Under Which Circumstances Can Bananas Relieve Constipation In Babies
While cooling foods decrease the temperature in the body, warming foods can do the exact opposite.
Just as heat dries up water in the nature, warming foods can dry up fluids in the body . Digestion-wise, if a person mostly eats warming foods, her stools can dry out. The digestive fire simply becomes too hot. This can cause constipation.
Such a condition of excess heat however, does not necessarily have to be caused by food. Hot weather, medical conditions, medications etc. can all have the exact same effect on the body. Eventually, they dry up all the fluids in the body.
From a TCM point of view, we would need to cool down such a system, because it became too hot. This is again, where bananas come into play, as it is considered a cold food.
In other words, if your baby suffers from constipation caused by excess heat, then and only then, can cold foods like bananas relieve constipation by decreasing the temperature in the body given of course that your baby receives enough fluids to rehydrate her once the system has cooled down !
Looking for ways to help your baby with constipation?
Check out my Shonishin Baby Constipation Massage Course and learn how to help your little one!
Fennel Peach + Pea Puree
This is a great puree filled with fruits and veggies that will help relieve babys constipation. You can also sub out the fennel for some pears if you need some more help to get things going down there. Another great option, is serving just a classic Pea Puree to baby.
This simple pear puree is great for mild cases of constipation in baby. You can add in 1/4 1/2 tsp of fresh ginger to help ease digestion pain.
Are Sweet Potatoes Constipating For Adults
Sweet potatoes for constipation relief One medium baked sweet potato with skin has 3.8 grams of fiber, which can help get things moving along. This high fiber content in sweet potatoes helps prevent and relieve constipation. The skin contains most of the fiber so leave it on for the biggest benefits.
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Tips To Help Constipation
How Can I Help My Child Live With Constipation
Constipation can be either short-term or long-term . Children with intestinal diseases may have chronic constipation problems. But in most cases, constipation is a short-term condition. If your child has chronic constipation, work with his or her healthcare provider. Together you can create a care plan that is right for your child.
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Some Believe Bananas Cause Constipation
Many articles on the internet claim that bananas cause constipation. Studies havent confirmed this, but some people believe they are a risk factor for this condition.
In one study, German researchers investigated the perceived effects of various food items on stool consistency. They surveyed three groups:
- IBS: 766 patients had irritable bowel syndrome , where constipation was a major symptom.
- Constipation. 122 patients were constipated.
- Control. 200 healthy individuals served as the control group.
When the 3 groups were asked which foods or beverages caused constipation, bananas were mentioned by 2948% of respondents.
In fact, only chocolate and white bread were named more often .
Summary
There is no strong evidence that bananas cause constipation, although one survey found that some people believe they do.
Baby Food Purees To Help Relieve Babys Constipation
Hands down, the question I get asked the most often by readers is ironically not about making or serving baby food, nope that would be easy. The question I get asked all the time is about what happens, or doesnt happen rather, after the baby eats their delicious homemade purees constipation. Granted, its not the most glamorous part of this blogging gig of mine )
So if your little one hasnt done their business in a couple of days and they are starting to get cranky and you are getting a little panicked, take a deep breath. Let it out. Everything is going to be okay.
Lets get down to the details. Your little has started on their puree journey and hopefully they are getting more in their mouths then on themselves . You are excited that your baby is eating your delicious purees and your baby is happy and healthy. Then they start getting backed up and after a couple of days you start to worry. Then the next day you get panicked and start googling at 2 in the morning about how your baby hasnt gone poo in 7 days and from your search results you are now convinced that they most likely have some rare stomach disease which leads you to stay up all night and worry. Hopefully, I am the only ridiculous parent that does this out there.
Trust me, your baby is just fine.
This is completely normal!
Dont go into panic mood.
Signs of Constipation in Baby:
7 Easy Cures for Constipation in Baby:
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Relieves Constipation: Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are delicious just about any way you prepare them, and they are also magic for a baby who needs to poop. Theyre high in insoluble fiber, which will help your baby go right away. Try making your own baby food by cooking and mashing a sweet potato or roast fries in the oven for fun finger food.
How To Prevent Constipation In Babies
In order to prevent constipation in babies, it is important to recognize the symptoms early. Otherwise, your baby will have painful stools and will begin withholding, only making the constipation worse.
Once your child is ready to be toilet trained, be sure that it is not forced, or this can only worsen constipation. It is helpful to have a regular toilet schedule for older children, such as visiting the potty after every meal until the problem is resolved.
