How To Handle A Constipation Problem
Everyone moves their bowels, but nobody likes to talk about this fact. Despite the fact that it’s such a taboo subject, moving one’s bowels should be of concern to everyone. Any physician will tell you that you should move your bowels at least once a day to remain in good health depending, of course, on your intake of food.
But many people do not regularize their bowel movement and instead make it a habit to clear their bowels once in three days or so. This could lead to many complications starting from constipation. Eating healthy and easily digestible food is a way to avoid getting constipated.
Constipation, a condition wherein a person is unable to make regular bowel movement, can cause bloating and a great deal of pain. If the condition lasts more than five days, the large intestine can push against the bladder, thus making a person feel the urge to urinate.
One of the functions of the large intestine is to absorb water from waste before it leaves the body. If waste remains too long in this organ, then too much water will be extracted, causing the stool to dry and harden. If this condition worsens enough, it may be very difficult for the sufferer to eliminate the waste, and he or she might need immediate medical attention.
Diet is the main culprit where constipation is concerned, which usually means that the sufferer is not getting enough fiber. White bread, cheese and meat, along with other overly processed foods, do not contain sufficient amounts of fiber. Some contain none.
The Atkins diet is a low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that is also notoriously low in fiber. People who adopt the diet often have bowel movements only once or twice a week as a result of the nutrition they receive. Interestingly, fiber is indigestible plant matter that provides no calories, but simply acts a sort of “pipe cleaner” for the digestive system while also adding substance to the stool.
Some foods that are high in fiber include whole grains such as wheat flour and oatmeal (non-whole grain foods like white bread omit indigestible plant matter), most vegetables, and to a slightly lesser degree, fruit, though most of the fiber in fruits is contained in the skin; if you are interested in upping your fiber intake, don’t peel that apple skin!
As constipation is a condition of the digestive system, it is clear that what “comes out” is a reflection of what goes in. Maintaining a diet that is high in fiber is the first step to insure you don’t get to the point of constipation. If you find it difficult to reach your daily allotment through whole-grains and vegetables, there are a plenty of fiber-enriched snack foods and cereals at your local grocer.






