Constipation can be a painful frustrating and annoying problem. Too often people try to solve this problem immediately by taking a trip to the medicine cabinet where they figure a solution to this problem can be easily found. They would be considerably better off if they took both a preventive and natural approach to solving this problem.
Constipation is a common enough problem to have created a market in over-the-counter medications designed to provide quick and relatively painless relief. And relief does come at a cost that goes beyond the amount of money people may have paid for a stool softener or a laxative.
A quick look at the causes of constipation may direct us toward more natural solutions to the problem. Common causes of constipation include the following:
1. Inadequate intake of water
2. A diet that is inadequate in fiber intake
3. Inadequate activity or exercise characteristics of a sedentary lifestyle
4. Stress and other emotions
5. A diet that includes an excessive amount of dairy products, sweets or saturated fat
1. An adequate intake of water can be easily remedied by resolving to drink an extra two to four glasses of water a day. The only proviso to this solution would apply to people who’ve had their fluids restricted by medical advice. Drinking warm liquids earlier in the day can prove especially helpful.
2. Adding vegetables to one’s diet can improve overall health and addresses the problem of constipation in particular. It’s easy enough to forget that, along with the many nutrients and antioxidants that are found in fruits and vegetables, these foods typically contain healthy amounts of dietary fiber. The amount of dietary fiber in one’s diet can be further enhanced by consuming at least one serving of fruits such as prunes and cereals that contain a large portion of bran.
3. Long-standing anecdotal evidence has pointed to even a minimal amount of physical activities as a stimulus for bowel movements. Exercise has been proven to have health benefits in a more general sense as well. People who are generally healthy have been shown to have fewer problems relating to constipation also.
4. The emotional component of constipation is often overlooked. Once again the effect of stress on overall health is generally acknowledged and the effect of mental health on bowel movements has been shown to be significant.
5. It may be that not only dietary inadequacies in substances such as fiber can cause constipation, but excess amounts of certain foods can serve to stop up the bowels as well. A prime example of those sorts of foods has been found to be dairy products. Restricting or reducing the amount of dairy foods can improve symptoms of constipation for some people.
Thus far we have spoken of natural strategies that can improve the symptoms of constipation. We also mentioned the fact that many people seek to solve their constipation problems by taking remedies such as stool softeners and laxatives. Although these remedies can provide relief they also tend, when used excessively, to weaken the very muscles that are required for the bowels to function normally. This is yet another strong argument for attempting to address the symptoms of constipation naturally.