Some people new to the Dukan diet experience the discomfort of constipation and digestive transit problems. In most cases, this situation is a temporary and normal reaction to the body adjusting to new foods and a different diet. Due to the fact that the Dukan diet is high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates, dieters often report needing to go to the bathroom less often. This decrease in frequency and need can be misinterpreted as constipation. Someone used to going at a certain time of day may find their routine interrupted not by constipation but simply by the lack of a waste product that needs to be eliminated. If this is the case, there is no problem to solve. Of course, genuine constipation is uncomfortable and unpleasant and needs to be fixed quickly.
In this article, I will look for 5 ways to tackle the problem of constipation on the Dukan diet.
1. Eat your oat bran every day
The first thing to do is make sure you eat the recommended amount of oat bran every day. You can eat your oat bran alone in a porridge (flavored with cinnamon and vanilla for a delicious daily treat) or add it to other foods as a burger filling.
If you are eating enough oat bran but still have constipation, you can increase the amount you eat each day until your digestive system returns to normal.
2. Try adding a little wheat bran to your diet
Another option, suggested by Dr. Dukan in the official book, is to add a tablespoon of wheat bran to your diet every day that you have problems.
3. You must drink a lot of water
A third thing you can do is make sure you drink enough water every day. Lack of water in your system can cause constipation. Make sure you drink the recommended minimum of two liters of water a day. Even if you don’t have digestive transport issues, you should drink this amount of water every day, whether you are on the Dukan diet or not.
4. You can eat some plums if that helps you
A fourth option is to eat a small amount of fruit, such as prunes, until your movements return to normal. Yes, you are not allowed fruit during the Dukan diet but there is no point in suffering unnecessarily, you can eat some plums if this helps clear up digestive problems.
5. Ask your pharmacist for help
Finally, if you really suffer from constipation, you can buy some over-the-counter remedies from your local pharmacist. Obviously, you don’t want to go overboard with things like laxatives and suppositories, but a small dose simply to treat an urgent problem is perfectly acceptable.