LATEST

WATCH

BEAUTY

HAIR

WEIGHT

HEALTH

SAVE

JOIN

RESOURCES

DONATE

LEGAL

[?] Subscribe To This Site

The Cause of Constipation

What is the cause of constipation? A tremendously important key to your health is a properly functioning colon. A normally functioning colon has two main purposes.

These are to absorb nutrients and to efficiently remove waste material to prevent toxicity.

When waste putrefies in your colon, it releases toxins that can reabsorb into your bloodstream and cause damage to other parts of your body. This is called autointoxification.

intestinal constipation image

Autointoxication affects the liver and symptoms can include anything from mood swings and irritability to more chronic conditions. The blood is also affected as the liver’s filtering job becomes impaired and this can have a negative effect on the whole body. You may think that this is not a problem for you but if you are not having more than one bowel movement daily, then its affecting you too!

The Cause of Constipation

Constipation is a sign that your intestines are not producing enough friendly bacteria, called active culture probiotics or getting enough friendly bacteria from the foods you consume. You may also be genetically predisposed to having bowel problems. These factors alone may be the cause of constipation for you.

When your diet is full of high fat and processed foods, (also meaning little fiber), your system has to struggle to get rid of waste materials. Your digestive system requires fiber to bulk up waste materials. Although fiber isn't digested, it helps to 'sweep' other foods along with it.

With a high fiber, complex-carbohydrate rich diet, your stools become much easier to pass and your bowel movements are regular and healthy. Without sufficient amounts of fiber, your bowels become stagnant, and you become constipated.

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that every person should have a bowel movement after each meal! The fact is, that there are far too few people who have normal defecation. Foods have become toxic, (full of steroids, additives, and preservatives) and lack minerals and nutrients needed for good digestion. Also far too many people have become lazy in exercise routines.

'Once a day' is the staple of what we are taught to believe is normal. For some people, it may even be once every three days or once a week. This just isn't acceptable.

What is considered normal has changed a lot over the years. In years past (in Western medicine), it was considered 'normal' to only have one bowel movement every three days or more. In 1968, this information was actually posted in many American Medical Journals. Therefore, in earlier years, it was considered 'not a big deal' if someone only had one bowel movement every now and again. However, extensive research over the last 50 years has shown that this is not normal at all. (Something Eastern medicine knew over 4000 years ago...)

The Standard American Diet (which is now consumed worldwide) is another cause of constipation. The foods you consume have a direct impact on bowel habits.

Getting well balanced nutrients in your diet is extremely hard to do if you consider the amount of artificial nutrients that are pumped into prepared foods at your local grocery store. That doesn't even begin to touch on the amount of toxins that are introduced to food sources each and every day or the amount of highly processed foods included in daily diets.

This has become the norm for most food providers because of the way food sources are regulated. Many foods now contain pesticides, insecticides, antibiotics, steroids, and other harmful chemicals.

If you're not drinking 8 glasses of pure water daily, your intestines may not have sufficient amounts of liquid to help sweep bowels along the intestinal tract. This can be a cause of constipation for many people who don't drink enough water. You can count clear diet sodas as a source of water but truly, there's nothing better than drinking water by itself!

Medications can also interfere with bowel movements. If you take prescription medications, do check the side effects. If constipation is listed, take preventative steps to ensure that medications aren't a cause of constipation for you.

Lack of movement and sedentary lifestyles can also be the cause of constipation. When you don't get enough exercise, there is no stimulation to the gut and digestion slows down.

Stress can also cause constipation. Stress puts the body in the 'fight or flight' mode. Blood flow is then diverted from digestion, making it more difficult for the associated organs to work properly. It also tenses intestinal muscles. The gastro-intestinal tract is notoriously sensitive to emotional upset. In fact doctors specializing in gastric disorders have called the gut 'the little brain', because it is so richly served by the nervous system. Its the same reason you get 'sick to your stomach' when you're upset, or get butterflies in your stomach when you're nervous.

Peristalsis is the contraction and release of the intestinal track to help remove fecal matter from the anus. When excess stress happens, digestive flow slows down which allows the intestines more time to draw liquid out of your stool. This causes the stool to become dry and hard which creates constipation.

constipation flow chart image

Constipation is the most common digestive complaint in the US. It is more common in women, children, and the elderly.

These are some of the latest statistics:

12% of the population (worldwide) reports constipation.

Chronic constipation accounts for 3% of all visits annually to pediatricians.

Yearly constipation-related health-care costs total $6.9 billion in the US.

More than four million Americans have frequent constipation.

Around $725 million is spent on laxatives each year in America.

Although the cause of constipation from person to person may differ, the dangerous side effects are universal. If you're not defecating regularly, its a good sign that something isn't working properly. There are so many easy ways to relieve constipation. Please do check out the pages on this site (listed just below) and get the help you need.

Always consult your physician before using natural remedies, especially for anyone with preexisting conditions or anyone currently taking prescription medications. Although many efforts are made to ensure that the advice given on this site is professionally sound, the advice is not intended to replace a mutual relationship with a medical provider.

Related Pages on This Site

How to Relieve Chronic Constipation

The Genetics of Constipation

Natural Constipation Relief to Save Money!

Raw Food Colon Cleansing Program

Natural Probiotics for Constipation

Digestive Enzyme Supplements – A Natural Constipation Remedy

Intestinal Bacteria - Rejuvenate with Rejuvelac!

Eat More High Fiber Food

High Fiber Diet - Eat More Soluble Fiber

Find the Best Prices

Active Culture Probiotics