From: Nancy Desjardins R.N.C.P.
Did you know that high stress levels can contribute to constipation? Well, they can. And when you throw in a diet high in sugar or low in fibre, you have a recipe for a major problem.
As I’ve mentioned many times, constipation isn’t something to be taken lightly. It’s a serious problem that can affect your overall health. If you’ve ever been constipated — and who hasn’t? — you know it can be a very painful condition. But worse than that, chronic constipation is a toxic condition.
The good news is that it can be reversed — and kept away — just by changing what you eat and drink.
Nutritionist and researcher Norman W. Walker, PhD, was an early advocate of fresh, raw vegetable juices, a positive attitude and regular colon cleansing as the way to become younger and stay healthy.
It’s also the best way to keep constipation away. And it’s the formula I have been following, and advocating, in my own holistic nutrition practice.
To understand why chronic constipation is so unhealthy, you first need to understand what’s going on in your guts — and your colon. Here’s my “Constipation for Dummies” explanation:
Toxins are formed and absorbed when waste remains in the intestines. Waste should be eliminated through the bowels on a regular basis — a healthy colon eliminates waste in 6-18 hours. But the colon can’t do its job properly if you haven’t given your body the diet it needs to keep it in tip-top shape. The colon is a natural breeding ground for bacteria, which is a good thing, because these bacteria neutralize and prevent a toxic condition from developing in the colon. The problem is, there are two types of bacteria: the good kind — the healthy, scavenging variety — and the bad guys — the disease-producing kind. In a clean, healthy environment, the healthy, scavenging bacteria will control the bad bacteria. But they can’t do that when your colon is all plugged up.
And that’s why eating food that is easy to digest will keep your colon in good working order, which will keep you regular. Not to mention healthier — and happier!
High-sugar, low-fibre diets that feature refined flour, rice and pasta are exactly what you want to stay away from to avoid chronic constipation. These diets are a recipe for sluggish peristaltic muscles. And you need a smooth rhythmic contraction of muscles to propel the contents of your stomach through the digestive tract.
Which brings us back to the foods that will keep your digestive muscles humming along happily. You guessed it — raw foods!
Raw foods can provide the necessary fibre, as well as all the nutrients, your body needs to keep all your parts functioning as they should. In addition, many people experiencing constipation do not drink enough liquids. Yes, more liquid, especially pure water, is necessary for waste movement. But before you add milk to your liquid diet — stop! Did you know that the consumption of cow’s milk is the most common cause of hard, dry stools? If you want to read all about it, I recommend Milk A-Z — it’s a great book.
As mentioned earlier, high stress levels can also contribute to constipation. So along with the right diet, try to remove — or at least manage — the stress in your life.
Here are some diet recommendations that can keep constipation away:
- Add chlorophyll. Found in green foods such as alfalfa, wheatgrass, barley grass, spirulina and blue-green algae, chlorophyll cleanses and heals the digestive tract.
- Add fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir and miso. Thet replenish the friendly bacteria needed for a healthy colon.
- A glass of lemon and hot water in the morning helps promote normal bowel function.
- Sauerkraut contains choline, an essential nutrient, that activates peristaltic movement.
- Foods rich in magnesium, such as dark green leafy vegetables and figs, draw water into the stools, increasing their volume and softness.
Try this easy colon cleanse gel drink. It will move through your intestinal track like a broom, sweeping everything clean:
- 1-1/2 cups pure water
- 1 tablespoon good quality green powder (I like Sun is Shining by Sunfood nutrition)
- 2 tbsp ground flax seed
Mix together and drink on an empty stomach at bedtime or 1-2 hours before meals. It works!
Remember, a happy digestive system is a happy colon.
Here are what I consider must-have books for your health library:
Colon Health: The Key to a Vibrant Life, by Norman W. Walker
Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management, by Bernard Jensen.
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