Constipation is not a healthy state to be in. Your body can never be running at its optimum if you are constipated. What is happening to your body? If you are not able to remove the waste products from your body the toxic waste materials are, in effect, backing up into your system, into your blood stream and digestive track. These toxins are polluting your body and all systems.
Are You Constipated? The healthy bowel state is to move your bowels at least once a day, preferably first thing in the morning before breakfast. If you are not moving your bowels at least once a day then you are constipated.
Bowel Motions More Than Once A Day. Be careful with this one. It is OK to move your bowels more than once a day but only if the cause is not an incomplete evacuation. This is when you go to the toilet but still feel like you haven't cleared your bowels. Again this is not a healthy state. You may need to check that you don't have a physical obstruction there preventing a full evacuation. Note that only those people on a full vegan diet would move their bowels after every meal. If you eat meat, fish, eggs, dairy and you are moving your bowels many times a day, then you are probably experiencing an incomplete evacuation.
Causes of Constipation
Medications; There are many medications that list constipation as one of the side effects. Check the literature that comes with your meds or with the company that manufactures them.
Supplements; Natural health supplements can also have a binding effect for some people. Again, check on the label or with your health practitioner or manufacturer.
Stress is a leading cause of constipation; It creates tension in the body and can force people to 'hold on' in every way. To tighten up. It is where we get the term 'anal retentive'. When a person wants to control every facet of their life and can't 'let go'. Stress is, for many of us, a constant battle. We all suffer from it either mentally and/or physically. In small doses it is actually healthy. If we all spent the majority of our day lounging in a hammock nothing would ever get done. We do need to find ways to manage it so that it doesn't get so bad that we are constipated or worse still, lead to an early death.
Natural Health Solutions for constipation
Exercise; If you don't move your body, your bowels won't move either. It really is that simple. Exercise increases circulation of fluids and improves muscle contractions to move food and its waste products through your body.
Water; Dehydration is a critical factor in constipation. Just by upping your water intake to the required 1 1/2 to 2 litres a day can get your bowels moving again. Just be sure that you are consuming a healthy filtered or spring water.
Diet Advice; Increase fresh, raw fruit and vegetables into your diet. Think salad or fruit with every meal. Also whole grains instead of white, processed, and bleached. This will increase the fibre content. Brown rice instead of white and wholemeal (brown) bread and pasta instead of white. Dried fruits like dates and figs are also very helpful. A grapefruit or apple every day has been found to relieve constipation.
Natural Health Products;
Flaxseed Oil & Organic Apple Cider Vinegar - 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil with a couple of drops of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (or fresh lemon juice) morning and night before meals. This is an excellent, gentle, non-toxic treatment for constipation. Note- Flaxseed oil has a nutty taste but if you really cannot stomach the taste you can always take the capsule.
Probiotics; The good bacteria in the bowel is essential for the healthy breakdown and elimination of food. Also important for immunity and allergies.
Bowel Biotics; Is an effective way to move your bowels if you find the flaxseed oil is not well tolerated or not strong enough. It is a combination of psyllium and prebiotics and probiotics.
Aloe Vera; It is another gentle supplement that helps to tone the bowel and normalise bowel function.
Herbal Medicine such as licorice, dandelion, globe artichoke, slippery elm, and St Mary's Thistle can also be useful. For more advice on diet and herbal medicine contact your online Naturopath.
These natural health products and herbal medicines are useful to cure constipation in the short term but long term it is imperative to make the lifestyle and diet changes to ensure good bowel and overall health.
This is Sienna Wolke ND and thank you for reading my article about causes of constipation and natural health products cures and diet advice. Please visit my website at http://www.healthforme.com.au/ for further information and have a talk with me. You can also use our natural health products online store for a large variety of natural health products. I'm looking forward to be with you in your quest for a healthier body and mind.