Woman Holding Tummy And Toilet Paper

You're Not 'Tired All the Time'—You're Probably Just Constipated

Ever had one of those days where you just want to stay in bed, everything feels annoying, and even the smallest task feels like a mountain? We’ve all been there. But here’s a question most people forget to ask: When was the last time you actually pooped? Was it yesterday or last week? Because believe it or not, your low energy and cranky mood might have less to do with Mercury in retrograde and more to do with being constipated and what’s NOT happening in your gut.

Before pointing fingers at the universe or blaming your recent heartbreak, maybe it’s time to check in with your body. One too many trips to Chick-fil-A or a bag of Doritos might be the reason you’re backed up. A sluggish digestive system can throw off your whole vibe, from your focus to your mood. So if you’re feeling off, and you don’t know what’s happening, your gut might be the best place to start.

“Am I Constipated?” Simple Signs to Watch For:

Let’s do a quick gut check (pun totally intended).
Put a finger down for every “yes,” and let’s see how your gut’s really doing:

☐ I haven’t pooped in 3 or more days
☐ I have to really push when I go (like, workout-level effort)
☐ My poop is hard, lumpy, or looks like little rabbit pellets
☐ I often feel like I didn’t fully “finish” after going
☐ I postpone bathroom breaks when I’m too busy
☐ My Tumbler is basically an iced coffee dispenser
☐ My diet is mostly white rice, bread, or instant noodles
☐ I sit for most of the day and barely move my body
☐ I feel bloated or gassy more days than not
☐ I feel sluggish or foggy for no clear reason

Results:

 🟢 0–2 fingers down: You’re likely in the clear, but don’t forget to stay hydrated and keep fiber up to avoid getting constipated. Keep it up!
🟡  3–5 fingers down: Your gut's dropping hints. Time for a little tune-up (maybe a cleanse?)
🔴  6+ fingers down: You are prone to constipation or might be constipated already. Time for a serious gut reset.

What Actually Counts as Constipation?

Woman Sitting On The Toilet

So let’s clear something up: Constipation isn't just about not pooping for days (though that's definitely a red flag). According to gastroenterologists, healthy bowel movements can range from three times a day to three times a week, depending on your personal "normal." Essentially, if you’re not having regular, comfortable bowel movements, or if they’re causing discomfort, that could be a sign that your digestive system needs some attention.

Who Gets Constipated the Most? 

  1. Office Workers & Busy Adults: If you sit all day, forget to drink water, and eat lunch over your keyboard, your gut’s just as overwhelmed as your inbox.
  2. Women (Especially During PMS or Pregnancy): Sometimes hormones are wild. One minute you’re crying over a cat video on TikTok, and the next you’re wondering why you haven’t pooped in two days.
  3. Low-Fiber Dieters & High-Protein Fans: Protein shakes and air-fried everything are cool until your gut starts wondering where the fiber went.
  4. Older Adults: With age comes wisdom, and a naturally slower digestion and metabolism.
  5. Kids & Teens: Even kids and teens get constipated! Why? Holding it in, too much screen time, and let’s be honest, junk food doesn’t help either! 

You think you might be constipated? You’re not alone; constipation doesn’t play favorites. It can happen to anyone. But knowing the causes is the first step to fixing the funk. Your gut’s just asking for a little love (and probably more fiber).

What Causes Constipation?

There are a few common culprits behind those annoying, constipated, sluggish bowel days, and once you know them, you can kick them to the curb. What’s really the holdup?

  • Low Fiber Diet: Not enough fruits, veggies, or whole grains? Your digestive system’s feeling left out. 
  • Not Enough Water: Dry poop = hard to pass + strain on your tushy. It’s like trying to push a rock through a straw. 
  • Too Much Sitting: Binge-watching is fun, but your bowels need movement! Stretch, walk your dog, or get 30 minutes of exercise daily to boost both your body and gut health.
  • Stress and Anxiety: Stress messes with your gut's rhythm. If life’s chaotic, your digestion might be too. 
  • Meds Slowing You Down: Some meds (like painkillers or antidepressants) can make your gut constipated and sluggish. Check your labels. 
  • Ignoring the Urge: Too busy to go? Holding it in just makes it harder later. When nature calls, don’t ghost her. 
  • Hormones in Chaos Mode: PMS, pregnancy, menopause, and hormones can slow things down. Blame biology, not yourself. 
  • Health Conditions: Long-term issues like IBS or thyroid problems can be behind chronic constipation. Time for a checkup if it's sticking around.  

A lot’s going on these days that makes us reach for junk food and hit our bed more often. Sometimes, we catch ourselves relating a little too hard to that Bruno Mars lyric “Today, I don’t feel like doing anything”  and start wondering why our energy's so low. Well, the answer might be hiding in our gut, messing with our brains more than we think!

Top Reasons Why Constipation Makes You Tired

Gut And Brain Connection

Being constipated isn’t just a bathroom issue, it quietly affects your entire system. Here’s what happens inside your body when you’re backed up:

  • Waste Gets Stuck
    Your colon holds onto waste longer than it should. That slows everything down from digestion, elimination, and even your energy levels.
  • It Disrupts Your Gut-Brain Connection: 
    The gut-brain axis is the communication highway between your digestive system and your brain. When you're constipated, this line of communication gets disrupted, and your gut can’t send the usual “all clear” signals, which can mess with your mood, focus, and even stress levels. It’s also affecting the production of key neurotransmitters like serotonin (your feel-good hormone). Since about 90% of serotonin is made in the gut, when things are off down there, it impacts how you feel up top.
  • Toxins Linger in Your Body
    Detoxing isn’t a trend, it’s something your body is already trying to do. But when you're constipated, that process gets stuck. Imagine being trapped in traffic with no way out, you're forced to inhale all the fumes and pollution around you. It’s the same with your gut: when waste stays trapped, toxins build up, and your whole body starts to suffer.
  • It Reduces Nutrient Absorption
    When you're constipated and digestion slows down, your body isn't absorbing nutrients as efficiently. Even if you're eating healthy, your gut may struggle to pull out the vitamins and minerals it needs. So it's not just about what you eat, but how well your gut processes it.

