When Constipation Attacks
Constipation is perhaps the most frustrating and common complaints of the digestive tract in the United States. This affects the frequency as well as ease of bowel movements, though it varies from case to case.
Some move their bowels more than once a day, while others only go to the toilet at a maximum of three times a week. Fiber is seen as the most widely-kn0wn remedy for constipation. Studies prove that diets low in fiber are likely to cause constipation.
Fiber can come as soluble and insoluble, with the latter meaning it would pass through the body typically unchanged; it tends to give stools a softer texture as well as gives them bulk, making them easier to move. If you need to add more fiber to your diet, you might consider adding more whole grains to your meals, as well as vegetables and fruits. Whole grain bread is a good idea, as are brown rice and wheat bran. Meanwhile, soluble fiber can be dissolved in water and would form a gel-like substance in a person’s intestines. Some sources of these soluble fiber are figs and prunes, which are great choices for a snack or added to breakfast cereal. Fiber supplements may also be taken. Of course, an important thing to remember about adding fiber to the diet is to do so gradually in order to prevent gas and bloating; enough water will also be required in order to keep the fiber from having the opposite effect and causing more constipation!