“The BRAT diet ― bananas, rice, applesauce and toast ― is one we recommend for a range of digestive issues, and it can help with both constipation and diarrhea.
Go for whole-grain toast instead. It may help your next trip to the bathroom go more smoothly.
100% whole grain bread is high in dietary fiber, and fiber carries water straight to your stool to soften it. Watch that the bread you're buying starts with the word “whole”. Multigrain or seven-grain bread is not whole-grain; they're still made with enriched white flour and will worsen constipation.
Having more fibre can help relieve constipation by softening and adding bulk to stools. If you experience constipation, try slowly increasing the fibre in your diet. The following foods are great sources of fibre: Wholemeal bread and breakfast cereals.
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. Whole grains.
Avoid foods that may lead to constipation.
Some common ones are bananas, cheese, and eggs.
Eating a lot of high-fat meats, dairy products and eggs, sweets, or processed foods may cause constipation. Not enough fluids. Water and other fluids help fiber work better, so not drinking enough liquids can contribute to harder stools that are more difficult to pass.
Dairy Products
“On the opposite end of the spectrum, fermented dairy products such as yogurt or kefir can improve gut health and may decrease the likelihood of constipation,” she notes.
A:Avoid it! Avoid cheese if you're constipated. Cheese has little to no fiber, and is full of fat and can cause or worsen constipation. In addition, dairy products contain lactose and those who are intolerant may find they have additional bloating when they eat cheese.
If you eat a lot of high-fiber foods but experience slow digestion, you may still feel bloated or constipated. The slower your food moves through your digestive tract, the more time it has to absorb water and create hard, difficult-to-pass stools.
Eating When you Have Constipation. Try these things to relieve your constipation: Do not skip meals. Avoid processed or fast foods, such as white breads, pastries, doughnuts, sausage, fast-food burgers, potato chips, and French fries.
Toast is easier to digest than bread as the toasting process breaks down some of the carbohydrates. Toast can help decrease nausea and reduce heartburn, but not all toast is the same.
TOASTED WHITE bread contains more fiber than untoasted white bread. Stir-fried vegetables contain more fiber than boiled vegetables. Bread made with coarse grains has more useful fiber than bread made with finely ground wholewheat flour.
Insoluble fiber is the most beneficial for softening stools. It does not dissolve in water and helps food pass more quickly from the stomach to the intestines. Wholewheat flour, nuts, beans, and vegetables, such as cauliflower, green beans, and potatoes all contain insoluble fiber.
The fiber content in potatoes helps prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.
The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person. Some people have them three times a day. Others have them just a few times a week. Going longer than 3 or more days without one, though, is usually too long.
Liquids can help keep stools soft. Good choices include water, prune juice, warm juices, decaffeinated teas and hot lemonade. A hot beverage may help to stimulate a bowel movement.