Kit Roberts
A surprising fruit can help to keep you regular if you're experiencing constipation, a new study has found.
There are plenty of things that people can use to help to move everything along in your bowels when things are a little backed up.
Prunes have long been known as a food which is good for giving yourself a clear out, especially if you drink the juice as well - if the accepted wisdom is true.
But prunes are far from the only thing out there which you use to get your bowels unstuck if you're suffering from a bout of constipation.
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Of course, this is short of a prescribed laxative, and if you are suffering from severe constipation you should speak to a doctor.
But what is this fruit which is being hailed as a solution for constipation?
It's kiwis!
The study was aimed at helping people who live with chronic constipation to be able to self-manage their condition.
Things like diet can be hugely helpful when it comes to managing a condition.
In addition to kiwis, the guidelines also showed that some probiotic strains, psyllium fibre supplements, and magnesium oxide supplements can also help to manage symptoms.
The guidance has been published in two medical journals, the Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics and Neurogastroenterology & Motility, and has also been endorsed by the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
Dr Eirini Dimidi, a lead writer on the study, said: "Chronic constipation can have a huge impact on someone’s day-to-day life. For the first time, we’ve provided direction on what dietary approaches could genuinely help, and which diet advice lacks evidence."
Dr Dimidi added: "Being able to improve this condition through dietary changes would allow people to self-manage their symptoms more and, hopefully, improve their quality of life.”
So not only would that be a good option for patients, it could also reduce the pressure on medical services in managing a long term condition.
Nonetheless, there were also some findings about approaches which may be less effective than previously thought.
Dr Dimidi said: “Eating a high fibre diet offers many benefits to overall health and has been a go-to recommendation for constipation. However, our guidelines found that there simply isn’t enough evidence to suggest it actually works in constipation specifically.
"Instead, our research reveals some new dietary strategies that could indeed help patients. At the same time, we urgently need more high-quality trials to strengthen the evidence on what works and what doesn’t.”