# Low-poop foods **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233 "2018-02-20T22:53:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/21 "2018-02-21T15:34:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How would decreased volume not decrease frequency? The circadian rhythm comes to mind. I eat three meals a day, but I generally only sit on the toilet once a day; the size of my movement may vary with diet, but it’s a rare occasion (and seemingly unconnected with my diet) when I skip a day or sit on the toilet more than once per day. If the OP is anything like me, (s)he may find that his/her GI tract delivers one bolus to his/her rectum every day, concurrent with the usual evacutory urge, regardless of whether it’s a little smaller or larger than average. In any event, the best advice has already been given upthread: OP really should talk this over with his/her doctor. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/22 "2018-02-21T15:35:32Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > [8 Foods That Can Cause Constipation](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-foods-that-cause-constipation#section1) > > [15 Foods That Cause Constipation](https://www.medicinenet.com/top_foods_that_cause_constipation/article.htm) Thank you for your reply idk about these. Some of the suggestions are full of un-digestible fiber which sounds like it’d be uncomfortable to have hanging around. Some of the suggestions are said to work by irritating the digestive tract. Again, maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/23 "2018-02-21T15:38:36Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > This is horrible advice. Alcohol? Cigarettes? When is that good? > > Plus, tea and coffee MAKE you want to poop, even if you’re just shitting liquid anyway. WTF? Most likely I’ll be having my morning cup anyway. I expect to poop some. I just want to have as much latitude about the when and the how often as is pragmatic. Once a day after coffee’d be acceptable prob’ly. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/24 "2018-02-21T15:42:32Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Cheese? 😛 > On a serious note, ask your doctor if this is OK before you actually do it. > What kind of surgery are you having? I was thinking yogurt might make the lists. I now know to look for ones without fillers like inulin and carrageenan. I’ve ample opportunity to ask. I have to be cleared by my GP, the hospital, and the surgeon’s office. I have to take a joint replacement class. I’m having a total hip replacement. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/25 "2018-02-21T15:48:49Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > If this is a significant surgery, you may be put on some type of opioid painkiller that would slow everything down anyway. Talk to your doctor. > > I should add that having some sort of motion down there may be required before you are discharged, depending on the surgery. An ileus is a serious shutdown of your GI tract that can occur due to some operations. I expect to be on some sort of pain meds. I am currently as well. Being slowed down is indeed a thing. It sounds nicer to be slowed down without so much ‘traffic’. Mostly, I’d just like for pooping to be as close to optional as is pragmatic for a few days. idk if pooping is on my discharge list or not. Iirc, being able to sit on the pot and get back off it are on that list. So, I’ll be able to go through the process of pooping before I’m home. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/26 "2018-02-21T15:50:59Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I call it the toddler diet. LOL! People with Crohn’s disease need a low-residue diet, so it’s a great search term to add. [Here’s a good list](https://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/low-residue-diet-foods#1). > > Some of the things on that list are sub-optimal, but are included because it assumes a long-term nutrition requirement. You could get away with avoiding fruit and veg altogether. Just take a multi-vitamin with minerals so that malnutrition doesn’t slow your healing. > > "Twere I in your position, I’d make a big batch of mac-n-cheese and use it as an excuse to live on that for a week. 😉 > > Seriously though, Get Well Soon! Thanks for the good wishes. There’re some tasty suggestions on this list. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/27 "2018-02-21T15:54:55Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > The OP isn’t concerned about total volume output; he/she wants to reduce how often they have to sit/stand. If OP is having smaller movements, but is still required to sit on the toilet once or twice per day, the problem hasn’t really been solved. > > I’m skeptical about the efficacy of the proposed solutions. While they may reduce volume output, would they also be expected to reduce frequency of movements? Basically. The pain meds may play a role in reducing the processing rate. I think the stimulants & alcohol were proposed to ward off the desire to eat. But the only thing on the list I like is the coffee. The pain meds may do the job of making me immune to hunger. But I suspect my body could use _some_ nutrition. So, I don’t want to fast. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/28 "2018-02-21T15:56:39Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > The combination of anesthetic drugs and painkillers after surgery are pretty effective at stopping things up for a day or two. So much so that I was offered various options to get things moving again after my last surgery. I declined the suppository and just waited for it to happen on its own. Exactly. That’s another reason why I’d like to have the traffic reduced in volume — it’ll be moving slower. I’m already as full of shit as I’d like to be. