Relieving Constipation | Fiber and Constipation
Many of our readers have asked us about relieving constipation with fiber.
According to Wikipedia symptoms of constipation includes the following:
- infrequent bowel movements (typically 3 times or fewer per week)
- difficulty during defecation (straining during more than 25% of bowel movements or a subjective sensation of hard stools), or
- the sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation.
Constipation is not rare. Almost everyone of us has experienced symptoms of constipation at some point in our life. Most constipation is temporary and not serious, but some people do suffer from chronic and/or severe constipation.
The most common cause of constipation is a lack of fiber in one’s diet. Therefore, relieving constipation with fiber is a great way to start.
People who eat plenty of high fiber foods, such as high fiber cereal and fruits and vegetables, are less likely to become constipated. The bulk and soft texture of dietary fiber help stools become soft and easy to pass. Many people who have diets lacking in fiber have dry, hard stools that can be extremely difficult to pass- hence constipation. For people prone to chronic constipation or severe constipation, it is important to limit foods that have little or no fiber, such as ice cream or burgers.
Constipation relief can be pretty simple and easy to attain if you make an effort to meet your daily recommended fiber needs. There are so many high fiber foods on the market these days, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, that you can easily create a high fiber diet plan. If you choose fiber as a means for relieving constipation, just make sure that you increase your water intake. If you increase your fiber intake without increasing your water intake you may actually cause yourself to get constipated.
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