How to soften hardened stools
Hard, dry stools are painful to pass. Stools that are blocked and difficult to pass hurt quite badly. There are several dietary solutions and lifestyle changes that can solve this problem. See a doctor for something stronger, if these methods don’t work for you.
Soften stool with food
Drink more water
Dehydration can force your body to get as much water as possible from the food that passes through your digestive tract, resulting in hard, dry stools. Drinking enough water will soften your stools and allow them to pass more easily.
- Doctors sometimes recommend drinking about two liters or eight glasses of water a day. However, this may not be enough for you, depending on your physical activity and the climate in which you live.
- You may not be drinking enough water if you often have a headache, are tired, have dizziness, nausea, do not urinate often enough, have cloudy or too dark urine, or not sweat a lot.
- For more info, you can read How Much Water Should You Drink?
Eat foods that have a mild laxative effect and are high in fiber
Some of them, like plums, also contain sorbitol. Sorbitol draws water into the stool to make it softer and easier to pass. You can also eat the following fruits and vegetables:
- plums
- peaches
- pears
- quetsches
- apples
- apricots
- raspberries
- strawberries
- dried beans
- peas
- spinach
Eat more fiber
Fiber is the indigestible element in food, especially plant foods. Your body evacuates them without absorbing them. This means they help you have loose stools and larger that are easy to evacuate. First of all, you need to know the 21 high fiber foods list that you must eat.
Most people do not consume the recommended amounts of fiber per day (20 to 40 mg). You need both water-soluble fibers that turn into a gelled material on contact with water and insoluble fibers, which do not break down.
Soluble fiber is found in oats, peas, dried beans, citrus fruits, carrots, and barley.
You can consume insoluble fiber via whole wheat flour, wheat bran, dried fruit, beans and vegetables such as cauliflower and green beans.
Many plants have both soluble and insoluble fiber. So you can get both by consuming a variety of grains and vegetables.
Your fiber intake will be more effective if you drink more water to dissolve the water-soluble fiber.
Read Also: 8 Foods That Provide Fiber
Maintain good intestinal health by eating yogurts
Your digestive system needs a balanced amount of bacteria to effectively digest your food. When this bacterial flora is unbalanced, you can suffer from constipation and this can compromise the absorption of nutrients. Living cultures found in yogurts and other fermented milk products such as kefir can help restore and rebalance the bacterial flora in your gut. This can help you fight hardened stools for the following reasons:
- irritable bowel syndrome,
- unexplained diarrhea, and constipation,
- diarrhea or constipation after eliminating some of the good bacteria because of taking antibiotics.
Add supplements to your diet to promote good digestion
But you should first consult your doctor since certain supplements can change the way the body assimilates certain drugs.
Try fiber-based supplements. They will give more volume to your stools and make them easier to evacuate. Opt for those that contain methylcellulose, psyllium, calcium polycarbophil, and agar-agar gum as active ingredients.
Try probiotic supplements. Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts that are similar to those found in the gut. This can help if you are experiencing cycles of diarrhea and constipation or if you have irritable bowel syndrome.
Stimulate the gut with a cup of coffee
Coffee has a slightly laxative effect.
You should drink a little more if you already drink coffee unless your body is already used to it and no longer gives you relief.
