Constipation.
We all suffer from it at one point or another, no big deal. However, recurrent bouts of constipation need attention.

Do you know that 1 in 4 Canadians has symptoms of constipation?

You are constipated, if you meet at least 2 of the following criteria:

• Fewer than 3 bowel movements / week
• Hard stools 25% of the time
• Feeling as if you are not done 25% of the time
• Sensation of obstruction 25% of the time
• Having to manually remove stools 25% of the time
• Hard stools without the use of laxatives
• Feeling of bloating/ full sensation in abdomen most of the time and a sense of relief after defecating
• Bleeding hemorrhoids
What causes of constipation?

1. A weak digestive system which is unable to process the food you are eating, assimilate nutrients and get rid of toxins and waste from the body.

2. Frequently ignoring the natural urge to go when nature calls. After years of repressing the urge to defecate, the body simply stops urging.

3. Lack of physical activity. Exercising helps with peristalsis (natural contraction of the intestines to aid the movement of stools out of the body).

4. Certain drugs, medications, diuretics will also cause constipation.

5. Lack of fiber in the diet, as a result of overeating too many refined, sugary, starchy foods.

6. Dehydration

7. Stress, anxiety and depression

8. Medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid imbalance, lupus or cancer.
The problem with constipation is that you either don’t bother about it at all or you are too dependent on over the counter laxatives to deal with it.

Both have their own set of challenges.

1. Don’t care about being constipated?
Unfortunately, you might not give a second thought to being irregular or having trouble with your bowel movement. You  live with the condition for years, shrugging if off as something common to everyone.
But beware of this attitude!

Recurring constipation means something is amiss. It’s a sign that the gut isn’t functioning  optimally as it should, and that we need to adjust our diet and lifestyle to get more ‘regular’.

Stools are basically garbage and toxins that the body is supposed to get rid of. If you are constipated you are literally clogging yourself on the inside with all that ‘sh*t’!

Long term chronic constipation has been linked with other problematic chronic conditions like:

• – Hemorrhoids
• – Anal fissures (cracks in the skin around the anus)
• – Rectal prolapse (loose tissue of the rectum that protrudes out through the anus)
• – Undue pressure on uterus for women
• – Fecal incontinence

Constipation negatively affects the quality of your life and unnecessary creates mental and physical stress.

2. Dependent on laxatives? 

The opposite side of the coin may have you dependent on over the counter laxatives!

Overuse of laxatives may lead to physical and psychological dependence on laxatives.

When I started working with a lady suffering from chronic constipation, I was appalled at her dependence on laxatives.

Her constipation was so bad that she would not ‘go’ for several days, sometimes upto couple of weeks!

She felt gross and was so desperate to ‘go’ that she took laxatives several times a day!

As a result she was insecure to go for social outings, family picnics, travels or even short walks.

She was depriving herself from living a normal life, as she never knew when the laxatives would do their job and she would have to make an instant run to the washroom.

Therefore she had put herself in a ‘house-arrest’. She was simply too afraid to go anywhere, least there was no washroom in proximity.

Besides, long term use of stimulants may irritate the lining of the colon, and may lead to ‘cathartic colon’. It’s a condition that increases constipation instead of improving it.

Extended use of stimulant laxatives also makes your body ‘lazy’. Since the laxatives are doing the work, the body’s natural rhythm declines even further, aggravating constipation.

So what can you do to beat constipation naturally?

1. Strengthen your digestive system!
Grab my free guide to 10 Essential Foods for Rocking Digestion and Energetic You and begin strengthening your gut right away.

2. Get moving.
Walk, run, dance, yoga- anything that helps with peristalsis. Here are some yoga poses that will help with constipation.

3. Water, water, water!
Drink at least 8 glasses of water and avoid dehydrating beverages like soda/ pop/ coffee etc. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, flavor it with cucumbers, lemons or strawberries.

4. Eat lots of fiber rich foods like leafy greens, fruits with skin, whole grains. Broccoli, cabbage, celery, okra, peas, prunes, bananas, spinach are some foods you should eat regularly.

Here is a fiber rich Spinach Quinoa recipe for you to try out.

5. Stay away from processed, packaged and sugar rich foods. Sometimes cutting back on dairy and animal meat temporarily may also help.

6. Make it a habit to go when nature calls.
If you have been constipated for a while, it may help to just go and sit on the toilet every morning around the same time, to retrain your body.

7. Address underlying medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid which may be making you constiapted.
This is just the starting point.

There are many more natural ways to beat constipation.

If you’ve been struggling with constipation for years- you need to unclog the colon, get rid of the toxic waste build up and assimilate and absorb vital nutrients from the foods you eat.

This gives you energy and vitality so that you can feel refreshed and vibrant.

Take advantage of  your complimentary Freedom from Digestive Problems coaching session with me by clicking here.

During our call, we will:
1. Create a crystal clear vision for the ideal life you’ll be living in your energized, symptoms free and confident body.
2. Uncover the root cause, hidden challenges and self sabotaging habits that may be causing your digestive issues.
3. Leave this session renewed, inspired, ready to finally strengthen digestion so you can enjoy your favorite foods with restrictions and be your best once and for all.

Simply click here and book your call.
I always love to hear from you, so don’t forget to leave me a comment and connect with me on social media!

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