Constipation: What Is It? How to Avoid It? And How to Manage It?

Constipation is a problem that happens with modern diets. The body is a temperamental organ, and it’s important to treat it well, and in a way with which it is accustomed. This means eating foods that our ancestors ate, rather than filling up on junk food.

Constipation: What Is It?

Constipation can be chronic, or acute. With chronic constipation, it means that it is long lasting, while acute constipation happens every now and again. Both types of constipation can be very painful; however, chronic constipation can be much more dangerous.

However, this doesn’t quite tell us what it is. Constipation is simply compacted faecal matter that the body is unable to pass properly. Waste becomes stuck in the colon and the rectum. There are several different causes of constipation, but generally, it is caused by the colon absorbing too much water from our food, leaving hard and compact stools.

What Causes Constipation?

There are many different causes of constipation. However, all of them pretty much have the effect of creating the conditions whereby too much water is removed from our food (although, at this stage in digestion it is no longer food) in the colon. There is another reason that people become constipated, and that’s because of a blockage somewhere in the digestive tract. This latter type of constipation can be serious, and may require surgery to remove the blockage.

Let’s take a look at some of the commonest causes of constipation: 

1.A diet low in soluble and insoluble fibre: When you think of fibre, think of it as nature’s natural broom, that literally sweeps waste through the digestive tract. Without adequate levels of fibre, your food stays in your small and large intestines longer than it should, and the whole time it’s there, the intestines are squeezing it dry.

2.Lack of exercise: exercise increases your metabolic rate. The metabolic rate is the speed at which the body carries out its various functions. If it’s too slow, food stays in the digestive system for too long, and again, the colon squeezes out too much water.

3.Holding it in: you should go to the toilet when you need to go. If you hold it in too long then again, you create the condition whereby the colon extracts too much water – your colon doesn’t know when to stop doing this, it’s an automatic process.

4.Medicines: there are several types of medication that can cause constipation. This is more common with certain types of painkiller, especially paracetamol.

How Do You Deal With Constipation?

By following a healthy diet and taking enough exercise, you can avoid constipation, but what happens if you are constipated? Well, you will need to take constipation remedies. There are a number of different options, and your choice depends of the cause and severity of the problem, as well as your personal preferences.

Constipation remedies: 

•Prune juice will work well for mild constipation, especially that caused by poor eating habits.

•For constipation that’s a little more severe, then an over-the-counter laxative should help.

•For more severe types of constipation, it is best to see a doctor.

What are the Pros and Cons of Colon Cleansing?

If you’re reading this article, then you are probably considering a colon cleanse. You will also doubt whether it is effective or not; you may also wonder if, in certain circumstances, it can be dangerous. Well, you’ve come to the right place, because this is the topic of this particular article. If you’re wondering whether to have your colon cleansed, then the information below will help you to make your mind up.

Medical Recommendations

The first thing that we want to tell you is that colon cleansing is sometimes recommended by doctors. Your doctor may advise you that you require a colon cleanse. The medical profession understands precisely the risks and benefits, and in many instances, the benefits far outweigh the risks. This should help you to put your mind – somewhat – at ease. However, there are some instances in which a colon cleanse can lead to problems, so it is important that you read on in order to establish your own particular risk of problems.

The Potential Risks of Colon Cleansing

There are several risks inherent with colon cleansing. Some of these relate to the issue in general, while others relate to the particular method of colon cleansing. We’ll provide you with a brief explanation alongside the potential problems listed:

1.Dehydration: colon cleansing introduces water to the bowels. This is true of laxatives, colonic irrigation, and drinking prune juice. The way in which they introduce water varies – for instance, colonic irrigation literally uses water to flush the system, while laxatives make it so the bowels allow in greater volumes of water. Regardless, they can all cause a rebound effect whereby the bowels work to eliminate excess water. This can lead to a cycle of becoming constipated, getting a colon cleanse, and then becoming constipated again. If this happens, you have to stop the cycle for a while and put up with painful stools.

2.Bowel perforations: this only happens with invasive colon cleansing, such as colonic irrigation. It can happen to anyone, but is more likely in people who have chronic constipation (i.e. long-term constipation). To avoid this, the best colon cleanse is laxatives.

3.Increased rates of infection: again, this is caused by invasive procedures, so again, be wary of colonic irrigation. We don’t want to put you off the procedure entirely, but it is a concern that you must think about –however, the risk of infection, and bowel perforation, is very small. Always use a reputable practitioner.

