What constitutes constipation varies from person to person. What is optimal for you may not be optimal for someone else. Generally speaking, constipation is when you have stools less than three times a week and they are hard and dry.
Fortunately, laxative treatment can be done at home, without the need to take medicine straight away.
Fortunately, with a few very simple lifestyle changes, constipation can be prevented or relieved. It is a
much bigger problem and deserves attention if it is persistent or recurrent.
Many people ask what is good for anxiety? It can be an unpleasant subject, but it is definitely worth looking into, as it can be a serious problem. We give you a few quick tips on what natural methods are available to you.
Fibre intake is very important but we’ll explain a bit more about that below. It can also be great to start the day with a cup of a warm drink like lemon water, green tea or even a fruit tea. The warm drink stimulates your bowels. Exercise and sport can also be a great way to relieve constipation. Even just a brisk walk can help a lot with digestion and bowel movements.
It’s best to exercise regularly three times a week, which could be cycling, running or even aerobics. Magnesium can also be a great help for constipation. This mineral has a mild laxative effect. Beetroot, spinach, cauliflower and raspberries also contain a lot of magnesium. It is also worth trying herbal teas such as anise, liquorice, dandelion and dogbane.
What to know about constipation in old age
Constipation in older age can be caused by a number of things, including: slowed bowel movements, reduced fluid intake, a diet low in fibre, taking medicines that affect bowel movements, low physical activity, abnormal changes in the muscles that affect stool storage or abnormal changes in the intestinal tract. It is important to note that constipation is a common phenomenon in older age and can be treated properly.
CONSTIPATION CAN BE TREATED AT HOME, THESE ARE THE HOME REMEDIES TO GET RID OF CONSTIPATION!
There are many foods and natural remedies that can help you cope with constipation at home.
- For congestion, homemade sauerkraut juice is also good, especially if you drink it on an empty stomach. It is one of the most effective laxatives.
- Elderflower, unfiltered apple juice, pear juice have a laxative effect. It is also probably the best home laxative for children.
- Eating high-fibre foods can also help loosen hard stools. Flaxseed is also considered a mild laxative due to its high mucilage and fibre content.
- If you want to use a laxative at home, one of the best natural laxatives is to eat prunes or figs. You can eat these as they are, or you can soak them or puree them. Eating prunes is the quickest laxative when used at home.
- Sometimes even a spoonful of olive oil or castor oil helps, as castor oil and olive oil have a laxative effect. In addition, olive oil is a laxative that works immediately. Olive oil can also be given to children for constipation, as the healthy fats it contains can help soften and lighten the stools, making them easier to pass. However, it is important to give only small amounts to your child and always consult your doctor or paediatrician!
- Baking soda for constipation – Baking soda can be effective against constipation if you take a teaspoon of it before bedtime. The laxative effect of baking soda is indisputable. It helps to neutralise stomach acid, thus contributing to healthy bowel function. It is also a good method to add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 2dl of warm water and stir at the same time. This is a great homemade baking soda laxative recipe.
- Kiwi can also help with constipation at home – its high fibre content means it doesn’t bloat, removes most of the gas produced during digestion and also provides the body with vitamin C.
- Lemon juice can also be a great home laxative. Lemon juice stimulates digestion and also helps to eliminate waste products as quickly as possible. Just squeeze the juice of a whole lemon and pour it into a mug of warm water, then sip it. In some cases, you may experience immediate laxative vomiting, so be prepared for this.
- Apple cider vinegar can also be excellent for constipation and is not only used for this. It is recommended to drink apple cider vinegar on an empty stomach, with a little water and it will reduce appetite. Drinking apple cider vinegar water after meals can help a lot with digestion. Since it helps digestion, it can also help avoid constipation. Apple cider vinegar is considered a natural laxative with a weaker effect. It is highly recommended for its positive physiological effects. It is one of the best home laxatives.
As with all home remedies, they help WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS, but they need a little lead time before they show results.
What else can be done in case of constipation, what other home laxative practices are available?
- If we take the gloves off constipation at home, we can increase the fibre, fluid and mineral content of our diets, which will increase the volume of stools and thus improve the functioning of the intestinal tract.
