Foods to Avoid During Constipation

Constipation is a quite common problem, with many people and it is not age specific. It can affect infants, young children, teenagers, middle aged people and the elderly as well. However, it is most frequently seen in toddlers and young children, who are fed solid foods and are deprived of fiber rich foods in their diet. Constipation is actually a problem, which is characterized by hardening of stools, thereby causing difficulties in excreting them. It can prove quite troublesome for the newborn or young children, who are not used to such type of pain and moreover, can't express it! But, what exactly are the constipation causes and if food is the main reason of constipation, then what are the foods to avoid during constipation? Well, move ahead to read an answer for these questions.

Constipation Causes

Although food and diet are the main reasons for constipation, there are many other causes, which can lead to this problem, some of which are given below.

• Dehydration: This is one of the most common causes of constipation. People who do not drink sufficient amounts of water, suffer from dehydration, which in turn causes hardening of stools and further constipation.
• Structural Problems: In some people, structural defects exist in the rectum, anus or the intestinal tracts. In such cases, constipation can occur frequently, although the person is on a normal diet or consuming sufficient amounts of water.
• Lack of Dietary Foods: Fiber content helps in proper digestion of foods. Therefore, people who do not consume fibers in their diet might suffer from constipation.
• Tumors: Some of the serious causes of constipation are tumors present in the tissues surrounding the bowel.
• Surgery: In many people, abdominal surgery has been the cause of constipation. Constipation can also occur as a result of allergies towards certain medications. Therefore, in such cases, consuming those medicines must be stopped immediately.
• Other Causes: Besides the above mentioned, there are some more causes of constipation. These include, lactose intolerance, hypokalemia, lead poisoning, hypothyroidism, improper potty training (in toddlers) etc.

Main Foods to Avoid During Constipation

In healthy people, with no other internal structural problems, food is mainly the triggering factor for constipation. Therefore, in such cases, dietary restrictions by avoiding some foods is the most effective treatment to cure constipation.

• Foods Containing High Fat: Many a time, we tend to consume high fat foods, which can lead to constipation. Some of the high fat foods, which can be avoided during constipation are, whole milk, cheese, meat, eggs, ice cream, chips, etc.
• Foods Containing Wheat: Foods made up of wheat or containing large traces of wheat are actually difficult to digest, as the natural digestive enzymes are not able to decompose them properly. So it is advised to avoid foods rich in wheat content.
• Processed Foods: Processed foods might cause adverse effects such as constipation. Therefore, foods such as, yeast breads, sugars, bakery products such as pastries, baking powder, soda, etc., should be avoided.
• Other Foods: You might be fond of drinking sugar rich, non nutritional, soft drinks. However, these drinks would aggravate the problem of constipation, if you continue consuming them regularly. Some drinks prove harmful for bowel functioning, therefore such drinks should be avoided.

Remember, if food is the cause of constipation in your case, then the key to cure it is to avoid the above mentioned foodstuffs and prefer eating foods high in fiber content, drink a lot of water and follow a balanced diet. I hope the above discussion was sufficient enough to give you an overview of the causes and also what not to eat during constipation. Eat healthy, stay well!