Daily Remedies for Constipation
Daily Remedies for Constipation
Many people, especially in the modern world, often experience constipation. It's estimated that over half of the population faces this issue.
If you find yourself needing external assistance to pass stool, having fewer than three bowel movements per week, experiencing a sensation of rectal blockage after a bowel movement, or feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete, you can self-diagnose with constipation.
When dealing with constipation, some people tend to either ignore it, thinking it's not a serious issue and can be endured, or rush to take laxatives. However, both of these approaches are not the right ways to address constipation.
If you want to alleviate the problem of constipation, remember the following tips:
Eat Ripe Bananas
Bananas do have a certain degree of effectiveness in aiding digestion and promoting bowel movements, but not all bananas are suitable for relieving constipation.
Only ripe bananas assist with regular bowel movements. "Green" or unripe bananas, on the other hand, tend to have the opposite effect. They not only fail to aid in bowel movements but can also have a constipating and anti-diarrheal effect. If you're already constipated and consume unripe bananas, it can worsen the condition.
In simple terms, fruits that taste bitter and astringent when you eat them are often constipating and not conducive to bowel motility. Examples include pomegranates and persimmons.
Even though bananas are inexpensive and delicious, they are not suitable for everyone. Individuals with a "cold" constitution from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, those with pre-existing intestinal conditions, or those with impaired kidney function should not consume bananas in excess.
Here's a recommended banana constipation-relief salad recipe:
Ingredients: One ripe banana, one dragon fruit, one cup of thick yogurt.
Method: Cut the flesh of the banana and dragon fruit into bite-sized pieces and place them in a plate or a large bowl. Pour in the yogurt.
Result: You have a delicious and healthy "bowel-regulating" salad ready to enjoy!
Eat Raw Radishes
The key to whether radishes can relieve constipation lies in how you eat them – should they be cooked or consumed raw?
The answer is that you should eat raw radishes.
Radishes contain a substance called "mustard oil" which can stimulate intestinal peristalsis. This substance is what gives you a slight burning sensation in your mouth when you eat radishes.
In addition to containing mustard oil, radishes are rich in another substance called "amylase," which aids in food digestion in our bodies.
So, eating raw radishes can be helpful in promoting regular bowel movements and relieving constipation.
However, if you cook radishes, even though they may taste better, you'll destroy the amylase and mustard oil, losing the digestive and constipation-relief benefits.
While radishes do have a role in relieving gas and indigestion, among middle-aged and elderly individuals, there is often a lack of gastrointestinal motility. In such cases, overconsumption of radishes may lead to constipation or worsen existing constipation.
Include Whole Grains
While vegetables and fruits contain a significant amount of dietary fiber, eating only vegetables is not sufficient to relieve constipation. Dietary fiber needs to be accompanied by an adequate amount of water to promote regular bowel movements.
If you consume a large amount of dietary fiber without enough water, your stool can become very dry and difficult to pass, potentially leading to constipation.
Furthermore, when it comes to dietary fiber content, whole grains surpass vegetables. Grains like oats, buckwheat, and cornmeal contain a very high proportion of dietary fiber.
Therefore, incorporating whole grains into your daily diet, such as by making oatmeal porridge, not only increases the fiber content in your intestines but also provides enough moisture to lubricate your bowels, stimulate bowel movements, and improve annoying constipation.
Drink Black Tea and Pu'er Tea
Black tea and Pu'er tea are both fermented teas, and they have a lower tannin content compared to other teas. Tannin can inhibit bowel movements and worsen constipation.
Therefore, people with constipation are better off drinking black tea and Pu'er tea.
Green tea, which is not fermented, contains a higher amount of tannin and may potentially lead to constipation.
Some semi-fermented teas, such as Tieguanyin and Oolong tea, are suitable for elderly patients and those with a cold constitution who suffer from constipation. However, it's important to reduce the brewing time and tea leaf amount when drinking tea to avoid excessive stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which can, in turn, inhibit gastrointestinal motility. In other words, don't overindulge in strong, concentrated teas.
Abdominal Massage
Start by rubbing your hands together until you feel some warmth.
Then, place your hands one on top of the other in the lower right corner of your abdomen and gently slide your palms in a clockwise direction to massage your entire abdominal area.
Press to a depth of about 1-2 centimeters, applying pressure comfortably. There's no limit to the number of massages you can do; the more, the better.
This method can stimulate intestinal peristalsis, increase intra-abdominal pressure, and assist with bowel movements.
Life is not always easy, and constipation can make it even harder. After reading this article, we hope that everyone can lead a healthier life with well-functioning bowels. If daily methods fail to alleviate your constipation problem, it's advisable to seek medical attention for an early diagnosis and treatment.
