Prevention & Relief
Prevention & Relief
How Do I Prevent Constipation?
Before you jump to medication, the first step in constipation prevention involves lifestyle changes.
A simple place to start is your diet. By consuming more fiber, your stool can increase in weight and more easily pass
through your intestinal system. Choose fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables and foods labeled as having
3 grams or more of fiber. It is also important to drink at least four to six glasses of fluids per day.
Check out the chart below for some fiber-rich foods
Food | Serving Size | Grams of Fiber |
---|---|---|
Raspberries | 1 cup | 8 |
Pear | 1 medium size pear | 5.5 |
Green peas, boiled | 1 cup | 9 |
Broccoli, boiled | 1 cup chopped | 5 |
Whole wheat spaghetti, cooked | 1 cup | 6 |
Barley, pearled, cooked | 1 cup | 6 |
Split peas, boiled | 1 cup | 16 |
Lentils, boiled | 1 cup | 15.5 |
Black beans, boiled | 1 cup | 15 |
Beyond your diet, the next set of lifestyle changes involve your daily routine. Try to fit in a workout most days of the
week, as regular exercise increases muscle activity in your intestines. Another key to digestive ease is giving yourself
enough time to pass a bowel movement. While it can be diffcult to fit a trip to the bathroom in your busy schedule,
your body will thank you later if you take care of your number two needs in a timely fashion.
Getting Relief
No matter how many lifestyle changes you make, you may still sometimes find yourself stuck in a constipation bind.
Often constipation can be a result of hard, dry stool. Taking a product that helps soften stool can provide comfortable
relief. Learn about the benefits of different brands below:
Comparison of leading national OTC brands that claim to help soften stool*
Features | Colace® Regular Strength Capsules | Colace® Clear Soft Gels | Colace® 2-IN-1 Tablets | MiraLAX Powder | Dulcolax Stool Softener Liquid Gels | Phillips Stool Softener Liquid Gels |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Doctor Recommended Stool Softener Brand | ||||||
Pulls fluid from the body into the colon with a synthetic polymer | ||||||
Generally provides relief in 12-72 hours | ||||||
Convenient pill form; no need for mixing or measuring | ||||||
OTC label includes dosage for children under 17 years old | ||||||
Dual-Action stool softener and stimulant laxative |
*Source Nielsen Retail Sales report 52 weeks ending 7/13/19
MiraLAX and Phillips are trademarks of Bayer
Dulcolax is a trademark of Sanofi