Bowel function may fail at any age. And in the modern world this is happening more often. Improper nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, uncontrolled use of drugs and an abundance of stressful situations lead to digestion and stool. Incorrect bowel function, which is manifested in an accumulation of gas, diarrhea or constipation, is not only unpleasant and disrupts a person’s usual way of life. This condition is very dangerous for health, since immunity, assimilation of nutrients, hormonal levels and the content of useful trace elements in the blood depend on the work of the intestine. Therefore, everyone should know how to normalize the stool in case of any malfunction.
Causes of bowel dysfunction
Why do intestinal disorders work? There are several reasons for this:
- poor or stale food;
- the use of poorly purified water;
- semi-finished and fast food meals;
- the use of only thermally processed food;
- reproduction of pathogenic microflora in the intestine;
- prolonged use of drugs, especially antibiotics;
- parasitic diseases;
- lack of water - many people don’t drink it at all, replacing it with juices, tea and soda;
- nervous and mental strain.
Features of intestinal microflora
In order for the body to receive all the necessary nutrients from food, it must be properly digested and assimilated. For this, in addition to digestive juice, various enzymes are used. Most of them are produced with the participation of beneficial bacteria, which are natural inhabitants of the intestine. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli perform many useful functions: they produce useful vitamins, strengthen immunity, cleanse the intestines of toxins, and prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. They produce antibacterial substances, neutralize toxins and harmful bacteria.
For the intestines to work correctly, you need to know how to restore the microflora. To do this, it is recommended to clean the digestive tract twice a year from accumulated toxins, toxins and feces. This is best done with vegetable salads, juices or dried fruits. The work of all organs, strong immunity and normal stool depend on the normal intestinal microflora. And violations happen for various reasons. It is especially often necessary to figure out how to normalize stool after antibiotics, since these drugs most disrupt the composition of the intestinal microflora.
Constipation in adults and children
The most common consequence of a failure in the digestive system and disturbance of the intestinal microflora is constipation. Some people do not attach much importance to this, but rare stools can be very dangerous. It leads to a deterioration in the absorption of nutrients, to a lack of vitamins in the body, causes inflammatory processes in the intestines and can even cause the development of a cancerous tumor. Who often has constipation?
- Especially often stool disorder occurs in the elderly. In the intestines, they accumulate feces, which impede the movement of food and contribute to the propagation of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, lack of movement weakens the muscles of the intestine, impairing its function. Metabolism also slows down. All this leads to constipation, which is difficult to cope without drugs.
- Frequent constipation occurs in pregnant women. Due to the increased volume of the uterus, blood circulation in the intestine is disturbed. Peristalsis is also reduced in order to prevent muscle contraction and prevent the loss of a child. Especially often the question arises, how to normalize the stool after cesarean section or after normal childbirth. After all, weakened muscles and sutures interfere with normal bowel movement.
- In children, constipation is less common and mainly for functional reasons. For example, due to developmental pathologies, endocrine diseases, allergies, or iron deficiency anemia. Constipation can occur with a change in diet, for example, when switching to artificial feeding. Often parents are interested in how to normalize the stool in a child after they forcefully accustom him to the potty. In this case, the baby has a fear of the bowel movement.
Useful Tips
At the initial stage, when constipation was only detected, it is not recommended to immediately use laxatives. Their uncontrolled and regular use further violates the intestinal microflora, can be addictive and other side effects. How to normalize stool with simple steps?
- Regularly give the body feasible physical activity. It is better to start gymnastics every morning. More walking, swimming in the pool, doing yoga or dancing.
- It is better to cope with constipation during pregnancy or in children with the help of microclysters or special suppositories. Enema can be done with decoctions of herbs - chamomile, sage, yarrow, or you can buy ready-made ones.
- It is possible to relieve muscle spasm with spastic constipation using thermal procedures. A warm bath or a heating pad on the lower abdomen will relieve pain and facilitate bowel movement.
- You need to drink at least 2 sheets of clean water regularly. This is in addition to tea and other liquids. After all, often constipation is from dehydration. Therefore, you should make it a rule to drink every morning and half an hour before each meal a glass of water.
- Do not delay the urge to empty the intestines. If you often endure for a long time, constipation develops.
Proper nutrition to normalize stool
The work of the gastrointestinal tract directly depends on how a person eats. Frequent snacks “on the go” and dry food, improper food intake, an abundance of preservatives and other additives in foods - all this leads to constipation or diarrhea. People who are faced with such a problem, it is very important to know how to normalize digestion and stool with proper nutrition.
- First of all, you need to change the eating regimen. It is better if the food is fractional: 5-6 times a day, but in small portions. When a person stuffs his stomach with a large amount of food 1-2 times a day - this is a very big burden on the digestive system. It is advisable to eat at the same time, eating more high-calorie and nutritious food in the morning, and the last meal should be 2-3 hours before bedtime.
- When eating, you need to pay all attention to this process, and not to watch TV or read a book.
- It is undesirable to eat during severe nervous strain or stress. Food accepted in this condition will not benefit, or, conversely, may disrupt the digestive tract.
- It is necessary to abandon products that slow intestinal motility: coffee, chocolate, cocoa, black tea.
The most effective stool normalization products
Unfortunately, modern people mostly consume harmful foods rich in artificial additives. These are semi-finished products, canned food, fast food, coffee, carbonated drinks, confectionery. Such nutrition leads to the fact that sooner or later a question arises before a person: "How to normalize stool?" The easiest way is to change your diet. There are many products that effectively cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and normalize its work. What you need to eat to restore intestinal microflora?
