Constipation. Advice please. I have to take 50gms wheatbran to provide 24gms fibre, plus generous fruit & veg

Question

The above foods moreorless guarantee daily bowel movement. However, I believe the bran fibre may prevent absorption of vitamins etc thereby causing mal-nourishment (and it certainly adds more calories to my regular intake of food). I don't want to take laxatives. Without the bran I don't know how long it would be before I'd have a bowel movement. I've never allowed myself to go beyond about 10 days without. By the way, I also have to drink loads to make it work. Any alternatives suggested?

Answer 1

Bran fibre does not inhibit the absorption of vitamins as this starts in the stomach. Bran fibre is practically indigestible and will not be excreted for hours - long after the vitamins have been absorbed. Try senna, which is a natural, gentle laxative made entirely from plant extract, you can buy it at most supermarkets. Have you seen your doctor about your constipation?

Answer 2

ok if you are having problems with constipation, and this is not a medical problem, i suggest trying:

the liquid laxative you can buy at WalMart; it's in a green glass bottle and it tastes very vaguely like 7-up; add ice and it's not bad. one or two of those and you will be good to go--it is the same kind of thing that doctors sometimes prescribe (make sure you don't have to leave the house)--it takes some time to settle and you might have to walk around, be in motion, etc. if you are always having constipation problems, you might want to take one of those once a month or something.

also, diet stuff. my husband swears by papaya--he eats some every day. something more dramatic, if you haven't had it in awhile oatmeal--but that can be painful because it creates also a lot of gas--depends on the person.

of course there is always getting your bowels flushed--a colonic, which some folks recommend at least a couple of times a year. personally, i can't stand them, but to each their own.

also, chocolate is a natural laxative, especially dark chocolate; have a little piece every day.

good luck!

Answer 3

Drink about 2 liters of water every day. Don't substitute sodas for the water because the phosphoric acid in the carbonation keeps calcium from absorbing.
Also, you can take an over-the-counter stool softener like Colace (I get it for my mother at Rite-Aid). It has no effect on her other than keeping her from getting hemorroids... it's very gentle.

10 days is a long time between bowel movements. I also suggest increasing your daily exercise, such as adding a half hour walk to get your system moving. The added exercise will also help you lose weight.

Answer 4

Continue with what you're doing, increase your water intake to 3L daily and inrcease your exercise/activity. You can try an OTC fiber/bulk product like Citrucel or Efferpsyllium instead of using bran. If you are still unhappy, get a referral to a Gastroenterologist.

Answer 5

first of all do you take medications? that can dry you up.

also do you ingest enough water? fruit juices?

are you active? those things are essential too.

does bowel disorders run in your family also?

how much crap food do you eat? remember frozen, packaged quick meals, fast food, snacks like candy, potato chips, doritos.. cookies. cake.. so on... all have much chemicals, preservatives and inert material that builds up in the bowel.. that can cause major constipation.

also make sure the diet you're on is a real diet.. atkins, grapefruit, hollywood.. all those diets and more will constipate you also.

www.mypryamid.gov is what you should be doing.

walk, bend yourself around.. hey try yoga.. that will get you going too! seek a profesional when it comes to that yoga stuff.. that will help you loosen up inside also along with the other things i suggested.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Try Benefiber. http://www.benefiber.com/
Unlike most other bulk fiber powders, Benefiber is grit free and non-thickening. Benefiber is taste-free, so you can add it to your drink or meal without altering the taste. You can add Benefiber to any beverage (hot or cold) or soft food that you normally eat. With Benefiber, you have the freedom to take your fiber any way you choose.

Try and stay away from psyllium products like Citricel and Metimucil becasue psyllium tends to cause bloating.

Answer 8

Drink water not caffeinated drinks. Avoid alcohol too!

Try Milk Of Magnesium in the antancid aisle of your local store.

Yogurt is better the Activia one in the green packaging. It contains the acidiphillus germs in it. Available in pill form. Pill form is quite alarming!

Answer 9

sme information that i have read suggests that as well as your daily intake of fibre avoid foots which lack fibre such ascheese, icecream and processed foods. drink plenty of fluids including fruit/veg juices. othernatural things you can use to aid constipation are aloe vera, artichokes, ginger root extract, probiotics and prebiotics.

Answer 10

Set your personal computer alarm to ring hourly—stand upward for 1 to 5 minutes everytime it goes off.