Foods that are laxative

[Mustardfan]

I’ve got sciatica and pooping is painful right now, and my poops are quite hard. I could take a laxative to help this, but would like to change my diet first. I already eat home cooked food with lots of vegetables, and an apple a day, sometimes other fruit. I also exercise a lot and drink a lot of water. I’ve stewed plums and rhubarb, but it doesn’t seem to have helped. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

The morning after I've eaten broccoli I always have to go very urgently to the toilet several times (tmi).

I find coffee works for me

would anyone recommend any particular stool,
isnt it odd to keep it in the bathroom?

personally i find Cherries work

and Ryvita

I think a lot depends on your system and your usual diet.

I can eat prunes, plums, kiwi - practically any fruit, with no noteable effect. Sit me down for a plate of greasy chips though, and you'd better clear the way to the bathroom...

Chia seeds. But don’t do that ‘internal shower’ thing that was trending a while back. If you’re like me, you’d have it fly through you in about 10 minutes 😮

And not a food, but taking one magnesium citrate before bed means I always go first thing in the morning.

Wilma, about the stool, I’ve come to terms with keeping it in the bathroom. Guests have never asked about it, they probably assume it’s for kids, and my stance is that odd not to have one, rather than being on having one.
thanks for the recommendation of cherries.

briarhare, so many people have recommended magnesium citrate, I’m going to switch from taking magnesium glycinate. I’ve also started adding soaked chia seeds to yoghurt.

Prunes. Porridge.
I recommend 10 ml of lactulose at night for a week then gradually reduce it, while increasing the prunes etc and drinking at least twice as much water as usual.
It helps to retrain the bowel, but gently.