The Advantages of Colon Cleansing

As we mentioned, colon cleansers are recommended by the medical profession for certain conditions. There are many advantages of using a colon cleanse, and these include:

1.The elimination of waste from the system (e.g. constipation and compacted faecal matter, which can slow the rate at which you absorb nutrients)

2.Keeps your bowel movements regular

3.Increases energy levels (by ensuring that the body absorbs sufficient nutrients, while ensuring that the bowels work efficiently, thereby reducing the amount of energy that they use to process food, and consequently freeing this energy to deal with other bodily processes)

4.Improves weight loss

5.Decreases your risk of developing certain cancers

6.Improves the general sense of well-being

Understanding the Importance of Good Colonic Health

Your colon is an essential organ in your lower digestive tract. It plays a very important role. However, we here very little about colon health and this can lead to problems because people don’t understand how to look after it properly. Here, we’re going to introduce you to the importance of colon health.

What Does the Colon Do?

Before you start to improve colonic health, it’s important that you understand the role of the colon in the body. We’ve provided this quick guide to help you develop a better understanding of its role in the human body:

•The colon is also called the large intestine.
•It is an organ that works within the digestive tract. In other words, it is directly related to the way in which the body processes food.
•Before food reaches the colon it is processed by other organs (including the small bowel and the stomach), where it is broken down into smaller and smaller food particles.
•The small bowel (just before the colon) absorbs the vast majority of nutrients, leaving behind a liquefied by product.
•Within this liquid remainsome particles of food as well as water. The colon is responsible for breaking down the last bits of food and reabsorbing the water back into the body.
•Once it has broken down the remaining food into useable nutrients and vitamins, it then continues squeezing water out of the liquefied sludge until it creates a compacted material made from all the things that the body cannot absorb.
•Finally, it moves this waste to the rectum, which will pass the waste once it has accumulated to sufficient levels.

Why is it Important to Have a Healthy Colon?

When the colon is sluggish or not working correctly, it can cause a number of problems. First, your body will become inefficient at absorbing certain types of minerals and nutrients (those that can’t be digested by the small colon). This means your body doesn’t get the things it needs to stay healthy and function properly. This can have an effect on all your other bodily functions.

Next, a sluggish colon can remove too much water from our food. When this happens, it starts to over-compact waste products, which in turn leads to constipation. Constipation at its worst can be very painful and dangerous. It will lead to an increase in toxins, trapped gas (very painful sometimes) and bloating.

How Can You Keep Your Colon Healthy

It is important to take a preventative approach to colon health. Eating a healthy and varied diet – with plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, and soluble and insoluble fibres – acts as a natural colon cleanse. It keeps the system running in an optimal condition. It helps to keep the body hydrated, as well as providing the body with the correct nutrients and vitamins.

If you have to adapt a cure approach, then a colon cleanse can help. There are many different types of colon cleansers available. Some, such as colonic irrigation, are invasive. Others, such as Oxy Powder, are taken as a supplement.

How Do We Benefit from Detox?

The 21st century is probably the healthiest century so far. This may come as a surprise to you given the large number of people that appear to be living unhealthy lifestyles. Morbid obesity, for instance, is said to be on the rise. However, such trends only show part of the picture, because all though it’s rising, the rate at which it rises is slowing. This is because governments across the world are pushing healthy living as a key feature of their agendas; and people are starting to listen. One of the biggest health crazes of modern life is the detox. But what can you expect to benefit from undertaking detox? This is the subject of this article, so read on to find out.

Energy

Who doesn’t need more energy in modern life? We’re so busy, it never stops. Many of us complain about lethargy and a lack of motivation. Sometimes this is due to life events, but for the most part, it’s a function of an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise. Detox can help to address the imbalance, and to rid the body of toxins. Oxy Powder, for instance, introduces oxygen into the system, which helps to oxygenate and reenergise the body. A detox will help to eradicate free radicals. Free radicals can cause widespread problems, and are implicated in certain cancers.

Elimination

Sometimes toxins build up because our bodies lack the efficiency to eliminate waste routinely. When the by-products of food stay in the body too long, they can start to ferment and cause the release of certain chemicals. Such a situation can also promote the growth of bad bacteria, which can cause a wealth of problems including infections, bad breath and overgrowth of candida. A detox will help to flush excess waste out of the body, thereby making the body more efficient.

Weight Loss

Detoxing can actually help you to lose weight. It does this in a number of ways. First, you have more energy, and the more energy you have, the more likely you are to move around and be active. Second, because detox helps to eliminate waste, it makes your digestive system more efficient. This has a number of benefits including:

1.There is less time for fats to be absorbed by your body.
2.Your body is getting the right nutrients, and so it is less hungry.
3.You eliminate waste faster, so it doesn’t accumulate in the body. If it does accumulate, this can lead to bloating, which when severe enough, can add a dress size.

Healthy Immune System

There are many ways that detoxification can boost the immune system. Firstly, detox supplements, such as Oxy Powder, will remove toxins from the body. This makes the body more efficient as it can spend energy fighting off infection instead of wasting its resources on the elimination of toxins that you have put there by eating badly. Next, it provides your body with the nutrients needed to stay healthy.