Dr Oz: Constantly Constipated? Causes & How To Find Relief

Dr Oz: Chronic Constipation

Dr Oz wanted to help some of his viewers figure out why they just couldn’t seem to poop. Dr Oz asked Jennifer to join him, who admits that she suffers from constipation at least twice a week. She blames herself saying she follows a low-carb diet which means she’s probably not getting enough fruit. She’s also a vegetarian so she eats a lot of nuts at times, which she thinks may stop her up. Dr Oz said nuts are actually a good thing, and he wanted to explain what could be the problem.

Dr Oz: Causes Of Constipation

Dr Oz said not enough water or fiber, lack of exercise, stress, too much dairy, and pregnancy are all possible causes of constipation.

He then had Jennifer stand in front of eight different bags of items, and had her guess which ones could cause constipation. On the table there were leafy greens, antihistamines, sugary gum, over-the-counter medications, an iron supplement, olive oil, nuts, and bread.

Dr Oz: Over-The-Counter Medications & Constipation

Dr Oz explained that over-the-counter pills are one of the biggest problems, which includes the antihistamines, the iron supplement, and antacids. He said antihistamines dry you up, including what’s in your intestines. Iron supplements can cause constipation, but eating iron from natural sources like leafy greens are fine. A high dose messes with the bacteria in your intestines, slowing you down.

Finally, antacids often have a lot of calcium in them and calcium can constipate you at that dose. He said antacids every once in a while are fine but chronic use is what can cause constipation.

Dr Oz: What To Eat To Avoid Constipation

Dr Oz then shared that a lot of people think constipation is all about fiber, but really magnesium plays a big role as well. He said magnesium is actually the opposite of calcium. He then suggested that Jennifer incorporate more spinach, nuts, and beans into her diet to help her twice-a-week problem.