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/29 "2018-02-21T15:59:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How would decreased volume not decrease frequency? It’s not like you have to go every time there’s any feces in your colon. It builds up gradually, and when it builds up enough, you have to go. I think the point was made about coffee and cigarettes which are said to fast track the process — sometimes putting unfinished business marked ‘URGENT’ in the outbox so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/30 "2018-02-21T16:00:49Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > In any event, the best advice has already been given upthread: OP really should talk this over with his/her doctor. Sure, but I also want info for taking cross-country car trips. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/31 "2018-02-22T15:12:53Z")
When the Apollo astronauts went to the moon, they pooped as little as possible for more than a week. _The entire ordeal often took 45 minutes to an hour to complete in the Apollo spacecraft, Roberts said. To minimize their bowel movements, astronauts had a high-protein, low-residue diet — think steak and eggs and other foods that are don’t make a lot of waste after they are absorbed by the body. [cite](https://www.space.com/22597-space-poop-astronaut-toilet-explained.html)._ The way they did it was: step 1, get an enema; step 2, eat protein and sugar with very little carbs and no fiber. In the movie Apollo 13, we see one of them about to eat a hot dog with no bun. Therefore, you’d want to avoid bread, potatoes, fruits, and veggies. Eat deli meats and maybe some cheese. Bread and pastries are okay in small amounts if you get white flour instead of whole grain. But don’t forget step 1. If you’re just trying to plan a 16-hour road trip, then starting the day with a big poop might suffice instead of a real enema. FWIW, at the start of the Gulf War, Wayne and Garth of [Wayne’s World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne%27s_World) claimed to have gone more than 24 hours on nothing but Domino’s Pizza and Jolt cola, peeing into the laundry room sink and (implied) no pooping. Of course, these are fictional characters. But it sounds plausible. The pizza is made with white flour and the cheese would tend to have a constipating effect. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/32 "2018-02-22T18:06:28Z")
> [@sbunny8](#): > > When the Apollo astronauts went to the moon, they pooped as little as possible for more than a week. > > _The entire ordeal often took 45 minutes to an hour to complete in the Apollo spacecraft, Roberts said. To minimize their bowel movements, astronauts had a high-protein, low-residue diet — think steak and eggs and other foods that are don’t make a lot of waste after they are absorbed by the body. [cite](https://www.space.com/22597-space-poop-astronaut-toilet-explained.html)._ > > The way they did it was: step 1, get an enema; step 2, eat protein and sugar with very little carbs and no fiber. In the movie Apollo 13, we see one of them about to eat a hot dog with no bun. Therefore, you’d want to avoid bread, potatoes, fruits, and veggies. Eat deli meats and maybe some cheese. Bread and pastries are okay in small amounts if you get white flour instead of whole grain. But don’t forget step 1. If you’re just trying to plan a 16-hour road trip, then starting the day with a big poop might suffice instead of a real enema. > > FWIW, at the start of the Gulf War, Wayne and Garth of [Wayne’s World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne%27s_World) claimed to have gone more than 24 hours on nothing but Domino’s Pizza and Jolt cola, peeing into the laundry room sink and (implied) no pooping. Of course, these are fictional characters. But it sounds plausible. The pizza is made with white flour and the cheese would tend to have a constipating effect. I think I’ll skip the enema. I’ll start some high fiber several days before surgery, then switch to low residue a couple of days beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![ElmerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@ElmerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElmerH)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/33 "2018-02-23T22:58:57Z")
[Should You Try a Low-Residue Diet?](https://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/low-residue-diet-foods#1) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/34 "2018-02-24T00:37:03Z")
Wouldn’t yogurt make you poop more? It usually keeps you regular. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/35 "2018-02-24T15:58:57Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Wouldn’t yogurt make you poop more? It usually keeps you regular. Good question. I think the bacteria in yogurt help your gut stay “regular” — not necessarily that yogurt works like coffee. I think if you are experiencing constipation “regular-izing” your gut means alleviating constipation. But iwithout constipation, I don’t think the yogurt would make you _have_ to go. It’d be nice of a Doper nutritionist type person would pipe up about it for some more informed input. Yogurt’s listed as something which can cause constipation in babies because of it’s low fiber content. :shrug:😕 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/36 "2018-02-24T21:30:30Z")
[Cereal bars and fruit](https://nypost.com/2018/02/15/suspect-who-swallowed-drugs-hasnt-pooped-in-28-days-cops/) according to the drug dealer in custody who hasn’t pooped out his swallowed drugs after four weeks. ---
