Most older people have encountered the delicate problem of constipation in their lives and know about it firsthand. Many of them suffer from this regularly, taking laxatives, however, in most cases it is possible to get rid of this symptom or disease without medication. Nutrition plays the main and decisive role in the treatment of constipation in adults and the elderly.
Constipation affects about 30 - 50% of the working population in various countries of the world, and people over 60 suffer from this 5 times more often than young people. Moreover, in developed countries this problem is no less relevant, but quite the opposite. After all, it was the benefits of civilization that allowed people to move less, eat purified and processed food that contains a large number of calories and practically no fiber, which negatively affects people’s health.
Causes of constipation in older people
As a rule, in older people, physiological changes occur in the body associated with the aging process, which, together with other factors, provoke the development of intestinal congestion. The main predisposing factors are:
- disturbances of intestinal motility;
- decreased tone of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles;
- decreased production of digestive enzymes and changes in intestinal microflora;
- low fiber diet;
- insufficient fluid intake;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- long-term and frequent use of laxatives that reduce the reaction to irritants;
- taking certain medications that have side effects that negatively affect the functioning of the digestive organs;
- long-term bed rest associated with illness or weakness of an elderly person.
The reasons may be less obvious, associated with spinal cord injuries, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, abnormalities in the development of the large intestine, etc.
Why does constipation occur?
There are a lot of reasons, among which there are several main ones related to chronic:
- giving up an active lifestyle;
- constant stress and emotional pressure;
- drug abuse;
- poor nutrition.
A small list of diseases that can often lead to constipation: injury in the anus of the intestine, a malignant tumor in the intestine, and so on.
What fruits weaken the intestines is of interest to many people who love these foods? As many people know, fruits themselves are very healthy and valuable.
. They contain a lot of vitamins, and therefore, according to doctors, they should be consumed every day. By following this simple principle, you will have the opportunity not only to get rid of constipation, but also to provide assistance and prevention to your body.
Diet for constipation in adults and elderly people
In old age, the absorption of nutrients from foods decreases, so people over 60 who suffer from chronic constipation are recommended to have a special diet that includes easily digestible foods that are rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals, but also contain a sufficient amount of dietary fiber. Such a balance in the diet will fully meet the body's need for energy and essential nutrients and is aimed at stimulating intestinal function without medications.
What should older people eat for constipation?
Products recommended for constipation in older people
- It is useful to drink a glass of clean water every morning on an empty stomach. You can drink it with 1 tablespoon of honey, flaxseed, olive or pumpkin oil. Daily water consumption, in the absence of kidney disease, should be about 2-3 liters (calculated by body weight: 30 ml per 1 kg). Water should be measured in advance and taken in small portions throughout the day, trying not to leave a large amount of liquid for later in the day. If an elderly person has problems with the functioning of the heart or kidneys, or there is edema, be sure to agree with the attending physician on the amount of fluid consumed and the regimen for taking it! It is also necessary to control the daily amount of fluid secreted by the body.
- It is mandatory to consume large quantities of raw fruits, berries and vegetables that are well digestible (as the main source of fiber, vitamins and minerals). You can prepare various dishes from them: freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, salads. Be sure to add greens to your food. If an elderly person cannot chew food, under no circumstances limit the amount of fresh vegetables and fruits. To make them easier to eat, you can grate these products.
- It is better to eat bread that is black (rye), or gray (made from second-grade flour), with bran, as well as crispbread.
- The diet should include fermented milk products in sufficient quantities: one-day kefir or fresh low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, natural mild cheese.
- All kinds of vegetable dishes that have undergone heat treatment (boiled, stewed, baked, steamed). These can be both first and second courses: vegetable soups, borscht, beetroot soup.
- Crumbly porridge cooked in water (you can add low-fat milk to the finished porridge if you are not lactose intolerant).
- Low-fat boiled fish and seafood.
- Flax seeds.
- Honey (if the amount of sugar in the blood is not increased).
- Dried fruits.
Not recommended for use
There are a number of foods that cause constipation, so older people who have problems with bowel movements should exclude them from their diet.
Foods that may cause constipation in older adults include:
- white rice, semolina;
- white bread and sweet pastries made from white flour;
- fruits and berries with an astringent taste (persimmons, tart pears, unripe bananas, dogwood, quince, blueberries);
- jelly;
- boiled eggs;
- strong tea (green and black), coffee.
It is also recommended to exclude from the menu foods that are difficult to digest, as they slow down the digestive system: fatty meat and fish (replace with low-fat varieties) and fatty infusions from them, mushrooms, radishes and radishes, pearl barley, legumes, raw cabbage, heavy cream, salted and smoked foods, marinades, semi-finished and canned foods, any fast food, sauces from the store, margarine.
Diet for constipation
In addition to eliminating prohibited foods from the diet, adherence to a diet is also of great importance in treating the disease. Food should be taken at approximately the same time every day, divided into small portions. You cannot overeat, so 4-6 meals a day would be optimal for an elderly person. Regular food intake triggers mechanisms in the body that regulate the digestion process and normalize stool.
