8 Foods That Make You Constipated When You Eat

by Abbas Jahangir · July 8, 2021

Constipation, in the most general terms, means slowness of bowel movements. Constipation can be mentioned if there are three or fewer bowel movements per week. It usually occurs due to wrong eating habits. Constipation is often accompanied by symptoms that reduce the quality of life, such as bloating and gas. If left untreated, it can lead to different health problems such as anal fissures and hemorrhoids.

The first step in treating constipation is to regulate your diet. Certain foods are known to trigger constipation. For this reason, the primary aim should be to have information about the foods that cause constipation and to stay away from these foods for a while. The second step should be to include foods that are good for constipation in the nutrition routine.

8 Foods That Make You Constipated When You Eat

1) Milk and Dairy Products

Milk and dairy products are foods rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin K12. However, their fiber content is low.
Cow’s milk contains a protein called lactose.
Today, lactose intolerance is very common, as is the case with gluten.
Lactose intolerance can cause constipation in some people.
If you think your constipation is caused by lactose intolerance, you should stop consuming all milk and dairy products, especially cheese, yogurt, and kefir.
One of the main causes of constipation, especially in childhood, is milk consumption.
According to a study conducted on 25 children with constipation problems; 28% of children who did not drink cow’s milk for 4 weeks experienced fewer constipation problems during this time. In addition, it was observed in the same study that children who drank cow’s milk became constipated again in the first 48-72 hours.

2) Foods Containing Gluten

Gluten is a type of protein and is found in grains such as rye and barley, especially wheat.
Modern white wheat, called dwarf wheat, contains high levels of gluten.
Experts often say that the human body cannot digest this amount of gluten.
Therefore, indigestible gluten can cause constipation in some people.
Celiac patients should never consume gluten. When they consume it, they experience a serious intestinal reaction.
However, those with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and non-celiac gluten sensitivity should stay away from gluten-containing foods.

3) Processed Grains

Foods such as white bread, white rice, and white pasta are processed grains.
The bran and germ are separated while the grains are being processed. Because of this process, processed grains are low in fiber, which leads to constipation.
If you have constipation problems, you can choose whole grain products instead of processed grains.

4) Red Meat

Red meat is rich in protein, iron, B12, and zinc. However, it is low in fiber and contains more fat than white meat.
Fatty foods take longer to digest in the body and this can cause hard stools and thus constipation.
If you have constipation problems, you can turn to alternative protein sources such as peas, lentils, and beans instead of red meat.

5) Fast Foods and Packaged Foods

Fast food and packaged foods contain high amounts of salt.
Excess salt causes the stool to dry out, leading to constipation.
In addition, the body begins to absorb water in the intestines in order to tolerate the excess salt in the bloodstream. This situation invites constipation.
Packaged foods can also cause constipation in excessive consumption due to the additives they contain.

6) Persimmon

Thanks to the vitamins and minerals in the persimmon, it is a very useful fruit.
However, persimmon reduces intestinal secretions and contractions, which causes slowing of bowel movements.
Therefore, persimmon may cause constipation in some people, even if it is not in everyone.

7) Unripe Banana and Melon

Fruits contain a high amount of fiber and it is known that they play an active role in the fight against constipation thanks to these properties.
But for unripe bananas and melons, the situation is the opposite.
These fruits can trigger constipation when eaten before they are ripe.

8) Chocolate

Chocolate, which is loved by everyone, young and old, is, unfortunately, one of the foods that cause constipation.
Chocolate is a low-fiber food. On the other hand, the amount of saturated fat is high.
Both of these features are among the factors that trigger constipation.
If you can’t give up chocolate, we recommend you choose chocolates with high cocoa content.
Because chocolate with high cocoa content is relatively rich in fiber.