How To Help Constipation Fast

Are There Any Home Remedies To Help With Constipation

Squatty Potty toilet stools have been instrumental in helping some people find relief from constipation. Our company was founded on an attempt to treat constipation after all. Squatting to poop makes a big difference. But what else can be done to find constipation relief? We asked real doctors about real home remedies for fast constipation relief.

Make Time To Move Your Bowels

Try waking up earlier to eat breakfast and then move yourbowels. Food can stimulate the need to go, and you probably feel most relaxedin your home bathroom.

But dont get toorelaxed in there the more time you spend on the toilet, the more likely you areto strain for bowel movements. Do not take your cell phone into the bathroomwith you, or work on your computer or read a book, Dr. Zutshi advises.

And if you feel the urge to go when youre out an about,dont avoid using a public restroom. Delaying a bowel movement can actuallymake constipation worse.

How To Get Rid Of Constipation Fast With Fiber And Whole Foods

There are also high-fiber foods to relieve constipation. The food you eat plays a huge role in determining gut health and the quick, comfortable passage of stool through the digestive system. In fact, changing your diet may be the most useful natural remedy for constipation.

Something to keep in mind if youre wondering how to cure constipation is that, generally speaking, processed foods are bad for you. These items are usually free of fiber, a non-digestible, plant-based nutrient that is ultimately the main ingredient to keep stool moving through you.

White breads, cakes, and candies are not only dangerous for your health, but do virtually nothing to promote healthy bodily processes, and are responsible for the low-fiber diets of many Americans. And although meats and dairy are not necessarily bad for you, they, too, are not good sources of fiber. So, where should you get it?

Fruits, Vegetables, and Whole Grains

This is where youre going to get your fiber. Daily recommended allowances for fiber are between 25 and 38 grams per day, which can be reached quite easily by eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

• Kiwi

You May Like: Does Almond Milk Cause Bloating

How To Use The Wind

First of all, you need to place a yoga mat on the floor. After that, you need to position yourself on the mat and keep your body parallel to the floor. Try to keep your whole body straight.

Now do the following:

• Bring your knees to your chin.
• Bend your back forward .
• Block your knees with your palms.
• Keep this posture for 1-3 breaths.
• Release the knees slowly.

Repeat this exercise 5-10 times slowly. Start with one series of warm-ups and do 2-3 series of slow movement. The slower you will start, the faster the results will be.

This exercise is excellent for fast constipation relief because it improves bowel movement. Also, it increases the anorectal angle. This thing means that defecation will become natural.

By exercising with this yoga posture, the pressure inside will make the gas evacuate faster. This thing happens because the knees and the thighs will press the lower abdomen.

Home Remedies For Constipation Relief

Dietary changes, drinking water, exercise, and taking supplements are among the natural ways to relieve symptoms of constipation. Identifying the factors contributing to constipation can help you decide which remedies are best. A combination of the following remedies may be necessary to treat the problem.

Read Also: Does Almond Milk Make You Gassy

Fiber Is Not Always The Answer

If adding fiber to your diet in the form of food orsupplements makes you more bloated and blocked than before, there are a numberof potential reasons. For example, in slow transit constipation, a conditionwhere the bowel does not move things quickly through, fiber sits in your gut andcan make you feel worse.

Long story short: If fiber makes you worse, dont just addmore. See your doctor.

How To Get Rid Of Constipation Remedy #10 Diet

As I said earlier, poor diet is one of the main causes ofconstipation. So to keep yourself regular and constipation free all you need todo is this

Simply avoid all foods that are man-made and only eat foods that have been provided by nature! Plenty of freshfruit and veggies, along with herbs, nuts and grains are definitely the way togo. These foods are packed with fiber and essential nutrients, which of courseare crucial for proper digestion, assimilation and elimination.

So to finish off, heres a few of the best home remedies and curesfor constipation that have been given to us by nature

Prunes: Prunes are extremely high in fiber and guaranteedto keep you regular. Eat fresh prunes daily or drink the juice.

Plumbs, pears, apricots, grapes, figs and apples: Also exceptionallyhigh in fiber. These fruits are considered the standard colon cleansers and naturalconstipation cures.

Flax seeds: Flax seeds and/or flaxseed oil is a terrific remedy for constipation. It gently cleans and soothes the walls ofthe intestines and bowel to soften stools and promote regular bowel movements.

Cabbage, spinach, beans and broccoli: These veggies andlegumes are also excellent high fiber foods that should be eaten as much aspossible to stay regular.

Bananas and rhubarb: Two more home remedies forconstipation that work very well. Just make sure the bananas are overripe bananasand not green. Green bananas can have the opposite effect and will actually makeyou more constipated.

You May Like: What Does It Mean When You Keep Having Heartburn

The 17 Best Foods To Relieve Constipation

About 14% of people experience chronic constipation at some point .

Symptoms include passing stools less than three times per week, straining, lumpy or hard stools, a sensation of incomplete evacuation, feeling blocked, or being unable to pass a stool.

