in our discussion, Dr. Alan Greene offers parents advice on protecting children from minute plastic particles.
Have you ever had the experience of drinking a cup of coffee and then having to head for the bathroom pronto? Can coffee make you poop or is it a myth? Find out!
One drawback of narcotics for pain relief is opioid-induced constipation. Several drugs may help counteract this complication.
When all else fails, nurses often resort to a constipation remedy called "Power Pudding." It contains bran, applesauce and prune juice.
Have you ever felt the need for a laxative? These medications are popular, but there are downsides to regular use.
A number of natural remedies for constipation work well. They include eating two kiwifruit or a pumpkin-bran muffin daily.
A reader found that taking a probiotic product for better digestion also improved sleep. Studies support this observation.
A person who suffers constipation and diarrhea as a result of irritable bowel syndrome offers tips on how to manage them both.
What can you do when constipation is a terrible challenge? Our video demonstrates how to make Power Pudding for constipation.
Irritable bowel syndrome may be explained by an imbalance in gut microbes. One reader reports DGL helped ease IBS symptoms.
Listen to find out when your digestive distress might signal a serious problem and when you could manage it at home with simple remedies.
One reader found that drinking dark cocoa eased post-operative constipation. Scientists agree that cocoa compounds can improve bowel habits.
To optimize your microbiome, focus on fiber. The more different types of plants you consume, the more your gut microbes will thrive.
Laxatives are not a great solution for chronic constipation. That’s especially true if chronic constipation causes are related to medications.
You can use mineral oil for constipation, but regular use for a long time could lead to vitamin deficiencies. Add another approach.
A mother describes how her young daughter overcame her constipation by following a diet full of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits.
Passing gas doesn't seem like a great accomplishment unless you have had abdominal surgery. Doctors need to stimulate bowels after surgery to prevent POI.
People who drink coffee after abdominal surgery get their bowels moving faster and can often leave the hospital earlier. Three cups daily did the trick.
An intriguing study reveals that what you feed your microbiota influences the variety of microbes in your intestines. The relationships are unique to you.
Coffee can help you move your bowels early in the morning. Will a cup of plain hot water have the same benefit?
One reader had persistent digestive distress following a colonoscopy. An antibiotic prescribed for something else solved the post-colonoscopy problems.
The scientific consensus is that if you grind flaxseed, you get more of the fiber, lignans and omega-3 fats that make it a healthful food.
What's the latest on probiotics? Which strains are best for your specific condition? Learn more about Kaya Biotics and why the Europeans have a head start.
There are many ways to combat chronic constipation. Incorporating more high-fiber vegetables and fruits in the diet may be among the best.
We love it when a remedy for one thing works really well for something else. And it's great when there is science to support it for overcoming constipation!
Artificial sweeteners appear to be toxic to bacteria similar to those that inhabit our intestines. That could potentially be bad news for our health, too.
One reader found that eating cucumbers can correct chronic constipation. Have you tried this simple remedy, or do you have other foods you use for this problem?
Including plenty of fiber and fluid in the diet is the best way to combat constipation. Foods like yogurt that contain probiotic bacteria may also be surprisingly helpful.
If calcium supplements cause agonizing constipation, how can you avoid it? Also, how can you get the calcium you need to keep your bones strong?
The old wives were right when they said you should eat your vegetables. A fiber-rich diet, including vegetable stems, is a big help when you are trying to conquer constipation.
Regular consumption of the laxative psyllium can lower cholesterol and blood sugar as well as prevent constipation.
Applying milk of magnesia to your armpits can cut body odor. Scientists haven't seen proof that much magnesium is absorbed through the skin.
Some readers have likened the sensation to passing bricks. Do you worry about constipation? What do you do about it? Readers share their favorite remedies.
Wheat bran with plenty of fluids can help fight constipation. One reader adopted a morning regimen featuring bran flakes and coffee.
Consuming a special yogurt rich in probiotic bacteria might help solve problems with diarrhea and with constipation.
A child with encopresis passed big BMs that clogged the toilet. Fiber, probiotics and a vitamin-mineral supplement have helped.
A poop transplant that alters the disturbed microbiota of a diseased digestive tract can provide surprising relief from diarrhea, pain and other symptoms.
A study of laxatives in hospitals found that a lot of nursing time is spent giving docusate, a bad-tasting stool softener with little evidence of efficacy.
When narcotic pain relievers result in drug-induced constipation, prunes and fiber may ease the problem; prescription drugs Relistor or Movantik could help.
Taking a tablespoon of Certo in four ounces of purple grape juice can ease joint pain, but one reader reports suffering constipation as a consequence.
If you have ever experienced the unwelcome sensation of water splashing back from the toilet bowl onto your bottom, you know why this reader is unhappy.
The standard constipation remedy of previous generations, prunes, works just as well today.
What can be done when the stool is so large it can clog the toilet? One mother found the answer at the health food store.
Eating high-fiber foods, drinking lots of low-sugar fluids and chewing sugarless gum are common-sense approaches to constipation that can ease discomfort.
Putting the feet on a stepstool can help achieve a more natural toilet posture without the danger of falling.
For most of human history pooping meant squatting. Now we sit. Is that good or bad? Readers weigh in on this question.
Psyllium-containing Metamucil cookies are a sweet way to help a toddler overcome constipation and the resulting reluctance to use the potty.
MiraLAX has never been approved for use in children; is this widely-used laxative safe?
Non-drug strategies to combat drug-induced constipation include sugarless gum, psyllium fiber, magnesium and our "Power Pudding" home remedy.
Opioid pain medication commonly causes constipation. The drug Movantik has been approved to counteract this complication. Patients also offer non-drug approaches they have found helpful.
When used as a dietary supplement in the 250 mg to 400 mg range, magnesium can help combat constipation or sluggish bowel without causing diarrhea.
Power Pudding made from wheat bran, applesauce and prune juice and washed down with adequate water can often help ease chronic constipation.
Large bowel movements that block the toilet can be embarrassing, but laxatives are probably not a good long term solution.
"Laxative addiction" or overuse can lead to loss of crucial minerals, cramping, or a “lazy” colon that will not function properly without laxatives.