The Constipation Epidemic in America: How to Find Real Constipation Relief
Let’s get real for a second…
If fiber, water, and magnesium actually worked long-term…
wouldn’t you already be better by now?
But you’re not.
You’ve tried:
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Eating more fiber
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Drinking more water
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Cutting gluten and dairy
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Taking probiotics, magnesium, and supplements
And yet…
👉 You’re still constipated
👉 Still bloated
👉 Still wondering what you’re missing
You’re not broken.
But the system you’ve been following?
Yeah… that’s broken.
Let’s talk about the real reason behind the constipation epidemic—and what actually works.
The American Constipation Epidemic (And Why It’s Getting Worse)
Here’s what no one is saying loud enough:
👉 Constipation is rising—fast
👉 And it’s NOT just in older adults
Research shows:
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Constipation rates doubled between 1997–2010
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1 in 6–7 people worldwide struggle with it
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20% of Americans feel stuck with no solutions
Let that sink in.
We have:
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More “gut health” products than ever
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More education
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More awareness
And still…
More people are constipated than ever before.
That’s not a you problem.
That’s a strategy problem.
And it’s costing:
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Thousands per person in care
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Billions in healthcare spending
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Countless missed days of work and life
This isn’t just uncomfortable.
It’s a full-blown health crisis.
What Counts as Chronic Constipation (According to Research)
Before we go deeper, let’s get clear.
You don’t need to be going once a week to be constipated.
Chronic constipation can include:
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Fewer than 3 bowel movements per week
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Hard, pellet-like stools
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Straining or pushing
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Feeling incomplete after going
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No urge to go at all
But here’s my rule:
👉 If you feel constipated, you are constipated.
Because constipation doesn’t just stay in your gut.
It affects:
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Sleep (hello 2–4 AM wakeups 😩)
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Hormones
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Skin
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Brain function
Your body is trying to tell you something.
The question is…
are you listening—or just pushing harder?
Structural vs Functional Constipation (And Why This Matters)
There are two main types:
1. Structural Constipation
Something physically blocks stool from moving.
Examples:
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Severe anatomical abnormalities
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Narrow or twisted colon
This is rare.
2. Functional Constipation (The BIG One)
Your body should work…
But it doesn’t.
This includes:
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Slow gut movement
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Poor muscle contractions
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Nervous system dysfunction
👉 This is where MOST people fall.
And here’s the problem:
You can’t fix functional constipation with surgery.
You need to understand WHY the body stopped working.
Why Fiber, Magnesium, and Laxatives Keep Failing
Let’s bust the biggest myth:
👉 Constipation is NOT a “lack of pushing” problem.
But that’s how we treat it.
Everything you’ve been told to do is a push strategy:
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Fiber = bulk + push
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Magnesium = water + push
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Laxatives = force + push
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Prokinetics = stimulate + push
But what happens if…
👉 You’re pushing against a wall?
You can push harder.
You can push longer.
But you’re still not moving forward.
Because the problem isn’t push.
It’s resistance.
The Missing Piece: The “Release” Your Body Actually Needs
This is where everything changes.
Your body doesn’t need more force.
👉 It needs release.
Think about it like this:
You’re trying to push poop out…
But something is blocking the system internally.
Not structurally.
Biochemically.
That “block” creates:
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Slowed movement
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Nervous system shutdown
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Poor signaling between brain and gut
And no amount of fiber fixes that.
The 5 Root Causes of Constipation (The “Toxin Traps”)
Here’s what I’ve seen after working with 150+ clients:
👉 Constipation is NEVER just one issue.
It’s layered.
I call them the 5 toxin traps.
Each one:
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Blocks natural gut movement
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Disrupts signaling
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Builds on the others
And here’s the kicker:
👉 You can’t fix just ONE and expect full results.
They’re interconnected.
And if you address them out of order?
You stay stuck.
Common Mistakes People Make
Even when people try to go “deeper,” they still get stuck.
Why?
