Constipation is quite common when you have a change in diet.
But there are certain foods that may contribute to the condition more so than others.
These foods are generally those that are highly processed.
For example white based products such as bread, scones, rice and pasta.
These foods take a lot longer for the body to process as opposed to high fiber foods like fruits and green leafy vegetables.
Fast foods, greasy takeaways and fatty meats may also cause constipation.
There are more foods that cause constipation like instant meals and frozen dinners.
You have to understand that prepackaged foods generally have the natural fiber content removed during the processing stage.
This in turn makes it harder to digest and remove the excess toxins from the body.
You may even require a cleansing or detox diet to properly fix the problem.
Years of eating these foods may cause serious damage to your bodily organs.
Your local pharmacy can offer a range of medications to help alleviate the problem but bear in mind these types of products may also make the problem more severe.
You are best to avoid or at least reduce the amount of foods that cause constipation.
Try to include more fresh fruits and vegetables along with lean cuts of meats, nuts and high quality oils such as extra virgin olive oil or grape seed oil.
An increase in protein from using meal supplements are also food items known for causing constipation.
As mentioned above, a really good detox diet or choosing a well balanced eating plan will cure the problem for a longer period of time to almost make it permanent.
Constipation can of course be very painful and it may cause long term discomfort.
If your child is suffering from constipation you could try a few small pieces of high cocoa chocolate.
It shouldn't have any milk products in the chocolate.
Of course you should contact your doctor in the first instance for professional advice and recommendations.