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Constipation
It is not uncommon nowadays for the doctor to tell a patient that "It's ok to move your bowels only once a week. That is probably normal for you." What complete ignorance! Bowel movements should be as frequent as you have a meal. Elimination should be complete, fast and easy. If bowel movements occur only once in every few days, and you have to strain for a long time to eliminate, eliminating black hard pebbles that drop right to the bottom of the toilet bowl, then this is definitely serious trouble waiting to happen. Constipation is not a disease. It is a symptom of a poor health condition. Most people, especially those from the city, have constipation. This is the result of eating too much processed foods that are lacking in fiber, and insufficient fresh foods that are full of live nutrients and enzymes. If left untreated, constipation can lead to other more serious health conditions. Our colons are like the sewage system. Imagine that your toilet plumbing gets clogged up. When you flush it, there will be an overflow. If you don't fix the clogging, the wastes will be all over your toilet floor and soon the whole house will stink and you will be living in a very unhealthy environment. Likewise, when unwanted wastes and deposits are clogged up in your colon and unable to be eliminated, they will begin to rot inside. If these are not flushed out, it becomes a toxic overload and a breeding ground for billions of parasites and bacteria. Numerous health conditions will surface if this is not addressed quickly with a change in dietary and lifestyle.
Symptoms of Constipation As I mentioned above, constipation is a symptom. But there are also other symptoms that arises from this symptom, creating a whole lot of too many other problems. Some of these symptoms are: aching joints, allergies, backaches, bad breath, body itchiness, obesity, persistent headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, overweight, poor skin, poor memory and excessive mucus (nasal congestion and in the throat). Even the immune system will be weak. Constipation sufferers are often prone to catch colds, flu and other viral infections easily. And when they catch these, it will usually take them a much longer time to recover than necessary. In more severe cases, and this often happens when constipation is not rectified by a dietary and lifestyle change, it can lead to "leaky gut syndrome". This is a condition where waste materials have accumulated over many years and has become auto-intoxicating. Toxins from the colon gets reabsorbed and circulated back into the bloodstream. These toxins can damage the liver, lung and kidney. A person with this condition will constantly feel tired, has low immune system and feels weak all the time. They are also often good candidates for parasites and Candida overgrowth that in turn cause a host of many other health problems, even cancer.
Causes of Constipation The most common cause of constipation is not drinking enough water AND a poor diet¾a diet low in fiber and/or a diet high in fats and carbohydrates and too much processed foods. A lot of the time, constipation are also a result of either an intestinal tract condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, candida or a more common condition like dehydration. It can also be caused by medication or other health problems such as anemia, bloating, colic, depression, diarrhea (yes, paradoxically!), insomnia, or vertigo. Often, use of laxatives may provide temporary relief. But overuse of laxatives will lead to increased constipation because the digestive tract becomes dependent and cease doing what it should naturally be doing.
Diet/Lifestyle Suggestions Your fiber intake should be more of the insoluble type which is abundant in vegetables, wheat bran cereals and whole grain foods. However, the soluble fiber found in oats and a variety of fruits will also help promote bowel movements. Reduce intake of animal protein, dairy products and processed foods. Avoid over-the-counter laxatives. Indulge instead, in natural laxatives that are abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables. Consult your doctor and work with him to cut back on drugs that may contribute to your constipation. On top of your dietary change, be sure to take up regular aerobic (endurance) exercise. This could be walking, swimming, jogging, or cycling¾leg movements that will shape up the colon and digestive tract. If you face chronic constipation, consider going on a juice fast to let your digestive tract a much needed rest from processing more food. Drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of water (8 oz) daily, adding 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 teaspoon raw honey (optional) into your water four times a day. Fresh juices can provide the much needed enzymes that can help with digestion and elimination of waste material with its natural laxative effects. Other suggested foods: peas, oatbran, oatmeal, figs, barley, prunes, dried legumes, beans, lentils, barley, dried fruits, berries, nuts and leafy green vegetables. Caution: A high-fiber diet may produce gas, stomach cramps and other intestinal discomforts. Drink plenty of water during this time, to help the fiber eliminate old fecal matter easier.
This combination: carrots + green apple + wheatgrass is one of the best recipes that can help relieve constipation naturally. If you are not able to get wheatgrass, juice at least carrots and green apples. Taking this juice regularly will help you regulate your bowel movements. Make sure to use only green apples as they have a different enzymes from the red apples, that help with digestion. Juice one large carrot or two small carrots, two medium-sized green apples and a bunch of wheatgrass. This will make about 8 oz of delicious juice that are super effective. Drink at least twice a day daily until your bowel movements become more regular.
Broccoli contains a strong substance which naturally induce our body's own enzymes which would aid in digestion. Carrot juice helps get the digestion going and functioning. It is also high in fiber content that is necessary for constipation¾making stools softer and easier to be eliminated. The above combination has very little juice yield. Use half a head of a medium-sized broccoli, one large carrot, and half a grapefruit. If you can stomach the bitter and sour taste of grapefruit, use a whole grapefruit. Grapefruit juice is extremely effective in easing constipation and helps digestion by increasing the flow of gastric juices.
Spinach is an excellent intestinal tract cleanser and regenerator, making it a good food for constipation sufferers. The alkalinizing effect of watermelon helps neutralize the toxic and acidic environment in the colon. Watermelon juice is effective in aiding the elimination of wastes. Potato juice helps prevent the fermentative process in the intestine and encourage the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract. Use one stalk of spinach, two slices of watermelon and half a medium-sized potato.
Juice and drink either alfalfa sprouts or wheatgrass alone. Alfalfa sprouts juice is mild and easy to drink. Wheatgrass may smell a bit green but has a slightly sweet taste to it. Both of these are among the best and most nutritive greens. Add an apple if you like. Pectin, a soluble fiber in apples can improve the intestinal muscle's ability to push wastes through the gastrointestinal tract. Or, just juice apples by itself.
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