Best foods for staying regular

[bluebottle23]

I've really wanted to improve my gut health. I've started eating much cleaner and have about 4/5 portions of fruit and veg a day, a smoothie for breakfast and have been taking a live culture supplement. However, I'm constipated! It doesn't make sense to me, but was wondering if you could recommend any good additions to keep you regular?

@fainallyhere Not the sugar or fibre, otherwise any fruit or sweet food would work. I eat huge amounts of fibre but that alone does nothing.

I don't know exactly how prunes work but they are a powerful natural laxative, most people of an older generation would know this. If you are not used to them eat no more than 2 or a small glass of juice.

Actually just googled.
Prunes contain large amounts of phenolic compounds (184 mg/100 g), mainly as neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, which may aid in the laxative action and delay glucose absorption.

Buy lentils, use it for soup, as a spread or sprinkle on salads. Boil dry beans and eat with rice or salads.

I have IBS and when I went through a bout of ‘hard stools’ I thought the answer was adding more fibre to my diet but it didn’t help at all so I do think it’s a myth. I was already drinking 2.7l of plain water a day as well! I find I have to up my osmotic laxative when I have bouts like this, it seems to be the only thing that helps me. I’ve tried senna (works, but it takes 2 to 3 days 😳), milk of magnesia, prune juice, aloe vera juice, syrup of figs, it’s a nightmare! Hope you find something that works OP.