14 Foods that cause severe Constipation

Constipation is a common issue now days for many wherein the bowel movements are not regular. It is mainly due to the kind of food we intake. In medical terms when the bowel movements are less than 3 in a week, it means that you are constipated. Excessive Bloating, Gas and Pain while passing stool can also be related to Constipation.

Foods that cause Constipation

Just that there are certain foods that help to relive constipation .There are also certain foods that can make you severely constipated.

Bananas

When it comes to constipation banana is a food that one should avoid. Unripe or under ripe bananas can cause constipation as there is presence of lot of starch in them which makes it very hard for the body to digest. They also contain dietary fiber which draws water from the intestines towards the stool. Dehydration can worsen constipation.

Chewing Gum

If you swallow many pieces of chewing gum in a short while or if there is ingestion of too many chewing gums along with other indigestible foods then this can lead to a blockage in the digestive tract.This blockage can result in constipation.It is advisable to throw out the gum after chewing gum and not to take more than one to two sticks in a day.

Caffeine

Caffeine works in both ways .Either as a stimulant that results in excessive bowel movements or When a person is dehydrated , the caffeine in Chocolate, Colas ,Tea ,Coffee can lead to severe constipation.

Gluten foods

Gluten is one of the common causes of Constipation.Gluten is a kind of protein found in grains such as wheat,barley,rye.Those with Celiac Disease must avoid foods that contain gluten.There are many Gluten free foods that can replace the foods that you enjoy that contains gluten.

White Rice

White Rice can cause constipation as all the fibre and  nutrients are removed from it .Brown rice on the other hand can give relief from constipation as the husk,bran and germ have not been removed from it.

Red Meat

Red meat can make a person constipated and it can cause constipation for several reasons.As Red meat is high in fat so it takes longer time for the digestive tract to process it which makes it for the stomach difficult to digest.Also as it is rich in iron which can result in severe constipation.

White Bread

White Bread can cause constipation and even worsen it.This also is applicable for other products such as bagels and crackers.There is no fiber in White breadand our quite heavy in terms of starch content.

Alcohol

Alcohol also leads to constipation. Alcohol results in dehydration and slow down the digestion and irritate the bowel which can worsen constipation symptoms.

Chocolate

For those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome should avoid intake of chocolate completely as the large amount of fat content in chocolate slows down the digestion process which actually happens due to slowing down of the muscle contractions and slowing foods moving through bowel.

Supplements

Intake of Iron and Calcium supplements can result in constipation.

Dairy Products

Milk, Cheese, Yoghurt and Ice cream can cause severe Constipation. The lactose in dairy products causes Bloating and Gas that can worsen the condition of constipation.

Fast Food

Fast food or Junk food like Pizzas and burgers are extremely high in fat content and low in fiber. Fried foods cause constipation. The nutritional value is nearly nil in these types of foods.

Rather than ordering from outside it would be better to have at home .You can make use Whole wheat burgers or Buns and try using a veg pattie made with minimal oil at home.

Rather than frying go for baked sweet potato fries.

Processed Food and Frozen dinners

There is no nutrition in processed food and the fat and salt content is extremely high.

·         White Bread

·         Pastries

·         Frozen Meals

·         Chips

·         Hot Dogs

Having these foods slows down the digestion process and causes constipation. Try having fruits and vegetables in natural form and drink enough water to keep the digestive process working normally.

Chips

Snacking on Potato chips is extremely unhealthy as they are high in fat,extremely low in fiber and nutrition.Potato chips slows down digestion and causes constipation.Instead much on raw veggies and they help to regulate the bowel movements.