Constipation is a gut flora/microbiome problem. I too suffered for 15 months on the Keto diet. Never had that problem before Keto.

But, thank God, I did research on gut microbiome and started eating homemade fermented veggies and drinks like Kombucha. Immediately my constipation went away. Previously I had tried a bunch of over the counter meds, senna tea, mangesium oxide ~ but if you read the labels, you are NOT to take any of them long term.

YouTube:

how to make fermented veggies

I would recommend doing butternut squash. It is easy and tasty.

Here is a simple recipe:

Take one gallon of distilled water and add 10 tbs of non-iodized salt (pickling, kosher, himalayan, celtic, etc are all fine). Shake it up. This is your brine.

In a glass jar, add some cubed up butternut squash (you can purchase it cubed already at Walmart.)
Pour brine in until about 3/4" head space from top of jar.
Put lid on, set on counter in a 68 - 72 degrees room.
Wait about 2-3 days, loosen the lid everyday to "burp" it. (It fizzes ~ which is natural and desirable)
Around the 3 day, it should be ready to eat.
Put in fridge after that or leave it out, either way is ok.

Start off slowly. Don't eat too much at first. Maybe a couple of tablespoons a day. Eat everyday. Increase amount after 2-3 days.

Fermented foods will rearrange your gut microbiome for the better. You'll be smoother than exlax, real quick.

Fermented pickles are great too, but don't over season them, the recipes on YouTube recommend way too much seasonings. I found out that using a tablespoon of "pickling salts" (in seasoning section of grocery store) and a little dill, is all you need for excellent pickles.

Baby carrots are great too. I add some hot pepper flakes and kick them up a notch.

Cost:

$0.88 cents for gallon distilled water at any grocery store (and you will only use a few ounces per jar.)
$2.20 for 12 oz. cubed butternut squash (Walmart)
free ~ recycle a glass pickle, jam, etc. jar
Time to make: about 10 minutes

Try any other method and tell me if you can beat that?

If anyone tries this, let me know if it works for you, send me an private message on MFP or post here. I have two personal friends that have tried it and they both immediately got "regular" again.



I hope this helps,
Dan the Man from Michigan
Keto / The Recipe Water Fasting / E.A.S.Y. Exercise Program

Thanks for the recipe, @DittoDan

Christine_72 wrote: »

I take mine at night before bed on an empty stomach. Taking them during the day has no effect for me. I may be odd in that respect though

No, you're not odd. Thank you, @Christine_72 . I've tried everything, fiber, drinking extra water, cutting out dairy, cutting out wheat, tried a variety of meds prescribed by several different doctors, and been taking senna and docusate sodium, plus magnesium citrate, on a daily basis, to keep my GI tract moving at all, for about 7 years, since this whole trouble started. No one ever mentioned time of day as being important. Now I'm taking 400 mg of magnesium citrate before bed, and nothing else, and everything has been fine for the last week or so. So thank you. That is the most awesome bit of advice I've had in the last 7 years.

I'm so happy it's helped @lithezebra , I'm doing a happy dance for you :flowerforyou: