Colon Cleanse » Constipation

Are Babies Prone to Constipation?

Beth — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:51:50 +0000

Babies may be prone to constipation, but it may be a difficult problem to diagnose. There is nothing normal about a baby’s bowel movement schedule. Your baby may have a bowel movement every day, every other day or every time she eats. As you become more in tune with your baby, you will know what is regular and normal for her.

Mother bottle-feeding baby boy

Constipation is considered when the baby’s bowel movement is causing significant pain or discomfort, which is when the stool becomes too hard to easily pass.

Some other possible signs of constipation in your baby include not having a bowel movement in more than three days or they are showing obvious discomfort.

What are the causes of constipation in your little one?

Formula: it is possible that something in the formula is causing the constipation. Breast milk is a balance of fat and protein, so it usually keeps stools soft and easy to pass. If you think formula might be the culprit, try switching brands. There are some formulas that are advertised to be easily digestible.

Introduction of foods: Solid foods could be causing constipation. The first food that you introduce is rice cereal which is low in fiber and may lead to constipation.

Dehydration. This can be possible even in the littlest babies. Their system needs to replenish with fluids, just as an adult. If the baby is dehydrated, her system will respond by absorbing more fluid from whatever she eats or drinks, including from the waste in her bowels. The result is hard, dry bowel movements that are difficult to pass. However, as you normally do not give babies water, you should consult your physician if this may be the problem.

A medical condition or illness. Though it’s uncommon, constipation can be caused by an underlying medical condition such as hypothyroidism, some metabolic disorders, and some food allergies. If your baby passes hard, painful stools, you’ll want her doctor to check her out, just to make sure.

How can you relieve your baby’s constipation?

Massage your baby’s belly. Apply gentle but firm pressure with your fingertips on their belly. Press until you feel a firmness or mass. Maintain gentle but constant pressure for about three minutes.

Switch formulas. If you feed your baby formula, ask her doctor about switching to a different brand. Some babies are less constipated on soy formula.

Switch cereals. Try barley or oat cereal or add pureed fruits or vegetables to her regular cereal, once your baby is ready for them.

Once your baby is eating a variety of solid foods, ask her doctor if you can boost her fiber intake by adding a teaspoon of bran to her cereal. Cut down on constipating foods like rice, bananas, and cooked carrots, and try mixing her cereal with a little bit of apple or prune juice or a few tablespoons of pureed prunes, apricots, or pears to help loosen her bowel movements.

Increase the amount of fluid your baby drinks to help keep her stools soft. If your baby is older than 2 months, you can give her 1 ounce of prune juice diluted with 1 ounce of water, twice a day. As her constipation improves, you can cut back. You should always consult with your doctor.

With all conditions related to your new baby, you should feel free to contact your pediatrician for advice.

What are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Beth — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:17:00 +0000

Still, it’s important to understand what you need to look for, so if something does pop up, you make sure to seek medical attention immediately. Signs range from recurring constipation to thin, runny stool. If you suspect you are experiencing signs of colon cancer, make a doctor’s appointment immediately to have an expert check things out.

Constipation

If you have a bowel movement less than three times per week, you may need to make minor adjustments to your diet. You may also need to incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine. Constipation can also be a symptom of colon cancer. If you have a tumor located in your rectum, this can make it rather difficult for waste to get through, which may lead to constipation.

Thin Stool

After your stool is no longer in the slushy phase and it begins to take shape, how the stool looks as it leaves your body may provide beneficial clues to your colon health. Thin stool may sometimes indicate that your waste is squeezed by some sort of obstacle in its path. In the case of cancer, this may be a tumor in the colon or rectum.

Stomach Cramps

Tumors will sometimes lead to bowel obstructions. This means your colon remains blocked. This blockage may be rather severe or mild. Solids, liquids and even gas may be prevented from passing through normally. This may lead to abdominal cramping, which can be quite severe (particularly if the blood flow is restricted to the colon). If someone is experiencing rather painful cramping, this may be an indication that a tumor has poked through the bowel wall, which is considered to be a medical emergency.

Bloody Stool

Typically speaking, tumors tend to bleed. They do not usually bleed a whole lot or constantly, however, they do tend to bleed. Some blood may be present in the stool during bowel movements. For some individuals, this can be rather upsetting. Most of the time, the blood will have dried and will be invisible to the naked eye, however, if the tumor in the rectum is towards the end of the colon, the blood may remain fresh and visible. Therefore, if you see bright red blood in your stool, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Most of us don’t see weight loss as a particular problem. Unfortunately, effortless weight loss is never a good thing! This is usually a pretty good indication that there is something medically wrong with our bodies. In the case of colon cancer, unexplained weight loss may be a sign that the tumor is releasing chemicals, which are increasing the patient’s metabolism.

