One of the most common problems that no one wants to talk about is constipation, but cures for constipation are often simple and bring quick relief. While this isn’t always something you want to discuss during a polite dinner conversation, just about everyone has experienced it at one time or another.
Understanding Constipation
Constipation is more than just missing a bowel movement once or twice. It’s actually a chronic condition that’s often accompanied by symptoms that can make you feel miserable. To be officially diagnosed with constipation, you have to experience it for at least three months.
Symptoms of constipation include having two or fewer bowel movements each week, straining when you try to go to the bathroom, and having hard stools. You may also feel that when you do have a bowel movement, your waste didn’t completely evacuate from your body.
You may also feel that you have something blocking your ability to have a bowel movement or feel like you need to use your fingers to help remove feces or move your bowels. If you find that you only have a bowel movement once every two or three days and this continues for months, you’re probably suffering from constipation.
The Complications
Going to the bathroom is something you probably don’t think about much when it’s going well. But when there’s a problem you can become painfully aware that something is wrong. If you’re experiencing constipation, you might also be experiencing some painful symptoms that leave you searching for a quick cure.
For example, being unable to have regular bowel movement can cause you to have sharp pain and cramping in your abdomen. It can also cause you to have rectal pain when you’re going to the bathroom.
When you’re passing hard stools, you may notice that you have bright red blood in your stool from tearing. You can develop hemorrhoids or tears in your anus that can cause bleeding and irritation.
If you’re unable to go to the bathroom for a very long period of time, you may also get so backed up that you’re unable to eat. You can experience nausea and vomiting as a result. You may also notice that your stomach seems swollen or hard.
Sadly, people can even die from constipation if it goes untreated. This is very rare, but is a reminder that you shouldn’t ignore constipation if you’re experiencing it.
The Reasons For Constipation?
One of the best ways to understand how to cure constipation is to understand its underlying causes. There are many things that can contribute to you having difficulty with regular bowel movements. Read about the causes of constipation here.
Who Experiences It?
While anyone can fall victim to constipation, it does affect more women than it does men. And it’s more common in children than it is in adults. However, once you reach the age of 65 your risk for constipation increases.
But just about everyone will experience constipation at some point in their lives, so it’s important to know how to combat this condition to prevent more serious problems.
Constipation Cures That Work
There are many ways that you can treat constipation and even cure it so it no longer becomes part of your life. The best cure for constipation will depend on the underlying cause for you and meeting your individual needs.
Lifestyle Changes
Some of the biggest problems that lead to constipation are a diet deficient in fiber or water or lacking exercise. All three of these lifestyle issues are easily remedied and can often provide a solution that doesn’t require laxatives or special treatments.
In general, you need to eat at least 20-35 grams of fiber daily. The best way to get fiber is to eat more high fiber foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans. You can also add flaxseed to your diet. You’ll also want to limit meat and dairy products that digest slowly.
If you have trouble adding a lot of fruits or veggies to your diet, you might consider adding smoothies that allow you to get a large dose of fiber in one glass. There are many recipes that are tasty and have added health benefits.
Some people also go on a raw food detox for a few days in order to cleanse the colon and get the bowels moving again.
Exercising 30 minutes a day can help you to get your bowels moving while the rest of your body is on the move. Just taking a walk each day can help to stimulate your intestines to do their job better.
Hydration is also critical. You need to drink eight to ten glasses of water each day in order to have enough fluid to cure constipation.
Supplements
A common constipation cure method is the use of fiber supplements. These are helpful if you don’t have enough fiber in your diet and you can’t seem to consume enough fiber from natural sources. You can take a few fiber supplements each day along with drinking plenty of water to help relief the constipation.
There are also supplements that help you to have an easier bowel movement because they help draw water into your large intestine. When this happens your body can produce bowel movements that are softer and pass easily.
Laxatives
There are many different kinds of laxatives and you need to be careful with their use. They’re great when you have a bout of constipation and you just need a jump start to get going again.
However, taking laxatives all the time can weaken your intestines and actually cause you to get constipated!
Probiotics
Often you have trouble with constipation because there’s a lack of good bacteria in the gut. Sometimes medications like antibiotics strip your body of not only bad bacteria but also the good kind that helps you to digest your food.
You need to replace the good bacteria in order to restore balance and become regular. Yogurt contains natural bacteria that can help to restore balance. You can also take probiotic supplements that introduce healthy bacteria to your gut.
Corn Syrup
Many parents have sworn by corn syrup as a constipation cure for children. This allows you to help relieve constipation without having to use harsh drugs. This is basically syrup that’s high in sugar that you can mix with water to form a natural laxative. It works to get the intestines moving again.
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is another natural remedy that can help to treat constipation. It actually works as a lubricant to help coat your feces and make it easier to move. Mineral oil isn’t fast acting and it won’t cause you to have cramps or diarrhea if taken properly.
It will simply make it easier to have a bowel movement. Some people have to take a small dose of mineral oil daily to relieve chronic constipation.
Colonics
If you’re adventurous, you might want to try colonics as a cure for constipation. For this you’ll need to go to a licensed colonic therapist.
This is a procedure where a professional gives you enemas in order to cleanse the colon and remove impacted waste.
Oxygen or Herbal Detox Cleanse
Oxygen cleanse supplements work by releasing oxygen into the intestines as they break down. When this happens, solid waste actually becomes liquefied so that it softens and can pass through the body.
This type of cleanse clears the walls of the intestines to leave your bowel clean and healthy. You’ll be able to release the waste and enjoy normal bowel movements.
There are also several herbal formulas available that can help cleanse the colon.
The Benefits For Treating Constipation
When you cure your constipation, you can improve your overall wellness. Not only will you have fewer problems going to the bathroom, you’ll also experience:
- Weight loss
- Better absorption of vitamins and minerals
- Remove toxins from the body
- Improved energy and immunity
Your digestive health is linked to your overall wellness. It’s important to treat your constipation if you’re experiencing it so that you can have better overall wellness and reduce your risk of a more serious complications.
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