Constipation is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders, the estimates being as high as 14-20 % in the general population. Constipation generally arises through multifactorial mechanisms that include dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, certain constipation foods, poor lifestyle, stress, and disease conditions such as systemic sclerosis, fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s disease. In addition, a high prevalence has been reported among elderly female patients and those on low incomes. It considerably reduces the quality of life in patients with constipation symptoms. It is also a psychosomatic disorder; it involves the development of stress, development of feelings of hopelessness, weakness, inability to concentrate, and asociality. Depression and anxiety can be observed in cases going on for a long time.
Dietary pattern has been identified as a very important factor in the genesis and management of constipation causes. Variations in dietary patterns are isolated in previous studies as a predisposing factor in its development. Poor dietary habits such as those emanating from a Western dietary pattern would therefore be contributory to higher prevalence. Apart from that, intake of dietary fiber, which can prevent only a part of constipation, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and serum cholesterol and micronutrient intake also emerged as being associated with constipation. A major conclusion of all clinical trials and meta-analyses reviewed by us was that dietary fiber is a safe inexpensive therapeutic method to treat constipation.Fiber is generally effective in relieving at least chronic constipation, depending on the type and duration of administration. According to the results of the research, other factors and nutritional elements to alleviate constipation symptoms can be nutritional recommendations.
Diet is viewed as a first-line approach in the treatment algorithm for managing constipation causes. Fiber (insoluble and soluble), hydration, and daily fat intake are nutritional components that are often recommended to be included in the diet to help improve bowel regularity. Dietary fiber often plays a central role in increasing the amount of stool and promoting transit within the alimentary canal. It facilitates water retention and improves stool consistency and ease of passage. Other factors, such as volume, time of nutrient release, and potential metabolic propensities, may also impact digestion and assimilation. Therefore, a complete critical consideration of dietary components to minimize and prevent constipation symptoms is needed. A personalized approach is required to gain the greatest benefits of diet in constipation. In this paper, we detail dietary behavior concerning constipation causes and explore new approaches to dietary advice using food analyses.
The adequacy of stool output depends on what and how many nutrients are consumed daily, as well as the consistency of the food ingested. Moreover, if food is not eaten, there is no stool. The process of digestion, absorption by mechanism, and water retention also directly change the gut environment and predispose to hard stool production or flatulence. Only a few studies have investigated changes in fecal characteristics related to the FODMAP or GFD diet, but these studies mainly recruited and took measurements in healthy adults. The low-FODMAP diet is a potential preventive and treatment approach for subjects who possess gastrointestinal disorders, such as IBS or constipation, with an underlying irritable bowel syndrome and/or inflammatory function. FODMAP dietary intervention is based on the total exclusion of sugars and related food compounds for 2–6 weeks and then reintroducing and challenging symptom materials to establish individual thresholds of intolerance. This improves symptomology for a significant percentage of IBS patients and has the potential to reduce gut endotoxemia, gut fermentation, leaky gut, constipation, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, tension, headaches, migraines, lethargy, and anxiety. In addition, a consortium of hospitals recommends the use of a diet with fermented carbohydrates for such purposes.
On the other hand, a number of constipation-relieving foods are centered and should be included in and increased within one’s diet. They are divided into categories based on the magnitude of their dietary fiber or prebiotic content. Examples of fruits include apples, berries, stone fruits, and pears. Examples of vegetables include greens such as arugula, baby spinach, butter lettuce, mixed baby greens, and tender leaves; root vegetables such as carrots and beets; whole grains include oatmeal, whole wheat bread, brown rice, and some cereals. Examples of legumes include lentils, chickpeas, edamame, and black beans in a can. These types of anti constipation foods are high in dietary fiber and prebiotics, which bulk the stool, soften it, making it easier and faster to move through and pass out of the large intestine, and encourage the growth of the ‘good’ bacteria and flora within the large intestine.
