Most people don’t like to talk about constipation, although many experience it almost daily. It seems that large or hard bowel movements may be behind advertisements for toilets that can flush 29 golf balls at once. To alleviate this painful and difficult condition, many turn to laxatives. Although laxatives may work in the short term, they are not recommended for long-term use. Plus, chronic constipation can cause all sorts of other problems for your body. It is important to get to the root of the problem instead of relying on harsh medications.

Lifestyle changes, such as eating more fruits like apples, walking, or exercising more, can help relieve constipation. Adding other foods like yogurt to your daily routine can also be a way to improve overall digestive health. If you’ve tried all of these things, but still have chronic constipation, your problem may be an undiagnosed food allergy, such as a corn allergy.

Not all people with food allergies have constipation as a symptom, but some do. I have received many emails from people who are allergic to corn and were suffering from severe constipation until they realized the problem and cut out the corn. Unfortunately, most people eat corn or a corn derivative with every meal, so it’s hard to figure out what the real cause of constipation is.

Babies who are allergic to corn may be particularly susceptible to constipation, especially if the baby is formula-fed. Most formulas are made with corn syrup solids or other corn derivatives that can cause constipation or abdominal pain, gas, and bloating in the baby. New parents often don’t understand that formula is the cause of their baby’s tummy aches and continue to feed their baby formula only to discover the cause of their baby’s distress much later.

In addition to constipation problems, some people are so sensitive to corn that using toilet paper, which contains cornstarch, can cause problems. Some have raw butts, others have hives or sores. The wipes may also contain corn. If someone is that sensitive to corn, they will have to use water or a cloth or both to clean themselves. Also, diapers or feminine products can cause similar reactions. Calling the companies individually is the best way to confirm whether or not the products contain corn. Unfortunately, many have found it necessary to call companies multiple times and proceed with caution when trying something new. Many times, the people who answer the phones do not have enough information to answer the questions correctly, so if your allergy is severe, you should be very careful.