Constipation and natural treatment
Constipation refers to unduly infrequent or irregular bowel movements, with difficulty, and sometimes pain on passing dry hard faeces. It is usually harmless but may be an indication of an underlying disorder. Many people only have one bowel movement each day and sometimes even less than this. The ideal should be 2 or 3 bowel movements each day which approximates to a bowel movement for each meal consumed.

There are many severe health problems connected with periods of lengthy constipation. Studies have now shown that cancer of the intestinal tract and poor absorption of nutrients can stem from periods of constipation.

One of the main causes of constipation is diet. While there are many other contributing factors like immobility, haemorrhoids, an anal fissure, hypothyroidism or hormonal changes like those in pregnancy, diet does play a large role in constipation. Most commonly it is a diet lacking in fibre.

The sad fact is that most people would not need laxatives if they ate right. Unfortunately, artificial laxatives can contain harmful chemicals which could have side-effects over time.

Eating incorrectly can have long-term effects. One may not notice it when younger, but over a few years too many meats, fats and dairy products will result in constipation.

The modern diet too often consists of fast food, high processed foods and the fresh fruit and vegetables fall away, to your detriment. Continual constipation does require a change in life style. Every whole grain item and every fibre-rich fruit and vegetable helps prevent and relieve constipation.

Foods that have special recognition as laxatives include almonds, apricots (dried), avocados, chicory, coconut, dandelion (yes get out in your garden and eat those dandelion leaves, so long as they have no chemicals on them!), dates, endive, figs, flaxseed, grapes, mango's, olive, papayas, parsley, persimmons, pineapple, prunes, rhubarb, soybeans, turnips, walnuts, watercress.

Include a combination of these in your diet as fresh salads, soups or snacks. Increase your intake of the above and if still constipated, increase again and lessen your intake of meat, dairy and high processed food.

Lack of water in your system is a large contributing factor to constipation. Water is essential to many bodily actions and elimination of waste is very high on the list. NOT tea, coffee or soft drink, but pure WATER. Add some lemon or fresh fruit juice for flavour if needed, but drink water!

Juicing is a fantastic way of getting essential foods in a fast acting and refreshing way. A variety of delicious juices can be made if you have a juicing machine, alternatively fresh juices can be purchased. Avoid those made from concentrate and try to always buy organic juices. Prune juice is top of the list as a laxative, but apple-pear, asparagus and potato are also good.

Psyllium husks, the tiny seeds of the plantain, contain a fibre called mucilage. Mucilage absorbs a great deal of fluid in the gut, the seeds swell and add bulk to the stool. The bulk presses on the walls of the colon, inducing the muscles to contract and the stool is passed. It is very important to drink at least eight full glasses of water a day, or the digestive track will become blocked and uncomfortable. Psyllium also removes the sticky mucus and toxins from the bowel. They reduce acidity and increase urine flow.