What foods soften your stool?

Foods that soften the stool include:
  • Vegetables – green beans, spinach, red capsicum, members of the cabbage family (cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts which can cause increased wind/gas production)
  • Fruit – fresh apricots, peaches, plums, grapes, prunes.
  • High Fibre Cereals – bran, multigrain breads and cereals.
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How can I soften my stool fast?

Here are 13 natural home remedies to relieve constipation.
  1. Drink more water. ...
  2. Eat more fiber, especially soluble, non-fermentable fiber. ...
  3. Exercise more. ...
  4. Drink coffee, especially caffeinated coffee. ...
  5. Take Senna, an herbal laxative. ...
  6. Eat probiotic foods or take probiotic supplements. ...
  7. Over-the-counter or prescription laxatives.
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What foods help loosen hard stool?

What should I eat and drink if I'm constipated?
  • whole grains, such as whole wheat bread and pasta, oatmeal, and bran flake cereals.
  • legumes, such as lentils, black beans, kidney beans, soybeans, and chickpeas.
  • fruits, such as berries, apples with the skin on, oranges, and pears.
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What softens a hard stool?

Soluble fiber dissolves in water, softening the stool. 6 You can increase your soluble fiber by eating most fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Flaxseed, chia seeds, and psyllium are other good sources of soluble fiber.
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What foods cause stools to be hard?

7 Foods That Can Cause Constipation
  • Alcohol. Alcohol is frequently mentioned as a likely cause of constipation. ...
  • Gluten-containing foods. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, and triticale. ...
  • Processed grains. ...
  • Milk and dairy products. ...
  • Red meat. ...
  • Fried or fast foods. ...
  • Persimmons.
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Natural Stool Softener Foods to Stop Straining with Bowel Movements



How do I stop my poop from being hard?

Home remedies
  1. Abdominal massage. Sometimes a stomach massage can help stimulate the bowels if they're not moving enough to help stool digest more quickly. ...
  2. Drink more water. Increasing water in the digestive tract can make stool softer and easier to pass. ...
  3. Eat more fiber. ...
  4. Avoid empty-calorie, low-fiber foods. ...
  5. Exercise.
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Is banana good for constipation?

Bananas are high in fiber

Fiber has long been claimed to help prevent and relieve constipation ( 2 , 3 ). Soluble fiber absorbs water, helping stools stay large and soft. This may help improve the movement of stool through your digestive tract ( 4 ).
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Why is my poop hard as a rock?

Poop that is hard and shaped like tiny rocks or pebbles is likely just a sign of constipation. You can still be considered constipated even if you are able to pass a small amount of stool. The large intestine helps to concentrate waste by absorbing water.
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Why is my stool so hard?

Hard, dry stools are the result of the colon absorbing too much water. Normally, as food moves through the colon (also known as the large intestine) the colon absorbs water while forming stool (waste products).
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How can I make my stool softer at home?

Here are 13 natural home remedies to relieve constipation.
  1. Drink more water. ...
  2. Eat more fiber, especially soluble, non-fermentable fiber. ...
  3. Exercise more. ...
  4. Drink coffee, especially caffeinated coffee. ...
  5. Take Senna, an herbal laxative. ...
  6. Eat probiotic foods or take probiotic supplements. ...
  7. Over-the-counter or prescription laxatives.
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What drinks make you poop fast?

The following teas may have laxative or muscle-relaxing effects that help to relieve constipation and encourage bowel movements.
  • Senna. ...
  • Peppermint tea. ...
  • Ginger. ...
  • Dandelion. ...
  • Black tea, green tea, or coffee. ...
  • Licorice root. ...
  • Marshmallow root. ...
  • Chamomile.
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Do bananas cause constipation?

Interestingly, bananas can either be a cause of constipation or a source of constipation relief, depending on their ripeness. "Unripened, green bananas are constipating," says Tammy Lakatos.
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What foods act as laxatives?

Here are 17 foods that can help relieve constipation and keep you regular.
  1. Prunes. Share on Pinterest Moostocker/Getty Images. ...
  2. Apples. Share on Pinterest Diana Taliun/Getty Images. ...
  3. Pears. Share on Pinterest Ann_Zhuravleva/Getty Images. ...
  4. Kiwi. ...
  5. Figs. ...
  6. Citrus fruits. ...
  7. Spinach and other greens. ...
  8. Jerusalem artichoke and chicory.
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Does coffee soften stool?

The simple act of drinking coffee or any other beverage in the morning stimulates a defecation reflex known as the gastrocolic reflex. This reflex helps jump-start your bowels whenever you eat or drink.
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Is yogurt good for constipation?

Probiotics: The good bacteria can help you go.

Kimball says any yogurt — not just those that advertise they're good for gastrointestinal health — can be a good source of probiotics that help relieve constipation.
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What is the best laxative for hard stools?

In general, bulk-forming laxatives, also referred to as fiber supplements, are the gentlest on your body and safest to use long term. Metamucil and Citrucel fall into this category.
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How much water do you need to drink to relieve constipation?

Water is important for preventing constipation, too. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Try coffee. While caffeinated drinks and alcohol can make you dehydrated, there's evidence a cup of coffee of tea in the morning may help you poop.
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Can you still poop with impacted feces?

Once fecal impaction occurs, the intestine will not be able to remove the feces from the body through the normal contraction process. Hence, it's typically impossible to excrete wastes from the body, defecate, or poop with impacted feces.
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Are eggs good for constipation?

Eggs are packed with proteins, which can exacerbate constipation,” Dr. Lee explains.
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Are eggs constipating?

Eggs. Some people believe that eggs can cause constipation. However, there is not much scientific evidence that supports this. They are a low fiber food, though, so eating a lot of them may contribute to constipation.
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Is oatmeal good for constipation?

Oatmeal.

“Oats are loaded with soluble fiber, which is a type of fiber that allows more water to remain in the stool,” says Smith. “This makes the stool softer and larger, and ultimately easier to pass.”
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What fruits make you poop?

Here are 15 healthy foods that can help you poop.
  • Apples. Apples are a good source of fiber, with one small apple (5.3 ounces or 149 grams) providing 3.6 grams of fiber ( 2 ). ...
  • Prunes. Prunes are often used as a natural laxative — and for good reason. ...
  • Kiwi. ...
  • Flax seeds. ...
  • Pears. ...
  • Beans. ...
  • Rhubarb. ...
  • Artichokes.
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Can peanut butter help with constipation?

Peanuts and peanut butter are rich in soluble and insoluble dietary fibers, both of which help support regular bowel movements and improve constipation ( 3 , 4 ). Just two tablespoons (32 grams) of natural peanut butter contains 3 grams of fiber, equivalent to about 10% of your daily fiber needs ( 5 , 6 ).
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Do apples help with constipation?

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who regularly ate apples were found to have 13 to 22 per cent less constipation problems than those who didn't have apples. Apples are loaded with pectin fibre, which has an amphoteric action.
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