Dr. Oz: Why Can’t I Poop? Over-The-Counter Meds Can Cause Constipation

Dr. Oz: Why Can’t I Poop?

Dr. Oz talked about constipation and its causes. When you can’t poop, you wonder what you’re doing and what you’re not doing. You may re-examine your diet, question your medications, and wonder about how many cups of coffee you had that day. It can be daunting to find a cause, particularly in our fast-paced world. So how do you skip the guesswork? Jessica from Dr. Oz’s audience has trouble using the bathroom, so he talked to her.

Jessica has issues with constipation about two times a week. She’s a vegetarian who often does low-carb diets. This makes her worry she’s eating too many nuts and not enough fruit. She also wonders about how other areas of her diet may be causing constipation.

Dr. Oz explains that the common culprits are lack of water, lack of fiber, lack of exercise, stress, too much dairy, and pregnancy. But there are also less obvious possibilities.

Dr. Oz: Over-The-Counter Medications Can Cause Constipation

Dr. Oz asked Jessica if she thought leafy greens, antihistamines, sugary gum, over-the-counter medication, nuts, or antacids can cause constipation. Jessica wondered if maybe swallowing gum could be a cause, but Dr. Oz said that’s just a myth. She also guessed antacids, which turned out to be right. Along with antacids, over-the-counter medications like antihistamines and iron supplements are problematic.

Antihistamines dry up your nose and sinuses, but they also dry up other parts of your body, including your intestines. Iron supplements can be an issue because they mess with the bacteria in the intestines. Iron isn’t an issue in food, however. Antacids often have calcium in them, which can cause constipation.

Dr. Oz: Natural Ways to Cure Constipation

Dr. Oz also discussed ways you can get some flow going to get rid of constipation. Magnesium is important, because it loosens you up, so make sure to eat lots of spinach, beans, and nuts.