What to do if you can’t poop but need to? Tips

What to do if you can’t poop but need to?

This article shares helpful tips to go to the bathroom more smoothly:

• which foods help bowel movement,
• which foods to avoid constipation,
• good sitting posture,
• exercise to help moving your bowels, and
• tips and remedies for better bowel movement.

What to do if you can’t poop but need to? Introduction

Many people suffer from constipation, meaning they cannot easily go to the toilet.

You feel the urge but fail to produce a bowel movement. Not even if you sit on the toilet for a long time and push a lot.

If you suffer from constipation, you regularly feel bloated and full.

Do you want to do something about this? Then we’d like to give you some tips on how to go to the bathroom more easily.

Apart from these tips, make sure your toilet bowl is equipped with a toilet seat so you can sit comfortably: find the best toilet seat for heavy person on our other page.

Other related posts:

• Buying a new toilet seat: Things to consider
• How do I pick the right toilet seat? Buying guide

Going to the toilet more smoothly

Having trouble to go to the bathroom is very frustrating, especially since it leaves you with a bloated belly.

What could be the cause? An overly dry, hard stool may be at the root of this constipation.

Pressing too heavily when going to the bathroom can also cause additional problems like hemorrhoids or fissures.

Therefore, it is crucial to ensure better bowel movements as soon as possible if you have difficulty going to the toilet.

There are very effective remedies for a smooth bowel movement on the market:

• supplements
• probiotics for gut health
• laxatives
• teas promoting bowel movement

In addition, some foods promote the functioning of the intestines and provide better intestinal balance (while food contaminants just disturb the intestinal bacterial balance).

What can you eat and drink to help you go to the bathroom better? And what foods and drinks are best avoided?

What can you eat and drink to deliver effortless bowel movements?

Moisture absorption

In terms of fluid intake, stimulants can help get rid of annoying constipation.

Specific beverages can stimulate digestion, causing you to go to the bathroom more quickly. A few examples are:

• coffee
• beer
• wine
• strong alcoholic drinks

But at the same time, you have to consider the health risks that excessive consumption of these drinks can cause, for example, dehydration and addiction.

Dehydration is harmful when you want to achieve better bowel movements. In addition, it is also helpful to drink plenty of water to purify the body of waste products.

In some people, a healthy drink that improves bowel movements is (fresh) orange juice. Drinking lukewarm water on your empty stomach can also help to induce bowel movements.

Fruits and vegetables

If you suffer from constipation, many fruits and vegetables can provide relief.

Here are a few examples of fruits that are quite stimulating to the digestive system:

• plums
• grapefruit
• kiwi
• mango
• citrus fruits, like
  • lime
  • lemon
  • orange

Vegetables stored in vinegar or acid can also cause you to go to the bathroom quickly, for example, cucumbers or onions in vinegar.

Some people need to go to the bathroom faster after eating fatty foods, for example:

• pizza
• hamburgers
• fries
• fried chicken
• fried fish

Some also have to go to the bathroom faster after having had spicy sauces. This is because these foods are very stimulating to the intestinal system.

Eating lots of fiber is key | What to do if you can’t poop but need to?

Fiber helps to keep your intestinal system healthy. And if you have healthy bowels, bowel movements become a lot easier.

Do you regularly suffer from constipation? If so, this could be due to a lack of fiber in your diet. Eating extra fiber may help you get less constipated.

Note that fiber only stimulates bowel movements if you drink enough water.

So when you start eating more high-fiber foods (while you stop eating junk food), you should also drink extra water.

Fiber is a crucial dietary component for getting a smooth bowel movement.

Fiber affects the moisture and bacteria in the intestines. It, therefore, plays an essential role in creating and disposing of stool.

Examples of fiber-rich foods are:

• various types of beans
• whole wheat bread
• peas
• potatoes
• nuts

Foods to avoid if you have trouble going to the bathroom | What to do if you can’t poop but need to?

There are foods you’re better off not eating if you have trouble going to the bathroom. Some examples are:

Dry food is a no-go

Dry cookies, cakes, and white bread are best not eaten if you suffer from difficult bowel movements. These foods hold little to no fiber and even make stools drier.

Are you a fan of Italian cuisine? Do you like pasta, for example? No problem if you try to avoid the standard types of pasta.

Instead, choose pasta varieties that contain more fiber. Examples are whole-wheat spaghetti and whole-wheat pasta.

Bananas that aren’t ripe enough

Beware of unripe bananas! They have a lot of starch, which is difficult to digest. As a result, they make it more challenging to go to the toilet smoothly.

The key is to let the banana ripen well before eating them. So wait until the skin of the banana looks yellow or even a little brown.

Never delay a toilet visit

Many people suffer from constipation because they delay their toilet visits too long.

So if you feel like you need to go to the bathroom, it’s best to go as soon as possible. This will help avoid dealing with a nasty blockage.

Going to the bathroom is a natural process that should not be disrupted or delayed.

Pay more attention to your sitting position on the toilet

When we sit on a toilet, our feet rest on the floor. But this is not the best sitting position to poop.

You can lift your feet on a raised level to stimulate your stool more, for example, a stack of old phone books or a low stool.

This is a better position to encourage bowel movements as much as possible. You often don’t even need to push anymore to get the bowel movement going.

Exercise more to help your bowel movements

Exercising and physical activity are great for your muscles, endurance, and gut health. The intestinal system also gets moving, which is great for your bowel movements.

Can’t manage to go to the toilet? Then go for a walk or ride your bike through the neighborhood.

Chances are you will be able to go more smoothly when you return.

Some tips and remedies | What to do if you can’t poop but need to?

Tea to combat constipation

Certain teas can provide relief if you can’t go to the bathroom. In fact, some teas have special herbs specifically aimed at stimulating the digestive system step by step.

The advantage of stool-promoting tea is that it is a natural product. Therefore, you can fight constipation in a healthy way!

Probiotics for a healthier intestinal system

Do you want to think more about the long term and avoid constipation in the future?

If so, probiotics are a great way. They are natural supplements that target good gut balance.

Consider dietary supplements with probiotics because they:

• provide a better balance in the intestines and an optimal microbiome
• increase the chances of a smooth bowel movement

Dietary supplements containing fiber can also produce great results in this area.

What to do if you can’t poop but need to? Conclusion

In summary, to help with constipation, remember these tips:

• make sure to drink enough so you’re well-hydrated;
• foods that stimulate bowel movements include citrus fruits, plums, grapefruit, kiwi, mango, fatty foods, and foods that are rich in fiber;
• avoid dry foods, unripe bananas, and don’t delay a toilet visit too long;
• elevating your feet while on the toilet can help;
• moving your body by exercising also gets the bowels moving;
• teas, probiotics, laxatives, and supplements can also promote bowel movement.