Author: BalanceGenics Anti-aging Research Team (How100.com)
Constipation is so common! For some, it's just a minor inconvenience, but for others, it's a daily torment. Every bathroom trip feels like a scene from a horror movie.
Folk remedies abound, like eating bananas or drinking honey water to prevent constipation, but for some people, these tricks don’t work at all!
Why is that? What are the risks of chronic constipation, and how can we effectively prevent it? Stick around for ten tips at the end!
- What Exactly Is Constipation?
Many people think that as long as they struggle to go to the bathroom, they’re constipated. Not necessarily!
Constipation is a condition characterized by infrequent, difficult, or painful bowel movements. It is generally defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. When a person is constipated, the stools are often hard, dry, and difficult to pass, which can lead to discomfort and straining during bowel movements.
The normal frequency of bowel movements can vary widely from person to person, ranging from three times a day to three times a week. However, when bowel movements become less frequent than usual and are accompanied by hard, dry stools, it is typically considered constipation. This condition affects about 4 million people in the United States and is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, leading to approximately 2.5 million doctor visits annually.
If this goes on for more than six months, it’s classified as chronic constipation.
If you occasionally have a tough day in the bathroom but are back to normal the next day, it’s not constipation. No need to worry; it’s probably related to diet or exercise.
- The Horrors of Chronic Constipation
Constipation can be genuinely painful, especially for those already dealing with hemorrhoids. Every trip to the bathroom requires a pep talk!
- Psychological Distress: Long-term constipation can lead to depression, irritability, and anxiety.
- Physical Discomfort: It causes bloating, nausea, and loss of appetite.
- Oral Issues: Bad breath, dry mouth, and mouth sores.
- For Women: It can trigger dysmenorrhea.
- Anal Problems: It can cause anal fissures and hemorrhoids.
- Cardiovascular Risks: Straining increases abdominal pressure, reducing venous return to the heart and increasing intracranial pressure, potentially causing arrhythmias or strokes, which can be life-threatening.
- Serious Diseases: Chronic constipation can lead to colorectal cancer, liver disease, and breast disease.
- Skin Issues: It affects skin health, accelerating aging and causing acne.
- Dementia Risk: It may increase the risk of Alzheimer's.
- Intestinal Obstruction: Especially in the elderly, due to the accumulation of feces forming fecal stones, leading to intestinal blockage.
- Causes of Constipation
Constipation can be caused by a variety of factors, with dietary habits being a significant contributor. A low fiber diet, particularly one high in meat, milk, or cheese, can lead to constipation. Fiber is essential for adding bulk to stool and facilitating its passage through the intestines.
Dehydration is another common cause of constipation. When the body lacks sufficient water, the colon absorbs more water from the food waste, resulting in hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass.
Lack of exercise can also contribute to constipation. Physical activity helps stimulate intestinal function, and a sedentary lifestyle can slow down the digestive process, making it harder for stool to move through the colon.
Changes in routine, such as traveling, altering eating habits, or changing sleep patterns, can disrupt the regularity of bowel movements. These changes can affect the body's internal clock and digestive rhythm, leading to constipation.
High dairy consumption, particularly of milk and cheese, can also cause constipation. These foods can be difficult to digest and may slow down the digestive process, leading to harder stools.
- Common Myths About Relieving Constipation
Eating Bananas: Not Always a Solution
Many turn to bananas, believing their fiber will help. But if you choose the wrong type of banana, you could end up more constipated! Unripe bananas contain tannins that have a constipating effect. Stick to ripe bananas with black spots and a slightly soft texture.
For fiber, other fruits are better:
- Korla Pears: 6.7g/100g
- Guava: 5.9g/100g
- Mulberries: 4.1g/100g
- Plantains: 3.1g/100g
- Kiwifruit: 2.6g/100g
- Blueberries: 2.4g/100g
- Dragon Fruit: 1.6g/100g
Honey Water: It Might Not Work for Everyone
If honey water helps you go, you might have fructose intolerance. Honey’s high fructose content can draw water into the intestines, increasing stool volume and causing diarrhea for some.
Honey is mostly sugar (75.6%) and water (22%), with minimal nutritional benefits but lots of calories. Ten grams of honey contain eight grams of sugar and 321kcal per 100g, which can contribute to weight gain.
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- How to Prevent Constipation
To prevent constipation, try these ten tips:
- Regular Routine: Avoid late nights; they increase constipation and obesity risk. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep.
- Regular Bowel Movements: Visit the toilet every morning, even if you don’t feel the urge. This habit can help train your body.
- Focus on the Task: Avoid distractions like phones or books. Concentrate on the task at hand.
- Eat Whole Grains: Mix whole grains with refined grains. Whole grains stimulate the intestines better.
- Eat More Fruits and Vegetables: Aim for 300-500g of vegetables daily and 200-350g of fruit.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink 1500-2000ml of water daily. Fiber needs water to help with bowel movements.
- Don’t Diet: Eating too little reduces stool bulk and can lead to constipation.
- Exercise: Activities like jogging, walking, tai chi, and abdominal exercises can promote intestinal motility.
- Avoid Overusing Medications: Especially those related to constipation.
- Control Your Weight: Obesity is linked to a higher risk of constipation and colorectal cancer. Aim for a BMI between 18.5 and 23.9.
Summary
Constipation can be harmful and even life-threatening. Don’t rely on random remedies; instead, prevent it through a balanced diet, adequate supplements and healthy lifestyle changes!
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References:
- Scott, S.M., et al. (2021). Chronic constipation in adults: Contemporary perspectives and clinical challenges. 1: Epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical associations, pathophysiology and investigation. Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 33, e14050.
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- Wald, A., Hinds, J.P., & Caruana, B.J. (1989). Psychological and physiological characteristics of patients with severe idiopathic constipation. Gastroenterology, 97, 932–937.
- Dupont, G., et al. (2020). Anatomy, physiology, and updates on the clinical management of constipation. Clinical Anatomy, 33, 1181–1186.
- Werth, B.L., Williams, K.A., Fisher, M.J., & Pont, L.G. (2019). Defining constipation to estimate its prevalence in the community: Results from a national survey. BMC Gastroenterology, 19, 75.
- Gliav, A., & Lindberg, G. (1997). Quality of life in patients with different types of functional constipation. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 32, 1083–1089.