- The most important thing that the digestive tract requires is fiber. It is not digested, but it stimulates intestinal motility and effectively removes toxins and food debris. The main source of fiber is vegetables, especially spinach, cabbage, carrots, beets, whole grain products - brown bread, oatmeal, bran, as well as fruits: plums, apples, grapes, figs. It is recommended to eat at least a kilogram of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, only then can the body's need for fiber be satisfied.
- Few people know how to normalize stool in an adult with garlic. This product effectively improves intestinal motility, thereby facilitating the passage of food and making it more frequent. Garlic has a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, normalizing the microflora. But in order to manifest these of his qualities, you need to use it fresh, adding to already cooked food.
- Instead of tea and soda, you need to drink water with lemon juice. Moreover, with constipation, warm water works best, and the juice should be fresh. You need to drink such a tool several times a day.
- Honey is very useful for any disturbances in the digestive system. But you need to use it only in its raw form. When heated above 50 degrees, all useful substances in it are destroyed. Therefore, you need to either eat it in its pure form or breed in warm water. On the day, 2 tablespoons of honey are needed to normalize the stool.
- Sour-milk products help restore microflora. This is the best medium for the reproduction of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
- Effectively helps with constipation. It is recommended before each meal to drink a tablespoon of olive, and preferably linseed oil.
The best drugs for constipation
Many people do not make a problem out of the question of how to normalize stool. With any difficulty in emptying the bowel, they immediately take a laxative. But this approach is fraught with danger: the intestines get used to the action of stimulants and soon will not be able to work without them. Therefore, it is best to try to cope with constipation without medication. And in difficult cases, you need to see a doctor. He will select the necessary medicines that normalize the stool without harm to health. What are effective and safe drugs for intestinal microflora?
- Lactulose-based drugs are considered the best. They are prescribed even to small children. They are not addictive and side effects. These drugs stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria, which leads to the death of pathogenic microflora. They restore intestinal motility and contribute to its rapid emptying. These are such medicines: Dufalac, Lactusan, Prelaxan, Maxilac and others.
- For a single bowel movement, drugs that stimulate the intestinal mucosa receptors are used. They can not be taken for a long time because of the danger of electrolyte imbalance and atrophy of nerve endings. These are such drugs: Senadexin, Regulax, Guttalax and others.
- Osmotic drugs help release the intestines after 8-10 hours by retaining water. It softens the stool and promotes their movement through the intestines. But such remedies cause flatulence, bloating and pain. Such action is possessed by Fortrans, Forlax and others.
- Often, enzyme preparations are recommended to normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. They improve the digestion process, relieve pain and facilitate the discharge of feces. Pancreatin-based drugs work best: Mezim, Festal, Panzinorm.
How to restore microflora with drugs
In case of violation of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, drugs containing beneficial bacteria or substances are often prescribed to stimulate their reproduction. These microorganisms are the natural inhabitants of the intestine and help digest food. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria inhibit the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms, are involved in the production of vitamins and enzymes, normalize the digestive tract. What are the preparations for intestinal microflora?
- Probiotics are living microorganisms that are a normal intestinal environment. They are contained in such preparations: Bifiform, Linex, Lactobacterin, Acipol, Trilact and others.
- Prebiotics are substances that help beneficial bacteria survive and multiply.
- Complex preparations containing both bacteria and substances for their nutrition. This is Hilak Forte, Bactistatin.
Prebiotics (drugs)
The list of such drugs is not so large. Prebiotics are mainly contained in complex preparations. They are a source of food for beneficial bacteria, and therefore stimulate their growth and activity. Inulin, lactulose, are all prebiotics. Drugs, the list of which is quite wide, effectively normalize stool in adults and children. Among them, the most effective are:
- Dufalac based on lactulose.
- "Redugas" containing inulin.
- Eubicor contains dietary fiber.
Folk recipes to normalize the intestines
Before you start drinking chemicals, you can try to adjust the stool using natural remedies. In folk medicine, there are many proven effective recipes for combating constipation.
- It very effectively normalizes stool, and besides, it helps to cope with other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract aloe juice. It can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared independently. A day you need to drink 50-100 ml of juice.
- It is often recommended to take a solution of apple cider vinegar to restore intestinal microflora. But it must be natural, and not flavored with vinegar essence. 2 tablespoons should be diluted in a glass of warm water. Such a drink is drunk three times a day before meals.
- Grind flax seeds and peeled sunflower seeds in a coffee grinder. The resulting powder should be taken 2-3 times a day, after diluting it with water.
- And how to normalize stool in an adult with the help of herbs? Various bitterness is effective, which cleanse the intestines from parasites and stimulate the production of bile. These are decoctions of wormwood, dandelion, yarrow and others. There are also herbs that have a long-lasting effect and effectively normalize stool: buckthorn bark, licorice, hay, nettle, anise, chamomile.
- A very useful and tasty medicine for the normalization of stool can be prepared from dried fruits. To do this, grind prunes, figs, dried apricots and raisins in a meat grinder. Add honey and some lemon juice. This mass must be eaten on an empty stomach.
- Brew a tablespoon of flax seeds with a glass of hot water and insist. You need to eat them before bedtime and drink them with the resulting infusion.