Constipation refers to symptoms such as a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements, difficulty in passing stools, and dry stools. Constipation is not only uncomfortable, but it can also have serious effects on your health.
Constipation has serious health effects
1. Constipation and liver health
Constipation can affect liver health because stool stays in the intestine for too long, and toxins cannot be excreted from the body in time, and will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream, increasing the liver's detoxification burden. For people with long-term constipation, the liver needs to process more toxins, which may lead to impaired liver function and even cause diseases such as fatty liver.
2. Constipation and digestive system
Constipation can have a negative impact on the entire digestive system. Long-term constipation can lead to an imbalance of bacteria in the intestines, weakened intestinal peristalsis, and reduced digestion and absorption functions. Constipation can also cause problems such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures, which can further affect bowel movements and quality of life.
3. Constipation and mental health
Constipation not only affects physical health, but it can also adversely affect mental health. Constipation is often accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating and abdominal pain, which can make people feel anxious and irritable, and in the long run, may lead to psychological problems such as depression.
4. Constipation and cardiovascular system
The impact of constipation on the cardiovascular system should not be ignored. Patients with constipation need to exert force during bowel movements, which will increase abdominal pressure, increase blood pressure, and may even trigger cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Especially the elderly, we should pay more attention to the harm of constipation.
Four foods that are commonly eaten for laxatives
1. High-fiber foods
High-fiber foods are preferred for the prevention and relief of constipation. Fiber can increase stool volume, promote intestinal peristalsis, and shorten the time that food stays in the intestines. Common high-fiber foods include whole grains (e.g., oats, brown rice), legumes (e.g., black beans, red beans), vegetables (e.g., spinach, carrots), and fruits (e.g., apples, pears).
2. Probiotic food
Probiotic foods help maintain the balance of intestinal flora and promote intestinal health. Probiotics can help digestion and reduce the occurrence of constipation. Common probiotic foods include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and fermented soy products (e.g., tofu, natto).
3. Foods rich in water
Adequate water intake is important to prevent and treat constipation. Water softens stools and promotes bowel movements. In our daily life, we can eat more water-rich foods such as cucumbers, watermelons, oranges, and tomatoes. Also, get into the habit of drinking enough water every day.
4. Magnesium-rich foods
Magnesium has a laxative effect, relaxes intestinal muscles and promotes bowel movements. Foods rich in magnesium are nuts (e.g. almonds, cashews), seeds (e.g. pumpkin seeds, flax seeds), green vegetables (e.g. spinach, kale), and fish (e.g. salmon, mackerel). Consuming these foods in moderation can help relieve symptoms of constipation.
Of course, for patients with long-term constipation, it is still difficult to improve it just by daily diet, and if you want to completely cure it, you must first understand what kind of constipation you belong to, and then take the corresponding medication according to the symptoms. Constipation usually has two symptoms: empirical and hypothetical:
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, it has empirical evidence and false evidence, which means that there is heat in the body, and the deficiency pattern is often insufficient qi and blood or yin fluid, which can lead to constipation. Empirical constipation: dry stool, abdominal distention, abdominal pain, dry mouth, foul smell in the mouth, excessive gas, and pain in the upper abdomen. Constipation: difficulty in defecation, fatigue after defecation, fatigue on weekdays, clear and long urine, cold hands and feet, cold abdominal pain.
Most of the empirical evidence is caused by the patient's irregular diet and rest during this time, and the constipation of such patients does not last for a long time.
Patients with deficiency syndrome should combine laxative and deficiency supplementation, take into account the spleen and the middle while purifying turbidity and laxative, nourish qi and nourish yin, and apply both attack and supplementation to cure constipation.
We can often take some medications at home, such as Shouhui Laxative Capsules. Shouhui Laxative Capsule has a certain representation in the treatment of constipation, its formula follows the principle of "treating constipation by supplementing", the whole formula is composed of ginseng, Polygonum multiflori, aloe vera, cassia seed, Ejiao, wolfberry, atractylodes, citrus aurantium and a total of eight flavors of traditional Chinese medicine, nourishing yin and invigorating qi, diarrhea and laxative, and laxative does not hurt the positive, which is very suitable for patients with qi deficiency, yin deficiency or qi and yin deficiency constipation.
At the same time, Shouhui Laxative Capsule is characterized by "tonifying and supplementing" to dredge and regulate the intestines, which can solve long-term constipation, a typical intestinal disease, by supplementing and laxative, help the intestines restore their ability to defecate independently, and prevent the occurrence of intestinal related diseases.