Constipation
The Causes?
Constipation is caused by a multitude of different factors, some ranging from basic heredity to problems with diet and exercise. Constipation happens when the intestinal muscles do not contract and expand in such a way that normal bowel movements can take place. Essentially, the individual does not experience a bowel movement for days, and when they do occur, they are irregular and sporadic.
More specifically, constipation is one of the leading health complaints experienced by adults over the age of twenty-one years. When constipation occurs, usually a fiber deficiency is the culprit. It also tends to affect mostly women in their forties due to hormonal changes in the body.
This particular ailment is most usually not problematic to the point where it has lethal ramifications, however it can still lead to other health problems that could be even worse in the future.
As we mentioned before, a general lack of fiber is the usual cause for this ailment, but eating greasy, processed, fatty foods can stop up the intestines causing constipation as well. Diet is by far the main factor of being constipated, as it has to do, directly, with the gastro-intestinal function of your body.
The Natural Fix
Constipation can be dealt with be simply eating a well balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat whole-wheat and fortified breads instead of simple white bread, and when you get the chance, drink plenty of fluids.
We also mentioned earlier that constipation is caused by the intestinal muscles not being able to move the stool through the track. Whether the cause is the stool itself or the intestines is up to each individual, however, changing your diet to include more fiber would dramatically increase your ability to have a bowel movement. Another quick, over-the-counter fix is purchasing a product that contains Docusate Sodium. This is known as a stool softener, but it is preferred to simply eat healthier with fewer preservatives and processing that cause your intestinal system to become stopped up.
Magnesium is also directly linked to the problems of constipation. In many studies, women who were deficient in, not only fiber, but also magnesium were highly susceptible to these problems. So make sure you get a good supplement of magnesium in your system when you can. Magnesium is one of the main minerals that assist in muscle movement and ability to contract and expand. In this, magnesium is directly related to the ability to conduct a bowel movement.
Drinking plenty of fluids is an excellent, but much overlooked, way of controlling constipation and increasing regularity. Fluids will help your overall muscles to work properly as well as soften stool allowing for better function of the intestines. Drink plenty of water during the day, as water is a necessary factor of staying healthy. Also, herbal teas are a natural diuretic. This means that if you are having problems expelling wastes, tea will help solve this problem. This is one reason why tea seems to cause you to have to go to the bathroom; it will also help in having regular bowel movements.