Constipation is defined as having less than three bowel movements per week. This definition however is dependent on the normal bowel movement of an individual, their feeding pattern, and so on. The main focus is that the person does not pass feces as normal.
Constipation [1] is a very common problem and has different causes in different people. In addition to physiological derangements, diet is one of the major causes of constipation in a large percentage of the population.
What we eat and drink plays a major role in the health of our digestive system and it is important to know that a person’s choice of food or diet can be the only cause of constipation and if rectified, the person can get back their normal bowel movement.
Here are some foods that are known to cause constipation or worsen it:
Fried Foods
These form a major part of fast foods and they are one of the main causes of constipation when consumed in large quantities regularly.
They contain very little fiber and are have high-fat content which makes them difficult or slow to digest. They also contain large amounts of salt (sodium) which promotes water absorption from stool causing the production of hard, dry stool that is always difficult to evacuate from the body. The body will always absorb more water from the intestines when the salt concentration is high in the blood to return the concentration to normal. Increasing the salt concentration by consuming foods with high salt content causes constipation.