Can Beef Cause Constipation?

Just as there are foods out there that can lower your chances of constipation, there are also foods that can increase your chances. Among the prime suspects is beef. Meats such as beef, pork and lamb do not fare very well in the human digestive system. Dairy products and wheat can also cause constipation. Individuals with sensitive systems can feel sluggish and bloated after eating meat. They can also find themselves constipated shortly after eating it.

With the current crop of popular protein-rich and low-carb diets flooding the markets, there will probably be a dramatic increase in constipation cases. What is it about beef that affects so many digestive systems?

The Beef About Beef

Beef has certain identifying proteins within its chemical composition that can cause problems with the digestive system of someone who has Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In the lining of the intestines, there are millions of nerves that control the movement of the food waste. The proteins within beef have an almost narcotic effect on those nerves. The nerves fail to do their job and the waste stays where it’s at, causing constipation.

Another way that eating beef can cause constipation is when it’s not cooked properly. Some beef has parasites within it that don’t get killed when the beef is under-cooked. When you eat the under-cooked beef, the parasites are allowed entrance into your body and once there, they wreck havoc. The parasites multiply and eventually cover the lining of the intestine, making it nearly impossible for nutrients to be absorbed into the body. They can also block the alimentary canal and actually stop the food waste from leaving the body.

Beef is best eaten when it is cooked medium-rare to medium. At that stage, it can still be broken down by the acids in the stomach. When beef is cooked well-done, it is very hard for the body to break it down and digest it properly. When the beef isn’t broken down and digested, it just sits there in the digestive system, blocking everything up.

Interesting tidbit – When someone is sensitive to beef, they are almost always sensitive to milk and dairy products. The fact that the milk comes from the same place as the beef, it’s no surprise!

Does That Mean I Have To Give Up My Hamburgers?

There are ways to lower your chances of constipation that still allow you to enjoy your burgers or steaks. First and foremost, you need to make sure your beef is cooked thoroughly before eating it. Here are a few details describing what internal temperature your meats should be cooked to, to be considered safe to eat:

• Beef Hamburgers—160 degrees
• Beef, Lamb and Veal (steaks, chops and roasts)—Medium Rare-145 degrees, Medium-160 degrees

Following a well balanced diet can help deter the effects of beef on your gastrointestinal system. Increasing your fiber intake and drinking plenty of water can help to flush out many of the proteins that can cause problems before they can begin. Of course, by incorporating a routine exercise program, you can decrease the chances of becoming constipated.

When your digestive system is constipated, it can become compacted with toxins, mucous and impacted waste. This can cause your body to react in a myriad of ways including:

• Weak immune system
• Mood swings
• Bad breath and body odor
• Backaches
• Weight problems and loss of appetite

If you are suffering from constipation, there are products available that can help solve the current constipation and protect against future constipations. Products like Oxy-Powder do a magnificent job of cleansing and detoxifying the colon.

Oxy-Powder is an all-natural substitute for laxatives that can sometimes be more of a hindrance than a help. Oxy-Powder has a revolutionary formula that gently cleanses the colon over a 12-hour period, detoxifying it and leaving you feeling clean and fresh afterward. Oxy-Powder has the ability to rid the digestive tract of deep-down sludge and mucous and even promotes a healthy environment for beneficial bacteria to grow.

A clean digestive tract can actually boost your immune system. By keeping a healthy digestive tract, your body can better fight off colds, flus and other viruses. You’ll feel better and the nutrients in the foods that you eat can now be absorbed easier and more fully by the body.

The secret of Oxy-Powder is its incredible formula. It uses a combination of oxygenated magnesium, germanium and citric acid to liquefy impacted stools and allow the body to pass the toxins and deep-seated fecal matter, leaving behind a clean colon. After the initial cleanse, you can continue taking a lower dose to maintain your prime digestive environment, even while you eat beef. With Oxy-Powder, you can have your beef and eat it too!