Unusual Sense of Fullness

When a tumor is growing towards the end of the colon or in the rectum, this may cause a sense of fullness. The human body senses that something is hanging around near the exit. The individual may experience the constant sensation of needing to be relieved.

Nausea and Vomiting

There are a lot of different reasons why someone may be experiencing nausea and vomiting, however, it can also sometimes be a symptom of colon cancer.

Gas and Bloating

If you are experiencing recurring gas and bloating, this may be because a tumor is growing inside of your colon, occasionally causing blockage. The tumor does not need to be very large, however, the stool may periodically get hung up, so to speak, while passing through. When your bowel is blocked, air is trapped and you will feel bloated. Once the blockage resolves itself, the air will need to be released, which will cause the individual to be gassy.

Lethargy

Sometimes, the presence of a tumor may make the individual feel fatigued and tired. This is because the tumor may be causing a deficiency in iron, making the individual anemic. It’s also because tumors tend to bleed, as mentioned above. Tumors can turn into a fairly good sized bleed in the colon because there is a large amount of space there. The blood will typically dry before leaving the body, which leaves the bleeding unnoticed.

Herbs that Naturally Cleanse Parasites

Beth — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:09:24 +0000

Detoxification

Detoxification is very important to cleansing your colon. It should be done 1 to 2 times per year, depending on how bad your diet is, where you live and your overall habits in general. Detoxification can be described as the process of clearing toxins from an individual’s body while neutralizing the toxins at the same time. Most of the toxins we get come from the food we eat, drug use and environmental factors.

Psyllium Husk

In order to properly detoxify, one must make dietary and lifestyle changes. These types of changes will allow the person to reduce their intake of toxins while improving elimination. Avoiding chemicals from foods and other sources, as well as refined sugar, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and many drugs, can help to minimize the toxin load.

Probiotics can also be very beneficial to helping an individual cleanse his or her colon properly.

Cleansing Your Colon Naturally

If you plan on cleansing your colon naturally, it’s important that you follow instructions exactly and precisely. You’ll need to put together a proper colon cleansing diet and may consider taking some colon cleansing supplements. Certain herbs are known to kill parasites and intestinal worms. Some herbs contain digestive enzymes and naturally contain Probiotics, which are known as beneficial bacteria. Some herbs benefit the liver, gallbladder and the intestines. Some herbs to consider include psyllium husk or psyllium seeds, cascara Sagrada, slippery elm and flax seed.

Removing waste from your colon is a good place to start. Typically, an American diet holds up to eight meals of undigested food and waste material within the colon. A high fiber diet tends to only hold three meals, rather than eight.

Constipation and Diarrhea

Constipation and diarrhea are good indications of colon problems. More serious problems, such as cancer and immune system dysfunctions typically begin with a toxic bowel. Having regular bowel movements is extremely important. People who have a healthy functioning colon should be having a bowel moving three or more times a day.

When we have issues with constipation and diarrhea, the inner walls of our colon become impacted and encrusted with hardened and dried fecal matter. This can cause many problems for us.

Dietary fiber is extremely important when it comes to cleansing our colon. Dietary fiber can be divided into two basic categories: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. Both provide bulk in the large intestine, encouraging regular bowel movements. The digestive system can benefit greatly from soluble fiber.

Psyllium, oat bran, apple pectin and guar gum all have the ability to lower blood cholesterol levels, which is a positive thing. Psyllium is excellent for various digestive problems. It can help combat digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea, diverticular disease and colitis. Many people use it as part of a colon cleansing program and it may be used to help prevent colon cancer. While we are alive, it is estimated that we consume somewhere around 90,000 pounds of food and 55,000 quarts of liquid. For most Americans, most of that food and drink consists of hamburgers, sodas, cakes, cookies, pastries, potato chips, ice cream and pizza; not exactly a healthy way of looking at things. Many of these foods are to blame for digestive issues.

If we eat a diet high in fat and low in fiber, this slows our intestinal transit times down, which eventually affects our digestion. By making sure we eat a diet full of healthy fiber and low in fat, we will be aiding our digestive tract while ensuring regular bowel movements.

General Tips Regarding Constipation

Beth — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:31:25 +0000

Woman exercising at home

Some people consider constipation to be somewhat of a minor problem. Unfortunately, it may start out as minor, but it can lead to more serious problems. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are two of the more serious problems that constipation can lead to.

