Medical expert of the article
New publications
Improper diet is the main cause of constipation
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

The work of the digestive system
It should be well-coordinated and harmonious. And this can only be achieved if a person's diet is complete - you cannot refuse fats, proteins, or carbohydrates. In addition, the choice of products depends on you - it must be of high quality. The regimen of food intake is also not the last thing in the fight against constipation. If your regimen is regular, then the stool will soon improve, especially if constipation has not yet become chronic.
Many experiments and studies have proven that an improper diet leads to constipation, as does eating dry food and “on the go”.
Colon activity
It depends primarily on how voluminous, dense and saturated with water the fecal matter that accumulates in it is. If fecal matter stagnates in the intestine, its walls stretch, become weaker and this leads to a delay in emptying.
To avoid constipation, it is advisable to include so-called rough food in your diet, with components that are not digested. They will help cleanse the intestines of feces. Refined products that many supermarkets offer us are very harmful, they do not activate the intestines to work. First of all, the products should contain unrefined dietary fiber, which is also called indigestible.
What foods are recommended for constipation?
- whole grain cereals, black and grey bread
- bran
- granola
- corn chips
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- lean meat
- fish
- fermented milk drinks
- water
- green tea
- fruit juices
- vegetable juices
What foods are prohibited - they lead to constipation
- candies
- pies
- ice cream
- chocolate
- white bread
- fatty meat
- sausages
- dairy products
- rice
- fried vegetables
- strong coffee
- black tea
- cocoa
- soda
- red wine
- vinegar
- pepper
Consult a nutritionist about which diet is best for you, since constipation often coexists with other diseases, in which case the list of permitted and prohibited foods needs to be adjusted.
Home Remedies for Constipation
How to deal with constipation? Constipation is a problem that can happen to anyone. Fortunately, we have access to a wide range of options when it comes to combating this problem. There are good home remedies that take proper care of our digestive system today.
[ 8 ]
Dried fruits
Let's start with dried fruits. First of all, they are an ideal snack that can serve as a substitute for chips. In addition, eating dried fruits before bed can effectively protect us from constipation. On the other hand, when you wake up in the morning, we should be ready to drink a glass of water with a spoon of honey dissolved in it right after getting out of bed. This promotes good digestion.
Fiber
The best way to combat constipation is prevention. What can you do at home? The idea is to change your menu, and it should include a lot of products that contain fiber, it is known to regulate metabolism. In addition, it cleanses the body of toxins, which is very important in the fight against constipation. So let's add whole grain bread, bran, carrots, apples and peas to our diet. With the latter, however, you need to be careful, do not eat it with bread.
Beet
A good product that cleanses the intestines from feces is beetroot. Here is a rather original recipe. Grate beetroot (2-3 small beets are enough) and add caraway seeds to it. You can add a few drops of olive or corn oil. Every day before breakfast we eat about 10 teaspoons of this salad. And then constipation can go away within three days.
Herbs
Of course, you should not forget about herbs that are suitable for people with constipation problems. Such mixtures can be bought, or you can create your own recipe. These are mainly willow bark or St. John's wort.
This is, of course, only a small percentage of the solution to constipation problems, but it shows, firstly, that we are not stuck in this problem, and secondly, we do not need - if something happens - to run to the pharmacy and spend a lot of money on pills.
Simple recipes for constipation
Don't let constipation rule you for too long, here are some homemade laxatives made from household ingredients.
First recipe
Onion decoction - cut an onion and pour a glass of water over it for 1 hour, strain the drink before drinking. Drink in the morning and evening.
Second recipe
Oat decoction - pour a large spoon of oats with a glass of water and boil. After cooling, strain, drink half a glass of liquid in the morning and evening.
Third recipe
Almond drink - 10 grains of crushed almonds, pour a cup of boiled cold water into it, let it brew for an hour. Drink ½ cup in the morning and evening.
The fourth recipe
Raisin infusion - pour boiling water over a handful of raisins, drink the warm infusion after 15 minutes, 2-3 times a day, and eat the raisins.
The fifth recipe
Prunes - you can eat them in any form. Pour a handful of prunes with cool boiled water, drink it after a few hours, when the plums become soft. And constipation will no longer visit you.