Update: Bumping up my carbs has significantly helped me! But not the amount recommended in this article. The body converts fuel differently between carbs, protein, and fat. I was so constipated and so tired all the time. As soon as I bumped up my carb intake to about 300 grams a day, my bowel movements returned within two days! It’s been 5-6 weeks, and now I can cut the amount of carbs in half, and I’m still ok. I don’t feel 100%, but so so much better. (I do want to note that I know 300 grams is a lot, but I was about 97 lbs. I was over exercising and not eating enough. My hunger signals were out of sync. And the more constipated I got, the less I wanted to eat.)

HI Paula – many do feel less hungry with constipation as it leaves a heavy feeling that decreases the appetite. We’d recommend overcoming it by starting with the constipation program here: http://constipationhelp.scdlifestyle.com

HI Matt – thanks for sharing! It is amazing what real food can do:)

After reading the article, i ate a whole avocado (fat), a handful of pumpkin seeds (insoluble fiber), and a liter of water with a tablespoon of baking soda (electrolytes/salt).

An hour later, the “urge” hit me, and now I’m feeling back to normal.

Such a great article! Thanks for all the tips!

Hi Jess – We would only recommend eating high quality (grass fed) fermented dairy, like yogurt or kefir. However, many arent’ able to tolerate this right away and thus we’d wait to introduce it until your symptoms have calmed down.

I am always dealing with chronic constipation. I want to know if I am not allergic to dairy is it ok to eat it or should I keep away from it unless it’s fermented like kefir or yogurt?

I agree with you! my constipation has been pretty terrible for over a year now (i go every 3-5 days) and my food sensitivities are spiking again. When I do actually poop, I get better relief if I raise my legs on something. I don’t actually have a squatty potty, but 100% swear by the position for better emptying of the bowels. I’ve also told my family they could get me one as a gift ?. My entire digestive track is a hot mess, but Dr’s are garbage when it comes to help and everything on here sounds like SOOOO MUCH work. I’ve basically given up and just bare the pain.

In Ayurveda, they suggest stewing the prunes first! This helps hydrate them which makes it easier for most constipated people to digest. This science of life believes constipation is a dryness in the bowels and therefore fats help lubricate, stewing dried fruit before eating and avoiding airy/crunchy foods such as rice cakes, toast, dried chickpeas, crackers etc.

Have you ever tried Colon Max? It’s something you can look up on Amazon – a mix of magnesium oxide and a few softener teas.

HI Deb – Instead of adding plain water, you’d add the herbal tea water (cooled a bit) to make what Michelle is suggesting:)

How do you make this ?

Hi Chris – we think HCL and digestive enzymes are some of the most important supplements you can use.

Here’s info on both:
https://healthygut.com/who-needs-digestive-enzymes-and-how-to-take-them/
https://healthygut.com/how-to-supplement-with-betaine-hcl-for-low-stomach-acid/

Chris – these tips have helped a lot of people when nothing else has: https://healthygut.com/relieve-constipation-with-natural-movement/

Yoga, massage, acupuncture, or chiropractic care might be able to help as well.

Basmati brown rice is very digestible and doesn’t seem to bother me too much I am diagnosed ibs-c with evacuation problems and sometimes having lemon butter rice with my chicken and spinach dinner helps me move completely the next morning.

Hi Patricia – thanks for commenting!

We know how you’re feeling – Steve and Jordan tried what seemed like everything before finding success on SCD.

We can’t promise you’ll have success – and we wouldn’t want you to trust anyone who did – but we can the;; you we have seen so many people have incredible results by customizing the SCD diet to work for them.

Following the diet starts with a three month commitment – whether or not you have success on SCD those three months are going to pass, and if you’re successful, they’ll be the first three months of your new life.

We hope you’ll give it a try! You can get started here: https://healthygut.com/scd-quick-start-guide/

Sorry to hear you’re still struggling with constipation!

Our first suggestion is always to add more fat to your diet. Follow the tips in this article or add 1 tablespoon of fat (like coconut oil) at each meal, increasing to 2 tbsp per meal if needed (up to 6 tablespoons per day).

Give this a try and hopefully you’ll be feeling better soon 🙂

Hi Alice – Steve really struggled with gas as well. It was switching to SCD plus the use of HCL that really helped him in the end.

