Constipation: Easing the Strain
Health begins in the gut, and ongoing or cyclical constipation is a tell-tale sign that your digestive system is out of balance.
Passing a stool is the primary way for your body to eliminate waste products, bacteria, toxins, hormones and byproducts of digestion. When the stool stays longer in the large intestine, water and toxic waste products are reabsorbed into the bloodstream, for re-uptake into the cells to cause increased inflammation, toxic load, and hormonal imbalances.
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Work with you to discover imbalances in the gut microbiome
Reveal nutrient sensitivities and deficiencies driving your constipation
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Book AppointmentTo learn more about why your digestive system is struggling, and how to get your bowels moving, read on for our Natural Clinic Clinical Guide to Constipation.
Natural Clinic Clinical Guide for Constipation
CONSTIPATION: WHAT IS IT?
Constipation is characterised by infrequent or incomplete bowel motions. Constipation can mean hard, dry and limited bowel motions, or bowel movements occurring less than three times a week.
When the stool is stagnant in the intestine, a more alkaline PH environment is created in the colon due to ammonia production from the waste products, discouraging growth of our good bacteria species Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and attracting growth of bad bacteria to initiate dysbiosis.
A not so pleasant analogy to emphasise the importance of bowel regularity is likening the stool to the garbage bin; if you did not empty the bin regularly the waste will overflow into the surrounding room and the garbage would putrefy, begin to release unpleasant gases and attract higher levels of unwanted bacteria.
The associated dysbiosis, inflammation and re-circulation of waste products is what makes constipation a causative factor for numerous chronic degenerative diseases, including arthritis and autoimmune diseases.
This guide provides advice on how to treat the core foundations of constipation. For more complex, chronic constipation we advise booking in with one of our Clinical Naturopaths for tailored, individualised support.
Remove the guessing-game and get results.CAUSES & TRIGGERS OF CONSTIPATION
- Food sensitivities, intolerances
- Insufficient fibre intake
- Insufficient water & fluid consumption
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Bacterial/ fungal overgrowth (SIBO / SIFO, LiBO, LIFO)
- Depression
- Medication side effects
- Change to routine (e.g. travelling, moving)
- Pregnancy
- IBS
- Sluggish liver function
- Low-fat diets
- Magnesium deficiency
- Hypothyroidism
How your diet plays a role
Increased fibre intake and water consumption is the key dietary recipe for increasing bowel motions.
If increasing fibre makes your symptoms worse, we recommend booking in with one of our practitioners to investigate bacterial overgrowth.
Increase dietary fibre
Aim to get 30g fibre per day through:
- Having 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed and/or chia seeds in smoothies / salads per day
- Include a variety of vegetables with each main meal, and consume 1-2 pieces of fresh fruit per day
Avoid foods that will aggravate constipation
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Inflammatory vegetable oils
- Refined, white carbohydrates
Stay hydrated
- Check your urine colour: aim to drink enough water to keep your urine clear or light lemon in colour.
- Adults: aim to drink roughly 8 glasses of filtered water per day.
Limit alcohol intake
Test for deficiencies in blood testing and rectify through diet and supplementation.
Pharmaceutical and conventional treatments for constipation
- Stool softeners: for short term use only
- Stimulant laxatives: for short term use only
- Fibre supplements e.g. Metamucil, Benefiber
- Osmotics
Suspecting an imbalance in your gut microbiome?
REVEAL EXACTLY WHAT BACTERIA IS IN YOUR GUT WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE GUT MICROBIOME FUNCTIONAL TESTING.
Speak to one of our qualified practitioners for more information.
Call UsNatural treatments to manage your constipation
Draws water into the intestine to soften the stool so that it is easier to pass, and stimulates bowel motion.
The combination of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium breve is scientifically proven to increase the frequency of bowel motions, soften the stool and support healthy a gut microbiome to improve overall gut function.
Consuming a variety of fibre in the diet is associated with increases in bowel motions through increasing stool mass and stimulating the mechanical function of the colonic mucosa.
Soothing aloe vera extract alongside herbal extracts to stimulate the liver function to assist bowel regularity, as well as reducing inflammation in the gut.
Consuming dandelion root tea before your first main meal of the day is an easy, effective way to stimulate gall-bladder and liver function to assist digestion and relieve constipation.
Tired of taking multiple supplements for your constipation?
Let us narrow it down to one that works.
Constipation has multiple causes and that’s why you often need multiple products to get things moving.
We can compound one product that replaces all your existing products. Your very own, tailored nutritional formula with ingredients at dosages specific to your body.
Speak to one of our practitioners.
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Book your Natural Clinic Constipation Consult for professional advice.
Natural Clinic Constipation Consult: $75
References:
Zhao, Y., & Yu, Y. B. (2016). Intestinal microbiota and chronic constipation. SpringerPlus, 5(1), 1130.
El-Salhy, M., Ystad, S.O., Mazzawi, T., & Gundersen, D. (2017). Dietary fiber in irritable bowel syndrome (Review).
Neha R. Santucci, et al. (2021). Non-pharmacologic approach to pediatric constipation. Complementary Therapies in Medicine (59).