Foods that help ease constipation Consider adding some the following fibre-rich foods to your diet to help ease constipation: High fibre cereals such as: bran flakes, Weetabix, porridge, muesli and shredded wheat.
“Oats are loaded with soluble fiber, which is a type of fiber that allows more water to remain in the stool,” says Smith. “This makes the stool softer and larger, and ultimately easier to pass.”
02/8 Why is oatmeal good for constipation? According to health experts, oatmeal contains a good amount of insoluble fibre that further aids the smooth digestion process. The fibre content also aids bowel movements and soaks water from the fluids you drink. All this results in smooth removal of stool through the colon.
Every time you eat a bowl of oats, they get busy feeding your body fiber, and fiber can help keep things moving through your colons and intestines. And that's great – because you definitely want to make sure that colon is chugging along.
Research indicates that oats are a good source of dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber. Experts note that 100 grams (g) of oatmeal can contain 10.1 g of total dietary fiber. As such, eating oats may help to relieve constipation.
Raw oats are high in resistant starch, which is difficult for many people with IBS to digest. However cooked oats are low in resistant starch. What are resistant starches? Resistant starches are not digested in the small intestine, but in the large intestine where they can produce gas leading to IBS symptoms.
Since oatmeal is a complex carb, it's digested slower than foods containing simple carbs. However, oatmeal also contains dietary fiber, which helps with digestion and absorption. When these two factors are combined, the digestion time of oatmeal is relatively fast and takes about two to three hours.
"Oats contain a special type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan," says Michalczyk. "Beta-glucan forms a gel-like consistency in the gut and helps to keep things moving in your digestive tract and keep you regular." This helps with bulking up your stool, making it easier for your bowel movement later.
Porridge
Porridge oats contain a high amount of soluble fiber, which could help relieve IBS symptoms, according to the NIDDK . A person could add fiber to their diet gradually to avoid triggering gas.
Oats contain a unique type of fibre that nourishes and restores healthy gut bacteria. This makes oats a great food to eat every day and they are especially suited to breakfast – porridges, muesli or a smoothie with oats.
Try to sit on the toilet 15 to 20 minutes after breakfast. Do not ignore the call to open your bowels. Putting off the call to go can cause constipation. Try to work with the body's natural rhythm (emptying the bowel first thing in the morning).
Foods that help ease constipation
Consider adding some the following fibre-rich foods to your diet to help ease constipation: High fibre cereals such as: bran flakes, Weetabix, porridge, muesli and shredded wheat.
Try yogurt with probiotics, live bacteria that's good for your digestive system. It may help relieve constipation.
Soluble fibre is partially digested (broken down) in the large intestine to form a glue like substance, which helps to produce soft/formed stools, without causing inflammation. Examples of foods rich in soluble fibre are: Oats e.g. Porridge oats/Ready Brek ®, oatcakes.
If you're not used to consuming high-fiber foods like oats, gradually increase your fiber intake. A sudden increase in fiber consumption can soften your stool too much, causing diarrhea, and can also cause bloating and flatulence.