Some causes of constipation include:

lack of fiber in the diet
lack of physical activity
dehydration
milk
over-use of laxatives
ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement and “holding it” for too long

Did you know that 2.5 million of the visits to the doctor’s office are related to constipation problems within the United States? Doctors will often times refer a patient to a dietician for nutrition recommendations. Raising the amount of fiber throughout the diet is often a suggestion. The more natural fiber we get through the food we eat, the more regular our bowel movements will be. Fiber also helps to lower blood cholesterol levels as well as to stabilize blood sugar levels.

According to the American Diabetic Association, the daily recommended amount of fiber an adult should be consuming is between 20 and 35 grams per day. Most people only consume between 5 and 14 grams! That’s a big difference!

Unfortunately many children do not get enough fiber and this is becoming a continuous problem. A child may not necessarily tell his or her parents that they are having issues with bowel movements and so often times, parents don’t even understand that it’s an ongoing problem. Parents are working more and more and may not be aware of the food that their children are taking in when they’re not at home.

Some tips for treating constipation:

stay physically active and get more exercise by incorporating activities such as gardening and cleaning into your daily routine
increase the amount of fiber you’re consuming into your daily diet
whenever possible, choose natural and organic fruits and vegetables; always opt for unprocessed foods and whole grains
add ground flax seeds to fruit smoothies, salads, peanut butter toast and other similar foods
Stir psyllium powder into freshly squeezed juice or water and take before bed time

Make sure you are drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day each day. It is important that you are getting a minimum of six to eight glasses of water a day. If you want, try adding a teaspoon or two of apple cider vinegar to each glass of water to help detoxify your system even more. Always go to the bathroom immediately whenever you feel the urge to go and never hold it for too long. This can cause all kinds of problems for your bowels and can force your body to become even more constipated.

How Do Toxins Buildup in Your Colon?

Beth — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:59:41 +0000

Constipation

Being constipated is never fun. Think of your colon as your body’s overall sewage system. If the sewage system gets backed up or blocked, toxins can become trapped inside of the colon. If you are chronically constipated, the likelihood that your colon is blocked full of toxins is very strong. That means that these toxins are being reabsorbed into your bloodstream. This in turn pollutes your tissues and cells. Chronic disease can be a result of this type of problem.

Young woman drinking water

Poor Dietary Choices

If you are eating a diet, which is full of dead, cooked, devitalized, clogging, low-fiber foods, fried foods, junk foods and over-processed foods, you may have toxins building up in your colon. Eating raw and organic food is the better choice because our body can process this food better, making sure that you we get the proper nutrients and minerals absorbed into our body.

Over-Consumption of Food

We put a tremendous amount of stress on our bodies if we overeat constantly. This is not good for our digestive system. Many people eat too much food way too fast. You should be eating each meal slowly, so that the food is chewed thoroughly. Saliva mixed with the chewed food in the mouth plays an important role in how well the food is digested and processed in the system. If you are not properly eating and chewing your food, the vitamins and minerals cannot be properly broken down and absorbed into the body’s system. Eating smaller meals is always healthier, as well as incorporating healthy snacks in between those small meals.

Lack of Water

If you’re not drinking enough water each day, you may have a toxin buildup in your system. Water makes up nearly 80 % of your body, so it is vital and important to your overall health and wellbeing. If your body does not receive enough water, the toxins cannot be properly flushed from your body. You should be drinking at least eight to ten glasses of water a day. If you’re not drinking enough water, all of your digestive and eliminating processes may be affected. Never count how many glasses of water you’re drinking. When you’re thirsty, drink a glass of water. You should naturally drink enough water throughout the day.

Stress

Stress can be a problem for a lot of us. It can affect the way our cells and tissues break down within our bodies. When we are under a great deal of stress, it is much easier for our bodies to get sicker faster. Stress hinders digestion and how well our bodies maintain vitamins and minerals.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are great for fighting certain bacteria, however, prolonged antibiotic use can cause bacterial and yeast infections. The purpose of antibiotics is to eliminate bacteria from the body, however, they can also eliminate good bacteria. Your body needs a certain amount of bacteria in order to remain healthy. If your gastrointestinal tract becomes imbalanced, it will create all sorts of problems within the colon.

Lack of Physical Activity

Getting regular exercise strengthens your entire body and immune system! It stimulates your circulatory and lymphatic systems and it also helps build strong muscle, burn calories and promotes health lungs, blood, nerves, glands and a healthy heart. You need to exercise in order to stay strong and healthy and to keep your metabolism up.

Eating Late at Night

Eating late at night is a bad thing. Your body needs sleep in order to repair itself. Sleep restores the human body while cleansing and detoxifying it. It also helps to build strength and immunity. Going to sleep at night with a full stomach does not allow the body to get the proper amount of restful sleep that it needs.

