Constipation isn’t exactly a dinner table topic of discussion, we get it. If it's something you struggle with, chances are you might be looking for a solution on how to fix constipation without the use of laxatives!
Millions of people around the world struggle with constipation every day. Today we'll share how to fix constipation without laxatives. Our approach works at the ROOT CAUSE level of constipation and address the lingering factors that often lead to the development of constipation.
If you can optimize gut flora and the mechanics of the digestive tract, you'll experience constipation relief. And because you addressed the whole constipation picture, you'll be able to prevent it from happening again and again.
WHAT'S CONSIDERED “CONSTIPATED”?
If you have less than 1 healthy bowel movement per day, then it's safe to say that you trend toward constipated.
Ideal daily bowel movements are 2-3 healthy bowel movements per day. However, just one per day passes as moderately healthy.
WHAT CAUSES CONSTIPATION
Most people develop constipation from a combination of diet, digestive enzyme insufficiency, dehydration and finally, imbalance of the gut flora.
Therefore it's essential that you address each of these factors if you want to achieve long-term relief and stop dealing with constipation.
WHY NOT USE LAXATIVES?
Laxatives can offer relief from constipation. However, they are not a long term solution. In fact, if you use laxatives too frequently, you can develop a dependency on them and also develop symptoms such as persistent bloating, gas, intestinal cramps, feeling ill, dehydration and even headaches.
Laxatives offer a symptom fix, not a long-term solution!
There are over-the-counter laxatives and there are natural laxatives. In our opinion, it's best to avoid long-term use of laxatives whether they are natural or not. his is why we wanted to share with you how to fix constipation without laxatives! Because when you adopt these steps, you can truly remodel the health of your digestive system and bowel movements.
THE FOOD EDIT TO FIX CONSTIPATION WITHOUT LAXATIVES
Dietary contributions
If you’re serious about fixing constipation, it’s a good idea to look at your dietary habits.
First, begin by accessing how much processed foods you consume each day. Processed foods like chips, pop tarts, cereals and cookies are often laden with chemical preservatives, GMO (genetically modified organisms).
Second, consider the oils you cook with. Unhealthy seed oils (canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, corn oil) cause inflammation, leaky gut syndrome and feed the “bad” bugs in the gut. Overtime, this leads to the development of constipation.
This combination creates a gut environment that can negatively impact gut motility over time and lead to chronic constipation.
THE 3 STEP PROCESS TO FIX CONSTIPATION WITHOUT LAXATIVES
Dehydration
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of chronic constipation. The food you eat makes its way from your mouth, through the stomach and then through the intestines and finally into the colon. If you don’t have enough water in your body, the large intestine will soak up whatever water is left in your food waste.
Therefore, insufficient water intake leads to dry and difficult to pass stools.
I have so many patients who have come to me for chronic constipation, only to have the issue resolved when they start to consciously drink enough water in their day.
How much water should I drink (you may be asking)?
Drink ½ your body weight in OUNCES of water, each day!
For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, you’ll want to drink 75 ounces of water each day.
The water you use in your coffee or the water in your iced tea does NOT count.
If you don’t like to drink water, then try adding 1 drop of doTERRA citrus essential oils like Grapefruit, Tangerine, Lemon, Wild Orange or Green Mandarin to enhance the taste.
If you struggle with constipation, this might sound like too simple of fix. However it’s an ingredient that cannot be ignored.
Your body will thank you!
TIP: Purchase a few mason jars that have the ounces marked out on the jar. This way you can measure how many ounces you drink per glass. I just purchased a 64 ounce water bottle from Popflex Active that I LOVE! This makes it easy for me to know if I drank my daily dose of water intake each day. Above all, having a glass or water bottle like this makes it seamless to measure out your daily intake.
Insufficient Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes help your body break down food. Poor digestive enzyme output is extremely common in the average adult since most people consume a lot of processed foods. If you’re past the age of 30 and deal with constipation, a digestive enzyme will really help.
If food isn’t properly broken down in the gut then it will sluggishly move its way through the intestinal tube. In other words, the slow moving food causes a build up of rancid and rotting food matter in the intestine. This eventually leads to inflammation, gas, bloating, and gut dysbiosis. These issues can all lend to the development of constipation symptoms.
There are a lot of digestive enzyme supplements on the market, however, we LOVE the doTERRA TerraZyme Enzyme Complex. It’s a really great blend that contains enzymes that break down various carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It’s particularly helpful for those individuals who are dairy or gluten-sensitive as it contains enzymes that break down such foods.
Imbalanced Gut Flora + Poor Intestinal Movement
This final factor is the most commonly missed element when it comes to fixing constipation without laxatives. If the gut flora has too imbalanced then you might find yourself constantly struggling with sluggish bowels.
Bad bugs that build up in the intestines, especially the colon, cause inflammation and biotoxin buildup. Over time this imbalance can lead to sluggish contractions of the intestinal wall.
In our functional medicine clinic we “kill two birds with one stone” by using Bowel Mover, by CellCore Biosciences. This herbal blend helps to naturally rebalance the flora in the lower intestines and colon. Bowel Mover also works to naturally stimulate the colon to contract as it's intended.
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We invite you to take the leap and DIY the process of fixing constipation without laxatives!
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If you are looking for a more personalized approach to your health, be sure to check out our online functional medicine clinic: www.thewellnessabode.com/clinic