If you are not sure what is the best way to get relief from constipation, you are not alone. You may not even be constipated when you think you are! It may be natural for you to not have a bowel movement for several days. There is a lot of variation in peoples routines in this regard. Constipation is a situation that is quite variable and you need to be aware.
Determining what kind of constipation relief to use can be confusing, and if you need fast relief, it can be even more maddening when you are not sure what to do. You may not even be constipated when you think you are! It may be natural for you to not have a bowel movement for several days. There is a lot of variation in peoples routines in this regard. Constipation is a situation that is quite variable and you need to be aware.
Infrequent bowel movements, more than 3 days apart, are cause for concern and you would be well advised to seek treatment from a professional.
Six Tactics To Get Proper Constipation Relief
1) Outdoor activities and regular exercise can help relieve constipation. By exercising you improve blood flow, reduce and maintain weight, and you tone your core muscles.
Walking instead of taking the car, even if you just park at the far end of a parking lot, is a good way to start moving.
2) Yoga, which could be considered a specialized exercise in this case, can be very effective in stimulating peristalsis and helping to relieve constipation. The practice of yoga can include bodily cleansing techniques to help with constipation and detoxification. Learning about yoga is a great way to move your body and cleanse the body of toxins as well.
3) Dietary steps you can take to help with constipation include choosing whole grain foods. Bran muffins and brown rice are two easy to add foods that can help get things moving. These foods stimulate bowel movements, and also help to soften stool.
4) Drink plenty of water. Not so much fruit juices, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. You should be drinking at least 1/2 your body weight, in ounces, of water per day. So if you weigh 210 pounds, 1/2 that is 105, you should drink 105 ounces of water per day. Instead of coffee, try drinking yerba-mate tea. These drinks do provide caffeine, plus they have other beneficial ingredients that coffee does not.
5) If you are taking prescription medication, it may be causing or contributing to your constipation. Discuss this with your doctor. You may have to compensate for taking medication with increased fluid intake, or more fiber.
6) Finally, fiber is an easy way to get help with constipation. Most people don't eat enough on a daily basis. You should be eating at least 20 grams a day. Fiber is found in many vegetables, such as beans, peas, corn and more. Fiber is also found in whole grains. It's better to get your fiber from your food, than from store-bought laxatives. Flaxseeds are a great source of fiber, and can be used in many recipes, including salads, breads, muffins, pancakes, etc.
In addition to these six ways to get help for constipation, you can also use medications and laxatives. You can make constipation worse if you use medication, or laxatives, on a regular basis. Talk it over with your doctor.
This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant as medical advice. Always consult with a physician prior to starting any kind of constipation relief program. This article is intended to provide general information, it is not the last word on the topic.
Constipation Relief FoodsRead more about help for constipation at my website. There you will find more articles about constipation relief and tips and recipes you can use to help with this terrible condition.
Allison Steele writes about various health and wellness topics. She is an expert in relief of bad breath and gastro-intestinal problems.