Nutrition and Constipation

Opioids slow down your gut and draw water out of your stool (poop). This makes your stool hard and difficult to pass, which is called constipation. Constipation is the most common side effect of opioids.

Constipation:

an uncomfortable, incomplete, or infrequent bowel movement. Constipation can lead to feeling full or bloated, making it difficult to eat.

Laxatives are substances that help stimulate bowel movements. Stool softeners help soften stools by increasing the amount of water in the stool, making them easier to pass.

Without laxatives, it’s hard to get your stool moving. However, here are some helpful things you can try in addition to taking daily laxatives:

Eat Prunes

Sip on warm prune juice, in the morning.
Try stewed prunes (heated), with lemon for taste.
Try Gerber® or Beechnut® prune sauce.

Drink warm bevereages

Sip on warm beverages such as tea or coffee.

Drink lots of fluids

Try to drink 8-10 glasses of fluids (at least 12-ounces of fluid) every day.

Eat more fiber

Increase your fiber intake by eating more fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, legumes (beans), and whole-grain crackers, cereals, or breads.

Tips to help ease bloating and gas

Avoid drinking with straws

Sip fluids slowly, and stick to non-carbonated beverages

Try taking Beano® when you eat foods that can cause gas, such as: beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, peas, and onions. You can find Beano at your supermarket or drugstore.

Avoid chewing gum or eating hard candy

Chew your food well. Digestion starts with the saliva in your mouth!

Common High-Fiber Foods

Food

Fiber

Cereals

All-Bran® cereal

(1/2 cup)

9.7 g

Kashi Go-Lean® Cereal

(1 oz)

6.0 g

Shredded Wheat Cereal

(1 ¼ cups)

8.0 g

Fiber One® Cereal

(1 oz)

7.0 g

Bran flakes (3/4 cup)

4.6 g

Legumes

Lentils (1/2 cup)

7.8 g

Chickpeas, cooked

(1/2 cup)

6.2 g

Kidney beans, cooked

5.6 g

Soybeans, cooked

(1/2 cup)

3.8 g

Vegetables

Artichoke (1 medium)

6.5 g

Green peas, cooked

(1/2 cup)

4.4 g

Spinach, raw (1 cup)

4.3 g

Winter Squash, all varieties (1 cup)

4.0 g

Carrots, raw (1 cup)

3.8 g

Potatoes, baked,

with skin

3.4 g

Potatoes, baked,

without skin

2.5 g

Summer squash, all

(1 cup)

3.0 g

Pumpkin, mashed

(1 cup)

3.0 g

Corn, cooked (1/2 cup)

3.0 g

Broccoli, raw (1 cup)

2.6 g

Broccoli, cooked

(1/2 cup)

2.2 g

Fruits

Prunes, stewed

(1/2 cup)

8.0 g

Figs, dried (1/4 cup)

6.0 g

Pear

4.0 g

Apple

3.7 g

Strawberries (1 cup)

3.3 g

3.0 g

Prunes, dried (1/4 cup)

Orange

3.0 g

Other

Flaxseed, ground

(2 Tbsp)

7.0 g

3.8 g

Wheat germ (1/4 cup)

Popcorn (3 cups)

3.6 g

Almonds (1 oz)

3.3 g

Need more help?

Always talk with your care team before using fiber supplements, laxatives, or stool softeners
Call your cancer team if you have prolonged abdominal pain, lack of a bowel movement, or gas for more than 2 days.

The instructions included in this teaching sheet are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you experience any significant change in your health during or after treatment, contact a member of your cancer care team right away.

Adapted from

DFCI Patient and Family Education Committee