**Author:** ![ropeAdope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@ropeAdope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ropeAdope)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/37 "2018-02-24T23:48:21Z")
> [@sbunny8](#): > > When the Apollo astronauts went to the moon, they pooped as little as possible for more than a week. > > _The entire ordeal often took 45 minutes to an hour to complete in the Apollo spacecraft, Roberts said. To minimize their bowel movements, astronauts had a high-protein, low-residue diet — think steak and eggs and other foods that are don’t make a lot of waste after they are absorbed by the body. [cite](https://www.space.com/22597-space-poop-astronaut-toilet-explained.html)._ > > The way they did it was: step 1, get an enema; step 2, eat protein and sugar with very little carbs and no fiber. In the movie Apollo 13, we see one of them about to eat a hot dog with no bun. Therefore, you’d want to avoid bread, potatoes, fruits, and veggies. Eat deli meats and maybe some cheese. Bread and pastries are okay in small amounts if you get white flour instead of whole grain. But don’t forget step 1. If you’re just trying to plan a 16-hour road trip, then starting the day with a big poop might suffice instead of a real enema. > > FWIW, at the start of the Gulf War, Wayne and Garth of [Wayne’s World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne%27s_World) claimed to have gone more than 24 hours on nothing but Domino’s Pizza and Jolt cola, peeing into the laundry room sink and (implied) no pooping. Of course, these are fictional characters. But it sounds plausible. The pizza is made with white flour and the cheese would tend to have a constipating effect. Interesting thread, and a serious question. I love the info on the astronauts! I think you’d want to ask your doctor for advice, and/or a rocket scientist (since this must be a serious question for space travel). I know what gets me going every morning. A couple of apples the day before and then coffee in the morning. Stopping the action is a whole different matter. I would have guessed white rice sprinkled with cheese, but based on the more knowledgeable people here it sounds like it’s protein and not starch. In any event, let us know how your surgery goes and what diet you ended up using. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/38 "2018-02-25T06:49:19Z")
> **[Feces | Human Digestion, Waste Disposal, Excretion](https://www.britannica.com/science/feces)** > > Feces, solid bodily waste discharged from the large intestine through the anus during defecation. Feces are normally removed from the body one or two times a day. About 100 to 250 grams (3 to 8 ounces) of feces are excreted by a human adult daily.... > [@](#): > > About 30 percent of the solid matter consists of dead bacteria; about 30 percent consists of indigestible food matter such as cellulose; 10 to 20 percent is cholesterol and other fats; 10 to 20 percent is inorganic substances such as calcium phosphate and iron phosphate; and 2 to 3 percent is protein. Cell debris shed from the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract also passes in the waste material, as do bile pigments (bilirubin) and dead leukocytes (white blood cells) I could see how certain diets would cut down on the 30% that is indigestible food matter, but the other 70% is still going to be there no matter what you eat I would assume. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/39 "2018-02-26T14:30:34Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > [Cereal bars and fruit](https://nypost.com/2018/02/15/suspect-who-swallowed-drugs-hasnt-pooped-in-28-days-cops/) according to the drug dealer in custody who hasn’t pooped out his swallowed drugs after four weeks. updates to Lemarr Chambers deal — 38 days and counting :yikes!: [www.google.com/search?q=Lemarr+Chambers](http://www.google.com/search?q=Lemarr+Chambers) That definitely sounds like a non-optimal strategy. Hopefully, that will be resolved without permanent harm to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233/40 "2018-02-26T14:46:51Z")
> [@ropeAdope](#): > > Interesting thread, and a serious question. I love the info on the astronauts! I think you’d want to ask your doctor for advice, and/or a rocket scientist (since this must be a serious question for space travel). > I know what gets me going every morning. A couple of apples the day before and then coffee in the morning. > Stopping the action is a whole different matter. I would have guessed white rice sprinkled with cheese, but based on the more knowledgeable people here it sounds like it’s protein and not starch. > In any event, let us know how your surgery goes and what diet you ended up using. Good luck! I’ll talk to the docs about cautions, precautions, and guidelines. But, I think the internet is a better place to come for a list of foods, dishes, and meals as there’re more people to do the thinking. I mean I think the Dr. would give me a guideline — like “avoid fibrous foods” — but he’s not gonna help me make out a list or help me with choosing among the various foods to find palatable meals. That’s just not really his thing or her thing. (I have one Dr of each) If I were not concerned about healing or comfort, I’d think about just fasting. But, fortunately I am concerned about healing and comfort. [http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/07/24/3549931.htm](http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/07/24/3549931.htm) Back in June of 1965, a Scotsman weighing 207 kilograms, described as “grossly obese” and hereafter known only as Mr A B, turned up at the Department of Medicine at the Royal Infirmary in Dundee. He was sick of being fat and wanted to lose weight by eating nothing and living off his body fat. He told the hospital staff he was going to fast flat out, whatever they said, so they may as well monitor him along the way. He ended up fasting for one year and 17 days — that’s right, he ate no food at all for over a year. He lived entirely off his copious body fat, in the end losing about 125 kilograms of weight. I don’t intend to _stop_ everything. I just want to have some more leeway in “when”. I expect that the pain will slow everything. And I want to have a corresponding decrease in volume. That way, hopefully, I can wait a bit for a new round of meds to kick in if necessary, or for someone to come home to help me if necessary, etc. I hope that I am over prepped for this part of the adventure. We’ll see. I have some thoughts about what I’d like to eat. I’m further limited by counting on my kids to cook for me. While their skill sets are sufficient for their age, sometimes it’d be inaccurate to describe them as highly motivated when it comes to housework like cooking and cleaning. I’ll see what prep I actually get done. After surgery, I’ll be laid up with not much better to do. So I may post more details about my diet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233.md?page=3)