@thestomachdoc: Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods for constipation. 🍠 #duet with @ithrowupwhenimnervous They contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, which work in different ways. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool and helps move it through the intestines, while soluble fiber holds onto water and is fermented by your gut bacteria. Sweet potatoes also naturally contain mannitol, a sugar alcohol that isn’t completely absorbed and can pull water into the intestines. This can help soften stool and promote bowel movements, although too much mannitol can cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea in some people. The fiber and resistant starch in sweet potatoes also feed beneficial gut bacteria, which can support a healthier gut microbiome, bowel regularity, and overall digestive health. And here’s another trick: cook your sweet potato, cool it in the refrigerator, and eat it later. Cooling increases resistant starch, which acts similarly to fiber and becomes food for your gut bacteria. Between the soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, resistant starch, and mannitol, I consider sweet potatoes a gut health superfood and one of my favorite foods to recommend when you’re trying to get things moving naturally.

Dr. Joseph Salhab

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Monday 17 August 2026 22:27:13 GMT