Help! Need suggestion for food substance with laxative-like qualities

my new doctor thinks i have a problem with blood sugar and some stuff with my digestive system, and is giving me two weeks without dairy or refined sugar. =[ STRAIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS. you've got to be kidding me.

due to the digestive problems, i've got some extreme constipation going on.. to the point where the scales tell me i've gained like 8 pounds. (some of it's probably right.. cookies aren't good for weight. oops. but not THAT bad.) i'm afraid to buy laxatives from the drug store or something, because i don't want to mess around with my digestive system even more. it's pretty screwed up already. so perhaps.. a more natural approach? prunes? more water? what works?

if there's a certain type of laxative i can buy that works safely, tell me. this isn't very comfy. =\

thanks so much!

Prunes, apple juice, Psyllium seed husks... lots of water. More fiber.
http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/8532 .html#14

Here is some information on refined sugars and the influences on your health.
http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/9722 .html

Wow...That is gonna be painfull when it comes out.  I would do what Ix suggests and maybe, if you're not too afraid, try a stool softener.  That stuff will help it come out, but it might uhh...might not be fun.

prunes prunes prunes!!  Dried apricots! (The latter are delicious and effective.) 

lemon water

I KNOW the lemon water works!  One day I just wanted to have a refreshing drink so I put some real lemon in a glass of water with some artificial sweetner, and needless to say things were moving!  Just be careful to not try too many of these ideas at once, we don't want you to get killer cramps!

I have this same problem and was hospitlized last year because of obstructions and I can tell you its not fun!  I have done laxatives enemas suppositories with little success.  I have "motility" problems as well as a redundant colon so what I have to do to keep my colon from twisting is eat a lot of high fiber foods.  The guidleines say 25 - 30 grams a day - I have to do 50 - 60.  I don't do the supplements this is strictly thru diet.  The fiber supps cause me just more pain.  I eat lots of fruit and vegetables  Lots of salad spinach baked potato with the skin oatmeal  milled flax seed.  I have also found if I drink Crystal Light "sunrise" the stuff with vitamin C this has helped alot.  I would drink at least 30 oz for quick help.  The best over the counter stuff I use for when I have gone for a couple days without relief is "Colon Clenz" its in the vitamin section of Walmart.  I don't know if its available elsewhere but its a natural laxative / supplement and it doesn't cause me the pain all other laxatives will do. 

I don't recommend this but I know one person who smokes a cigarrette each morning - she just has the one.  I know I started having my problems when I quit smoking so there might be something to it!

Fiber One cereal - 1/2 cup with skim milk - and drink lots of water. Also, sugar-free candy with sorbital has laxitive qualities, but isn't very natural.

There's no need to eat disgusting food (such as prunes and prune juice) to help your constipation.

Try grapes, raisins, all bran cereal, warm water, black coffee, fresh fruit, fresh veggies.

If you are desperate, you can try prunes and prune juice, as they really do help. But just as a warning, they do taste pretty bad.

I don't know what all the fuss about prunes is.  They're just dried plums.  I like 'em.

how about dates?

Aside from the foods mentioned, I know that bananas tend to have a laxative-like affect for some people.  My husband is one of them.

I like prunes too - and Dates - oh and figs - 

That's interesting, willowraven, because bananas clog me up. :\ It's so strange how everybody is different.

Well, if you want fast action, try Milk of Magnesia, a flavored brand like the Ex-Lax bottle I am consulting right now, if taste is an issue.

There does not appear to be any sugar in it.  Sweetened with glycerin, saccharin and sorbitol.

I would go cautious with this and take one teaspoon, not the 2-4 tablespoons on the bottle.  But if you are going to be around home for an extended period of time tomorrow, I would take 1 tsp with a glass of water every hour or two until effect is noticed, then stop.

I have been taking magnesia tablets (sold as an antacid/laxative) for over 10 years with no problems.  The tablets provide a more predictable and titratable effect.

There becomes a point, at least for me, that as taking medications for other problems increased,  more fiber was not helpful in resolving  the constipation, and all magnesia does is draw and keep water into the intestines to soften the stool. 

The only warning is for those with kidney disease because some types of kidney stones contain magnesium.  If stones are not in your family, not to worry.

 I have had the same problem, I was born with digestive problems, and the doctors still have no idea what's wrong. I went to a specialist (about 5 years ago), and they told me I had about 20lbs of (fill in the blank) in my inestines (I only wieghed 110lbs at the time, so that was really shocking). They took an X-ray and you could actually see the intestines almost under where my lungs were. Really discusting.

 My doctor told me to eat more fiber and drink more water, avoid bannanas and apples. Why? I have no clue. I was a vegitarian for 5 years before going to the specialist, so the fiber thing didn't help. Plus I've always drank a lot of water, about 14 cups a day.

The only thing that I found that was natural and that really works is Flax seed oil. I started taking it about 4 months ago because I don't eat fish, and I wanted some omega 3 6 and 9's in my diet. Since I started taking them I have been going pretty regularly. Extra Vitamin C also works really well too.  If nothing really works, I would suggest going to see a doctor. They may be able to suggest something to help you. 

Whole grains and dry beans are very high in fiber.  Fruit and vegetables are too.  Try to get your fiber from several different sources because there are different kinds of fiber and you need them all.

Bananas are low in fiber, and some doctors believe that the pectin in apples offsets the fiber in the fruit.  I don't find that to be true, especially if you eat the skin (on the apple, that is, not the banana!  LOL).

Take a very high dose of vitamin C it has a strong laxative effect.  It is also a water soluble vitamin so it does no damage if you take too much unlike other vitamins.  you can try with 3-4000 mg and if that doesn't start to help take more in a couple fo hours and drink a lot of water.

Also all bran cereal has like 40% of your recommended fiber per day in one serving.  Eat a couple of bowls of that and eat a lot of RAW fruits and vegetables. 

Avoid things that are refined all together like white flours rices etc. and stick to whole grains. 

If you aren't already on a high fiber diet or are not used to a lot of high fiber foods you may want to take it easy and add your fiber gradually as it can worsen gas when you first start out for a few days. 

I would start with the vitamin C and water, maybe some black coffee (strong) and/or some prune juice.  Once things are moving again increase your fiber so your system keeps moving :)

Good luck!

Our doctors always recommended Senekot, which is an all-natural laxative made from Senna.

Wheat or oat bran works great.. It's natural and you can sprinkle it in your oatmeal (by the way, eat oatmeal too!).