What to do about constipation on a low-carb or

keto diet
What is constipation? Prevalence on a keto diet Why constipation occurs

Prevention and treatment Summary

Have you become more constipated since starting a low-carb or keto diet? Or
are you hesitant to try a low-carb diet after learning constipation may be a side
effect?
If so, this guide will help explain all things related to low carb and
constipation.

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What is constipation?
Before exploring how low-carb eating and constipation are related, we first
need to define what constipation is.

Constipation is an uncomfortable decrease in bowel movements that

interferes with daily life. The medical literature defines constipation as three or
fewer bowel movements per week. However, more important than the
numerical definition is determining if going to the bathroom less often is a
problem or not.

Therefore, we need to differentiate a normal decrease in stool frequency from

pathological constipation.

Signs of pathological constipation include bloating, abdominal pain, excessive

gas, bloody stools, and straining or discomfort with bowel movements. The
complete absence of these symptoms likely signifies a natural reduction in
stool frequency, not constipation.

Here is possibly the most important take-home point of this entire guide: If
your bowel movements decrease, but you have no other symptoms or
changes, you are not suffering from constipation.
How prevalent is constipation on a keto diet?
The prevalence of constipation on a low-carb or keto diet can be as high as
50% according to some studies. 1 Clinicians familiar with low-carb
diets, however, feel it is closer to 25%. 2 The good news is that
clinicians also agree that constipation is usually mild and self-resolves over
time, or it is easily treated with home and over-the-counter remedies.

Why does constipation happen on a keto diet?

While there is no one science-backed reason, there are several theories as to
why someone on a keto diet may suffer from constipation.

The first is an acute decrease in fiber. While it is debatable if you need fiber for
healthy bowel movements, many believe that your body needs time to adjust
to a sudden decrease in fiber content. Therefore, if someone was getting a lot
of fiber from whole grains, fruit, and beans — and suddenly stopped eating
those foods — that may temporarily result in constipation. 3 Of course,
some people may actually increase their fiber intake on a low-carb diet if they
replace processed sugars and starches with vegetables.

Keep in mind that low-carb diets don’t have to be low in fiber. Above-ground
veggies and seeds can still provide plenty of fiber for most people. Read more
in our guide about the best low-carb high-fiber foods.

Another potential cause for constipation is dehydration. It is well known that

the transition to a very low-carb diet can cause an increase in urination with
fluid and sodium loss. 4 This can result in mild dehydration, which is
potentially associated with constipation.

Along these same lines, some believe a change in body electrolytes can alter
stool frequency.
Last, low-carb diets often result in a natural caloric decrease. 5

This reduction in calories is especially common if low carb is combined with

intermittent fasting. Eating less can mean eliminating less. This alone should
not cause constipation, but could decrease stool volume or frequency.

How to prevent or treat constipation on a keto diet

Here are our top six tips for how to manage constipation on a low-carb or keto
diet:

1. Keep hydrated: Since dehydration is a potential reason for constipation, it

makes sense that adequate hydration can help prevent or treat constipation.
This has not been tested in a well-controlled clinical trials, and certainly not
with a low-carb diet. 6

However, many experts believe that avoiding dehydration is an essential step

for preventing constipation. How do you know if you are well hydrated? If you
are urinating at least four times per day and your urine is clear, not yellow, then
you are likely well hydrated. Also remember, not all fluids are the same.
Greater amounts of caffeinated fluids, like coffee and tea, may lead to sodium
loss and dehydration. 7

2. Get adequate salt: Just like with hydration, this hasn’t been studied in clinical
trials, but the idea is that increasing salt intake can help with fluid retention
and preventing dehydration. What is “adequate salt?” This may vary for each
individual, but a good starting point is between four and six grams of sodium
per day (that’s about 2.5 teaspoons per day). To learn more you can read our
evidence-based guide on salt.

