Diet & lifestyle advice for constipation
Constipation can contribute to uncomfortable and unwanted symptoms including discomfort, bloating, flatulence, toxin overload and pressure on your liver, but it can also often contribute to diarrhoea too, which many people don't appreciate.
Some in-house, informal research conducted by us here at A.Vogel a few years ago, confirmed that around 1/3 of people considered themselves to be constipated, and that’s only the ones that were aware! It is a widespread problem.
What can be done to help?
It’s not just what you eat, but also how you eat that's important when it comes to managing constipation.
Stress can be a big factor that often compromises digestion. Aim to eat mindfully, chew well and drink enough water, but separating your drinks from your meals by at least 15 minutes, to protect the pH of your gastric secretions. These steps will help to support your digestion, whilst limiting stressful conditions.
What to eat?
Wholefoods rather than processed foods should be prioritised wherever possible, as these are going to pack in some nice fibre. Some nice options which have sources of both soluble and insoluble fibre in, include green vegetables, beetroot, dried fruit, wholegrains such as oats and linseeds, and prune juice is also excellent choice.
Don’t shy away from fats either! This is some really important advice that can make all the difference. Healthy fats really help to stimulate bile flow and peristalsis, as can some digestive bitters at the start of your meals.
