack up until year or so ago then suddenly became violently affected by them, quite a scary experience. I don’t know if this has happened to others?

[S11m]

I think there are four factors:

How much fibre do you eat?

How much do you drink?

Do you eat anything that the body wants to get rid of (natural laxatives)?

Do you eat lubricants?

You would think that oils and fats would be lubricants - but most of them would be absorbed higher up the gut, and would not help in the rectum.

One of the main functions of the large intestine is re-absorption or water - so, if your stools stay there too long, they get dry. If you eat less fibre, it spends more time in the large intestine and tends to get too dry.

Have you changed your diet because of the lockdown?

In lockdown, while I can (still) get fresh food at the supermarket, I usually eat an apple, two bananas, 140gm of muesli and 140ml of full-fat yoghurt for breakfast, and half a pound of raw carrot, three jacket potatoes with cheese and a small cabbage for lunch - and I have no problem.

[GERALDDAVID]

I am 72 also, I take 1tsp psyillium husk fiber with full glass water twice a day plus a stool softener docusate sodium. Can`t get as much fruit and fresh vegies now days so this is important. Also you want to do this every day. Exercise seems to help everything, even though I don`t do enough of it.

[TiffanyK80]

Magnesium Citrate is amazing. 500 mg (2 x 250 mg capsules) before bed and you should notice a difference the next day. I do this most nights before bed and it has made a huge difference.

[DeeSending]

I have the opposite problem but my husband has problems too. His is genetic. He needs not only a balanced diet but red meat three times per week to get moving. Is there a reason you don’t eat meat? Try walking twice a day for half hour. Drink loads of warm fluids, eat fruit and a variety of vegetables including lentils each day. Olive oil is wonderful in your meals. It’s good for your whole body. Variety is a key element too. Yes dark chocolate is good for energy and bowels. Whole-wheat bread is another mover and shaker. Lebanese diet is also fabulous. There’s loads of great recipes on line. Enjoy your food- it keeps you healthy. I’ve cooked all my life and at 70 I’m still standing!

Hope this helps.

Best wishes Dee

[wiesia]

You mentioned taking medication, can I ask what that is as that may be playing a big part