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The Colon Cleansing & Constipation Resource Center

http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/can-beef-cause-constipation-89871.html

Constipation and High Blood Sugar

Most people experience constipation at some point in their life. They make a note to eat more fiber and expect everything to go back to normal in a day or two. Luckily, for the better percentage of those inflicted, this method works. Not so lucky are the ones who are battling something much more serious than the occasional bout of constipation.

Constipation is a condition that can be very difficult to find the originating cause. There are so many different causes, from medicines to lifestyle changes, that pin-pointing the true cause of the constipation can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

One potential cause that medical experts are looking very closely at is the relation of high blood sugar and constipation. What effect does blood sugar have on the digestive system? Are diabetics at higher risk for constipation?

As it turns out, diabetics are definitely more at risk of experiencing constipation. Nearly 60% of all diabetics also suffer from constipation. Abnormal blood sugar levels can negatively affect many of the body’s systems and functions. When blood sugar levels are elevated, the nerves in the intestines that control the length of time waste stays in the body can be seriously damaged. The nerves can’t do their job properly and food waste begins to build up in the intestines. This doesn’t happen over night, of course. This condition affects type 1 diabetics who have been using insulin for a number of years.

Another disastrous effect high blood sugar has on the gastrointestinal system is Gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is when nerves in the stomach are damaged to the point that they can no longer work properly. The stomach doesn’t know when to send the food through the digestive tract. Up to 75% of diabetics also have Gastroparesis.

How Does High Blood Sugar Damage the Nerves of the Intestine?

High blood sugar damages the actual blood vessels that carry oxygen and essential nutrients to the nerves of the stomach and intestine, or the vagus nerves. With the necessary nutrients and oxygen severely reduced, or stopped from reaching the vagus nerves, the digestive system goes into a state of shock. The food waste backs up and it can cause terrible complications.

The difference between Gastroparesis and constipation is that with Gastroparesis, food waste gets stuck in or near the stomach, and in constipation the waste builds up in the small intestine. How can one tell a difference? Here are some of the symptoms of Gastroparesis:

• Vomiting of undigested food
• Bloating and loss of appetite
• Heartburn, acid reflux and nausea
• Dehydration
• Weight loss and stomach spasms

Gastroparesis can be a chronic condition and in severe cases require surgery to remedy.

Constipation can be diagnosed in a patient exhibiting the following signs:

• No bowel movements for 3 consecutive days
• Hard stools 25% of the time during bowel movements
• Straining at 25% of bowel movements
• Have two or less bowel movements per week

Treat the Cause, not the Symptom

It’s important to understand that constipation is a symptom and not the disease. By that, I mean there must be an underlying reason for the constipation. In this case, it’s the high blood sugar level that’s causing the constipation, not the other way around. You need to treat the cause to remedy the symptom. Treat the high blood sugar and your chances of experiencing constipation will decrease.

Constipation, while very dangerous if left untreated, is usually an easy condition to get rid of. Eating a healthier diet, with more fiber and water can greatly reduce the chances of constipation. Exercise can also have a great impact on keeping a healthy digestive tract. With both conditions, the key is to control your blood sugar levels. Healthy diets, exercise and water can help keep blood sugar levels closer to a normal level, but of course diabetics may still require assistance in controlling their sugar levels.

The New England Journal of Medicine did a study of class 2 diabetics and the effects that eating a high fiber diet can have on blood sugar levels. There were 2 groups of participants. In the first group, they were instructed to follow a diet that included 24 grams of fiber per day for six weeks. The second group did the same thing, but had to have 50 grams of fiber per day. After six weeks, the two groups switched diet regimens and followed that diet for six more weeks. It was found that when both groups were on the higher fiber diet, their blood sugar levels were lowered by 10%.

If you are diabetic and you are suffering from severe constipation, it’s time to get your blood sugar tested. The longer you wait, the more serious it can become.

The Colon Cleansing & Constipation Resource Center

http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/constipation-and-high-blood-sugar-89962.html