If you are one of millions of Americans that are continually plagued with constipation, then we have some healthy suggestions for you to get your colon and overall digestive system back on track. If left untreated, a clogged-up colon can:
- Create a safe haven for parasites
- Increase your risk of heart disease
- Lead to possible kidney failure
- Decrease your immune system
For starters, lets begin with what you are eating. This contributes to the transit time, or the period of time that elapses between digestion and elimination. Some foods to avoid include white flour, cheeses, fried foods, white sugar, carbonated drinks, strawberries, blackberries and red meat, just to name a few.
Instead of these constipating junk foods, introduce more high-fiber foods such as leafy greens, avocados, black beans, lentils, soybeans, nuts and flax seeds.
To help move these foods through your system faster, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. If not, the fiber will soak up what little water is contained in your body and leave you dehydrated and constipated.
Water and fiber intake go hand in hand. Its extremely vital that you increase these two aspects of your diet to promote healthy bacteria in your colon and stimulate proper bowel elimination. With the right nutrition, vitamins and minerals, you will experience the relief that comes with a clean colon once the wastes and toxins are flushed from your system.