3. Eat more fiber: Maintaining adequate fiber intake may be the most effective
approach for preventing low-carb induced constipation. 8 We
recommend getting fiber from whole foods whenever possible. Above-ground
veggies, nuts, and seeds all are good sources of low-carb fiber. Learn more in
our visual guide to low-carb veggies.
 How much fiber is enough? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
recommends 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams for men from food
sources. 9 However, these are best estimates for a population, and may
not apply to those on a low-carb diet or those suffering from constipation. You
can use this as a starting point and adjust as needed.

To get 25 grams of fiber, you can combine one avocado, one cup of broccoli,
and ten spears of asparagus. For 38 grams, you can add an additional one-half
cup of macadamia nuts and two tablespoons of chia seeds. You can find
more fiber-filled foods in our guide on low-carb, high-fiber foods.

If you still feel you need more fiber, supplementing with insoluble fiber like
psyllium husk can also help. 10 The starting dose of psyllium husk is
usually 5 grams per day, increasing to 10 grams if needed.

4. Take magnesium supplements: Magnesium is a well-known laxative, and is

also a frequently recommended supplement. 11 At doses of around 200
to 400 mg, magnesium is usually well tolerated. However, higher doses may
lead to loose stools or overt diarrhea. For someone suffering from
constipation, this may be a welcomed effect. Consider starting with 600mg
and increasing to 1,000 mg daily if needed (do not exceed 2,000 mg).

5. Add MCT oil: Another solution is adding medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil.
MCT oil can help promote ketosis and can also stimulate gut motility and
bowel movements. Consider starting with one to two tablespoons (0.5 to 1
ounce) and slowly increase if needed. 12

Just be aware that one tablespoon has 115 calories. These calories can add
up quickly if you take multiple tablespoons per day.

6. Be physically active: Some research suggests that regular physical activity

may improve constipation. 13 Given the many other benefits of physical
activity, it is an easy one to recommend!

If constipation does not improve with any of the interventions mentioned

above, over-the-counter stool softeners such as Colace, or laxatives, such as
Dulcolax, could be an option. Make sure to follow package directions and
warnings.
Someone experiencing constipation would rarely need medical evaluation, but
that is an important option if the other interventions don’t succeed.

Constipation take-home message

Most people will tolerate low-carb or keto eating without significant
constipation.

However, some may suffer from constipation beyond a simple decrease in

stool frequency. The good news is that most will experience constipation as a
short-lived annoyance.

For those who continue to suffer from infrequent bowel movements, there are
several potential interventions, as we described in this guide. These
interventions are all compatible with a low-carb lifestyle to help you maintain
the benefits of low carb while getting back on track with your normal bowel
habits.

/ Dr. Bret Scher, MD

 

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IBS and the keto diet

GUIDE When Audra Atkins-Reeves started a keto diet in October 2016, her
only aim was to lose weight. And within five months, she was happy to find
that she’d lost 40 pounds (18 kg).
Low-carb and keto side effects & how to cure them
GUIDE Do you have headache, constipation, leg cramps or brain fog on
keto? Find out how to avoid the most common side effects when starting a
low-carb diet.

15 high-fiber foods that are low in carbs

GUIDE You’ve probably heard about the impressive health benefits of fiber.
Weight loss. Feeling full. Even better blood sugar control. Although it isn’t uni‐
versal, for many, these benefits are real.

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Learn how to do a keto diet

 

1. In a study of people with type 2 diabetes, who ate 20 or fewer grams of carbs per day,
slightly more than half complained of constipation at some point during the trial:

Nutrition & Metabolism 2008: The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus
a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus [randomized

↩
trial; moderate evidence]

↩
2. This is based on consistent clinical experience of low-carb practitioners. [weak
evidence]

3. Most of the data on fiber and bowel frequency comes from lower-quality observational
studies, such as the following.

Public Health and Nutrition 2004:

Nutrition and lifestyle in relation to bowel movement frequency: a cross-sectional

study of 20630 men and women in EPIC-Oxford [observational study, weak evidence]

But there are higher-quality studies, such as the following meta-analysis of RCTs, which
showed a small improvement in stool frequency with increasing fiber. Granted, that is
not the same as proving that removing fiber causes constipation. However, this
evidence combined with clinical experience has led many to believe the removal of
fiber causes constipation.