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Baby Constipation From A Tcm Point Of View
When it comes to babies, the fire of the digestive system is not yet burning properly. Thats because its digestive system is only just developing and so the stomach temperature is still very low.
As the digestive system develops, the fire will naturally increase in temperature. Eventually it will be ready to digest foods which are more difficult to absorb. However, this takes time.
Because of that, feeding a baby either an overly cool or overly warm diet could be fatal and harm the still immature digestive system.
This is where bananas come into play: Bananas are considered a particularly cold food in TCM. And just like extreme cold slows down movements in the nature, such foods can slow down the movements in your babys body .
Digestion-wise, bananas can slow down the transportation of stools. This can lead to stomach cramps, bloating and, you guessed it right, constipation.
Do Carrots Constipate Babies
*Baby food low in fiber and high in starches, which may worsen constipation, include carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, bananas, applesauce, and rice cereal. You do not need to avoid these foods, but rather avoid pairing them at a meal. Instead, balance these foods with foods that are high in fiber and low in starch.
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Can You Boil Bananas For Baby Food
As banana doesnt need cooking, you can carry it while travelling and whenever the baby is hungry, just peel mash and feed the baby right away. Bananas are an excellent source of nutrition and make great first foods to babies. Banana puree can be introduced as solid food anywhere between the age of 4-6 months.
Some People Believe Bananas Cause Constipation While Others Swear By Them To Help Relieve It Here’s What We Found Out
- Bananas are loaded with fibre and nutrients that protect the gut lining
- Unripe bananas may cause constipation
- Banana is soft in texture, so it’s easier to mash
Who wouldn’t love eating a banana? It’s an easy-to-grab and hassle-free fruit to gorge on when we are pressed for time, especially in the morning. Moreover, the humble fruit is lauded for its taste and numerous health benefits that it has to offer. According to the book, ‘Healing Foods’ by DK Publishing, bananas are extremely versatile. They are rich in potassium, which is essential for maintaining blood pressure, and are natural antacids, which makes them a soothing and healing choice for an upset stomach. While it may be the ‘perfect’ fruit for many, it has become the centre of much debate regarding constipation. Some people believe bananas cause constipation, while others swear by them to help relieve it. It’s a common notion that infants shouldn’t be fed with bananas as their weak digestive system may not be able to handle too much fibre, causing irritation in the tummy. Here’s what we found out.
Bananas are loaded with fibre and nutrients that protect the gut lining
According to Delhi-based dietitian, Ritu Arora, “Ripened bananas improve the bowel syndrome and let micro villi present in small intestine to function better further helping in digestion and relieving constipation.”
Ripe Vs Unripe Bananas
Unripe bananas may cause constipation as they have high levels of resistant starch
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When Can Bananas Cause Constipation In Babies
As mentioned earlier, some articles on the internet claim that bananas will relieve baby constipation. Others tell you the exact opposite!
Likewise, I have met many parents who told me that their baby became constipated from bananas. Others told me, they helped relieve constipation. So who is right and who is wrong here?
The funny truth here is: they are both right! However, our Western Medicine is unable to explain this discrepancy.
So in order for you to understand why bananas can do both, cause and relieve constipation in babies, we need to look at how the Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at the digestive system and the problem of constipation in particular:
Liquid Foods To Relieve Constipation
Constipation in breastfed infants could be a symptom of a milk protein allergy, says Diana Lerner, M.D., instructor of pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Everything Mom eats gets passed to the baby, so breastfeeding women might consider taking dairy out of their diet. Similarly, they can try eating foods to help baby poop, such as prunes and fiber-filled items.
Exclusively formula-fed babies are much more likely to experience constipation than breastfeed infants, says Jane Morton, M.D., a clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. Some of the ingredients in formula might be more challenging to a baby’s digestive system and result in much firmer poops. Your pediatrician may switch your baby’s formula to one that isn’t milk-based.
Also, parents might also be tempted to switch to a low-iron formula if they suspect their baby is constipated, but Dr. Shu advises against it. Formula-fed babies need the extra iron, and although foods high in iron can cause constipation, the amount found in formula isn’t to blame.
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Solids And Constipation In Your 6 Month Old Baby
An exciting milestone in your babys development is the switch to solids. Its messy, fun and definitely frustrating for both of you at times, especially considering that introducing solids into her diet can also cause some issues in that tiny tummy.
First foods can be challenging for your baby as her digestive system is accustomed to formula or breast milk. While at this point the system has matured and developed, allowing her to digest more complex foods and absorb nutrients, the process of digesting solids takes longer and can often leave her constipated.
Why does your baby get constipated?
