Types of food that make you constipated

It can cause bloating and abdominal pain, not to mention make going number two literally a pain in the you-know-what.

"While no single food is the direct cause of constipation, diets low in fibre and water are most commonly associated with being stopped up, whereas a higher fiber diet and adequate hydration can keep your digestion regular," says dietician and nutritionist Jessica Fishman Levinson.

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That said, certain foods can contribute to keeping your bowels from doing their job, while others get a bum rap. We've sorted out the real constipation culprits from the posers so you can get things moving again—and keep 'em that way.

FAST FOOD

Hitting up Maccas can put the brakes on your bowels. Those burgers and fries are almost always low in fibre and high in fat. "They can take longer to empty from the stomach," warns dietitian Leslie Bonci and they're also often high in sodium, which can prevent water from pushing through waste.

DAIRY

Cheese, ice cream, and milk get a lot of slack for stopping you up, but dairy isn't all bad. Immunoglobin G (IgG) is a type of milk protein that has been tied to constipation, so skipping the cheese plate could be a good thing if you're overdue for a number two. But dairy like yogurt and kefir contain probiotics—the healthy gut bacteria that can keep you regular.

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COOKIES & CAKES

That pastry case at your local café may look tempting, but highly processed foods like cookies and other baked goods get three strikes when it comes to constipation. "They're high in fat, low in fibre, and low in fluid," says Levinson. Better bets: high-fiber desserts like a bowl of raspberries, baked pears, or even a date-oat bar.

LOLLIES

Sweets often get lumped into the constipation foods category, but it's not the snakes that stop you up, per say. "Sugar itself does not cause constipation, but since many foods high in added sugars are low in fibre and other nutrients, eating too many of these foods in place of high fibre foods could lead to constipation," warns Levinson.

BANANAS

Ripe bananas are a good source of fibre and potassium, which can help fend off constipation, but unripe bananas get a thumbs down. The green kind are higher in starch and tannins, which give them that bitter taste, and can both cause and aggravate constipation.