Constipation - 1
Well, I’m going to tackle the “unmentionable”, because I think whilst constipation is the problem no-one talks about, there’s a lot of it around, and getting on top of it is really one of the basic keys to good health.
I have recently put together some information about dealing with constipation for my Alzheimers Carer Blog and it got me thinking how much of a problem constipation can be for many people - not just the elderly. So I’m going to adapt the slant of the information and include it here too.
If you happen to be caring for an elderly person, I really recommend you visit my posts on The Alzheimers Carer also, and get the special insights for the elderly there.
Please Understand the Following about Constipation:
Constipation is not an unavoidable result of getting older.
Constipation isn’t an unavoidable result of reduced mobility.
Constipation does not have to be treated by the ongoing use of laxatives.
Laxatives are damaging to your health and they do nothing to encourage normal functioning of the bowel. In fact, the continued use of laxatives deprives the bowel of the tone it needs to function properly. Using laxatives is simply avoiding the issue.
The only real solution is to understand what causes constipation and deal with the cause rather than trying to fix the effect. So follow the advice in this set of posts and on the CONSTIPATION Page of this blog to establish normal bowel function naturally. The benefits will be enormous. Sorry to be blunt, but your health depends on you going at least once a day.
What Causes Constipation?
Without a shadow of a doubt the most constipating things on this planet are white flour and white sugar. They are constipating firstly because they have been stripped of all the natural fibre in the foods they are derived from, and secondly because they have been stripped of all the natural elements (vitamins, minerals, enzymes etc) that might help the body to digest them effectivsly. So in both areas they are quite simply a huge tax on the digestion. That’s without even thinking of the toxic chemicals used in their production.
Now think about the average diet and ask yourself how much white flour and white sugar there is in it - breakfast cereal, bread, cakes, pastries, cookies, bars, pies, pasta, pizza, puddings, dessert, custard, ice cream, canned fruit, soft drinks - it goes on and on and on. In addition, if food manufacturers have any doubts about how appealing their product might be, they throw in some white sugar for good measure. They do this with anything and everything, even canned vegetables, spaghetti and sausages, you name it - just check the labels and you’ll see.
Per capita sugar consumption in the USA is estimated at an average of 130 pounds of sugar per person per year, or about 1/3 pound daily. Most people are totally unaware if how much sugar they consume. And of course, white sugar and white flour are staples in most kitchens. Hospital kitchens included - Oh My!
I was able to keep my elderly mother (95 years of age and with very reduced mobility) constipation-free by feeding her a healthy diet, which I will describe shortly. She went to the bathroom every day. However, she got constipated after a week on a hospital diet. Maybe it’s not surprising. The reason I am stressing this is because I know as people get older they tend to gravitate towards the “tea, toast, cookies and cakes” diet regime.
Younger People Too …
Younger people too can end up constipated through faulty diet - takeaways, sweets, soft drinks all lead down that road. When you are young, you don’t feel the effects of it so much, but believe me, if you take this seriously and set yourself up on a constipation-free path of eating, you will thank yourself for it a hundred times as you get older. Realize too that constipation could be affecting you now - like bad breath, poor skin, urinary problems - and you don’t need to be prone to constipation if you are starting a pregnancy either.
Understand a little about what your body needs to function well and take the common-sense step of feeding it properly. Get rid of the fast foods habit and you will reap rewards. Set yourself a foundation of wise feeding to help your own future.
Next post I’ll tell you how to keep constipation-free.
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