Elder Care in Houston, TX – Foods that Relieve, and those that cause, Constipation

Also known as costiveness, constipation is a condition caused when bowel movements are made difficult or less frequent. Many seniors are dealing with constipation, and are too embarrassed to seek help for it. If you want to give your elderly loved one a healthier diet to avoid being constipated, then keep reading. The kinds of food you eat matter a lot when it comes to constipation. There are some foods that are considered great for keeping constipation at bay while there are those that may encourage constipation; you’ll want to avoid those. Here are the top 5 foods that relieve and cause constipation.

Foods that Relieve Constipation

• Beans

Beans don’t only provide protein, they contain up to 10 grams of fiber per cup serving. This is close to a third of the total fiber needed by the digestion system.

• Prunes

Prunes have been known to relieve constipation. They are in abundance in insoluble fiber and natural laxative sorbitol. Amazing enough, they are more effective than laxatives thus making it a top constipation relieving remedy.

• Rye Bread

Rye bread is another good source of fiber. It works more effectively in relieving constipation more than most laxatives due to its high fiber content.

• Pears

Eating the pear fruit’s skin provides the digestion system with adequate fiber. It is said that an average pear fruit has up to 5 to 6 grams of fiber.

• Kiwi

Kiwi contains a lot of fiber necessary for relieving constipation. An average kiwi fruit has up to 5 grams of fiber. Research suggests that eating at least 2 kiwis a day increases bowel movements.

Foods that Cause Constipation

• Chocolate

Although it’s most people’s favorite, chocolates have very high fat content that slows digestion. Most people who have recurrent constipations were found to be eating lots of chocolate, so have your senior parent avoid this when they can

• Red Meat

Red meat is discouraged for many reasons. Among them is the fact that its high fat content, just like in chocolates, slows down digestion. Red meat also contains very tough fibers that are quite hard to break down

• Unripe Bananas

Although ripe bananas can help in relieving constipation, unripe bananas can lead to constipation as they have very high starch content that slows digestion. The pectin fiber in them also dehydrates the bowel system thus slowing down bowel movements

• Caffeine

Caffeine is highly discouraged for people with constipation as it stimulates the body leading to more bowel movements than normal. If at this time you are dehydrated, it worsens the constipation

• Dairy products

Dairy products like cheese, milk and yoghurt may lead to constipation. This is because the lactose in these products can increase gas and bloating in the bowel

Avoiding foods that cause constipation is important for seniors, as the senior digestive system can be more sensitive to changes, and prolonged constipation is dangerous. If your elderly loved one has trouble cooking and preparing nutritious, fiber-filled meals that will help avoid this situation, it’s best to consider hiring home care services to help them with this task. They also offer other services as well as companionship, that make hiring a caregiver a great option for many seniors.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from the help of elder care in Houston, TX contact At Your Side Home Care. We help seniors and their families with many levels of home care service. Call (832) 271-1600 for more information.