Many people, especially in the modern world, often experience constipation. It's estimated that over half of the population faces this issue.
If you find yourself needing external assistance to pass stool, having fewer than three bowel movements per week, experiencing a sensation of rectal blockage after a bowel movement, or feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete, you can self-diagnose with constipation.
When dealing with constipation, some people tend to either ignore it, thinking it's not a serious issue and can be endured, or rush to take laxatives. However, both of these approaches are not the right ways to address constipation.
If you want to alleviate the problem of constipation, remember the following tips:
Eat Ripe Bananas
Bananas do have a certain degree of effectiveness in aiding digestion and promoting bowel movements, but not all bananas are suitable for relieving constipation.
Only ripe bananas assist with regular bowel movements. "Green" or unripe bananas, on the other hand, tend to have the opposite effect. They not only fail to aid in bowel movements but can also have a constipating and anti-diarrheal effect. If you're already constipated and consume unripe bananas, it can worsen the condition.
In simple terms, fruits that taste bitter and astringent when you eat them are often constipating and not conducive to bowel motility. Examples include pomegranates and persimmons.
Even though bananas are inexpensive and delicious, they are not suitable for everyone. Individuals with a "cold" constitution from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, those with pre-existing intestinal conditions, or those with impaired kidney function should not consume bananas in excess.
Here's a recommended banana constipation-relief salad recipe:
Ingredients: One ripe banana, one dragon fruit, one cup of thick yogurt.
Method: Cut the flesh of the banana and dragon fruit into bite-sized pieces and place them in a plate or a large bowl. Pour in the yogurt.
Result: You have a delicious and healthy "bowel-regulating" salad ready to enjoy!
Eat Raw Radishes
The key to whether radishes can relieve constipation lies in how you eat them – should they be cooked or consumed raw?
The answer is that you should eat raw radishes.
Radishes contain a substance called "mustard oil" which can stimulate intestinal peristalsis. This substance is what gives you a slight burning sensation in your mouth when you eat radishes.
In addition to containing mustard oil, radishes are rich in another substance called "amylase," which aids in food digestion in our bodies.
So, eating raw radishes can be helpful in promoting regular bowel movements and relieving constipation.
However, if you cook radishes, even though they may taste better, you'll destroy the amylase and mustard oil, losing the digestive and constipation-relief benefits.
While radishes do have a role in relieving gas and indigestion, among middle-aged and elderly individuals, there is often a lack of gastrointestinal motility. In such cases, overconsumption of radishes may lead to constipation or worsen existing constipation.
Include Whole Grains
While vegetables and fruits contain a significant amount of dietary fiber, eating only vegetables is not sufficient to relieve constipation. Dietary fiber needs to be accompanied by an adequate amount of water to promote regular bowel movements.
If you consume a large amount of dietary fiber without enough water, your stool can become very dry and difficult to pass, potentially leading to constipation.
Furthermore, when it comes to dietary fiber content, whole grains surpass vegetables. Grains like oats, buckwheat, and cornmeal contain a very high proportion of dietary fiber.
Therefore, incorporating whole grains into your daily diet, such as by making oatmeal porridge, not only increases the fiber content in your intestines but also provides enough moisture to lubricate your bowels, stimulate bowel movements, and improve annoying constipation.
Drink Black Tea and Pu'er Tea
Black tea and Pu'er tea are both fermented teas, and they have a lower tannin content compared to other teas. Tannin can inhibit bowel movements and worsen constipation.
Therefore, people with constipation are better off drinking black tea and Pu'er tea.
Green tea, which is not fermented, contains a higher amount of tannin and may potentially lead to constipation.
Some semi-fermented teas, such as Tieguanyin and Oolong tea, are suitable for elderly patients and those with a cold constitution who suffer from constipation. However, it's important to reduce the brewing time and tea leaf amount when drinking tea to avoid excessive stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which can, in turn, inhibit gastrointestinal motility. In other words, don't overindulge in strong, concentrated teas.
Abdominal Massage
Start by rubbing your hands together until you feel some warmth.
Then, place your hands one on top of the other in the lower right corner of your abdomen and gently slide your palms in a clockwise direction to massage your entire abdominal area.
Press to a depth of about 1-2 centimeters, applying pressure comfortably. There's no limit to the number of massages you can do; the more, the better.
This method can stimulate intestinal peristalsis, increase intra-abdominal pressure, and assist with bowel movements.
Life is not always easy, and constipation can make it even harder. After reading this article, we hope that everyone can lead a healthier life with well-functioning bowels. If daily methods fail to alleviate your constipation problem, it's advisable to seek medical attention for an early diagnosis and treatment.
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