The type and severity of symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people experience constipation only rarely, while its a chronic condition for others.

Constipation has a variety of causes, but its often the result of the slow movement of food through the digestive system.

This may be due to dehydration, a poor diet, medications, illness, diseases affecting the nervous system, or mental disorders.

Fortunately, certain foods can help relieve constipation by adding bulk, softening stool, decreasing gut transit time, and increasing stool frequency.

Here are 17 foods that can help relieve constipation and keep you regular.

How To Get Rid Of Constipation In The Morning

Take a half of a lemon and extract the juice from it. Add the juice to a glass of warm water. You can also add to this water ½ tsp of table salt or a little of rock salt together with a little honey. Drink this mixture in the morning when having an empty stomach. Alternatively, you can drink it in the evening.

Read Also: Why Does Lettuce Give Me Diarrhea

How To Get Rid Of Constipation Remedy #6 Tea Or Coffee

Having your normal cup of tea or coffee first thing inthe morning can work wonders for keeping you regular. Both contain caffeine,which is a natural stimulant for the digestive system and is renowned for gettingthings moving down below. However, tea and coffee arent much use if yourebadly constipated and looking for quick relief. But they are very useful if yourelooking for a simple and easy way to stay regular. Once again, pregnant womencan use this remedy but no more than one cup a day is usually recommended.

Medical Treatment For Constipation

Medicine

If over-the-counter treatments donât do the job, your doctor may prescribe a different kind of medication.

• Prescription laxatives such as linaclotide, lubiprostone, and plecanatide work by increasing the amount of water in your intestines and speeding up the movement of stool. Note that Amitiza is approved for use only in women.

• Serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptors. Prucalopride is a powerful stimulant thatâs used for chronic constipation without a known cause.

• PAMORAs. This is a shorter way of saying âperipherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists.â These work on constipation thatâs caused by opioid pain medicines. These drugs include methylnaltrexone and naloxegol

Surgery for constipation treatment

Sometimes constipation is caused by a structural problem in your colon or rectum. Your colon may be blocked or unusually narrow, or you may have a partial collapse or a bulge in the wall of your rectum. In that case, surgery can correct the problem.

Surgery may also be a last resort if your colon just works too slowly and treatments havenât helped. You may need to have a section of your colon removed.

Read Also: Why Does Lettuce Give Me Diarrhea

Can Dehydration Cause Constipation

Just as the right beverages can improve your poop regularity, not getting enough to drink can wreak havoc on it. It turns out, even mild dehydration, whether from a stomach virus or exercising on a hot day, can result in constipation, according to a study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. How much fluid you need varies by person and activity level. I tell patients to drink enough so that they no longer feel thirsty or so their lips are not dry, says Dr. Malhotra. Generally, that means aiming for eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day .

Related: Signs Youre Drinking Too Much Water

Have Some Healthy Fats

Foods that contain healthy, unsaturated fats like avocados, nut butter, olives, and oily fish can help speed things up in your GI tract. These fats lubricate the lining of the gut, allowing stool to move through a lot easier, Dr. Bedford says. One cup of avocado also contains 10 grams of dietary fiber, making it a good option to try.

Don’t Miss: Heartburn Peanut Butter

What Are The Best Supplements To Help Combat Constipation

When my six-year-old can feel a poop beckoning, he says its in his poop pocket. According to him, we all have one of these. Its basically your bowels waiting room. So, when you suspect your poop pocket is full, you might not feel as though you can wait for all of those dietary changes to kick in. You need relief now, right?

In that case, you might want to consider supplements. Disclaimer: Its always best to talk to your doctor about the best option for your bowels, especially if youre pregnant or on medication. But in general, there are a few GI-doctor-recommended things you can take to stimulate action. Polyethylene glycol 3350, aka MiraLAX , works because its made up of compounds your body cant digest or absorb. So, its got nowhere to go but out if you catch the drift. High doses can cause diarrhea, meaning youll want to adjust in small increments until you get the desired effect.

Psyllium husk, which is the main ingredient found in other OTC products like Metamucil, packs a fiber-filled punch. Fenugreek, vitamin C, and probiotics are all also associated with increased bowel activity .

When Should I Seek Medical Attention

Make sure the medical intervention is with a functional medicine provider, otherwise you will just get a prescription for a laxative. Seek medical attention if:

• you have not passed a bowel movement in over three days
• there is blood in your stool
• you are having other symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, and gas.

~Dr. Ewers

People, especially older adults, often believe they are constipated when they arent. Bowel habits do change with age. The normal range for bowel movements can be from three times per day to three times per week. If you believe you have chronic constipation, consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.Call your doctor if:

• constipation is new for you
• constipation has persisted more than three weeks and youre going three times a week or less
• your stool is hard and difficult to pass
• youre losing weight without trying
• you have severe pain with defecating
• you have blood in your stool

See your doctor to rule out more serious conditions like colorectal cancer or colon inertia. Your doctor may suggest medication to help overcome occasional constipation. ~Healthline

Don’t Miss: How Much Is Align Probiotic

Supplements Medications And Poop

If youre considering meds to help you poop, you might want to review the drugs and supplements youre already taking first. Pain medications, blood pressure medications, seizure medications, water pills, antidepressants, and anticholinergic medications can all lead to constipation, says Dr. Lee. Always tell your doctor what youre taking, especially if you notice a correlation between starting a new med and straining to go. That said, some medications and supplements, like the ones here, may be useful if youre struggling to poop.

