Want to know about constipation?

02Jul

What is constipation?

Have you every suffered from constipation? If you have then you would know that it is a common disorder that can be debilitating, painful and chronic – can present in a variety of forms.

Its commonly understood as an inability to empty your bowels on a daily basis and can include diarrhoea, and hard and soft stools. This can cause pain and impact your daily life. Constipation affects all kinds of people and can easily be treated naturally with a few small changes.

Bowel movement regularity is greatly influenced by lifestyle and routine. This includes:

• the foods and drink we consume
• our exercise and movement habits
• amount of water we drink.

Have you ever noticed your bowel movement’s change when you go on holiday? Being out of routine can greatly influence how we ‘go’. There can also be structural reasons for constipation like having a redundant bowel, or it can be inhibited peristalsis from medications like antidepressants, painkillers and other medications.

How to prevent constipation?

• Drink water, water and more water.
• High fibre diet that excludes fibre supplements like psyllium as this can make it worse.
• Clean, healthy eating such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and natural oils such as nuts and oils.
• 30 minutes of exercise a day.
• Raising your knees above your hips when you go.

Natural ways to treat constipation?

 

Drink loads of water

Probiotics – restoring good gut bacteria 

Fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kefir

Dietary changes – more fibre – introduce slowly – high water content foods

Citrus fruits/vegetables and juices

Closed colonic hydrotherapy with abdominal massage (with products to support a healthy gut lining and environment) 

Exercise and movement