People who have problems with chronic constipation may want to schedule an appointment with Gastroenterology Doctors Petal MS has available. They have become tempted to start using laxatives but they hate to go this route. Yet eating foods they have heard are good for staying regular hasn’t made any difference.
Problems With Food Labels
One problem they will learn about is that food labeling is deceptive. Products touted as being good sources of whole grains may actually have a low fiber content. Most breakfast cereals, for instance, do not contain much fiber. An orange has fiber, but orange juice, even the high-pulp kind, does not. Potatoes only have a significant amount of fiber when eaten with the peels. This can be explained further by Gastroenterology Doctors Petal MS has available.
Foods to Avoid
A gastroenterologist also can discuss foods that are recognized for causing and worsening constipation. They are best minimized in the diet or eliminated altogether when someone has this digestive issue.
Higher-fat foods take longer to digest, slowing down the entire process. Intake of deep-fried foods, processed meat and red meat should be reduced. Alcohol and coffee dehydrate the digestive tract and can aggravate the problem.
Foods to Include
Only plants have fiber, so a doctor with an organization like Hattiesburg G.I. Associates will recommend boosting the intake of these foods. Reducing consumption of meat, cheese and eggs in order to replace those substances with plant-based foods should help relieve chronic constipation. Taking a soluble fiber supplement such as psyllium also may be advisable. Click Here to learn about this particular clinic.
Some plant foods have higher fat content than others, but that doesn’t mean they should be excluded from the diet. Legumes like black beans and lentils, along with nuts, seeds and avocados are good sources of protein as well as fiber.
Concluding Thoughts
A low-fiber diet can eventually cause other problems that may lead to the need for seeing a gastroenterologist. Restricting consumption of high-fat foods with low fiber content, adding more high-fiber plant foods to the diet, and drinking plenty of water for hydrating the digestive system all are effective ways for ending problems with constipation.
