What Is Constipation?
Constipation is defined as a condition where bowel movements are not regular or when the bowels are not completely emptied through regular waste elimination. Constipation is one of the most common gastro intestinal problems suffered by both adults and kids in America and the world over.
What Are The Symptoms Of Constipation?
Constipation is identified with infrequent and irregular bowel movements and characterized with hard fecal matter that is difficult and painful to eliminate. Most people suffering from chronic constipation also have a foul breath and a tongue that is coated with white matter, especially when they wake up. Dizziness, loss of appetite, headache, nausea, depression, under eye circles, insomnia, acne, varicose veins, acidity, stomach aches and a feeling of having a full abdomen are other symptoms of constipation.
How Can Constipation Harm The Human Body?
When waste matter and toxins are not eliminated through regular bowel movements due to chronic constipation, then these toxins are eventually carried into the bloodstream, where they become an important predisposing factor in causing ailments like headaches, rheumatism, arthritis, appendicitis, acne and high blood pressure etc. Chronic constipation has also been linked to colon cancer as well.
What Causes Constipation?
After digested food is passed from the stomach to the colon, the colon absorbs water and nutrients from the food as it passes through it before it is eliminated out of the body. This digested food is then eliminated out of the colon through muscle contractions that help in the movement of food through the colon to the rectum. Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water, due to which waste matter gets hard and dries up. The colon finds it extremely hard to eliminate this type of dry and hard waste matter through muscle contractions, resulting in constipation.
An unhealthy lifestyle and a diet that lacks in fiber and water are the main causes of constipation in the majority of people suffering from this ailment. Constipation is also caused due to certain medications, hormonal disturbances during pregnancy and deficiency of the thyroid hormone. A sedentary lifestyle, frequent traveling over different time zones, excessive consumption of laxatives, anti depressants, iron supplements, pain killers and antacids are other predisposing factors.
Often emotional stress and depression also contribute towards constipation. Meat, tea, coffee, aerated drinks and refined and junk food, when taken excessively, also cause constipation.
One may suffer from constipation now and then even when following a healthy lifestyle and eating a healthy diet. But instead of trying out an over the counter laxative, using one of these natural cures is a better alternative because they are totally natural, easy to use and absolutely non-habit-forming.
Psyllium Husk: Psyllium husk powder is one of the most effective ingredients for curing constipation. While you are suffering from constipation, take a teaspoon of Psyllium Husk mixed in a glass water thrice a day. Make sure that you drink at least three to four liters of water during the day while taking Psyllium husk for constipation relief. Within a day or two, you will be rid of constipation.
Prunes: Prunes or dried plums are nature’s remedy for constipation. Snack up on prunes or drink a glass of prune juice first thing in the morning and another one at bed time. You will find that you are free from constipation within a few hours. You can also try drinking apple juice in between for faster results.
Papayas: Papaya is a well known laxative that has been hailed as a constipation cure for ages. The best effect of papaya as a natural constipation cure is achieved when it is combined with fresh or dried figs. Take a breakfast of half a papaya and five to six figs and say goodbye to constipation.
Spinach: Spinach is nature’s storehouse of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Drink half a glass of spinach juice extracted from fresh raw leaves with half a glass of water twice a day for two to three days. Apart from getting an altogether better constitution, you will find that this is the home remedy to tackle even the most severe cases of constipation.
Oranges: Orange juice is known to increase peristaltic activity (the contraction of muscles in the colon, which helps in bowel movement), and drinking loads of freshly squeezed orange juice is an easy and tasty way of combating constipation. In order to take advantage of the fiber in oranges, you may consume a couple of oranges first thing in the morning and a couple more at bed time.
Other natural cures for constipation involve the consumption of flax seeds; a solution of salt and lemon in warm water; pears and pear juice; honey in warm water; guavas; grapes; aloe vera and other medicinal herbs.
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