Anyone who has experienced such a thing as constipation is well acquainted with painful and unpleasant sensations. Many in this case are habitually drawn to the first-aid kit for laxatives. But in most cases, the reason is a violation of the diet or an unbalanced diet. If this phenomenon is not associated with anomalies in the structure of the intestine or the presence of tumors, then a change in diet will bring long-awaited relief. In particular, laxative products should be included in the menu.
Constipation is usually associated with the absence of bowel movement for more than 48 hours. But this is not entirely correct. A person may have stool every day. But at the same time, the stool is dense, and its promotion gives a person great discomfort. Usually the cause is malnutrition. Any gastrointestinal disease can also exacerbate constipation.
In this case, the products of decay enter the bloodstream and begin to poison the body. This can manifest as skin rashes and headaches. A person himself cannot connect cause and effect, therefore it is important to consult a specialist.
Individual choice
Any treatment should begin with a visit to a doctor. A phenomenon such as constipation does not occur by itself. This is a consequence of various violations.
- Often the reason is a poor diet based on sources of carbohydrates (bread, pasta) and protein (meat, egg). In this case, you just need to increase the number of vegetables. This will help normalize the condition.
- But there is a downside. If the intestinal motor function is impaired, bran, cabbage and sources of coarse fiber will cause bloating and severe pain. Jamming a food coma will contribute to the development of burping and other unpleasant effects.
Therapeutic diet
In order to normalize the discharge of feces, various laxatives are used. It can be either special preparations or products that have similar properties. They act approximately the same:
- form soft feces;
- dilute intestinal contents;
- moisturize the intestinal wall to provide easy passage of feces;
- improve intestinal motility.
Laxative products provide all this no worse than medicines, which also have side effects. Of course, changing eating habits, you can not expect an instant result. The body will need time to establish the intestines. Moreover, all products that facilitate the act of defecation can be divided into four groups. Let's get to know each of them individually.
Coarse fiber sources
These are the most useful laxative products, vegetables and fruits. That is, everything that is not only useful, but also very tasty. The gifts of gardens are rich in fiber, which the body cannot use. The fibers pass like a brush through the intestines, dragging stool, toxins and toxins along with them.
Herbal laxatives are an excellent source of fiber. It swells a lot from water and strains the intestinal wall. This softens the food masses and contributes to their normal promotion and excretion.
But this category of products has certain contraindications. Do not use them in large quantities with spastic constipation, which is characterized by the presence of intensely contracting intestinal participants. That is why laxative products for constipation should be selected individually.
Bowel cleansing
Of course, the accumulated feces cause discomfort and pain. Therefore, the question addressed to doctors about which laxative products will help alleviate the condition is understandable. There are products that help cleanse the intestines. These are primarily pectin sources. That is, root crops and melons, dried fruits and sweet fruits.
Pectin in this case acts as an enterosorbent. It helps to get rid of toxins and is a source of nutrition for intestinal bacteria. Due to this, the growth of beneficial microflora occurs.
But these laxative products, despite the obvious benefits, also have contraindications. In particular, they should not be abused in diabetes.
Intestinal Stimulating Products
This is a complex body, which is entrusted with a number of critical tasks. This is digestion, absorption of nutrients and removal of decay products from the body. There are a number of factors that affect its activities not in the best way. A rational diet helps to optimize its work. In particular, laxative products work great. For the intestines, this is both an aid and a source of nutrients.
This large group includes citrus and dairy products. All of them contain a large amount of organic acids, and therefore irritate the mucous membranes and stimulate the production of intestinal juice. Therefore, kefir is so actively recommended for any gastrointestinal diseases. And again a fly in the ointment. If there is a history of problems with the digestive tract, then products from this group must be taken very carefully. Again, everything is very individual. A non-greasy, one-day yogurt can be considered rather the recommended drink. But lemons and pineapples should in some cases be excluded.
