Tips to avoid constipation

Addressing unhealthy habits or using a fiber supplement could be all it takes to keep your system moving.

You're not alone if you kicked your diet into comfort food overdrive this year. Sales of processed foods — such as chips, sugary cereals, and macaroni-and-cheese — surged in the spring of 2020, as coronavirus-triggered lockdowns took hold in the United States.

And if you gave up your healthy diet in favor of starchy sweets, you may have experienced bouts of constipation. "Starchy, processed foods often do not have much in the way of fiber or liquid, which can lead to decreased bulk and lubrication needed for regularity," says Dr. Judy Nee, a gastroenterologist with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.