Constipation - What You Can Do About It

By Charlie Michaels

Everyone moves their bowels, but nobody likes to talk about this fact. Despite the fact that it's such a taboo subject, moving one's bowels should be of concern to everyone. Any physician will tell you that you should move your bowels at least once a day to remain in good health depending, of course, on your intake of food.

Though most people normally experience daily bowel movement, a significant number of people have a movement only once every three to five days. These people might be experiencing constipation. Many people occasionally deal with constipation, a condition largely related to diet.

Constipation consists of several symptoms, the most essential being a person's inability to maintain regular bowel movements, which may lead to pain and bloating. In cases exceeding five days without movement, the large intestine may press against the bladder, creating the urge to urinate.

One of the functions of the large intestine is to absorb water from waste before it leaves the body. If waste remains too long in this organ, then too much water will be extracted, causing the stool to dry and harden. If this condition worsens enough, it may be very difficult for the sufferer to eliminate the waste, and he or she might need immediate medical attention.

Improper diet is the chief cause of constipation. Specifically, the condition is often the result of inadequate fiber consumption, often coupled with the over-intake of foods like bread, meat, and dairy products, which contain very little fiber.

Some popular dietary programs have been found to play a large role in bringing about constipation. Some followers of the Atkins' diet, for example, found that they could only move their bowels once or twice a week because they were eating a diet high in proteins but low in fiber and carbohydrates. While fiber is not absorbed into the body, it does help people to pass their stool.

Wheat flour, Oatmeal and whole Wheat Bread are some of the items which contain lot of fibrous tissues. In general vegetables and fruits are very good for the health and easy movement of the bowels. Especially vegetables like broccoli, lettuce and celery contain a lot of fiber and they are low on calories. Most of the fruits contain fibers only in their skin. A fruit like apple should be eaten along with the skin.

Given the inextricable link between constipation and diet, and given that fiber is so important to intestinal health, always be sure to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. If you're like so many other people who don't really care much for fruits and vegetables, try a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast. You can also get your daily requirement through eating fiber-rich bars and snacks. - 31816

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