- If you are constipated, make sure you eat more fruit and vegetables. It’s worth experimenting to see exactly which ones produce the best bowel-loosening effect. It is worth supplementing your diet with high-fibre foods.
- Limit your intake of certain foods, such as foods high in fat and sugar and low in fibre. Be sure to increase your daily fluid intake. This could be water, tea, but perhaps best of all fruit and smoothies, something easy to drink and high in fibre.
- If you use laxatives, you should avoid them, as they can lead to long-term dependence. It’s worth experimenting on your own to see what works for your body.
- A quick home remedy for constipation is flaxseed oil, which increases the number of bowel movements, helping to remove waste products more quickly.
- Plantain seed husks have many physiological effects. It has a great effect on digestion due to its high fibre content. It can also be used against constipation. It can also be made into a homemade laxative tea. Just mix 1 teaspoon of plantain seed husk in 1 glass of water and drink it.
- For many people, morning coffee helps to induce morning bowel movements. Exercise, barrier massage and plenty of fluids and fibre can also help.
- Sugar water can also be used for constipation. The laxative effect of sugar water is partly due to its high sugar content. High sugar intake can stimulate the digestive system and sometimes relieve constipation. However, it is important to remember that sugary water is only a short-term solution.
- Salt water can also be used for constipation. Salt water can also have a mild laxative effect, as increased salt intake can stimulate the production of intestinal fluids and digestion. Because of its laxative effect, lukewarm salt water should be consumed in the morning.
It is also worth bearing in mind that this is a complex problem that often requires complex solutions. This makes it almost impossible to resolve constipation immediately. If the condition is critical, home remedies may not be enough. In this case, enemas may be an option. This method is used to remove thickened, thickened and dried stools. Enema can be done at home, and we will cover this in our next article.
There are also home remedies for hard stools! These are even the best laxative foods and drinks!
Water – constipation can occur even if you don’t drink enough water every day. It is recommended to drink at least 2-3 litres a day. Lukewarm water has a proven laxative effect. Drinking 2 glasses of lukewarm water in the morning can activate bowel movements.
Coffee – proven to help the bowels. If you drink coffee with your breakfast, you will have a much better bowel movement and no sign of constipation.
Chia seeds – very high in fibre and therefore beneficial for digestion.
Kivi – this also owes its great effects to its high fibre content. It is recommended to blend two k kiwis with 2dl of water to get the best effect.
Orange – of all citrus fruits, oranges are one of the best sources of fibre. It stimulates the colon and helps to increase the intestinal flora.
Peppermint – because of its calming effects, it helps to relax the muscles of the intestinal tract, making stools move more easily.
Beans – also often used for constipation, as it is high in fibre and the carbohydrates in it are absorbed slowly.
Avocado – high in magnesium, it helps to move moisture from food into the digestive tract. It also helps soften stools.
Green tea – increases metabolism and also has a laxative effect due to its high caffeine content.
Pears – not only are they high in fibre, but they also contain sorbitol which loosens stools.
Aniseed tea – one of the best digestive aids, it reduces bloating and fullness and is known to be a good wind-breaker and antispasmodic.
A quick laxative can be made at home and is guaranteed to be quick. A combination of castor oil and fruit juice can be effective. After a few hours of use, constipation will subside, so it’s worth staying at home during this time. Bicarbonate of soda water can also help a lot, as it cleanses the colon and facilitates bowel movements.
Another great stool softener at home is applesauce. Mix 1 cup applesauce, 1 cup prune juice and 1 cup oats or wheat bran. Take 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture every night and then drink 1 glass of water. If no change after 1 week, increase the dose to 3-4 spoonfuls a day
It is important to highlight that the use of cooking oil for constipation has been a topic of increasing interest recently. This is not only dangerous but can also be extremely unpleasant. In case the above methods do not help, do not try cooking oil, but consult a doctor!
“What should I do if my stool does not come out?”, or what to do if you are severely constipated?
In case eating stool-relieving foods or using home-made stool softeners does not help, you should always consult a doctor!