Natural Ways To Avoid & Relieve Irregularity

What does it mean to be regular? What does it mean to be constipated? Most people average a bowel movement somewhere between once a day and three times a week, and constipation is defined as a decrease in your usual number of bowel movements. If you normally go once a day, and you suddenly only go once a week, then you’re probably constipated. What Causes Constipation? When it comes to constipation, doctors blame not eating enough fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, and other sources of fiber…while eating too many processed foods. Fiber helps move the bowels, but most Americans eat far less than the recommended 20 to 35 g of fiber a day. Also, women tend to have additional bowel challenges: They often get constipated the week or so before menstruation, because fluids that normally flow to the colon, softening and moving stools, are retained in other parts of the body. Also, hormonal changes during pregnancy and the pressure on the abdomen caused by childbirth often lead to constipation. If you are experiencing constipation, doctors say that relief can be as simple as eating more fiber-rich foods regularly and being more active. RELATED: Top 5 Foods That Can Rescue You From...