What are the causes for constipation?

Beth — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:04:55 +0000

Whole grains

Constipation occurs when bowel movements become difficult or less frequent. The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person. Going longer than three days without a bowel movement is too long. After three days, the stool or feces become harder and more difficult to pass.

Constipation is usually caused by a disorder of bowel function rather than a physical problem. The most common cause of constipation is a diet low in fiber and high in fats. A diet high in fiber would include vegetables, fruits and whole grains. If you suffer from constipation, you should avoid sugars and meats.

Another common cause of constipation is dehydration or not having enough fluids. It is important to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. The fluids that you drink add liquidity to your stool, making it softer and easier to pass.

There are many other causes of constipation, which include:

Inadequate water intake.
Inadequate fiber in the diet.
A disruption of regular diet or routine; traveling.
Inadequate activity or exercise or immobility.
Eating large amounts of dairy products.
Stress.
Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement
Overuse of laxatives (stool softeners) which, over time, weaken the bowel muscles.
Antacid medicines containing calcium or aluminum.
Medicines (especially strong pain medicines, such as narcotics, antidepressants, or iron pills).
Depression.
Eating disorders.
Irritable bowel syndrome.
Pregnancy.
Colon cancer.

There are also neurological disorders, metabolic and endocrine disorders, and systemic conditions that can slow the movement of stool through the colon causing constipation. Some of these disorders include: multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and lupus.

Usually constipation will improve gradually without medications; however, when should you call your doctor:

Constipation is a new problem for you.
You have blood in your stool.
You are losing weight even though you are not dieting.
You have severe pain with bowel movements.
Your constipation has lasted more than two weeks.

There are also personal reasons that may cause constipation. For example, many people may not want to use public bathrooms or have a bowel movement anywhere other than their own home. This can create constipation problems. You should not resist the urge to have a bowel movement. Babies and children can also become constipated. The same causes may apply. In young children who are still toilet training, they may feel uncomfortable having a bowel movement when not at home or a familiar location. Children will also put off using the bathroom if they are in the middle of something, even playing.

Constipation can be caused by many different things. It is important to determine the underlying condition so you can prevent it from occurring again.

The Basics of Constipation

Beth — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:55:55 +0000

Healthy eating

One assumption of some people is that if an individual does not have a bowel movement every day, that he or she is constipated. This is not the case. Not every individual has 1 or more bowel movements a day. Some people only have a bowel movement every other day or every couple of days. It varies from individual to individual.

There are also some individuals who have bowel movements three or more times a day. There are some experts that would have you believe that having three to five bowel movements a day is best.

What’s important to remember is that constipation is a symptom of another health issue and it is not a disease. Most people experience constipation at some point in their life. Poor diet and lack of water intake is usually to blame. Children who tend to withhold a bowel movement (usually during potty training as a method of resistance) sometimes become constipated. Infants and small children also sometimes experience constipation during dietary changes. For example, a child might become constipated when he or she is transitioning into solid foods.

Constipation is a very common gastrointestinal symptom. Most people will experience it at some point in their lives. It is actually one of the most common problems among people in the United States. There are an estimated 4 million or more Americans who suffer from chronic constipation. The most common people who experience constipation are women and older adults 65 or older. Pregnant women sometimes experience constipation. It is a common complaint after childbirth or surgery.

To treat constipation, an individual can try an over-the-counter laxative. There are several different reasons why someone might suffer from constipation:

Not enough fiber in the diet (you should be getting between 25 and 35 grams of fiber a day – unfortunately most Americans only get between 5 grams and 15 grams a day)
Lack of physical activity
Certain medications
Milk and other dairy products
Irritable bowel syndrome
Changes in daily life or routine, such as pregnancy, aging and travel
Over-use or abuse of laxatives
Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement and holding it for too long
Dehydration
Specific diseases or conditions, like a stroke (very common)
Problems within the colon and rectum
Problems with intestinal function

If you believe you are constipated, try adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diets, as well as whole grain foods, which is how you add natural fiber. Drink more water and increase your daily activity levels. If your constipation does not go away with home remedies and over-the-counter use, you should make a doctor’s appointment immediately. Constipation is a mild problem, which can turn into a severe issue if left untreated.

What are common colon problems that you can experience?

Beth — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:57:18 +0000

Woman drinking water

The colon is a 5 foot tube within your body that has the important job of eliminating waste from the food you digest. Since it is such a prominent part of your body, it can develop many conditions and problems of its own. These can range from conditions that produce food allergies such as Celiac disease to ulcers, which cause severe pain and may require surgical correction.

