Helpful Tips for Relief of Constipation

Do you, like many people, suffer from the occasional bout of constipation? It is not much fun, is it? You cannot discuss the problem with friends and family and unless it is really chronic, you don’t want to visit your Doctor. So, where can you turn for help?

In this article we'll look at how you can get all the constipation help you'd probably need. While this is not all inclusive in itself, there are other sources you may wish to consult. Most people who suffer from constipation will tell that it is one of the most uncomfortable experiences they've had.

There are various reasons and causes of constipation:

The single major reason behind most occurrences of constipation is the consumption of fast foods and other foodstuff that lack sufficient fiber or roughage. Because we live in an "instant" age; fast foods have become the order of the day.

People just don't know what it is to eat healthily. As long as you can grab a burger, a sandwich or some fried chicken; your stomach feels full and everything's settled. As a result, foods may not be completely digested and the fiber necessary to stimulate bowel movement is almost non-existent.

Another major cause of constipation is inadequate fluid intake, especially of water. People don't drink sufficient fluids these days at least not enough to compensate for bodily needs. They drink coffee or soda which makes them feel full because these are more like foods than drinks. The medical professions agree that the average person needs to drink more than 1½ litres or 3 pints of water each day.

Hence, when the faeces get to the rectum the little moisture remaining in it is absorbed by the system. Because stooling requires moisture to enable the easy passage, it becomes very difficult and sometimes painful to freely pass stools. That's why there is a lot of straining to eliminate the waste.

One more reason for the increase in incidence of constipation, is leading a sedentary life. People, who don't take care of themselves physically, also tend to easily develop constipation as a result of not getting involved in any sort of exercise. Exercise is one of the very first recommendations for people who need constipation help. The fact that you move around would improve your bowel movements and hasten the relief of constipation.

Pregnant women sometimes may suffer from constipation as a result of a change in hormonal balance in the body and also because of the pressure of the now occupied uterus on the intestine.

Since you have read some of the causes, it would be better if we moved so you can get all the constipation help you need:

Eat lots of Dietary Fiber. This is also known as bulk forming laxatives and is mainly available from the consumption of fruits and vegetables. The easiest way to incorporate this into your lifestyle is by increasing the quantity of fruits and vegetables in your meals and cutting down on the excess of dairy and meat products.

In some cases however, some individuals may find it hard to cope with the bulk of fruits needed. When this occurs, it is best that fiber supplements such as wheat bran, oat bran, psyllium seeds be added to the daily diet. To make this routine easier, when you have the itch to grab a snack, pick a fruit instead and you're on your way to relief.

The only downside to this method is if the patient has strictures and adhesions. In this circumstance, it is advisable to consult a physician before getting on in the treatment. Also, many fibers contain sugar; as a result, diabetic patients cannot take them. When this occurs, it is best that the patient gets sugar-free fibers.

Dietary Fiber should not be taken in large quantities suddenly. Small quantities are best for starting. Then it can be gradually increased if the patient finds it necessary. A space of one week is adequate for each phase of increase in fiber content. The best sources of fiber are fruits and vegetables.

Eat fresh! Although it's sometimes hard both financially and subconsciously to eat all fresh foods it will benefit you greatly in the long run. Pre packaged foods have much higher calories and sodium and all of the other things that are bad for you. You will also find that fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables all taste much better than pre-packaged stuff.