Training Example With The Wind

You can stay longer than three breaths in the wind-relieving pose. When your hands block the knees, try to take 3-5 breaths, and after that, release the legs.

Donât take deep breaths. The idea here is to expand the lungs often and to work the lower abdomen.

Try to exercise once every two days. If you are not in great physical shape, you could try and exercise once every three days. If you feel abdominal discomfort after the workout, you can try to exercise once every four days.

Also Check: Probiotics Align Ingredients

Chronic Constipation: 10 Proven Remedies For Relief

Home » Digestive Disorders » Chronic Constipation: 10 Proven Remedies for Relief

Chronic constipation is a common and uncomfortable complaint.

Its rarely dangerous and can often be prevented and treated at home with diet and lifestyle changes.

This article explores ten research-backed methods of easing chronic constipation all of which can be done yourself at home.

Contents

Constipation refers to difficulty in moving the bowels.

Most people have experienced acute constipation at least once. Its caused by many factors, including diet, stress and changes to daily routine, and usually resolves within a couple of days.

Constipation is considered chronic if symptoms are present at least 3 times per week for 3 months. Its very common and affects up to 27% of the worlds population .

Chronic constipation can be caused by medications or health conditions such as thyroid disorders, Parkinsons disease or spinal cord injuries. Structural and functional problems including slow bowel transit and pelvic floor dysfunction can also cause it.

More commonly its the result of irritable bowel syndrome . Sometimes the cause remains unknown.

This article is largely about chronic constipation.

Summary: Acute constipation is common and usually resolves within days. Constipation is considered chronic when symptoms occur at least 3 times per week for 3 months. This article focuses on chronic constipation.

When To See A Doctor For Constipation

You should contact your doctor if you go beyond three days without a bowel movement and this is unusual for you, says Davis.

While hormonal changes and the lack of physical activity may result in the occasional bout of constipation, chronic constipation or extremely infrequent bowel movements can have several causes, which include:

• Colonic diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis
• Abdominal mass, or an abnormal lump in the abdomen, caused by a cyst, immune reaction, or cancer
• Defecatory disorders, like insufficient relaxation of anal sphincter or impairment of rectal sensation
• Neurological conditions, like multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury

If you experience symptoms like severe abdominal pain, unintended weight loss, blood in the stool, or vomiting, you need to get in touch with your primary care provider.

Don’t Miss: Probiotics For Microscopic Colitis

Or Take A Fiber Supplement

You can get the same effects from a psyllium husk fiber supplement, says Dr. Lee. Look for a daily supplemental dose of 6 to 9 grams of fiber, which are available over the counter.

Just remember: Eating a nutritious diet is key, even if you decide to take a fiber supplement. You can’t just add a spoonful of Metamucil to a bottle of diet cola and expect your digestive system to work properly.

Load Up On Foods With Fiber

Fiber-rich foods with a high water content, such as raw carrots, apples with the skin or peel on, and avocados are all great sources of fiber to help get things moving, says Christine Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

When consumed, these foods create an osmotic gradient,” says Dr. Leethat means they force more water to be pulled into the colon during digestion, which then helps ease and prevent constipation by helping things flow a little more smoothly.

Don’t Miss: Baking Soda Or Powder For Heartburn

Otc Laxatives For Constipation Relief

Several types of over-the-counter laxatives can relieve constipation, such as:

• Stool softeners, like Colace or Surfak, add moisture to the stool to keep them from being too dry and hard. However, you might develop electrolyte imbalance if you use stool softeners too often.
• Fiber supplements, such as Benefiber, Citrucel, or Metamucil, increase the amount of fiber in your body, which draws water to make stool softer and bulkier. If you don’t drink enough water with fiber supplements, you may end up even more constipated.
• Osmotics, like Miralax, pulls water into the colon for easier bowel movement. Some side effects include bloating, nausea, and increased thirst.
• Stimulants or contract laxatives, such as Dulcolax or Senokot, act on the intestinal wall and increase muscle contractions to help you pass stool more easily. You may experience belching, cramping, and diarrhea as stimulants are more likely to cause uncomfortable side effects.
• Rectal laxatives, like Pedia-Lax or Dulcolax, are often used as enemas or suppositories to cause contractions in the intestinal wall or keep moisture in the stool.

Many individuals tend to overuse laxatives, which can cause your body to become dependent on them.

It’s best to avoid using them habitually because severe cases of dependence may cause damage to the tissues, nerves, and muscles of your intestines and bowels.

If you do decide to use laxatives, start with a quarter or half dose to see how it affects your body.