Constipation is where the transit time for removing toxic substances from the bowel is slow and the consistency of the stool causes strain. The longer the time the toxic material sits in the bowel the longer the time for the proteins to putrefy, the fats to become rancid and the carbohydrates to ferment. Even with one bowel movement per day there can still be three meals worth of waste matter sitting in the bowel. Using laxatives, purgatives and enemas is no solution. Many people use products such as laxatives or purgatives when they think they need a 'good clean out' and they have come to think of these as cleansing their colon. Using laxatives, purgatives or enemas are, at best, a short term measures - that can themselves cause harm. Overcoming constipation requires a long term solution - one that improves the digestion of food in the small intestines and ensures efficient movement of material through the large intestines or colon.
There are many things that can cause a change in the movement of material through the colon. Some of these factors can cause short term changes to the movement as they upset the regular rhythm of the colon. Some of these factors include:
Travel - international travel and jet lag can cause amazing changes in bowel habits and it can take weeks for our colon to get back into the swing of thing.
Time - a hectic lifestyle can cause havoc on the rhythm of our bowels in two ways:
It can cause stress and tension in some of the muscles of the body including the muscles that control the motility of our colon.
It causes us to 'rush through' a bowel motion instead of taking our time about it.
Changes to routine - this can involve changes to all sorts of things including our sleep habits, the time we get up, our work hours, change to our regular work duties or changes to our exercise routine. Changes can affect our rhythm.
The place - has your access to a toilet in some way being affected, is it as easy to get to as it used to be, is it as private as you would like? All of these can influence our bowel habits and possibly lead to constipation.
Each of these and many more can lead to short term and in some cases long term problems with constipation. Factors that influence the rhythms of our colon need to be considered. Measures need to be taken to deal with these influences so that constipation doesn't become a problem that can lead to toxic build up in the body. This toxic build up is responsible for many serious health problems.
There are many other factors that also need to be considered if you have a problem with constipation. These areas are associated with problems with the digestion of food and the movement of waste product through the colon. By the time the food has reached the colon the body has absorbed most of the nutrients that it can from the material. What remains is:
Water and electrolytes such as sodium and chloride
Plant fiber that is indigestible
By-products of normal digestion - for example protein contains nitrogen that is converted to ammonia and urea
Dead cells shed from the lining of the digestive tract
Massive bacterial population
Each of these components plays a role in making sure that the material passes through the colon effectively. If there is an imbalance in any of these areas then we have a situation in which constipation could develop. For example:
If we have insufficient fluid (that is we are not drinking enough water) we will absorb more water from the material in our colons - thus making the stools dryer and harder to pass.
If we don't have enough plant fiber there will be reduced bulk in the material to be removed from the colon - making small stools that are difficult to pass. The fiber also provides food for the beneficial micro-organisms that are in our bowels. Fiber has the capacity to absorb and hold water. This means that instead of drying out and becoming hard and difficult to pass the material in our colon remains relatively wet, bulky and soft. As well as this the bulk places gentle pressure on the colon wall and this stimulates it into further appropriate action - moving the stool along towards the exit.
If we have insufficient beneficial bacterial in our colons we loose many of the functions that they provide our bodies including encouraging the movement of the colon so that the material can pass through and this be eliminated.
There are several areas that need to be considered when working to overcome constipation - these include:
The amount of fiber in your diet - whether you are constipated or not most people need to increase the level of fiber in their diet - primarily through increasing the level of vegetable intake.
The amount of pure water that you drink - some people, particularly women who have bladder problems have a problem tend to cut down on what they are drinking. This is not only bad for the bladder it is also bad for the bowel. It is important to increase your fluids - but not alcohol and caffeine as they lead to more fluid loss and are sometimes the underlying cause for constipation.
The amount of exercise that you get. Exercise has a very positive and direct effect on peristalsis, particularly after eating.
These factors and more are important areas to consider in relation to constipation. Being constipated means that waste material from the digestive process and from what we take in stays in the body longer than it should. This waste material can have a toxic effect on the bowel and indeed the rest of the body. It is important for general health and wellbeing that we 'get things moving' and effectively eliminate the toxic material. This means that we need a clean colon that can carry out its functions effectively. However there is more to having a clean colon than just dealing with constipation. Dealing with constipation is an important but it is only one part of the process of cleansing the colon.
Discover how you can have a clean and effectively functioning colon, be rid of constipation and gain and maintain your health. Get your copy of Safe Colon Cleansing: Your Good Health Guide and begin now. Then get on with really enjoying life.
ConstipationDr Jenny Tylee is an experienced health professional who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes that health is not just absence of disease and seeks to actively promote vitality and wellness through empowering others. She encourages people to improve their health by quit smoking, cleansing their body, taking essential vitamin and mineral supplement and many other methods, including herbal remedies.