The best place to start is with our Free quick start guide here: https://healthygut.com/scd-quick-start-guide/

From here, we highly recommend following the directions in the eBook for best results: http://scdlifestylebook.com/

To learn more about HCL, check out this article: https://healthygut.com/how-to-supplement-with-betaine-hcl-for-low-stomach-acid/

Hope this helps and your gas is cleared up soon!

Hi Lina, thanks for commenting. All of our first recommendations for constipation can be found here: https://healthygut.com/category/constipation/
Please check your inbox for an email from support@scdlifestyle.com, too!

Hi Becca, please try some buffered Vitamin C and powdered magnesium to help with the constipation.

HI Meg,
The SCD diet has helped many people not only with diarrhea, but with constipation as well. We suggest starting by addressing your diet with our free quick start guide here: https://healthygut.com/scd-quick-start-guide/
Also, please read the following article on constipation, as it can be very helpful on your journey: https://healthygut.com/real-food-tips-constipation/
We also have an entire section of constipation related articles on our site, and these can be found here: https://healthygut.com/category/constipation/

I’ve just eaten a bowl of brown rice and quinoa. Yes I know, rice is a grain, so shoot me. As for the quinoa … I can only hope for a better outcome than you Sherry!

I have SIBO and other food sensitivities (probably secondary to the SIBO, so getting rid of the SIBO is my top priority). On a low FODMAPs diet plus avoidance of other amines and glutamates my bowel function used to be pretty well normal. After a course of Rifaximin I relaxed the diet a bit, the SIBO returned and the end result is worse bowel problems than I had before – namely constipation. I am upping my insoluble fibre intake to try and deal with that – hence the rice and quinoa.

The net is a minefield if you are trying to diagnose and treat yourself. But this article at least gives a few options that are safe and cheap.(Spent the morning watching a video about MMS and then googling ‘MMS dangers’ – and deciding that is NOT for me!)

If anyone can point me in the direction of a constipation cure that does not have fermentable starch or amines or glutamates in I will be very grateful.

Hi Solomon, it sounds like you need to address your diet and you can start by going here: https://healthygut.com/scd-quick-start-guide/ Here is a helpful article on constipation as well: https://healthygut.com/real-food-tips-constipation/

Hi I read many of the posts and comments that many people posted I feel so good about it. Thank you I am greaful?. but I couldn’t find anything similar to what I feel / With my pain).

Five years ago I was a college student in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and suddenly constipation started me. At the same time my foot started to smell. Then followed by the constipation my pop started to smell in public. When this happen I was in my last year of college studies then I couldn’t continue having smelly pop in school And I quit. Ever since I was always alone. Couldn’t participate any socials affairs. After having used traditional remedies i get rid off the constipation but I couldn’t get rid off the smell of the pop that comes out of my Rectum.

I started to understand that I feel little safer from mt pop smell when I am alone in a clean area. Any thing that has good or bad smell wakes and aggravates the Illness.

I went to several doctors but non of them couldn’t do any good. I used Itraconazole for two weeks and it helped me 70/70% for my foot smell. I am suffering with the pop smell and I beg you to help me out.

Thank you

Try making herbal tea infused gelatine squares, and eating them daily. Great for a healthy gut!

I have IBS, and I find the best thing for me is to stay away from cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, for example), as they irritate my stomach. I make herbal tea infused gelatine squares and eat them daily. The gelatine helps keep me regular!

Hi Kira, thank you for reaching out! It is our experience and belief that pharmaceuticals are not the cure for constipation, while diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes are. We suggest finding the right version of the SCD diet or one similar and begin adding in these tips from the article to relieve the constiption.

What is this medicine called because my constipation is horrible

Thanks for sharing Carol! Magnesium is a great thing to have in the tool box for sure.

Ali, I recommend taking probiotics including natural ferments eg sauerkraut and coconut yoghurt. Lack of enough friendly gut bacteria is so often behind longterm constipation. I recommend Bravo yohurt, which contains 42 species of bacteria and friendly yeasts and 10,000 other good things for the gut. The best on the planet apparently!! And if you are dairy intolerant, you can use the Bravo suppositories which innoculates the bowel fro the bottom up. …..they are more exy but apparently you take them for 3 months and your bowel is pretty much self reliant so long as you keep eating the sauerkraut etc and a good diet with leafy greens etc to keep feeding the good bacteria.