Some of the problems you can have related to the colon include constipation, diarrhea, heartburn or irritable bowel syndrome.

Constipation occurs when you are unable to have a bowel movement on a regular basis or when the stool remains in the intestines too long and the stool becomes hard or dry making it difficult to pass. It can be caused by having a low fiber diet or having digestive problems. There are easy ways to relieve constipation. The easiest ones that are available to everyone are to eat a high fiber diet and to drink plenty of water. It is also important to use the restroom whenever you feel the need and to take your time to allow your body to eliminate all waste.

Diarrhea is the opposite of constipation. You may experience loose and watery stools that occur on a regular basis often many times a day. If you have diarrhea you may have difficulty controlling your bowel movements, abdominal cramps or dehydration. You can get diarrhea very commonly. It can be caused by a bacteria in your system, certain foods or certain digestive diseases such as Crohn’s disease.

Another common condition is heartburn. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the middle of your chest that is usually caused by stomach acids moving upwards from the stomach into your esophagus. This can also be called acid reflux, which is another common digestive disorder. To alleviate heartburn, you should watch your diet. There may be certain foods that are causing this condition, such as alcohol or fatty foods. Along with changing your diet, make sure you don’t eat before going to bed and always sit up after eating.

Finally, a very common disorder suffered by millions of Americans is irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. This is a disorder or condition, not really a disease. The symptoms are great including abdominal pain or discomfort, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation. With IBS, the bowels do not function properly. If you have IBS, you may have nerves that are ultra sensitive or you may have muscles that contract too much when you eat. The actual cause is not known.

To treat IBS, you will change your diet to reduce foods that are causing problems, such as fatty foods, milk products and alcohol. You should also alleviate stress, as that can be an exacerbation of digestive problems. Finally you may also need medications to help alleviate the symptoms.

The most important thing with all digestive issues are a healthy balanced diet that is high in fiber. You should reduce the fatty foods, reduce the caffeine, and reduce alcohol intake.

Additionally, as always you should consult your physician if you have any of these problems. Your doctor will be able to provide a proper diagnosis.

Home Remedies for Constipation

Beth — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:36:00 +0000

Woman Jogging

Constipation is a common disturbance of the digestive tract. With this, the bowels do not move regularly. This condition is the cause of many diseases. It produces toxins which find their way into the bloodstream and are carried to all parts of the body.

The most common symptoms of constipation are infrequency or difficulty in eliminating feces or having a bowel movement.

The biggest cause of constipation is bad diet. As with all digestive problems, your diet may be lacking in fiber. You should eliminate processed foods, eliminate processed sugar and eliminate intake of large quantities of meat. On the other hand, you should increase your water intake and fiber filled foods.

There are many easy healthy foods that can lead to constipation relief. Most fruits are water-based so beneficial to constipation treatment. Some fruits are more effective including:

Bael fruit can be a natural laxative. It can be eaten raw or cooked. When unripened, it can treat diarrhea and when ripe, it can clean and tone the intestines.
Pears are beneficial for constipation. For chronic constipation, try a diet of pears and pear juice for a few days. For ordinary situations, eat a pear after dinner or with breakfast.
Guava: it provides roughage to the diet and helps release the bowel. You can eat one or two guavas a day and it should be eaten with the seeds.
Grapes: grapes contain cellulose, sugar and organic acid making it the most beneficial laxative. Eating grapes can not only help with constipation, it can tone up your intestines and relieve chronic symptoms. You can eat up to 350 grams of grapes for the best results.
Spinach: Spinach is one of the best vegetables vital to keeping the digestive tract healthy. Raw spinach contains organic materials and helps with cleansing and regeneration of the intestines.

Along with eating your way to relief from constipation, you can try spices added to your food. There are quite a few spices that have a laxative effect. For example, garlic, honey, sesame seeds and oils.

As for other remedies, you should exercise. Exercise keeps your body healthy, which can also lead to healthy bowel movements. When you are active, your bowels are also active. Additionally with exercise comes water, drink plenty of water. Water is vital to keeping your body healthy. It can also loosen the bowels helping with constipation.

Finally, it is vital to go to the bathroom when you need to go and don’t rush. Many individuals have an anxiety of public restrooms or discomfort using the bathroom at work or at school or whatever. Unfortunately, you may have to deal with this anxiety. In holding the urge to go when necessary, you may be causing your own constipation issues. Additionally, when you are using the bathroom, take your time. As your body regulates itself, you can start a routine and your body adapts to this routine. When this happens, you may have a regular bowel movement at the same time daily.

Colon Cleanse » Constipation

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