Constipation is never good. It can be very uncomfortable to strain on the toilet and not have anything come out. When your have constipation, your bowel movements are not comfortable. They are painful. Your body has been holding on to waste for a number of days. That waste can seep through a leaky gut and cause other challenges in your body. You want to make sure that your relieve severe constipation fast before it becomes a health risk.
Get Hydrated
One of the biggest causes of constipation is dehydration. Without the proper amount of water in your cells, it becomes difficult for any organ of your body to function properly. This includes the digestive tract. Having hydrated cells in the body enables the mucosa in the digestive tract to push the stool along comfortably. It also creates an essential environment for the bacteria in the gut to assist with digestion.
If your are suffering from constipation, one of the easiest and fastest things that your can do is re hydrate your body. Drink about 8-16 ounces of water every two hours. You should easily be rehydrated by the end of the day and able to pass a solid stool easily.
Exercise Daily
Our digestion relies on peristalsis to push the waste material out. Peristalsis is the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine which creates wavelike movements that push the contents of the canal forward. When we become sedentary, the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles does not occur as frequently. Therefore, exercise is very helpful in relieving constipation.
Any exercise that gets the blood pumping or massages your internal organs can help move things out. However, the best exercises to relieve constipation are cardiovascular exercises such as running, cycling, walking and rebounding on a trampoline.
Eat Prunes
Prune juice and prunes have long been known as a natural home remedy for constipation. Prunes contain fiber and the natural laxative, sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that has a laxative effect.
Due to the fact that they have sorbitol and fiber, prunes are more effective than simply taking fiber. If your’re constipated, prunes are the easiest natural solution your can purchase.
How many prunes will do the trick? It is thought to be about 50 grams, or approximately 7 medium-sized prunes, twice per day.
Take senna, an herbal laxative
Senna is an herbal laxative that is commonly used to relieve constipation. Senna is an over the counter supplement that can be taken orally or rectally. It contains glycosides, which stimulate the nerves in your gut and speed up your bowel movements. Senna is generally regarded as safe for adults to use for short periods of time. You should consult with your doctor if your symptoms don’t disappear in a couple of days.[easyazon_image align=”right” height=”160″ identifier=”B001UWTK9E” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41RdN18LKSL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”90″]
People who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have certain health conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, should not take senna.
Probiotics
Due to the fact that we need bacteria to break down the components of the foods that we eat, probiotics may help prevent chronic constipation. People who have severe chronic constipation have been shown to have an imbalance of bacterial flora in their gut.
It is believed that probiotic foods could help to improve this balance and prevent constipation. Probiotocs also help treat constipation by producing lactic acid and short chain fatty acids. These actions may help to improve gut movements and make it easier to pass a stool.
There are many over the counter probiotics that your can include in your diet. However, your may want to try fermenting your own. Examples of probiotic foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, and kefir.
Additionally, your can try a probiotic supplement. My recommendation for a probiotic supplement is Biocult. However, according to Zac Bush, creator of the supplement, Restore, your do not want to be on probiotics for an extended period. You will end up with a monoculture in your gut and digestion will again become compromised.
Restore Supplement
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B015J29EXM” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31Pm7Qj-2rL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”160″]Restore is one of the supplements that I take to ensure that the glyphosate that is being used in the environment and during farming practices doesn’t create inflammation and a leaky gut environment in my digestive tract. Many people have reported successfully normalizing bowel movements by taking the supplement. I personally have seen improvements in my health conditions while taking the supplement. Restore is a carbon based supplement that helps to repopulate the gut and therefore enable a wider variety of bacteria to break down your foods. Having a gut flora that is very diverse helps to ensure that you are getting the nutrients that are in your food to your body. We need this bacteria to break down our foods and make the nutrients bioavailable.
I don’t like drinking water. I know that might sound weird, but I find it hard to drink even one glass of water per day. So I find that I don’t drink very much at all throughout the day, and I know that isn’t great for my body. I drink maybe one cup of coffee and one cup of tea per day. And I don’t like sugary drinks at all. I was considering buying one of those soda stream machines for carbonated water, and adding a wedge of lemon or lime for some flavour. I don’t know! Anyway I’m just thinking out loud, thanks for your post.
Your post reminds me of my colleague who has irregular bowel movements. Imagine not eliminating waste from your body for 3-5 days! At first she told me this is normal for her to which I replied, “No, this is never normal!”
She is always constipated and when it reaches 4-5 days that she did not defecate, she starts complaining about how heavy she feels and how stiff and heavy her abdomen is. She doesn’t drink enough water and she also doesn’t want to take laxatives.
So I advised her to eat more green leafy veggies and oatmeal with milk. She did and her bowel movement has improved a lot. I will also suggest for her to eat prunes, thanks for the great info.
Your website is loaded with great information, but my favorite is home remedies. I don’t believe in medication and always look for natural remedies. Thank you for sharing.
Constipation has been my worst enemy since childhood. As you mentioned, prunes help. Yes, it does. But there will be bad days when I need more help than prunes and plenty of water. I have not tried over the counter laxative but I may try the Senna, the herbal laxative you recommended. Glad to have found your article. Thanks.