New UK Guidelines on Chronic Constipation

October 31, 2025

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has released the first fully evidence-based dietary and lifestyle guidelines for adults with chronic constipation.

Kiwi is one of the foods included in the recommendations.

What’s New?

Researchers at King’s College London reviewed more than 75 clinical trials and developed 59 dietary recommendations for chronic constipation. One key change is that the traditionaladvice to “eat more fibre and drink more water” is no longer considered sufficient – the evidence for general high-fibre diets alone is weak. Instead, specific foods, drinks and supplements are now highlighted as having stronger effects on bowel function – including kiwifruit, certain fibres such as psyllium, magnesium oxide, high-mineral water, and rye bread

Specific Recommendations

– Eating 2–3 kiwifruits per day for at least four weeks has been shown to improve bowel movement frequency and symptoms.
– Psyllium-based fibre supplements increased stool frequency and softened consistency.
– Magnesium oxide, at doses around 0.5–1.5 g per day, improved stool frequency, consistency, and reduced straining.
– High-mineral water (especially rich in magnesium and sulphates) improved stool frequency and softness.
– Rye bread (6–8 slices per day for three weeks) had some beneficial effects, though mild gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in some individuals.

What Is No Longer Widely Recommended

General “eat more fibre” advice without specifying the fibre type has insufficient evidence for chronic constipation. Likewise, long-term use of herbal laxatives such as senna lacks strong scientific support.

What It Means for Clinicians and Patients

The new guidelines give dietitians and healthcare professionals more targeted tools for dietary management of constipation. For patients, this means clearer, evidence-based guidance — not just “more fibre,” but which foods and supplements actually help. It’s also important to note that these recommendations apply to adults with chronic constipation without another underlying disease causing the condition.

How This Connects to Our Work at Belly Balance

At Belly Balance, we have long focused on exactly the components now recommended in these new guidelines: kiwifruit, psyllium (Husk), and magnesium supplements. Seeing these approaches validated by new research and official UK recommendations is very encouraging — it confirms what we’ve observed in practice.

Kiwifruit
We’ve used kiwifruit for years as a natural aid in constipation management — easy to include, pleasant in taste, and consistently associated with better bowel regularity. The new guidelines confirm that 2–3 kiwifruits per day for at least four weeks can be an effective
strategy.

Psyllium (Husk)
We’ve recommended psyllium-based fibre supplements (“Husk”) to improve stool consistency and frequency in people with sluggish digestion. The BDA guidelines now
confirm strong evidence for psyllium in improving bowel movements and softening stools.

Magnesium
We’ve also used magnesium oxide and similar forms of magnesium to support intestinal motility. The new evidence clearly supports magnesium as a recommended intervention for chronic constipation.

What This Means for Belly Balance

– Our long-standing recommendations are now fully aligned with the latest scientific research and official dietary guidance.
– It reinforces our holistic approach of combining natural foods (like kiwi) with targeted supplements (psyllium and magnesium) for optimal gut health.
– We’ll continue to refine our advice and product development based on the best available evidence.