Constipation can be a very painful problem and one that can lead to further complications if you’re not careful. There are several causes including an over reliance on laxatives, hyperthyroidism or poor reflexes; do you ignore the natural ‘call to action’ when it happens, which can lead to your body not recognizing the trigger?

The American Gastroenterological Association approximates that $750 million is spent each year by the American population on laxatives and, as with other types of non-natural stimulants, your body can become reliant on them, which can lead to increased bowel dysfunction. If you choose to discontinue using them, it could lead to a lengthy period of discomfort as your body tries to recall how it is meant to function!

Hypothyroidism can be a common concern, particularly in women over the age of 40. Your under active thyroid gland can lead to constipation, which in turn may mask the underlying problem.

Try to eat vegetables and other foods that are known to be rich in fiber, as part of a holistic nutrition diet. Organic flax seeds can be an extra source of fiber and could be included in ground form and added to your food. Processed foods, junk foods and convenience foods are low in total nutritional value and should be avoided. Very high levels of these things could indicate a sugar addiction, which is a threat to your overall health anyway and must be contained.

If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, finding a natural balance between the good and bad bacteria could be the answer, so do your research and invest in a good-quality probiotic to try and achieve this. Remember that exercising is very important and a proper regime stimulates circulation and the function of all your internal organs, including intestines and bowels.

Magnesium and aloe vera should be your first choice if you need to add supplements to your diet. One third of a cup of pure organic aloe vera juice can be added to a cup of pure water, a teaspoon full of powdered acidophilus and two teaspoonfuls of ground flax seed. You should then blend this extraordinary cleansing drink quite thoroughly, and drink it before going to bed - or if during the day time, on a completely empty stomach. This almost always does a truly phenomenal job of thoroughly cleaning out all the recesses of your intestinal tract.

Also, you should always remember to heed the call of nature as soon as possible, and avoid waiting longer than you need to for a complete bowel movement. If you choose to retain a bowel movement for a prolonged period of time, water will be absorbed from the stool into your body, and the resulting dryer stool will make it far more difficult to complete the movement, and with time, such choices will certainly keep you from staying regular on a daily basis.

Integrating these tips into your lifestyle and investigating holistic health solutions will help you to reduce your symptoms of constipation, get your life back on track and cure any number of ailments, many of which you were not even aware of!

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