World Journal of Gastroenterology 2012: Effect of dietary fiber on constipation: a meta

analysis [systematic review of randomized trials; strong evidence]

Interestingly, not all studies agree, and there may be a threshold effect where too much
fiber can worsen constipation. the following nonrandomized trial showed improvement
of constipation after subjects decreased fiber intake

World Journal of Gastroenterology 2012: Stopping or reducing dietary fiber intake

reduces constipation and its associated symptoms [nonrandomized study, weak
evidence]

The conflicting data may relate the individual variations in the baseline diet, although
this has not been adequately studied.

↩
 ↩

4. It’s known that when insulin levels drop — as they do when carb intake is very low— the
kidneys excrete more sodium and water, although the exact mechanism isn’t clear:

American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology 2007: Insulin’s impact on renal

sodium transport and blood pressure in health, obesity, and diabetes
[overview article; ungraded]

↩
Diabetalogia 1981: The effect of insulin on renal sodium metabolism [overview article;
ungraded]

5. Several studies have reported that calorie intake spontaneously decreases when very
few carbs are consumed:

Nutrition and Metabolism 2008:: The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet

versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus
[randomized controlled trial; moderate evidence]

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008: Effects of a high-protein ketogenic

diet on hunger, appetite, and weight loss in obese men feeding ad libitum [randomized
controlled trial; moderate evidence]

The Journal of Medical Internet Research 2017: An online intervention comparing a

very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet and lifestyle recommendations versus a plate
method diet in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled
trial [moderate evidence]

In one small study, 10 obese adults with type 2 diabetes who followed a non-calorie-
restricted, very-low-carb diet ended up eating about 1,000 calories less, on average —
even though they were permitted unrestricted intake of fat and protein foods:

Annals of Internal Medicine 2005: Effect of a low-carbohydrate diet on appetite, blood

↩
glucose levels, and insulin resistance in obese patients with type 2 diabetes [non-
controlled study; weak evidence]

6. Journal of Pediatrics 2017: Water and fluid intake in the prevention and treatment of

↩
functional constipation in children and adolescents: is there evidence? [review of
observational and interventional studies, weak evidence]

7. In the following study, lower doses of caffeine, 3mg/kg, did not cause dehydration,
whereas higher doses, 6mg/kg, did cause dehydration.
 ↩
Frontiers in Nutrition 2017: Coffee with high but bot low caffeine content augments
fluid and electrolyte excretion at rest [nonrandomized study, weak evidence]

8. [anecdotal reports; very weak evidence]

It is important to note that not all fibers act the same way in gastrointestinal motility.
As the following review summarizes, fermentable fibers generally do not stimulate
bowel movements as do large particle insoluble fibers and gel-forming soluble fibers.

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2017: Understanding the Physics of
Functional Fibers in the Gastrointestinal Tract: An Evidence-Based Approach to
Resolving Enduring Misconceptions about Insoluble and Soluble Fiber
[overview article; ungraded]

9. Journal of the The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2015: Position of the Academy

↩
of Nutrition and Dietetics: Health implications of dietary fiber [overview article;
ungraded]

10. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN 2019: Effect of flaxseed or psyllium vs. placebo on
management of constipation, weight, glycemia, and lipids: a randomized trial in

↩constipated patients with type 2 diabetes [moderate evidence]

11. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery 2010: Medical management of constipation

↩[overview article; ungraded]

↩
12. This is based on consistent clinical experience of low-carb practitioners. [weak
evidence]

13. Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity 2017: Effects of a proposed physical

↩
activity and diet control to manage constipation in middle-aged obese women
[randomized trial; moderate evidence]