what do you use for constipation

[aGirlLikeJesamine]

i was eating a load of dried apricots yesterday and drinking lots of water
i have a satsuma for my pudding

what tips do you have, non medication

Following with interest!
I would have said plenty of water and fruit but that doesn't seem to be working for me either...

Tried lactulose which works and is cheap but tastes totally disgusting. Laxido is much the same but easier.

Diet didn't seem to work really.

Establishing a routine that works for me. I eat breakfast at the same time every day (granola or porridge mainly). 3 hot drinks (2 teas and coffees) and a sachet of fybogel after breakfast (not sure if that counts as medication).

Lots of water every day and I have to be careful not to under-eat (if I skip lunch because I'm busy at work or eat later or earlier than usual in the evening, I normally suffer a bit the following day or two). I actually also seem to have to have a reasonable amount of sugar in my diet but that might just be excuses.

Time restricted eating. I don’t eat between 7pm and 1pm. It seems to get things going.

Diet doesn't work for me either. I eat a gazillion fruit and veg and drink loads of water. It's worsened by the progesterone part of my hrt but i took ages to make this connection. I use Laxido. Irregular eating makes it worse as pp says. I hate being a martyr to my bowels!

Dulcolax worked for me. Taken at bedtime x

Discovered these digestive enzyme tablets recently, take one at mealtimes. Great reviews on H&B and Amazon and they do seem to get things moving.

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/solgar-digestive-enzymes-tablets-60001913

Also there’s apps like Nerva that talk you through the mind/body connection - a body in flight/fight mode won’t rest and digest properly.

Dates are supposed to help but I’ve not seen a direct link myself (but then whatever I eat seems to set me off sometimes).

I have a couple of GG Scandinavian Bran Crispbread ( scan bran) and they never fail to do the trick. Have them a couple of days together if needed. Get them from Holland and Barrett. Also All Bran is a help.

Laxido every day…seriously ended up in A&E with constipation last year and this has helped so much. I can’t tell you how much pain I had been in!

When I went on a low carb diet psyllium husk powder was suggested as the thing to keep things moving.

oh i did have dried dates as well

Intermittent fasting. Lots of water. Lots of walking/exercise. I also drink 2 to 3 coffees per day and I’m never really constipated.

All bran and prunes for breakfast. Gross I know.

Ground flaxseed. I add it to home made flapjack, salad etc. It’s also good for hair and nails.
medjool dates.

I guess it depends what else you eat.

We're supposed to eat 30gms fibre a day- there are loads of charts photos online showing what this looks like.

You might need to up your fruit and veg to 7-10 portions a day ( 4 veg, 3 fruits and more) plus wholegrain cereals and grains, beans, pulses, as well as 2 ltrs water (tea etc counts.)

And EXERCISE. Bowels need movement to work, so walking fast for at least 30-45 mins a day.

Black coffee goes straight through me.

Lots of fluids to soften things up, at least one cup of caffeinatted drink a day and, when its bad, a senna tablet. I was told about abdominal massage so may be worth a search on YouTube.

When you are on the loo, have a little stool (no pun intended!) to put your feet on so your knees are higher than your thighs, a bit like a squatting position.

Good luck.

Fruit and fibre cereal with an espresso always seems to do the trick for me.

Magnesium supplement taken at bedtime to help with sleep always gets me going in the morning- not really medication but not sure if this is what you want to avoid?

Chia seeds work really well! If you eat fresh fruit it should be really ripe and sweet. You’ll know it’s ripe when you press it and your finger makes a little dent. Try and eat it with the skin on. Grapes, fresh figs (or dried), peaches and persimmons are all good. Also drink lots of water and avoid tea. (Tea is good when you have diarrhoea)

Magnesium before bed, 2 kiwis a day, chia seeds and flaxseed do the trick. I have IBS and dates and apricots would make things worse for me as they are high FODMAP.

Activated buckwheat - it's the buckwheat seeds/grains that have been soaked to make them more digestible, and then dried so it's like a cereal. I have it with yogurt and honey and fruit for breakfast. It's the only thing I've found to be reliable.
Psyllium husk irritated my digestive system but the activated buckwheat is like magic.

You can't substitute non-acitvated buckwheat though - has to be the activated stuff or will have the opposite effect ime.

Not just diet, but the way you sit on the loo can have an even bigger impact of passing stool. Get a squatty potty, or large bricks etc to lift your feet up. You can also get compact, fold out stools/steps which do the same thing. It really does help.

Chia seeds or psyillium husks, going at the same time every day, lots of water, black coffee (not milky), and being active.

Senokot washed down with Guinness and followed by a bowl of prunes!