What food to eat if you have constipation?

I know you should eat and drink more water, and grains, but could you give you me some recommendation for healthy, nutritious, and high in fiber, low in sodium food or snack?

Also, how does constipation occur?

i have been constipating for about 1 week, and i am taking medication from doctor, i need a faster way to cure it, so i could be back on the track.

The best long term cure I've found is a primarily vegetarian diet, plenty of water, some probiotics, proper weight management, and lots of daily exercise.

This is kind of my "cures what ails ya" strategy. Works for just about everything. Things have been working smoothly ever since.

What causes constipation is a bit complicated. Has to do with diet and flora (bacteria) balance in the intestine….

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constipation

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

5 Ways To Fight IBS Diarrhea

 

Constipation can be a difficult IBS symptom to deal with, but so can diarrhea. People who suffer from diarrhea-predominant IBS experience frequent bowel movements of watery and/or loose stool. Other diarrhea-related symptoms include abdominal pain or discomfort, cramping, bloating, gas, nausea and dehydration.

The following are 5 treatment options for relieving IBS related diarrhea:

1 – Diet Control
Before resorting to medications or alternative remedies, you should always consider your diet first. Although diet changes may not entirely cure you from diarrhea, it may help reduce the frequency of attacks. Therefore, you should monitor your diet by keeping a food diary and recording the symptoms you feel after eating different foods to determine which ones cause diarrhea and which ones don’t.

For instance, avoiding/limiting foods high in refined, artificial or natural sugar can help alleviate diarrhea symptoms. This doesn’t only include chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and sweets. It also means foods containing fructose such as honey and a variety of fruits. Foods high in sugar can act like a laxative to your body, especially for an IBS sufferer who already has a sensitive stomach.

You should also ask your doctor to test you for lactose intolerance, as an inability to properly digest milk sugar can cause diarrhea.

2 – OTC Antidiarrheal Drugs
Over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal medications can be effective at providing diarrhea relief when used as short-term treatment. There are two types of antidiarrheal drugs.

- Stool thickeners -these contain fruit pectin and clay which absorb toxins and bacteria in the intestine to help thicken stool (I.E. Kaopectate)
- Antispasmodic – these slow spasms that occur in the intestine (I.E. Imodium).

Although, antidiarrheals are usually effective, they may not help other symptoms such as bloating or abdominal discomfort. Furthermore, prolonged use of antidiarrheals can result in dry mouth, constipation, and other symptoms.

Consult your doctor about OTC antidiarrheal meds for IBS treatment before taking anything. In addition, you shouldn’t resort to antidiarrheals until at least 24 hours after experiencing diarrhea, as you don’t want to stop your body from expelling toxins in the event your diarrhea is a result of bacteria such as food poisoning.

3 – Prescription Medications
Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants are commonly prescribed to IBS patients for abdominal pain. These meds effectively block pain signals to the brain and don’t cause diarrhea. However, they can cause other symptoms including constipation.

Another medication that may be prescribed is Lotronex. This particular drug is designed to block the effect serotonin (chemical produced by the body) has on digestive system, and in so doing, soothes the colon and slows bowl movement frequency. Lotronex has been found to be successful at alleviating IBS symptoms including diarrhea, stomach discomfort and urgency.

Note: Lotronex has only been approved for women who suffer from severe cases of diarrhea-predominant IBS ad have not responded to previous treatment methods.

4 – Alternative Therapy
Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, probiotics and herbal remedies can effectively reduce and alleviate diarrhea and its related symptoms in some IBS sufferers. Each of these methods is designed to assist the body in healing itself by providing it with stimulation (acupuncture), healthy gut bacteria (probiotics), or herbs. All work to aid in normal digestion.

If you are interested in learning about alternative treatments, talk to you health care provider first, and be sure to seek treatment from qualified practitioners.

5 – Behavioural therapy
Stress can actually trigger your IBS symptoms and make diarrhea worse, by causing your stomach to tense, leading to cramping and overall stomach upset. You can help reduce the regular stress in your life, and the stress you feel towards your IBS condition by engaging in:

- Meditation exercises (I.E. Yoga)
- Relaxation therapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Cognitive behavioural therapy

It’s also a good idea to distract yourself by taking part in regular activities you enjoy.

Rid Your Body of Toxins

 

In America, more than anywhere else in the world, people are increasingly getting affected by colon-rectal cancer. Research reveals any American in the present day who survives till the age of 40 is almost certain to have diverticulosis, popularly known as herniated bowel pockets. There are also a lot of reports of the Chrone’s Disease. Such facts are shocking and make us sit up and take notice of how things are and we are more concerned about our colon health which very often tends to get neglected.

If you think that too much of unwanted toxins have accumulated inside your colon it may be time for you to go for a colon cleanse. Excess of waste matter in your colon can cause you to feel sick and depressed. On the other hand a clean colon will make you feel healthier and happier. So if you want a better life and make the most of it then get your colon cleansed.

One of the best ways to clean your system is by drinking water. Drink as much water as possible and nothing less than 3 liters a day should do. Water is a great cleansing agent and is the primary element that will help us keep our system clean by getting rid of the toxins.

The other thing that you must do is to have plenty of fiber in your daily meal. Fiber is an important part of the balanced diet which many of us tend to overlook. It provides the roughage that helps to drive away the deposited wastes from the colon. It is in the colon where the accumulated wastes don’t get flushed out, gets impacted on the walls of the intestine and produce harmful toxins which are absorbed by the bloodstreams flowing near the colon and circulated all through the body.

If the problem of accumulation of waste products in the colon is serious it is also possible for you to go to a colon cleansing program or use colon cleansing products which are readily available these days in any drug store or health food store. You can also make your own colon cleanser by following the instructions in a colon cleansing recipe which can easily be accessed on the internet.

It is vital to rid your body of toxins, any which way possible as otherwise they can make you feel fatigued and depressed and can be the root cause of several other serious conditions.