Constipation Home Remedies

In those that are healthy, our waste travels through our digestive system in a very regular and predictable way and it usually takes 6-24 hours for it to pass through our system. Sometimes, however, the waste moves a bit slower through our intestines and causes constipation.  In this article, I intend to talk a little bit about what causes constipation, how to prevent it and leave you with a few constipation home remedies.

Constipation occurs when you don't get enough fiber in your diet or you aren't drinking enough fluids. Fiber is found in vegetables and fruits and come in two types:

• Soluble
• Insoluble

Both types are important to good bowel elimination. The soluble fiber helps to soften the stool while the insoluble fiber will pass through the intestines unchanged, adding bulk to the stool and also helping the intestines to contract, in effect moving the stool through easily. Typically, a healthy person will pass one to three bowel movements a day.
Other than a deficiency in fiber and fluid, there are other reason why constipation occurs:

1. certain muscle disorders
2. aging
3. bowel diseases
4. neurogenic disorders
5. lack of exercise

In addition to this, constipation could be a side effect of some prescribed drugs and iron supplements as well. Metabolic disturbances with the thyroid such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can also lead to constipation.

There are several herbal home remedies for constipation.  Most of these herbs are responsible for helping to stimulate digestion  as well as detoxifying the body, both of which are important elements to proper elimination of waster.

Alfalfa extract helps to detoxify the body.  The chief ingredient responsible for this is chlorophyll which is also used as an aid to cleaning the breath.

Ginger, a popular asian staple work well with curing constipation as it helps to stimulate the digestive system.  It also aids the body by easing the passage of waste through the intestines.

Milk Thistle will help to soften stools.

Aloe Vera, which is also good for skin, is a great digestive aid as it has a healing and cleansing effect on the digestive tract.  It basically softens the stool making it easier to pass through.

Here are some helpful hints that will aid anyone who is having a problem with passing stools.

• High Fiber foods are very important to the digestive system. Don't know what is high fiber and what isn't? The rule of thumb is that if it grows in the ground (vegetable), then chances are there is fiber in it. Doctors recommend that you get at least 30 grams of fiber in your diet but in reality, you would benefit from much more...around 60 grams a day. If you aren't used to eating a lot of fiber though, you may want to ease yourself into adding a lot of fiber in your diet.
• Drink plenty of water. The more fiber you eat, the more water you will need to drink. I advise to take you weight and divide it in half. Now drink that amount in ounces.
• Pectin is also good for natural constipation relief. Apples, carrots, bananas, cabbage all citrus fruits and okra are good sources of pectin in your diet.
• Avoid mucous membrane promoting foods such as fats, spicy foods and dairy products.
• Avoid foods that are hard to digest such as soft drinks, meat, white flour, processed foods and sugar. All of these could lead to constipation.
• Prunes and figs are the most natural laxative you can take.
• Exercise will actually relieve constipation because physical activity will helop to speed waste through your intestines (found this out when I first started running).
• You can always try a colon cleanse. Although I don't recommend it personally, many have had positive results with cleansing the colon.
• Use laxatives in moderation and only if you have to. If you must use a laxative, then you will need to add acidopholus to your diet (ie. cultured yogurt). Continuously using a laxative will kill all the probiotic bacteria in your intestines and may lead to chronic constipation.