Do Low-Fiber Diets Cause Constipation?
Low-Fiber Foods and Constipation
Constipation caused by low-fiber foods is something that affects more than 100 million North Americans. It puts a major damper on all aspects of our everyday lives, from weight gain to fatigue to serious disease. Increasing our daily fiber intake is the key to combating constipation. We can do this by swapping foods we currently consume that contain low amount of nutrients (chips, pop, candy, confections, dairy, etc.) for foods that are very fiber-rich, including fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains, flax and chia seeds.
The Key to Overcoming Chronic Constipation
Think of fiber as a broom, and its job is to sweep clean your intestinal tract (especially your colon). If you don’t get enough fiber (or enough water to assist the fiber), your intestinal tract will never be clean. This leads to a build-up of not only old food and waste, but also of unhealthy bacteria.
When you introduce high-fiber foods to your diet, you clean your body from the inside out, and allow friendly bacteria to grow and eventually be able to combat the ill effects of the built-up harmful bacteria in your gut, such as E. coli.
Here are two quick reference lists for you that show which foods are low-fiber foods, and which ones are high-fiber foods:
Low-fiber Foods
- Meat
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Processed foods
- Fried foods
- Fast foods
- Commercial baking
- Candy
- Soda and juice
High-fiber Foods
- Vegetables (beets, carrots, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, artichokes)
- Fruit (oranges, watermelon, apples, pears, figs, dates, prunes)
- Beans
- Legumes
- Whole, sprouted grains (quinoa, steel-cut oats, etc.)
- Flax and chia seeds
- Natura fiber
Natura fiber is a great way to incorporate more fiber into your diet, because you can simply add 1/3 cup to any smoothie, soup, stew, oatmeal, or anything else you like. You don’t have to suffer from chronic constipation!