Today, constipation is one of the most common problems among people. Based on statistical data, we can say with confidence that every third person faces this problem. It happens that constipation appears as an isolated case against the background of stressful situations or some unusual conditions for the body. Basically, constipation is a chronic pathology. In such cases, it will be very important to know and use information about the right foods, fruits and vegetables, which can be consumed and which are undesirable.
Why is a stool softening diet better than an enema?
Carrying out an enema helps to quickly remove solid stool, but frequent use of this method for chronic constipation will aggravate the situation.
It is believed that such procedures disrupt the electrolyte balance and intestinal microflora. Abuse of enemas leads to dehydration of the body, as well as the removal of calcium, phosphorus and other useful substances. An incorrectly performed procedure can lead to damage to the intestinal wall, infection and the development of severe complications.
The diet has a milder effect. By consuming foods that cause diarrhea, you can achieve softening of stool, increased intestinal motility and consistently frequent bowel movements. The diet helps normalize microflora and is not capable of causing long-term diarrhea, dehydration, etc.
Acute constipation
The acute form of constipation includes those conditions when a hardened mass of feces gets stuck in the intestines, and its exit is completely stopped.
The following symptoms are characteristic of this type of problematic stool:
- discomfort is felt in the rectal area;
- there is a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen;
- there is no emptying at all;
- urge to evacuate that ends in nothing.
Often, hard stool is accompanied by a pathology when constipation with hard feces is caused by incomplete release of feces accumulated in the intestines. The process is quite painful, since previously stuck feces are difficult to pass through the intestines, they damage its walls and lead to rupture of the anus.
If measures are not taken to soften hardened excrement before emptying, then the consequences of such constipation can be hernias, rectal prolapse, and the appearance of hemorrhoids.
Overall positive effect
Maintaining proper nutrition has an overall positive effect on the human body. The diet improves the functioning of all gastrointestinal organs. In addition, including foods that cause diarrhea in your diet helps:
- weight loss;
- removal of toxins;
- increasing physical activity;
- improving the condition of nails, hair and skin;
- normalization of sleep.
Normalizing intestinal function has a positive effect on the entire human body.
The intestines absorb water and nutrients. With reduced peristalsis, stool becomes dehydrated and hard. Eating foods containing coarse digestive fiber, beneficial mycobacteria, vitamins and minerals enhances smooth muscle motility, facilitating the movement and elimination of fecal matter.
Symptoms
The intestines function normally when their work is characterized by regular bowel movements, which occur painlessly and easily. If the act of emptying is difficult or bowel movements occur less frequently than once a day, then it can be stated that the person is constipated.
With intestinal stagnation, the structure of feces can take the following forms:
- round, pea-shaped feces come out separately;
- the masses are dense and have a ribbed surface;
- feces are lumpy.
List of foods that have a laxative effect
Since coarse plant fibers can soften stool, it is recommended to include greens, fruits and vegetables in your diet. In addition, you should consume lactic acid products, as they contain many beneficial microorganisms that improve intestinal microflora. This is especially important if constipation has developed while taking antibiotics.
Diarrhea can be caused by eating nuts, dried fruits and seeds, as well as certain drinks.
Herbs and spices
Parsley, dill and green onions contain compounds that enhance intestinal motility. It is advisable to add fresh herbs to the first and second courses. Hot spices contain complex essential oils, capsicum, capsaicin and other substances that have an aggressive effect on the intestinal mucosa. To reduce the concentration of the irritant, the production of secretion by the membrane is enhanced, which leads to a decrease in the hardness of the stool. In addition, intestinal motility increases, because the body strives to remove dangerous compounds faster.
Fresh greens are the best natural remedy for treating constipation.
Berries and fruits
Sour berries and fruits have a pronounced laxative effect. It is due to the high content of organic acids. A particularly strong effect is observed when consumed:
- pomegranates;
- apples;
- peaches;
- grapefruits;
- pineapples;
- lime;
- currants;
- cranberries;
- kiwi;
- blackberries;
- grapes;
- plums;
- gooseberries, etc.
The organic acids contained in these fruits have an irritating effect on the intestinal walls, so you should not abuse them. People suffering from inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should not eat the above berries and fruits, because acid will aggravate the course of existing pathologies.
Effect of legumes on digestion
Legume products that help improve bowel function include:
- lentils;
- peas;
- beans;
- chickpeas
They contain, like vegetables and fruits, soluble and insoluble fiber, which has a laxative effect.
In case of exacerbation of gastritis and gastric ulcer, legumes are completely excluded from the list of consumed foods. At the same time, they have anti-inflammatory properties and can be useful in some gastrointestinal pathologies, for example, Crohn's disease.
Drinking regime for constipation
If a person drinks little fluid, the body begins to take water from the intestines. This leads to excessive compaction of stool. In addition, dehydration enhances fermentation processes and creates conditions for the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. To prevent water from being removed from the stool, you should drink at least 1.5-2 liters of liquid per day. You need to drink 30 minutes before meals and 2 hours after meals. To enhance the laxative effect, water should be replaced with freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices.
Laxatives
If the therapeutic diet does not produce results, you can use a laxative that softens the stool. Since all laxatives have a number of contraindications, they must be taken with caution. For example, you should not take a fast-acting laxative for hard stool, since it does not help soften the stool; the passage of stool may be accompanied by pain and rupture of the anus.
Which drugs to use to soften stool depends on how advanced the pathological condition is. When choosing a drug, you should also take into account the patient’s age and the presence of any concomitant diseases.
Medicines to normalize stool
Medicinal laxatives differ in the form of release, the main active substance and the principle of action on the body.