In cases of lactose intolerance and milk allergy, food items prepared by the process of culturing and dairy product consumption should be avoided. Practical ways to incorporate these constipation foods into the diet and boost the amount of dietary fiber a person receives as part of a whole food diet are by adding slices of avocado, mashed slightly, on a piece of whole wheat toast with greens and a poached egg, adding a half-cup serving of pomegranate juice to a smoothie, or including dark, leafy greens such as kale or Swiss chard in an omelet or scrambled eggs with mixed vegetables. Variety is a critical part of incorporating adequate amounts of dietary fiber into the body. This is because not just one type of fiber is absorbed by the human body; in fact, many individuals absorb hundreds of different kinds. Because each type acts on the body in a slightly different way, this maximizes the function, usability, and efficacy of the individual’s current fiber intake to further alleviate constipation causes and foster gastrointestinal constipation recovery.
The current manuscript describes appropriate dietary strategies and foods that may help individuals with constipation causes. However, an additional message should also stress that an effective dietary approach could be important in terms of confidence and reducing anxiety, which in turn may help to alleviate the problem by improving the associated gut-brain interaction. Improvement of constipation symptoms is essential for the perception of a fair and valid dietary strategy. This aspect has been neglected in many empirical studies. Empirical studies based on a gradual return to a ‘normal,’ local, indigenous type of diet also seem to achieve better performance. Indeed, trends showed relatively large improvements within a reasonably short period of 1–4 weeks for dietary interventions including fiber, prunes, chosen indigenous fruits, or simply a return to a ‘usual diet.’ Moreover, following a 2–8 day period of stabilization after drastic dietary alterations, a diet with prunes performed substantially better than modern medicine. Effective dietary approaches for recovering from constipation could help patients by reducing anxiety and should be undertaken within at least a 1-week period of stabilization, thereby allowing new dietary habits to become part of regular life. Each individual is unique, as is the process of constipation recovery, so full recovery times will also be different. However, once successful bowel movement has been achieved, an individual may then return to the standard population diet of 20–30 g of dietary fiber per day. If constipation persists at this level, dietary counseling should continue and other aspects of fiber should be explored.
This article reviewed the evidence surrounding an effective dietary strategy to manage constipation. Firstly, particular beneficial foods were described, such as water, fiber-rich foods, and low-fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, which can improve stool frequency or stool consistency. The essay also explored the importance of overall dietary patterns. Healthy dietary patterns, primarily plant-based diets, can help prevent constipation by providing sufficient fiber and fluid. In addition, specific foods or nutrients can impact the presence or severity of constipation symptoms such as bloating or abdominal pain, which makes sense clinically. However, there is a scarcity of trials investigating the effect of specific constipation foods in already constipated patients, and future clinical trials should investigate effective short- and long-term strategies to control constipation symptoms and promote constipation recovery. Finally, effective dietary advice is personalized and tailored towards the individual’s health status and living situation. It is not only the patient’s presentation that is important to take into account, but also their food beliefs. Healthcare psychologists can support individuals in changing their behavior, especially in chronic constipation causes patients. Overall, this essay aimed to raise awareness of the importance of looking at diet for those who are suffering from constipation symptoms, such as individuals and healthcare professionals.
In conclusion, the review aimed to inform the public about the potential to improve bowel health by making beneficial food choices. A controlled trial looking at the long-term effects of one of the dietary strategies on stool frequency may be beneficial, using daily dietary records and not a 24-hour recall. We also need to consider individual adherence to a given dietary strategy, as most studies have been short-term in nature. Qualitative studies and input from healthcare psychologists may give parents different strategies. In addition, qualitative studies should help identify other main perceived barriers to increase adherence to a given dietary approach. Public health campaigns could promote the links between lifestyle, food choices, and bowel movements. Healthcare professionals should also be made aware that they are the first point of contact for many people with constipation. Clinicians should ask about diet and lifestyle when helping this group to recover, to ensure that they understand the importance of diet in managing constipation and in the optimal functioning of their digestive system.
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