CONSTIPATION: speak out you're not alone

CONSTIPATION: speak out you're not alone

By the Spear Doctor

Constipation is a condition where your bowel movements are tough and they happen less often than normal. The most common symptoms of constipation include swollen belly or a belly pain, throwing up, hard or small stools, air sensation that everything didn’t come out and few bowel movements. Some causes of constipation include changes in your usual diet, eating a lot of dairy products, not being active, not consuming enough water or fiber, overuse of laxatives or problems with the nerves and muscles in the digestive system.

Unfortunately many people who suffer from constipation feel ashamed to speak out and seek for remedies, thinking that its a disease of shame.

According to Dr. Simran Saini, a Delihi-based nutritionist, “High fiberboard foods like green leafy vegetables, fruits, salad, flour of wheat bran aand barley help in curbing constipation. High content of water intake and consumption of various herbs like ajwain with water, triphala and amla also play a vital role in curing constipation.”

Here are seven amazing foods that she suggests can help clean your stomach and treat constipation.

1. Berries

Berries are rich in fiber. According to the USDA, raspberries provide 8 grams of fiber in one cup. Fiber increases the bulk of your stool and helps the food to move smoothly through your digestive system. You can eat berries by topping your oatmeal for breakfast or even with a bowl of yogurtwhich has a soothing effect on your stomach.

2. Oranges

Oranges have a huge content of stool-softening Vitamin C, fibers to increase the bulk in your stool, and naringenin, a flavonoid that researchers found can work like a laxative. You can pack an orange as a portable snack or add orange segments to your salad.

3. Almonds

Almonds are rich in heart-healthy fats, protein and fibers. The high magnesium content gets our intestines to work. It neutralizes the stomach acid and moves the stool through intestines. They too act as a perfect portable snack and you can also add it to your breakfast smoothie.

4. Wheat bran

Studies have shown that wheat bran can relieve constipation and improve digestion. The outer layer of the wheat kernel comprises of a lot of fiber force. You can sprinkle it over your oatmeal, whip up a batch of bran muffins, or eat a bowl of all-bran cereal.

wheat bran

Wheat bran can relieve constipation and improve digestion

5. Leafy and green vegetables

Green vegetables like spinach and even seasonal gourds are packed with nutrients including fiber, magnesium to help the colon contract, and potassium, which helps regulate fluid balance and muscle contractions

6. Bananas

The high fiber content in bananas can help normalize the effects of constipation. They can help you push out the waste better by making stools easier to pass.

It is important to stay hydrated at all times to cure constipation and keep things moving in your stomach. Without enough water in the body the stool won’t soften or move smoothly through the digestive tract. Dehydration is the most common cause of constipation. You can add lemon or cucumber slices for extra flavor and refreshment.