Adding solids to your babys diet can lead to constipation mainly because many of those recommended first foods dont have enough fiber, causing her to become backed up.
Solids like bananas, applesauce, or low fiber cereals can induce constipation. Dairy-based solids like cheese or yogurt are also more difficult for your baby to digest which can lead to constipation.
How to help a constipated baby:
Start Simply
One of the best baby constipation remedies is to eliminate the guesswork of what is causing it. Start introducing only one type of solid food every other day or every third day. By adding foods individually, you will have instant feedback on what food causes constipation or if your baby has an allergy to certain foods.
Avoid the ABC Diet
Gentle Massage
Warm Bath
Bicycle Kicks
Just lay your baby on her back and move her legs as though she was riding a bicycle.
Probiotics
What Causes Constipation
Although it’s rare for a baby on an all-liquid diet to experience constipation, it can happen. Exclusively formula-fed babies are much more likely to have trouble from constipation, Dr. Morton says. Formula can firm up poop much more than breast milk can, Dr. Shu adds. If your baby has a milk-protein allergy or intolerance, she could end up constipated. A milk-based formula could cause this, as well as the dairy in mom’s diet that’s passed through the breast milk. This also carries over to any other kinds of dairy an older baby could consume, such as yogurt and cheese.
When a baby is around 6 months, pediatricians often give parents the green light to offer an array of baby food. What your baby eats will largely determine the kind of poop you can expect, Dr. Shu says. And many different foods could contribute to constipation. Start by considering your ABCsapplesauce, bananas, and cereal, Dr. Morton says. Too much of any of these, especially rice cereal, can get you into trouble. When you start introducing table foods, it might be even harder to pinpoint the constipation culprit.
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The Issue Of Potassium
Bananas are known to be a source of potassium, leaving many parents to wonder can a toddler eat too many bananas and therefore ingest too much potassium. Despite this being a common concern, bananas don’t contain as much potassium as you may have heard .
Can eating too many bananas cause potassium poisoning in my Toddler? One medium banana contains on average 422 milligrams of potassium, while the minimum adequate potassium intake for a toddler aged between one and three years is 3000 milligrams.
For children aged between four and eight years, this figure rises to 3800 milligrams of potassium needed per day. This means that a toddler would need to consume about seven medium-sized bananas in one day just to reach the potassium threshold.
There are plenty of other foods that are even higher in potassium, including avocados, natural yoghurt, spinach, and sweet potatoes.
On the days that your toddler wolfs down a full banana and then promptly asks for another, you may find yourself wondering can a toddler eat too many bananas? Just like anything, the key to feeding your toddler bananas is to do so in moderation.
It is wonderful that your toddler is expressing an interest in fruit rather than processed foods especially fruit that is so high in nutrients.
On the other hand, bananas are high in sugar and can sometimes cause constipation and even difficulty with sleep .
Bananas Are Rich In Fiber
Banana is a high fiber fruit that is healthy for bacteria present in the gut. It provides fiber, magnesium and potassium, thereby meeting a lot of nutritional values to your health. They are easily available and convenient to eat. Fiber is highly recommended to keep the bowel movement smooth and for a proper digestive system. You must consume 30g of fiber each day for a healthy gut and one banana has 3 gm of fiber.
Note: Bananas are acidic in nature. Thus, do not consume it on an empty stomach. It may cause bowel problems. According to Ayurveda, one should not consume any fruit on an empty stomach.
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Fibres: Veggies + Fruits
While iron-rich food is important, fruits and veggies should also be part of a balanced meal for your baby. Fruits and veggies are full of vitamin C, which helps with the absorption of iron. They also provide helpful fibres to prevent constipation. Fibres are essential to help form the stool in the digestive tract.
As with everything, varying the sources of fibres is always a good idea. In addition to fruits and veggies, other sources of fibres include ground nuts, ground seeds, whole-grain products like toasted bread, cooked legumes and beans
All of these are great food to introduce because, yes, they are good sources of fibres, but mostly because they taste good, they are nutritious, they make for a varied diet, and baby will love them!
Symptoms Of Constipation In A Breasted Baby
How can you tell if your babys constipated? Its important to note that the frequency of bowel movements isnt always an accurate indication of constipation. Neither is seeing your baby grunt or strain while having a movement.
Many babies look like theyre pushing when theyre having a bowel movement. That may be because babies use their abdominal muscles to help them pass stool. They also spend a lot of time on their backs, and without gravity to help them, they may have to work a little more to move their bowels.
Better indications of constipation in a breastfed baby are:
- firm, tight, distended belly
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