Constipation: It’s Not That Bad, Is It? Well, if the rumours are anything to go by, Elvis would tell you that it’s bad, it’s very, very bad. Talking to a medical professional will give you a more accurate answer: sometimes it’s bad, sometimes it’s simply one of those things. Whether it’s bad or just one of those things largely depends on the cause. For example, if you didn’t feel well this weekend, and didn’t move around much, it wouldn’t be too much of a concern to be constipated. However, if you’re constipated all the time, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Here, we’re going to explore the problem of constipation. Why do people become constipated? Constipation happens because bowel movements have stopped or slower down. This can happen for a number of reasons, including: • • •
A poor diet: if you don’t eat enough fibre, it’s likely that your bowel movements will slow down. Fibre is ‘nature’s sweep’ and without it, your insides literally don’t become clean. Dehydration: as well as fibre, you need plenty of water too. Water bulks out the fibre that you have, making it smoother and easier to pass. Diarrhoea: this sounds odd, but sometimes, when you get diarrhoea, you can end up with a rebound effect where the bowels try to hold on to the food for longer than it should.
Bowel times do vary from person to person, but you should be going at least three times a week. The longer the faecal matter stays in the colon, the harder it becomes and the more difficult it is to pass.
What happens when you’re constipated for too long? If you're constipated and never pass faeces, you will need to take a laxative, Mag 07 powder, colonic irrigation, or, in extreme cases, an operation. In people that suffer from chronic constipation, there is a higher incidence of the following diseases:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Irritable bowel syndrome Haemorrhoids – from straining too hard Colon cancer Toxic accumulation
As you can see, it’s vital that you maintain a clean and healthy colon, and that you tackle problems with constipation as soon as they arrive. Around 14% of adults worldwide are constipated at any one time. That’s nearly 1 in 6 people. What can you do to prevent it and treat it? Clearly, prevention is much better than cure. If you prevent it, you don’t need to cure it, because you won’t have it. To prevent constipation make sure that you eat a diet high in fibre. Fibre should form 2/3 of your diet, and includes 1/3 from fruit and vegetables and 1/3 from breath, rice, and pasta. With the latter type of food, make sure to choose whole grain and wheat varieties, because the white versions have much less food. You can also help to prevent it by regularly supplementing with Mag 07 powder. This helps to keep your faecal matter loose and easy to pass. Do not use it all the time, but two or three times a month should suffice.