To quickly relieve constipation, drugs are often used that irritate the intestinal walls and enhance peristalsis. The active components present in these products stimulate the production of mucous secretions and act on the nerve endings in the large intestine, provoking the urge to defecate. Effective laxatives include:
Fast-acting laxatives.
- Basacodyl.
- Laxatin.
- Laxbene.
- Dulcolax.
- Senna.
- Regulax.
- Senade.
- Guttalax.
- Laxigal.
- Stable.
- Picolax.
These medications should be used as recommended by a doctor. Abuse of laxatives causes addiction to them - then the patient has to constantly take these drugs to stimulate bowel movements.
Candles
Stool softening suppositories are an excellent replacement for laxative tablets. The intestine is their immediate zone of action. They are quite effective for functional constipation. If the cause of constipation is diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the desired effect from the suppository will not occur. In this case, it is better to use an enema or laxative in the form of tablets, since the accumulation of feces occurs in the upper intestine. Mechanical obstacles in the intestines (scars, neoplasms) will also not give any effect from the use of suppositories.
Traditional methods
Some medicinal herbs have a mild laxative effect. Folk remedies are safer than drugs if used correctly.
knotweed
Both green and dried knotweed are used to relieve constipation. This plant contains the following active substances:
- flavonoids;
- quercitrin;
- kaempferol;
- myricitrin;
- resins;
- carboxylic acids, etc.
Knotweed is a medicinal plant that is used to treat constipation.
To prepare the healing agent, 2 tbsp. l. chopped herbs pour 200 ml of hot water. The mixture is boiled for 5 minutes, then removed from the heat and left for another half hour in a thermos.
The product is taken 1/3 cup 3 times a day.
Black elderberry
Black elderberry flowers and berries are used to relieve constipation.
This herbal raw material contains the following active substances:
- organic acids;
- flavonoids;
- essential oils;
- resins;
- mineral salts;
- glycosides, etc.
Black elderberries have a laxative effect.
In spring, young elderberry leaves are used to relieve constipation. To prepare the healing product, 20 g of crushed raw materials are poured into 200 ml of boiling water. The mixture is infused for 20 minutes. The composition is taken 1 glass in the morning and evening. Honey is added to improve taste.
To provoke defecation, both dried and fresh fruits are used.
It is recommended to eat 200 g of berries. Compotes and jelly are made from dried fruits. They are drunk instead of water.
Plantain seed decoction
To relieve constipation, use plantain seeds. It contains the following active substances:
- oleic acid;
- slime;
- polyunsaturated fatty acids;
- aucubin;
- cellulose;
- carotene, etc.
Plantain seeds eliminate constipation and help normalize intestinal function.
In the absence of inflammatory bowel diseases, the raw materials are used in their pure form. In the morning and evening you should eat 1 tbsp. l. seeds It is better to first crush them in a mortar. Throughout the day you need to drink as much water as possible.
In addition, a decoction is used to relieve constipation. To prepare it, pour 10 g of crushed seeds into 250 ml of cold water, place on low heat and bring to a boil. After this, the broth is allowed to cool. After 2 hours, the product is filtered. Drink 1/3 glass of liquid 3 times a day before meals.
Rowan berries
Rowan berries contain many organic acids.
Just 150 g of ripe berries can have a laxative effect. The fruits are washed down with cold water. The urge to defecate occurs within 1 hour. In addition, rowan liqueur is used to relieve constipation. To prepare the drink, sprinkle 500 g of berries with sugar and leave for 24 hours at room temperature. When the fruits give juice, the composition is filtered. The syrup is diluted with vodka in a ratio of 1:6. The mixture is infused for 3 days. Liquor is taken 30 ml before bedtime. It should be washed down with plenty of water.
Fresh red rowan berries help relieve constipation.
Wheat bran
Wheat bran contains a lot of fiber and gluten.
This product helps to enhance intestinal motility and improve its microflora. The daily dose of bran is 25 g. They can be added to various dishes. To quickly relieve constipation, it is recommended to drink bran infusion. To prepare a healing drink, 25 g of raw material is poured into 500 ml of boiling water. The composition is infused for 2 hours. It is then filtered and cooled.
Oil and enema
If medications do not give the desired effect, or there are contraindications to their use, there is another way to soften the stool in the rectum - an enema. If constipation is not severe, a hypertonic enema is used, which is aimed at flushing out feces by introducing a specially designed solution into the intestines. This method is quite effective if the question arises about how to quickly soften stool. Softening of feces occurs due to the fact that salt water increases osmotic pressure, which is why their exit occurs painlessly and freely.
Raw and cooked vegetables: preparing salads and smoothies
Eat as many vegetables as possible that contain coarse fiber, because it is this that allows you to restore the intestinal microflora and improve its functioning. Such products include beets, cabbage, pumpkin, carrots, and sweet peppers. You can prepare a tasty and healthy salad by boiling carrots and beets and grating them on a coarse grater. It is advisable to season the dish with linseed or olive oil. Eat a serving of salad for three days to relieve constipation.
And if you want to fix the problem in one or two days, prepare a smoothie of spinach, cucumber and water. Simply place the chopped vegetables in a blender and add a small amount of liquid, then blend everything thoroughly. Many nutritionists recommend this remedy for constipation.
Tasty medicine - fruits
Fruits are perhaps the most delicious “savior” foods. If you suffer from stomach constipation, you can prepare a salad from pieces of avocado, oranges, and grapes. Use different fruits each time to restore your intestinal microflora as quickly as possible. It is advisable to season this salad with yogurt. Children will certainly like this dish, because it is very tasty!
Avocados contain large amounts of folic acid. It is enough to eat one fruit for four days for the intestines to finally stop bothering you. This product improves the absorption of nutrients from food, because it contains a large amount of oil. Oranges help remove toxins and carcinogens from the body. Raw grapes have a powerful laxative effect on the intestines.
