Many people do not pay much attention to the necessity of bowel movement. This is very essential as this clears your body of waste material which if allowed to accumulate, could cause many complications. Hence, bowel movement must be regularized to at least once every day and many doctors recommend this. Of course it also depends on the kind of food that is being consumed by every individual.
Surprisingly enough, however, some people move their bowels once every three to five days. This leads to something called constipation – a condition that is directly linked to one’s dietary habits. If you’re constipated, there’s definitely something wrong with your diet.
Constipation consists of several symptoms, the most essential being a person’s inability to maintain regular bowel movements, which may lead to pain and bloating. In cases exceeding five days without movement, the large intestine may press against the bladder, creating the urge to urinate.
One of the functions of the large intestine is to absorb water from waste before it leaves the body. If waste remains too long in this organ, then too much water will be extracted, causing the stool to dry and harden. If this condition worsens enough, it may be very difficult for the sufferer to eliminate the waste, and he or she might need immediate medical attention.
Improper diet is the chief cause of constipation. Specifically, the condition is often the result of inadequate fiber consumption, often coupled with the over-intake of foods like bread, meat, and dairy products, which contain very little fiber.
The Atkins diet is a low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that is also notoriously low in fiber. People who adopt the diet often have bowel movements only once or twice a week as a result of the nutrition they receive. Interestingly, fiber is indigestible plant matter that provides no calories, but simply acts a sort of “pipe cleaner” for the digestive system while also adding substance to the stool.
High-fiber foods include items like whole-grain flower, oatmeal and whole-wheat bread. Vegetables like broccoli, celery and lettuce are loaded with fiber, as are many fruits. Fruit fiber is found mainly in the skin, so remember to eat the skins of fruits like apples.
As constipation is a condition of the digestive system, it is clear that what “comes out” is a reflection of what goes in. Maintaining a diet that is high in fiber is the first step to insure you don’t get to the point of constipation. If you find it difficult to reach your daily allotment through whole-grains and vegetables, there are a plenty of fiber-enriched snack foods and cereals at your local grocer.
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