Constipation - common causes and solutions

Causes:
Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon’s muscle contractions are slow or sluggish causing the stool to move through the colon too slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry.

Common causes of constipation are:
• Lack of fibre

• Dehydration

• Lack of physical activity (especially in the elderly)

• Medications: antibiotics

• Abuse of laxatives

• Milk

• Changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, ageing and travel

• Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement

Causes directly related to health:
• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Specific diseases or conditions, such as stroke (most common)

• Problems with the colon and rectum

• Problems with intestinal function (chronic idiopathic constipation)
Solutions:

Here are some simple and practical steps that you can introduce into your diet to beat constipation for good:


• Start your day with loads of water and fibre:

o Warm water with lemon before having breakfast

o Raw fruit (soluble fibre/digestive enzymes) with soaked in water overnight prunes, apricots

o Bran cereal/grains (Quanoi, Millet, Buckwheat, Barley) with soya/ goat’s/ rice milk (try to eliminate cow milk for a short while and see if things improve)

o Have some prunes/apricots soaked over night with your cereal

o Continue drinking warm water with lemon while having your cereal/grains

o Have some Linseed brown, Sunflower, Pumpkin seeds with your cereal/grains

o Eat more raw green vegetables (digestive enzymes), onion, chicory (has Inulin (fibre))

o Take Psyllium Husk in addition to your daily fibre intake twice a day

o Take one tablespoonful of olive oil in the morning and one tablespoonful an hour after dinner. You can mix it with juice for better taste.

• Increase the level of good bacteria in your gut:

o Probiotics: Acidophilus (with 100mg Pectin)

• Drink more water, warm water with lemon, herbal teas, still mineral water (not sparkling or fizzy drinks that full of sugar)

• Cleanse your colon: enema, colon hydrotherapy, Colosan powder http://www.purifyne.com/our_programme_colosan.php , Lepicol supplement

• Start exercising on a regular basis (if you are not doing it already)

• Use natural laxative: Senna, Pu’erh tea (2-3 cups a day) http://www.purifyne.com/our_programme_puerh_tea.php?programme=a