what to take for constipation
What to Take for Constipation
You may get a number of suggestions from your acquaintances on what to take for constipation, if you are suffering from this bowel disorder. But you must take care in including the appropriate remedial measures, which will relieve this condition rather than aggravating it.
- To improve the bowel movement, it is necessary to drink plenty of water and other fluids. Adequate fluid intake will help soften the stools and make it easier for elimination from the body. Never allow your body to get dehydrated. Instead, keep replenishing your body with fluids at regular intervals or whenever you can.
- Including fibrous fruits and vegetables in your daily diet is another way for keeping this annoying disorder at bay. Dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, beans, corn, asparagus, broccoli, apples, bananas, peaches, pineapple, oranges, etc., are some examples of fibrous fruits and vegetables, which should be included. The dietary fiber in these foodstuffs help add bulk to the stool and facilitate its easy passage through the colon.
- Foods containing non-soluble fibers also help in adding bulk to the stool and stimulate bowel movement. Having a serving of lentils, bitter gourd, whole grain bread or pasta, wheat bran, barley, beetroot, green peas, sorghum, white beans, etc., will help in easing the bowel and facilitate easy passage of stools.
- Flaxseed, psyllium husk, senna, triphala, etc., can be taken in moderate amount to address this problem, since they act as stimulants.
- Psyllium seed and kelp add bulk to the stool and also aid in eliminating it from the body. It also provides relief from hemorrhoids.
- Dandelion and milk thistle can be taken in the form of tinctures that stimulate the liver to produce more bile, which in turn assists in easy digestion.
- Drinking an infusion of ginger, in the form of tea, relaxes the muscles of the colon, and it also treats any infection in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Drinking aloe juice or prune juice will also prove to be an effective remedy to get rid of this gastrointestinal condition. Hibiscus increases the water content in the body, especially in the intestines, thereby softening the stool, to pass it without any pain and difficulty.
- Other herbs like buckthorn and cascara sagrada are used as stimulant laxatives, which reduce the discomfort caused due to a constipated bowel.
- Exercising is also an effective way to stimulate bowel movements. Various exercises, specially abdominal exercises, stimulate the muscles and also help in the movement of the stool. The organs also receive a fair share of fresh, oxygenated blood to improve their function.
- Massaging the abdomen also helps in relaxing the intestinal and bowel tissues. A routine massage with warm olive or castor oil relaxes the abdominal muscles and also improves blood circulation.
- Avoid eating junk or fast food, as it may increase the chances of getting constipated. Since junk food consists of complex fats, they take time to get digested. Indigestion of food can also result in this disorder. So, it is better to eat healthy than to acquire this hindering gastrointestinal problem.