What foods do you eat to avoid constipation?

High fiber foods prevent constipation but we UCers need to be careful. There are two kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble fiber. Some have found that insoluble fiber such as wheat bran can irritate a sensitive digestive system.

But soluble fiber in foods like oatmeal and psyllium work very well for me. Check out our signatures and you will see some people taking Metamucil (psyllium husk). I myself prefer psyllium SEED and I eat oatmeal/oat bran for breakfast 5 days a week. BTW gut microbes are known to break down psyllium into butyrate and butyrate nourishes the cells lining the colon.

Steamed yams/sweet potato have been very helpful for me. Overcook slightly to make them extra moist. I recommend eating plain w/o adding anything like butter or spice. Drink plenty of water every day and avoid heavy salt and fats. You can also puree some foods in a blender/food processor with a bit of added liquid to make the consistency easier on the gut. Think about what you ate prior to worst constipation sessions, which might clue you to some food or drink that is better avoided. / Old Hat (40 yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)