Having waste stuck in your body is something most of us can relate to. But here’s the good news: prevention is always better than cure, and this kind of prevention is actually super easy.

How Fiber Helps Relieve a Constipated Gut

Fiber-Rich Foods

Fiber is the unsung hero of digestive health. It's like the broom for your intestines, sweeping out waste and helping everything move along smoothly. A high-fiber diet is essential for maintaining regular bowel movements and getting things moving when you're already feeling constipated—all while boosting overall gut health.

A study published in The National Library of Medicine found that fiber significantly helps to increase the stool frequency of patients with constipation. It showed that increasing dietary fiber intake, especially from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can lead to more frequent and easier bowel movements.

What Types of Food to Eat (and Avoid) to Keep Things Moving!

Healthy Fruits And Vegetables VS Processed Foods

Let’s explore which foods help you get things flowing and which ones can leave you feeling constipated and sluggish. Ready for a smoother ride?

✔ Eat This ✖ Not That!
🍉High fiber fruits: (papaya, apples, prunes) 🍟 Processed snacks like chips and cookies
🥕High fiber veggies: (spinach, moringa leaves, kale) 🍕 Greasy and oily foods, pizza, deep-fried chicken 
🌾 Whole grains: (oats, brown rice, whole wheat bread) 🍞 White bread, white rice, refined grains
🥜Seeds and nuts: (chia seeds, flaxseed, nuts) 🧀 Excessive dairy like cheese or whole milk
🌱 Legumes: (beans, lentils, chickpeas) 🥩 Red meat and processed meat
🧃 Probiotics: Yogurt or kombucha  🍰 Excessive sugary desserts like cake or chocolates
🍋Warm water with lemon in the morning ☕ Too much iced coffee or sugary drinks
🥥Coconut water, natural herbal teas 🥤 Sodas, energy drinks, alcohol 

Why the switch? 

It’s no surprise that high-fiber foods work wonders, not just for easing a constipated gut, but also for boosting your mood and overall health. On the flip side, processed foods can weigh you down: both physically and mentally. Meats take longer to digest, and while processed foods like pizzas, cheeseburgers, and sugary drinks can be fun occasionally, they’re not meant to be daily staples. The key is balance. Enjoy treats in moderation, but make sure your everyday meals support your health. Regular exercise helps more than a lot too. Remember, keep it moving to keep “it” moving.

When to Talk to a Doctor

Sure, being constipated now and then is normal, but certain symptoms warrant medical attention:

  • Constipation that's new and persistent
  • No bowel movements for longer than a week
  • Blood in your stool or rectal bleeding
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Feeling extreme fatigue or weakness
  • Constipation that alternates with diarrhea
  • Unresponsive to home remedies

If you've tried lifestyle changes and you're still feeling stuck, it might be time to talk to your doctor. But for everyday support and prevention, that’s where Future Salad comes in. Our blend is designed to keep things moving naturally.

Future Salad: The Gentle Way to Reset Your Gut

Fit Woman Holding Future Salad Bottle

There’s no need to chug oil, rely on harsh laxatives, or survive on cabbage soup just to reset your gut. Future Salad is a natural solution for daily detoxing, digestive relief, and overall wellness. It’s like feeding your gut a leafy green spa day... in a glass. With 12 natural superfood ingredients and over 30+ essential nutrients, this fiber-packed blend helps cleanse your system, restore regularity, and beat that constipated gut without the drama.

  • ✅ Boosts Regularity: Each Future Salad Detox Drink Mix is loaded with natural fiber to support smoother digestion and more consistent bowel movements. Fiber fuels natural and regular elimination, and it’s proven to help get things moving the way they should. 
  • 🚽 Flushes Out Toxins: One pack of Future Salad Detox Drink Mix easily pushes out waste buildup and toxins your body’s been holding on to. Recent feedback from the Future Salad community shows fast-acting results; many report smoother bowel movements after less than a week of continuous drinking. 
  • ✨ Promotes Overall Gut Health: With Future Salad Detox Drink Mix, we focus on supporting a healthy gut, because that’s where everything begins. A balanced gut microbiome helps prevent being promotes a faster metabolism and smoother digestion, which leads to better nutrient absorption. 
  • 🌿 All-Natural Detox: Made with real ingredients like moringa leavesspinachspirulina, and more. Freeze-dried to retain up to 98% of their essential nutrients. No chemicals, no shortcuts. Just nature doing what it does best, gently, effectively. 
  • ⚡ Naturally Energizing: Mix it, shake it, and you’re good to go.  Future Salad Detox Drink Mix gives you a clean energy lift without the crash; no need for extra caffeine or that sugary energy drink. It’s a refreshing, fruity, and tasty mix that helps you feel lighter, more awake, and ready to take on the day. 

Let That Sh*t Go

We’ve all seen those viral stories, people getting hospitalized because they had way too much poop backed up in their bodies for weeks! It sounds wild, but it’s real. And it’s time we wake up to the fact that being constipated isn’t just some “girl problem”, it’s a human problem. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away, and if we don’t take gut health seriously, our bodies will force us to.

The thing is, it’s actually pretty easy to spot the signs. If you haven’t pooped in days and you’re not feeling your best, it might be time to make some changes before things get too messy. Keep things flowing with better habits, and your gut will do the rest. Say goodbye to gut drama, with Future Salad—one pack, one sip, one smooth trip! 💨🍃