Various types of potatoes. A staple food, or simply a staple, is a food that is eaten routinely and in such quantities that it constitutes a dominant portion of a standard diet for a given people, supplying a large fraction of energy needs and generally forming a significant proportion of the intake of other nutrients as well.
Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon.
But it can also mean straining to have bowel movements or passing stools that are small, hard, and dry. The good news is that constipation usually is easy to treat and even easier to prevent â as long as you know its causes. Causes of Constipation: Lifestyle and Diet.