No one wants to talk about constipation. However, it is a serious chronic problem that negatively affects the health of countless individuals. Constipation can threaten our energy, digestion, and detoxification. It can fuel inflammation and create the breeding grounds for chronic disease. It’s time to throw open the bathroom door and shed some much-needed light on the condition.
Chronic constipation alone is a major health problem, but also could be a symptom of a different underlying issue. Therefore, this is not a predicament that should be ignored or taken lightly.
We regularly address gut health and bowel habits with our 1:1 clients. Time and time again we hear our clients say that they go once or twice a week. This is not healthy nor regular! Having healthy digestion and eliminating waste every day (ideally twice a day) is critical for optimal overall health. The liver flushes out toxins and dumps them into your intestines. If your digestive system isn’t working efficiently, then these toxins and waste get reabsorbed into your body. So, it makes sense that constipation is linked to many diseases including cancer and even Parkinson’s disease.
Also, there are practical problems like:
To put it mildly, being chronically constipated feels like crap. So why are we struggling?
There could be various causes such as living in a toxic environment or dealing with unprecedented levels of stress (emotional, physical, and biochemical). Although, above all, it is imperative to address your DIET! While things like chronic stress and antibiotic overuse affect your gut, a diet rich in processed foods and sugar wreaks havoc on digestion and promotes constipation.
Incorporating a few simple tips will get things moving!
Eat whole foods: real foods in their unprocessed forms.
Consume Fiber: you can get fiber from plants, and other sources like ground flaxseed.
Avoid foods that cause constipation: dairy is a top offender; gluten is a close second.
Eat high-quality fats: things like wild fatty fish, olive oil, and avocados.
Consider supplementing with magnesium, vitamin C, and a probiotic: discuss this with your nutrition coach first.
Exercise: move your body, and your bowels will move too.
Stay Hydrated: aim to get 50% of your body weight in ounces of water, daily.
If you continue to struggle even after implementing the above suggestions, reach out to us here!
Oftentimes people are unaware of the fact that they may be struggling with these things because they don’t know how good they CAN ACTUALLY FEEL! We at Move Fully Nourished want to educate you about your body and empower you to take action so you can flourish in a sustainable way.
Your Online Dietitian Coach, Ashley Anderson MS, RDN, LDN, CPT, PN1
Your Online Dietitian Coach, Rachel Brown, RD, IBCLC, CDECS, MBA
