DO DAIRY AND SUGAR ALSO PLAY A PART?
Cow’s milk, for sure, contributes to the urge if you’re lactose intolerant, said Dr Tsao. “The consumption of sugar can stimulate the release of insulin. This, in turn, may contribute to increased bowel movement in some individuals.”
Furthermore, milk lactose and sugar are classified as fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs), said Dr Tsao. “These substances can contribute to symptoms like gas, bloating and changes in bowel habits. Such a combination may exacerbate the effect in some people.”
SINCE COFFEE HAS A LAXATIVE EFFECT, IS IT A GOOD WAY TO OVERCOME CONSTIPATION?
Drinking coffee to help you go in the morning may not cause any harm, said the experts. But you shouldn’t rely on your cup of joe to have regular bowel movements.
“Relying on coffee for constipation is not ideal due to potential issues like gut irritation and dehydration,” said Dr Siah. You are better off exploring approaches such as a fibre-rich diet, hydration, regular exercise and natural laxatives such as prune juice or psyllium husk, he added.
Coffee can be a supplement that we use to jump-start our bowels, said Dr Sulaiman. “However, if we suffer from constipation despite all these measures, we should consider doing a colonic evaluation to ensure there is no underlying issue with our colon. This is important if you have other symptoms in addition to constipation such as bleeding or abdominal pain.”