Concerned About Constipation? 9 Natural Fast Constipation Relief Remedies
What Happens When You’re Constipated?
Constipation occurs when our stool becomes dehydrated and it becomes difficult to move through the colon. This happens because we do not drink enough water or do not receive enough fiber through our diet.
Some professionals define constipation as less than three bowel movements a week while others say less than two or three a day. If this is the case then most of us are definitely constipated.
These natural constipation remedies will provide relief for you fast as they are simple ingredients found regularly in our homes which are used to help us go number 2.
Drink a Cup O’ Joe
Drinking a cup or two of coffee may help our digestive system and promote bowel movements. Caffeine is also a natural diuretic and will make us urinate frequently which may dehydrate us and actually have the opposite effect on our digestive system and cause constipation.
Olive Oil
Olive oil gets our digestive system running smoothly just like oil makes an engine run smoothly in a car.
It is one of the healthiest cooking oils, but it also helps with constipation because it contains monosaturated, omega-3 and omega-6 fats as well as iron and vitamins E & K which all enhance our digestive tract health.
You can also supplement with omega-3s with are healthy fats which will keep our intestines lubricated and our colon working properly.
Lemon Juice & Warm Water
Lemon juice contains citric acid which is a natural stimulant for our digestive system that helps flush out toxins from our body.
Mix lemon juice and warm water and drink it first thing in the morning, but you may want to drink it with a straw as the citric acid can damage the enamel on your teeth.
Fiber
It is a fact that many people do not receive enough fiber from their diet as the Western diet is full of fast foods containing trans fats and sugars. These types of foods are high-glycemic meaning they spike our blood sugar levels because they do not contain fiber and cause us to become constipated.
By eating low-glycemic foods that contain fiber like vegetables, brown rice, and quinoa our digestive system will run properly and our bowel movements will thank us!
Get Moving!
Exercise isn’t just important for our heart health or weight; it is also necessary for healthy stomach. Many times we sit at our desks all day which can cause us to become clogged up.
The National Institutes of Health recommends 20-30 minutes of exercise a day to prevent constipation.
Prunes
When we think of prunes we think only old people eat them, but they eat them for a reason as growing older can cause the bowels to not run as well as they used to.
It is good to eat prunes for constipation because prunes cause the bowel movement to become softer and easier. This is because they contain plenty of fiber, sorbitol which is a sugar alcohol that can loosen the stool, as well as natural laxative called diphyenl isatin.
Prunes also help prevent diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
Increase Your Intestinal Gut Flora
When we hear the word ‘bacteria’ we immediately cringe because usually bacteria has a negative connotation, but there is actually good bacteria that is essential for our body to be healthy.
If you are experiencing hair loss, acne, and autoimmune disorders it may be caused by a lack of healthy bacteria in our gut.
We can increase our gut flora by eating yogurt (best to eat a no-sugar added or low sugar yogurt) as well as taking probiotics in pill or powder form.
Healthy intestinal flora will help prevent constipation, colon cancer, and yeast infections.
Drink Plenty of Water
The easiest way to prevent and help constipation is simply drinking water! Water is necessary for the function of all bodily functions.
Without water our stool becomes hard and dry which makes it uncomfortable when we try to go to the bathroom.
How Do You Sit on the Toilet?
The way you sit on the toilet can help constipation. Our bodies are actually designed to squat as it is a more natural way to defecate and may also prevent colon disease, constipation, and hemorrhoids.
The way toilets are designed in the US make it hard to “go” as we have to put more strain and stress on our colon. Squatting allows the strain to release and therefore makes it going to the bathroom easier.
To get into a squat position you can put your feet up on a step stool or something that is elevated off the floor. There is a product called Squatty Potty which helps with these issues.
I Hate Being Constipated!
Constipation is nothing to be embarrassed about as it can happen to anyone, but it should not be something to dismiss.
Many times prescription medications that we take can constipation, but other times it can be caused from a poor diet and dehydration.
If you are having trouble having bowel movements and experiencing abdominal pain then you should indeed try these natural constipation remedies for fast relief.
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