Food lollipop softening products
These are primarily vegetable oils, which have a softening effect. Everyone knows the recommendation to drink sunflower oil for constipation. Products with a laxative effect from this group reduce water absorption. This does not lead to dehydration, but only promotes bowel movement.
For optimal nutrition, you need to include products from each category in the diet. This is the only way to finally get rid of digestive problems. And of course, you need to drink more clean water. I would also like to highlight a number of products that are traditionally used for constipation. Let's look at their effects on the body.
Pumpkin
Calling products with laxative properties, one should not forget about this culture. It is difficult to imagine the fruits more useful. The pulp contains fiber and pectin, minerals. All of them in combination have a beneficial effect on the digestive tract.
Regular consumption of pumpkin helps to heal the mucous membrane and improves intestinal motility, neutralizes toxins and cleanses the digestive tract. Pumpkin can be consumed in any form: boiled or baked. Eating pumpkin daily helps to forget about problems with bowel movements within a couple of days.
Beet
Probably no one will be much surprised at the recommendation to use this laxative product for constipation. In adults, often defecation disorders are associated with poor nutrition: a sandwich is here, candy is there, and then cutlets with bread before bedtime. Beets contain a large amount of fiber and make up for its lack. In addition, it contains many vitamins and minerals.
Every day it is recommended to cook 200 g of beetroot salad. If you suffer from flatulence, it is recommended that you first boil the vegetable. Season it with vegetable oil and eat it for breakfast. Remember that in order to perform its immediate functions of filling the intestines and promoting the food coma, fiber needs a lot of water. If there is a lack of fluid in the body, then beets in and of themselves lead to the development of constipation. Fiber draws out the remaining moisture, and the food lump cannot pass through the intestines quickly and painlessly.
Treat and medicine
If there are problems with constipation, then you need to abandon sweets and cookies. And tea is best drunk with prunes. Due to the unique composition of plums, they gently stimulate motility, remove toxins and create the conditions for the growth of our own beneficial microflora. Every morning it is recommended to eat a small handful of prunes.
What other intestinal laxatives are there? An adult is recommended a balanced diet, which means that restricting the range of products is not recommended. Very useful for intestines and banana. Tasty and nutritious, it is able to establish the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, and in particular its excretory function. It is enough for an adult to eat one fruit a day. Preferably in the morning.
What you need to know
Our helpers are listed above. You need to have them regularly on the table so that you do not have constipation. They work great for both prevention and treatment of existing problems. But there is another category of products. They weaken the activity of the intestines and provoke constipation. These are meat and meatballs, sausage and eggs. As well as all sources of large amounts of fat, pasta and white bread, butter and cottage cheese, polished rice.
Doctors do not recommend strong tea and chocolate, nuts and pomegranates. The boiling broth and jelly have a fixing effect. Of course, it is not necessary to completely abandon them. It is enough to reduce the amount and dilute with the products listed above. This way you optimize your diet.
What to offer the child
If an adult understands well the benefits of fruits and vegetables, then it can be difficult to persuade a child to eat a particular product. In this case, a uniform diet leads to the fact that the child develops constipation. This negatively affects the condition of the baby and requires correction. To improve motility and soften feces, children are advised to include figs and prunes, apples and gooseberries every day in the diet.
A small amount of olive and other vegetable oils should be added to cereals and vegetable purees. In the most difficult cases, it is recommended to give the child products that irritate the intestines. These are buckthorn, aloe and rhubarb. Also take care of the intestinal microflora. For this, it is important to eat probiotic foods.
Instead of a conclusion
If in parallel with constipation you feel severe discomfort, nausea and abdominal pain, then you should not expect the effect of laxative products. See your doctor right away. Bowel problems can only be the tip of the iceberg. The examination will accurately determine the cause of what is happening and eliminate it. If this was done, then constipation can pass by itself. Otherwise, you need to adjust your diet. Here laxative products will help. They act effectively, but carefully and have no contraindications. Therefore, they can and should be eaten every day, without fear of addiction or side effects.