If your digestion runs like Swiss clockwork - consider yourself lucky, because by far not everyone feels this way. Many people suffer from constipation, flatulence and other complaints during bowel movements that are associated with sluggish bowel activity. The causes of this are many and diverse. In the following article, we will try to shed some light on the subject and also come up with tips that can bring you relief if the worst comes to the worst.
Causes of sluggish bowel & constipation
The reasons for sluggish digestion can vary widely. A low-fiber diet, lack of exercise and too little fluid are among the most common reasons why people suffer from constipation. Psychological factors such as stress and anxiety can also have a negative effect on our digestion. For some, pressure situations at work can act like an unwanted laxative, while for others only the meeting with the unloved superior means more stress than the session at the loo.
A disturbed intestinal flora can also cause digestion not to function properly. In addition, certain medications, diseases and the use of laxatives can affect intestinal activity.
If symptoms persist for a long time, do not hesitate to consult a doctor and find out the causes of the discomfort. Your health will thank you!
Intestinal sluggishness and how it manifests itself
The symptoms of intestinal inertia can be very unpleasant. Often, the stomach causes problems at the beginning, for example by abdominal pain, followed by flatulence and bloating. Diarrhea, hard stools and constipation can also be other signs that bowel function is not working properly. But what to do?
3 pillars to stimulate sluggish digestion
High-fiber diet
A diet rich in dietary fiber can help to revitalize the intestines and thus digestion. Dietary fibers are indigestible food components that stimulate intestinal activity and ensure a healthy intestinal wall. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes are excellent sources of fiber. By eating foods rich in fiber, the stool becomes softer and almost meanders elegantly through our digestive tract. The risk of constipation is thus significantly reduced.
In addition, a high-fiber diet has other advantages. You feel satiated for longer after eating fiber-rich foods, which helps you lose weight, for example. Fiber can also help regulate blood sugar and lower cholesterol levels. Taking a critical look at one's diet and considering a sensible change in diet can work wonders. Here too, however, it would be advisable to seek help from a professional. Dieticians and nutritionists are the right people to turn to, as is your general practitioner in the first step.
Drink enough fluids
It is important to drink enough to avoid constipation because water plays an important role in digestion. If the body does not get enough fluids, the stool can become hard and dry, which can lead to constipation. When stool accumulates in the intestines, it can lead to other problems such as bloating, abdominal pain and even enlarged hemorrhoids as pushing on the toilet becomes hard work. In the worst case scenario, hemorrhoids can become an unloved long-term companion.
Drinking enough water and other fluids keeps stools soft and moving through the bowel more easily, which aids digestion and overall bowel health. It is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water per day to promote easy bowel movements and prevent constipation.
Movement
Another common cause of constipation is insufficient movement of the bowel, which causes stool to move more slowly through the intestinal tract. But how do you move your bowels? Quite simply: by getting your whole body moving.
In fact, when the body moves, the intestines are activated, which in turn stimulates peristalsis. This means that the intestinal wall contracts in waves. This allows stool to be transported through the intestines more efficiently.
Regular physical activity can also help increase metabolism in general and improve blood flow to the intestines, which in turn aids the digestive process.
Exercise helps to relax the body and reduce stress, which can also play a role in preventing constipation, as we noted at the beginning of this article.
Good bye sluggish digestion - our 5 home remedies.
There are some tips that stimulate digestion and make bowel movements easier. Some of the popular home remedies are:
Drinking ginger tea: Ginger contains essential oils that can stimulate digestion. Simply pour hot water over a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger and let it steep.
Soak flax seeds: these contain mucilage that can aid digestion. It is best to soak before consumption to help the mucilage swell.
Take psyllium husks: they are rich in fiber and thus can stimulate digestion. They can be stirred into yogurt or cereal, for example.
Drink kefir: kefir contains probiotic bacteria that can support the intestinal flora and thus improve digestion.
Perform abdominal massage: Gently massaging the abdomen in a clockwise direction can stimulate intestinal activity and thus relieve constipation.
Toilet stools - The secret weapon
Our "secret weapon" against bowel inertia: the toilet stool. It helps to support the body's natural position during defecation and thus facilitates bowel emptying.
Why is that? Most modern toilets require you to empty your bowels in a sitting position. This does not correspond to the nature of the human body. In fact, when you sit on a toilet, an awkward angle is formed between the bowel and the rectum, which makes defecation much more difficult. Think of it like a kink in a garden hose. So in the vast majority of cases, the unnecessary effort required to go to the toilet is simply due to incorrect posture.
A toilet stool can help to make going to the toilet much more efficient and pleasant by putting the body in a kind of squatting position. This position is intended by Mother Nature as a natural position for defecation. In this way, constipation and other complaints can be prevented. It saves uncomfortable squeezing when going to the toilet and reduces the risk of enlarged hemorrhoids.
Regular use of a toilet stool helps improve overall bowel health. When the bowels are always completely emptied, harmful toxins and bacteria are removed from the body, reducing the likelihood of inflammation and other health problems.
Overall, a toilet stool is a simple but effective tool for improving bowel health and preventing constipation.
Intestinal sluggishness - our conclusion
Intestinal sluggishness is a concern for many of us. Three main pillars are important for a functioning digestive tract: Adequate fluids, a high-fiber diet and plenty of exercise. When things aren't going so well, home remedies such as ginger tea, psyllium and flaxseed can provide relief. If the problem persists for more than a few days, it is advisable to consult a doctor and rule out possible illnesses as the cause. However, at least some people know that we are sitting on the toilet incorrectly, and there is a simple and stylish solution: our toilet stool stuul.
