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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Constipation and Natural Remedies For It

By Julieanne van Zyl

One of the most universal digestive complaints in the United States is constipation, so it's good to find some constipation remedies. This may be attributed to the conventional Western diet. Common to most folks in the U.S., it is often high in fats and processed foods and low in natural fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

The natural rate of recurrence of purging will vary from individual to individual and also from day to day. One person will have bowel movements once or more per day while others may not have them anymore than three times a week. Constipation is defined, not by the number of times a person has a bowel movement, but rather by the texture of the stool when it is passed.

Even though anyone can be affected by it, constipation is more common in women and in older individuals. Pregnant women, those who have just given birth, or anyone who has just had surgery will also be exposed to develop constipation. Medications such as pain relievers or some physical conditions such as multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries will also place individuals in a higher risk group.

Medications that can be used to increase the number of stools as well as improve the consistency of the stool, are readily available, but natural remedies are most recommended for improving this particular condition. Constipation is explained as a condition in which stools are hard and spherical and difficult to pass. The sufferer often feels distended or of not having completely emptied their bowels. It can be a very horrible feeling and really ruin your day.

If you propose using something other than a natural remedy to improve your condition you should ensure that you really are constipated. TV ads inundate us daily, urging us to use their products and laxative laboratories push their products vigorously. Sometimes this publicity can encourage individuals to believe they are constipated when in fact they are not. don't forget using natural remedies for constipation will not negatively impact on your health. In fact, using these natural methods will only make better your overall health.

One of the first things to do, if you think you may be constipated, is to increase your fluid intake. The stools stay soft according to the amount of water left in the stool. A dehydrated body will pull as much water as possible from the stool in order to help uphold hydration in the body. A minimum of six to eight glasses of liquid a day should be a part of every adult's diet. While almost any fluid will do the trick the most recommended one is water. Fluids that contain caffeine however will do more to dehydrate than to improve your condition.

The customary Western diet invariably does not provide enough fiber. 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day per each adult is recommended by the American Dietetic association. It's not difficult to take in those 30 grams per day if you look carefully at your diet. Half a cup of green peas will equal 5 grams, one small apple 3 grams, or a bowl of bran cereal can give you as much as 13 grams. However the fiber heavyweights are cooked dried beans, prunes, figs, raisins, popcorn, oatmeal and nuts. Another good source of fiber is the mangosteen fruit or if you cannot buy the fruit, mangosteen juice.

Daily exercise is of great benefit in the maintenance of a healthy bowel. Regular exercise will help to alleviate constipation because the continued movement helps the peristalsis in the lower intestines. Peristalsis is the motion, or movement, of the intestines that pushes the stool through to the rectum. While any form of exercise is of benefit, walking appears to be the best and is especially advantageous for pregnant women who face constipation as their babies develop.

We can also train ourselves to go to the toilet. We tend to choose to go when it's convenient for us to go. However, habitually prolonging the urge to go, can lead ultimately to constipation. It is never, never too late to improve your bowel habits. A gastric reflex which is activated approximately 20 minutes after each meal, especially heavy meals, will subtly send a signal. So choose a meal, any meal, and every day after that meal go to the bathroom and sit on the toilet for at least 10 minutes. Wait for 20 to 30 minutes following that meal before going. It won't be long before you will begin to create the habit of evacuating at the same time every day.

Should these dietary and lifestyle changes not be successful, individuals may choose to add a little assistance. Eating a half a cup of sunflower seeds every day will help to increase the fiber. They are tasty and will help move the stool along. Whole wheat bread, bran and even oatmeal, horseradish, dried figs and plums will help the problem.

Pelvic floor dysfunction which is a condition in which the pelvic floor muscles do not work properly and do not permit the bowels to empty properly, is sometimes the cause of constipation in individuals. Biofeedback therapy helps teach those individuals how to coordinate the muscles and it improves the ability to go to the toilet.. Although biofeedback has only recently been explored as a treatment, the results appear to be promising. For example, after six months of biofeedback sessions, 43 of 54 biofeedback patients found them more effective than laxatives. Benefits appeared to last for at least two years.

Constipation over a long period of time will ultimately lead to the development of hemorrhoids and anal fissures, which are not only painful but can also make worse the constipation. They do this by narrowing the opening and not allowing as much stool through with each evacuation. Straining can also raise blood pressure and lower the heart rate which can result in elderly patients blacking out and falling off the toilet.

If these methods are not successful in alleviating your constipation and its linked problems you should seek the care and advice of your primary care doctor or health care practitioner. - 17268

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