It might be gross to talk about but you can tell a lot about your health from your bowel movements! Things like constipation are very common, but “common” doesn’t mean it’s normal! It wasn’t until I switched to a plant-based diet that I finally cured my chronic constipation. If this is something you’re struggling with, read on to find out how plants can help YOU.

Symptoms of Constipation:

Passing fewer than three stools per week
Having lumpy or hard stools (check out the Bristol stool chart to see where your poop fits in!)
Straining to have a bowel movement (BM)
Feeling as though you can’t completely empty during a BM (you can poop regularly and still be constipated if you’re not emptying all the way)

What can help?

Fiber rich foods (i.e. plants) usually have a combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Getting in a variety of these foods *can* help tremendously!

Increasing your diversity of fiber is a good thing for digestion. But initially, it may cause bloating, constipation, or gas, because your stomach isn’t used to the quantity. As you choose to increase your fiber amount, make sure to also increase your water intake to aid in digestion.

Small changes can get you on track to incorporating more fiber into your diet from adding beans to your lunch or dinner meal to choosing fresh fruit with nuts and seeds as a snack.

Not everyone who eats plant-based has regular, easy to pass BMs. If this is you, reach out to me!

If you’re tired (literally) of straining during BMs, spending hours in the bathroom, or have hard painful poops (I have been there!), please reach out to me.

Note: This information is not intended to be a substitute for individualized medical advice from a medical provider, consult your physician with concerns or questions about your health.

Eating more plants can come with its challenges. There’s a lot of nutrition noise out there, everyone has an opinion, and it can be confusing to figure out what works best for YOU. Working through these challenges and learning how to easily incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet and lifestyle can be helpful.

Working with a plant-based dietitian to guide you through your unique journey and surrounding yourself with other like-minded people who are on a similar journey can be monumental. When you join my nutrition coaching program, you’ll get a highly customized, one-on-one experience to help you confidently and sustainably eat foods that taste good and make you feel good.

Click the button below to learn more about my approach and see what other clients have to say.