Constipation or Irregular Bowels
Constipation or irregular bowel movements can impact far more than your gut. When your bowels aren’t moving comfortably, your energy, skin, mood, appetite, sleep and overall sense of wellbeing all take a hit. For some people, constipation means going to the toilet infrequently; for others, it’s the feeling of not fully emptying, or having to strain, or alternating between sluggish bowels and urgency.
These symptoms are very common and rarely have a single cause. Your bowel movements are influenced by digestion, hormones, stress, hydration, fibre intake and the overall rhythm of your daily routine. This guide explores why constipation shows up differently for each person, what may contribute to it, and how a personalised approach can help support more comfortable, consistent digestion.
Why constipation feels different for everyone
Bowel habits vary widely, and what’s “normal” for one person may not be normal for another. Some people naturally go every day; others go every few days without discomfort. Constipation becomes a concern when your usual pattern changes, or when going to the toilet feels difficult, uncomfortable or incomplete.
Hormonal shifts, particularly before your period or during perimenopause, can slow digestion for some women. Stress can also affect gut motility, either slowing things down or speeding them up. Even changes in routine, travel, sleep patterns or activity levels can influence how regularly you go. Understanding your personal pattern helps identify where support is needed.
What can cause constipation?
Constipation is often influenced by several overlapping nutritional, lifestyle and digestive factors. These may include:
Low fibre intake
Not drinking enough fluids
Eating irregularly or skipping meals
Low stomach acid or digestive enzyme insufficiency
Stress
Long periods of sitting
Changes in hormones
Insufficient dietary diversity for the gut microbiome
Certain foods being harder to digest
Suppressing the urge to go
Sleep disruption
These factors don’t lead to constipation for everyone, but we'll look at all these when we work together so we can identify what your constipation triggers are.
Working with me for constipation
I work with clients struggling with constipation over a three month period. This gives us the time and space to explore all the contributing factors and work from the top (how you eat) down (supporting your microbiome) to get your bowels moving again. We'll discuss your eating routine, hydration, movement, digestion, stress levels and menstrual cycle to helps us understand not only what is happening, but why. Throughout the three month programme we'll work on your fibre intake and plant diversity, meal timing, mindful eating habits, stress and where applicable we can look at stool testing to understand what's happening in deep inside your guts.
You can explore my three month programme here.
When to speak to your GP
It’s important to speak to your GP if constipation is severe, persistent, newly developed, painful, accompanied by weight loss, blood in your stool, persistent diarrhoea, unexplained changes in bowel habits, or if you're concerned about any of your symptoms.
Nutritional therapy can complement medical guidance, but it should not replace appropriate investigation or treatment.