Dairy Products (Cheese, Milk, Yogurt, Ice Cream)

At least for some people, dairy appears to be another frequently occurring cause of constipation. Children and infants appear to be especially vulnerable, likely as a result of sensitivity to the proteins in cow's milk.

According to a review of studies conducted over a 26-year period, some kids with chronic constipation got better when they stopped drinking cow's milk. Children with chronic constipation, ages 1 to 12, were given cow's milk to drink for a while in a recent study. Soy milk was then used in place of cow's milk for a while after that. When soy milk was substituted for cow's milk in the study's group of 13 kids, 9 of them got relief from constipation. Numerous anecdotal reports of such adult experiences arise. However, little scientific evidence could be found because the majority of studies looking at these effects target younger populations rather than older ones. Those who are lactose intolerant should be aware that they can experience diarrhea rather than constipation after consuming dairy.