Constipation has a variety of causes but is often the result of slow movement of food through the digestive system.
This may be due to dehydration, poor diet, medications, illness, diseases affecting the nervous system or mental disorders.
Certain foods can help relieve constipation:
Apple rich in fibre, 2.8 grams of that fibre is insoluble, while 1.2 grams is soluble fibre, mostly in the form of the dietary fibre called pectin.
Pears are another fruit rich in fibre. Alongside the fibre benefits, pears particularly high in fructose and sorbitol, compared to other fruits.
People with constipation found that eating two kiwifruits daily for four weeks resulted in more spontaneous bowel movements.
Citrus fruits contain a flavanol called naringenin, which may contribute to the positive effects of citrus fruits on bowel movements
