What Your GI Doctor Didn’t Tell You About Constipation: A Functional Nutritionist Explains
By Leah Barack, Gut Health Expert & Functional Nutritionist
Still constipated despite fiber and water? Discover what your GI doctor didn’t tell you—and what really works for chronic constipation relief.
Why fiber and water aren’t the full solution—and what your body really needs
If you’ve been struggling with chronic constipation, chances are you’ve already visited a GI doctor. And if you're like most of my clients, you probably left that appointment with a handout saying: “Drink more water. Eat more fiber.”
Sound familiar?
It’s frustrating when you’re doing all the things and still feel bloated, sluggish, and like your digestion is completely off. As a gut health-focused functional nutritionist, I want you to know this:
If you're constipated all the time, you're not broken—you just haven't gotten to the root.
Why GI Doctors Often Miss the Mark
Unless you've been diagnosed with something serious like colonic inertia or a structural abnormality, conventional GI doctors don’t usually offer in-depth support. The average MD receives less than 20 hours of nutrition education in medical school.
So if you're sent home with advice that barely scratches the surface—like “try fiber” or “drink more water”—it’s not surprising that you're still stuck.
What Your GI Doctor Didn’t Tell You About Constipation
1. Stress Can Literally Stop You from Pooping
Your gut has its own nervous system—the enteric nervous system—that talks directly with your brain via the gut-brain axis.
When you're in fight-or-flight mode (which most women are), digestion slows down.
That’s why I always help my clients regulate their nervous systems before we even talk about food. Because you can’t digest when your body doesn’t feel safe.
2. More Fiber Might Be Making You Worse
While fiber is important, too much fiber too soon can increase bloating and worsen constipation—especially insoluble fiber like raw veggies or bran. If motility and bile flow are impaired, we may need to pull back before increasing fiber again safely. It also depends greatly on the type of fiber, because there are many different types and depending on your specific situation you may tolerate one type more or less than another.
3. Your Microbiome Matters
Dysbiosis—aka microbial imbalance—is one of the most common hidden drivers of constipation. This could either be too much of the “bad” bacteria in your gut, bacteria that should be there but it’s in the wrong place, or not enough of the beneficial bacteria in your gut microbiome.
4. Hormones Play a Role
Many women notice that digestion slows before their period. That’s due to rising progesterone, which relaxes muscles—including the ones that keep things moving in the gut. Hormonal imbalance can be a huge missing piece.
What Does Help with Constipation?
Functional nutrition looks at the full picture. With my clients, we support:
Nervous system regulation
Gut motility and bile flow
Hormone balance
Microbiome health
Personalized fiber and food strategy
Constipation is a signal from your body—it’s time to listen.
Ready to finally get to the bottom of your constipation?
If you've been struggling with constipation, bloating, or gut issues and feel like you’ve tried everything—know that real relief is possible.
I offer a free 15-minute Fit Call where we can meet, chat about what you're experiencing, and see if we’re a good fit to work together.
Whether you're feeling backed up every day or just tired of your belly always feeling uncomfortable and bloated, this is your chance to get personalized, root-cause support.
👉 Click here to book your free call
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You don’t have to figure this out alone. And you definitely don’t have to live like this forever.