Because they:
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Address the wrong root cause first
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Use the wrong tools
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Stop too early
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Or only partially fix the issue
So they say:
“I already tried that.”
But in reality…
👉 They didn’t address it correctly.
My Story: 2 Years of Constipation (And What Finally Worked)
I get this because I lived it.
From 2015–2017, I had chronic constipation.
I tried:
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Diet changes
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Supplements
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Natural protocols
Nothing worked.
I felt:
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Exhausted
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Frustrated
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Stuck
Until I stopped asking:
👉 “What should I take?”
And started asking:
👉 “What is blocking my body from working?”
That shift changed everything.
The Push + Release Method That Actually Works
Here’s the truth:
👉 You need BOTH:
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Release the blocks (root causes)
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Then gently support movement
Not the other way around.
This is what I call the Push + Release Method.
And when done correctly?
Clients see:
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Relief in days
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Consistent bowel movements
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Long-term resolution
Not temporary fixes.
Why Diet Alone Isn’t Fixing Constipation Anymore
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
Yes, diet matters.
But…
👉 People are eating healthier than ever
👉 And still struggling more than ever
So what gives?
It’s not just food.
It’s cumulative exposure:
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Environmental toxins
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Stress
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Gut infections
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Nervous system dysregulation
These stack over time.
And eventually?
👉 The body stops functioning normally.
What To Do Next (If You’re Done Guessing)
If you’re tired of:
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Trying random supplements
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Googling symptoms
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Getting temporary relief
Then you need a system.
Not another guess.
That’s exactly why I created a step-by-step guide:
👉 It walks you through:
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The 5 toxin traps
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How to identify yours
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The exact order to fix them
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Common mistakes to avoid
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The full roadmap to reverse constipation
And yes…
👉 It’s the same process I used to heal myself
👉 And the same one used with hundreds of clients
Grab it here:
👉 betterbellytherapies.com/guide
🚀 Quick Recap
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Constipation rates are rising—even with better health habits
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Most constipation is functional, not structural
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Fiber, magnesium, and laxatives only “push”
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The real issue is internal resistance
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You must address root causes (release) first
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Constipation is caused by multiple layered issues
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The Push + Release Method creates lasting results
❓ FAQ
1. Why doesn’t fiber help my constipation?
Because fiber only adds bulk. If your gut is blocked, it can make symptoms worse.
2. Can stress cause constipation?
Yes. Stress affects your nervous system, which controls gut movement.
3. How quickly can constipation improve?
Some people see changes in days. Full resolution depends on root causes.
4. Are laxatives bad long-term?
They don’t fix root issues and can create dependency over time.
5. What’s the first step to fixing constipation?
Identify what’s blocking your body—not just what to add.
✍️ About the Author
Written by Allison Jordan, FDN-P
Gut health expert and founder of Better Belly Therapies. Allison has helped 150+ clients resolve chronic gut issues by addressing root causes—not chasing symptoms.
EPISODES MENTIONED:
- 178// Why Constipation Medicine Isn't Helping You + What to Do When Laxatives, Probiotics, Water, and Fiber Aren't Healing Your Constipation
- 165// The Constipation Magnesium Myth
- 311// Still Have Diverticulosis on a High Fiber Diet? Here's why
WORK WITH US:
-
- Want to learn how it works? Watch this FREE training walking you through how to heal, once and for all!
-
- Want to make sure that VIP is right for you? Book a FREE 20 Min Application Call!
RESOURCES:
- Download my Complete Guide to Permanently Reverse Constipation
- Research mentioned:
- Constipation Doubled from 1997 - 2010
- Chronic Constipation Overview Article from IFGDD (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)
- Childhood Constipation is an emerging public health problem
- Chronic Constipation in the United States
- Constipation Epidemic news article
- 2023 Ipsos Poll on Gut Health (search the term "dead end" to find the research in the long article)
- Subscribe to our Weekly Podcast Newsletter
LINKS:
- JOIN → Join our FREE Facebook Group
- FOLLOW → @betterbellytherapies
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- WORK WITH US → betterbellytherapies.com
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