Chronic Constipation & Lifestyle Design

Structural issues often play a major role in chronic constipation and in these cases a gastroenterologist is best suited to help with the problem. A problem with your gallbladder, intestinal tract or pancreatic enzyme formation can all cause constipation. However, often times constipation is caused because of lifestyle decision we make every day, not structural problems. Here are some common problem areas:

Not getting enough sleep

If you are consistently getting less than 6 hours of sleep, you might be suffering from some of the side effects of sleep deprivation. One of the lesser known side effects of sleep deprivation is chronic constipation. This is because the body uses the time you’re sleeping to launch its killer T-cells and other antibodies into the digestive tract. While there, the antibodies wage war on the harmful bacteria in your gut and serve as the "cavalry" to beneficial bacteria attempting to colonize there. The less sleep you get, the less your body is able to fight the bacteria, fungi, and yeast that can stop you up and prevent constipation relief.

Drinking too much alcohol

Many of us like to relax with a beer or some wine after a hard day at work. What we don’t always realize is that alcohol can wreak havoc with our intestinal balance and cause chronic constipation. The sugars in alcohol serve as the perfect food for harmful pathogens in the gut and help them win their war against the beneficial bacteria that keeps your colon moving. Alcohol also dehydrates the body, leaving less water in the colon. This water is crucial for softening stools and allowing for comfortable bowel movements. The same dehydrating effect occurs with coffee and though the caffeine in coffee can act as a mild diuretic, over time, the dehydration the body experiences can lead to chronic constipation.

Eating the wrong food?

Take-out and fast food seems to be more commonplace than ever in the American diet. High fat & high sodium foods have many known negative health effects (like increased risk of heart disease and cancer), but few realize that the harmful microbes in your stomach also enjoy fatty, salty foods. Beneficial bacteria, on the other hand, prefer to eat foods high in fiber and with high water content (i.e. leafy green vegetables). So the more unhealthy food you eat, the more you are supporting the harmful microbes that cause constipation. Laxatives may not even be effective in these cases.

Lifestyle design to avoid chronic constipation

Chronic constipation relief often requires learning more about your body so you can make the necessary "tweaks" to your diet and lifestyle. But for faster results, it is wise to couple your lifestyle changes with complementary nutritional products like probiotics and essential minerals for the colon to produce a natural laxative effect. This combination will have you regular in no time!