Top 9 Ways to Overcome Constipation
Are you struggling to use the bathroom? It can be so frustrating when it’s been days and days and you haven’t used the bathroom yet. Let’s go over some ways to get those bowels moving! We will cover the occasional mild bouts of constipation.
1. Aloe Vera Juice
This is a lesser known natural treatment for constipation! It works really well and is a gentle option for constipation. Aloe vera contains anthraquinones, a natural part of the plant, which increase the fluid in your intestines and stimulate the muscles to get moving. Try a bottle, you can find it at your local grocery store! This is the one I have tried before with great results. Aloe Vera Drink
2. Prunes & Prune Juice
Good old reliable prunes! Another naturally occurring compound used for ages to help people with constipation. Prunes have a sugar called sorbitol along with its fiber content that combine to promote bowel movements. Try 3-5 prunes or half a cup of prune juice and see if it works for you!
3. MiraLax
The golden standard of constipation relief in the hospital! Also a common prep solution before colonoscopy! Doctors prescribe this all the time and it is very well-researched in the medical community. Polyethylene glycol 3350 is the medicine in MiraLax that is a drug called an osmotic laxative. It works by pulling water into the intestines and bulking up the stool, making it easier to pass. It is considered very safe for use and is gentle because it doesn’t cause belly cramps typically, because it only uses water to work.
4. Magnesium Citrate
The end all be all! All hail magnesium citrate. After you have tried everything on this list and your own remedies, you just get yourself a little bottle of Magnesium Citrate from the CVS, and you will be GOING! This is a last resort, yet very effective treatment for constipation. It is also considered an osmotic laxative pulling large amounts of water into the intestine to promote a bowel movement. Use with caution, just take a few swallows and look for results within a few hours.
5. Fiber Drink – Psyllium husk, Metamucil
Fiber drink supplements bulk up stool and improve the consistency as well. Soluble fiber with plenty of water helps create a gel-like thickness, adding moisture and helping the body to pass stool. If you struggle long-term with constipation issues, you may consider drinking a fiber drink on a regular basis to stay regular. Make sure you drink plenty of water! This is key. Psyllium husk is the key ingredient here that does the work. Also, with the rates of colon cancer increasing, we should all increase our fiber intake! Fiber supplements may also help with diarrhea. More about diarrhea here!
6. Stool Softener – Colace
This is also a go-to constipation medication we give in the hospital. Also known as docusate sodium, Colace is a stool softener that helps make stool easier to pass. It can also be included in a medicine like Senekot-S which pairs with another medicine called Senna – a natural plant-based laxative. Senna works directly stimulating the bowels.
7. Probiotics
Are we done with the probiotic craze yet? Nope! Our current research shows that some probiotics are more helpful that others specifically for constipation. Here are a list of strains that you can look for in a probiotic supplement that will target probiotics: Bifidobacterium lactis (BB‑12, HN019, DN‑173 010), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus casei (Shirota), and Bacillus coagulans Unique IS‑2. Multi‑strain probiotic blends are also a great option!
8. Apples
Hello pectin! Pectin is a soluble fiber that bulks stool and helps it pass on through the digestive tract. Eating apples on a regular basis can keep your bowels moving and reduce bouts of constipation. Juice can help a little, but the true help comes from the whole fruit which contains the fiber.
9. Caffeine
I think most people have experienced that jolt after drinking a cup of coffee! But in case you haven’t, caffeine, whether it’s in a Coca-Cola, cup of coffee, or even tea, can make you go to the bathroom! Coffee in particular contains a hormone called gastrin that increase movement in the colon. Warm coffee also stimulates a reflex that triggers bowels to get moving. While coffee can definitely work, it can also irritate the stomach and even cause digestive upset. If you’re sensitive, opt for different constipation remedies.
When to Seek Care
If constipation is accompanied by severe belly pain, bleeding, fever, or sudden weight loss, contact a doctor immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to resolve if you cannot pass gas or have not had a bowel movement in 7+ days.
