Are you having difficulty when you need to go to the toilet? You might have constipation; it’s a condition that we all eventually go through. The severity of constipation varies significantly, from mild to extreme. It could even have serious health consequences.
If you do have constipation, I’m sure that you have a lot of questions. What is it? What causes it? How do you remedy it? All these questions will be answered in this article, so read on if you wish to learn more.
What Is Constipation?
Constipation is infrequent bowel movements, causing difficulty in digesting food and processing it through the digestive tract. Constipation is defined as passing fewer than 3 stools per week. Stools that are too hard or lumpy is a common symptom.
What Causes Constipation?
Constipation is caused by food that doesn’t digest quickly enough, going too slow through the digestive tract. Anything that blocks the colon or rectum can cause constipation. This could include an anal fissure, colon cancer, rectal cancer, or even a bowel stricture.
How You Can Combat Constipation
There are several strategies that you can implement to combat constipation. Some of these include eating certain foods, while others include avoiding certain foods. You could even use an over-the-counter drug. Read on to find out more about how you can find relief.
Try Drinking Some Lemon Juice Mixed With Water
Perhaps the simplest way that you can alleviate your constipation is to drink water with lemon juice mixed in. The great thing about lemons is that they have a lot of vitamin C. Natural antioxidants like lemons hydrate you, especially your digestive tract.
The hydration of your gut will make it easier to digest foods. Your stool will soften, and your bowel will have better movement. All of this works because if you’re dehydrated, you’re more likely to be constipated. If you already have constipation, you won’t be helping it.
Your digestive tract needs to be hydrated to an optimal level for your stool to break down and soften. The ideal stool is neither too hard nor too soft. Hydration of your gut plays a large part in determining the hardness of your stool.
You need to make sure that you don’t just drink lemon juice by itself. It’s a very high citrus fruit, which can cause some problems for your teeth. Simply diluting it with enough water should do the trick.
Consume Some Olive Oil
The great thing about olive oil, apart from its well-documented health benefits, is how it can improve digestion. Olive oil works like WD-40 for your digestive tract, making it easy for foods to pass through your intestines. Constipation is all about improving the health of your gut.
All you need is a single teaspoon or two for good measure.
Use a Laxative
Another common way that people combat constipation is to use an over-the-counter drug. For instance, laxatives nz are an effective way to remedy your inconsistent bladder. OTC drugs are more potent than simple homeopathic solutions, such as drinking lemon juice.