Plant-based diets may help lower the risk of chronic constipation

In the journals

October 1, 2025

By Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch

Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

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A study published online July 2, 2025, by Gastroenterology tracked the dietary patterns of nearly 96,000 middle-aged and older adults for several years to determine who was more likely to develop chronic constipation, defined as symptoms persisting for at least 12 weeks per year. The participants completed periodic dietary questionnaires, and based on their answers, were categorized into five eating patterns: a Mediterranean-style diet, a plant-based diet that excluded meat, a low-carb diet, a Western diet with a high intake of red and processed meats and refined grains, and a pro-inflammatory diet rich in ultra-processed foods linked to high blood inflammation markers. Re-searchers found that people who consistently followed a Mediterranean or plant-based diet were less likely to develop chronic constipation than individuals who adhered to a Western or inflammatory diet. (The low-carb group showed no difference.)

The Mediterranean and similar plant-based diets are high in fiber, which adds bulk and softness to stool, making it easier to pass through the intestines. Plant-based diets also include other nutrients, such as probiotics, antioxidants, and polyphenols, that may work together to improve gut health and digestion.

Image: © Dougal Waters /Getty Images

About the Author

Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch

Matthew Solan is the executive editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. He previously served as executive editor for UCLA Health’s Healthy Years and as a contributor to Duke Medicine’s Health News and Weill Cornell Medical College’s … See Full Bio

View all posts by Matthew Solan

About the Reviewer

Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Howard LeWine is a practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Chief Medical Editor at Harvard Health Publishing, and editor in chief of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. See Full Bio

View all posts by Howard E. LeWine, MD

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Plant-Based Eating: Healthy, sustainable diet patterns, from Mediterranean to vegan

For a variety of reasons, many people are interested in cutting back on animal foods such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and eggs. Some of them are motivated by the health benefits of eating more plants. Another main motivator for eating a plant-based diet is its environmental benefits. In addition, many people are interested in decreasing animal food intake because of concerns about animal welfare or for other moral or religious reasons. The bottom line: more and more people are lightening their intake of animal foods in pursuit of a more sustainable, plant-based lifestyle.

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