Most people know that regular bowel function is imperative to proper detoxification of the body, and disease prevention. Sometimes we forget the little things that help with constipation, though. Here they are:
- Are you drinking enough water? People need about half their weight in ounces per day of water i.e.: a 160 pound woman needs about 80 ounces water. You’ll need extra if you drink diuretics such as coffee. Adequate water intake helps with bowel function, kidney function, and lubricates the joints. Drink your prescribed amount of water for about 2 weeks to see the full effect. Some people say they don’t like water; this is a sign that your body is not detoxifying correctly,–all the more reason to drink water! If this is the case, though, adding a little lemon juice to the water usually makes it more palatable to drink.
- Are you eating enough fiber? To make sure you are eating enough fiber, make sure to eat 2 servings of fruit, and 3 servings of veggies per day. This amounts to 2 medium size salads, and 2 apples for snacks, or the equivalent. Raw or cooked veggies are fine.
- If the first two steps don’t work, try eating 3-6 soaked prunes each morning. Just take 3-6 organic, unsulfured prunes, put them in a bowl, and cover them in water the night before. In the morning, eat them.
- Walk at least 1 mile each day. The gentle massaging motion of walking keeps the contents of the gut moving in the right direction.
When these steps fail, it means there is another underlying cause of your constipation. A correctly performed Nutrition Response Testing exam will find the underlying cause.