Food for constipation in older people should be varied, taking into account the characteristics and personal taste preferences. Only in this case do old and elderly people eat it with pleasure. To do this, you need to alternate dishes on different days.
Healthy foods for constipation
For this disease, diet No. 3 is recommended, which includes groups of foods that activate intestinal function and are consumed selectively, focusing on the cause of constipation. These include:
- fruits, vegetables, seaweed, baked, boiled and raw berries, coarse flour bread, including rye, Barvikha bread, doctor’s bread. Buckwheat, pearl barley and other crumbly porridges (contain large quantities of plant fiber);
- meat with veins, skin of fish and poultry (rich in connective tissue, leaving a lot of undigested particles that mechanically stimulate the active movement of the alimentary canal);
- beet and cane sugar, syrup, honey, dextrose, mannitol, fruit juices, jam (contain sugary substances, attract liquid into the intestines, which helps dilute the stool, provoke acid fermentation with increased secretion and intestinal motility);
- kefir, koumiss, yogurt, buttermilk, sour lemonade, kvass, whey (contain organic acids, also stimulate peristalsis and intestinal secretion);
- water with salt, corned beef, herring, caviar (contain salt, which thins the stool and increases the flow of water into the intestines);
- various oils: sunflower, olive, butter, corn. Cream, sour cream, mayonnaise, fish oil, lard, sardines in oil, sprats, fatty gravies and sauces (their use thins the stool, makes it easier for masses to move through the intestines, making the stool more slippery);
- okroshka, ice cream, beetroot soup, water, all chilled. (provoke the work of thermoreceptors and the activity of the alimentary canal);
- carbonated mineral water with a high content of magnesium, for example, “Mirgorodskaya” (contains carbon dioxide and magnesium, which stimulate the active work of peristalsis through chemical irritation, and mechanically stretching the intestines with carbon dioxide).
Traditional medicine for constipation:
The following laxatives contain anthraglycosides that help normalize intestinal activity:
- half a glass of decoction of joster fruits at night;
- rhubarb root extract, up to one gram per night;
- 1 spoon of tincture of sena leaves three times a day;
- tincture of the following plants: meadowsweet flowers, St. John's wort, chamomile flowers, creeping thyme, bloodroot - used for enema;
- a decoction of the rhizomes of star anise, elecampane, radiola, chicory roots, silver cinquefoil - used for enema;
- infusion of linden flowers, calendula, medicinal chamomile, common yarrow, oregano, peppermint, lemon balm, hop fruits, carrot tops, fennel.
For constipation, physical education with relaxing exercises, warm therapeutic baths, and diathermy will be useful.
Dangerous and harmful foods for constipation
black coffee, cocoa, strong tea, chocolate, lingonberry, pomegranate, dogwood, pear, blueberry, rice, semolina and other non-crumbly cereals, jelly, soft cheese, pasta, boiled potatoes, hot food and drinks, red wine (clog the intestines, slow down movement of food along the tract, making it difficult to empty).
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment or make a diagnosis. Always consult a specialized doctor!
Tatyana Eliseeva chief editor of the Food+ project
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Fruits will help with constipation
It is advisable to focus on raw fruits
, but don’t forget that baked ones have no less benefits. As a supplement, you can consume both canned fruits and dried fruits.
In case of constipation, you can eat the following fruits: apples, unpeeled pears, bananas, grapes, prunes, dried apricots
and many others.
Now let's focus on fruits and understand everything in detail.
Do apples weaken or strengthen the intestines?
Apples themselves are a very interesting fruit. Many experts say that when eating apples or their puree, a strengthening effect (fixes) on the body is manifested. However, if this fruit is baked in the oven, then in this case the effect will be the opposite, that is, it will have a laxative quality (weakens). If you want to enhance the “laxative effect”, you can eat a few fresh apples, but this should be avoided on an empty stomach. Honey taken on an empty stomach can enhance the effect.
Do pears weaken or strengthen the intestines?
This fruit, like apples, is very multifaceted, namely, it can weaken and strengthen. The result will depend only on the form in which you consume the fruit. In what cases does the pear weaken? It's simple. Simply eating pears raw has a laxative effect. Note that the pear must be juicy and sweet.
For the opposite effect, when you need to secure a chair, he recommends pear jelly as a folk remedy. Drying pears with oatmeal broth can also be an additional option. In these cases, the pear will strengthen.
Vegetables are an excellent laxative
We've talked a little about fruits and now we'll focus on vegetables. The question is still the same, which vegetables weaken the intestines?
Vegetables are a good laxative due to the large amount of dietary fiber they contain. The list of popular vegetables includes:
- green peas;
- white cabbage, cauliflower or broccoli;
- baked potato with skin.
I would like to pay special attention to cabbage. It is also recommended to eat seaweed - kelp
. Based on statistics, seaweed very often acts on the intestines as a strong laxative.
After fruits and vegetables, I would like to pay attention to products in general. If you have constipation, there is no need to run to the pharmacy and buy medications.
, in this case, foods that weaken the intestines, both in children and adults, will come to the rescue.
Before eating foods for constipation, it is important to take one necessary step, namely, start eating laxative fruits and vegetables. The reason is simple, food is just an addition to make the effect better.
