Adequate fluid, fiber intake offers good health for digestive system

Water is a neutral fluid and is a medium for all biochemical processes that take place in our body system. The digestive system is one of the most active systems in our body and absorbs large amounts of water on a daily basis.

Sunday, February 22, 2015
Vegetables such as cabbage and green beans can help with constipation.

Water is a neutral fluid and is a medium for all biochemical processes that take place in our body system. The digestive system is one of the most active systems in our body and absorbs large amounts of water on a daily basis.

Many healthy looking patients have expressed persistent difficulty in passing out stool even with no underlying illness. Most of these patients are usually diagnosed of moderate to severe dehydration.

Such patients will usually present with difficulty or use of much force to expel body waste materials, sometimes with dry and hard faecal materials stained with blood.

Constipation is very predominant in patients with minimal water intake. Today constipation is very common in people with inadequate fluid intake.

Much as there could be gastro-intestinal tract diseases that cause constipation as a complication, constipation is very much reliant on the lifestyle hazards such as poor feeding mechanisms.

Drinks comprised of large amounts of water are recommended for regular intake. There are drinks and foodstuffs one can take to prevent or overcome constipation.

Increasing fiber and water intake helps to relieve constipation and other digestive problems. Adequate intake of fluids that include fruit juice plays a crucial role in moving the hardened stool through the intestine. Tea or coffee are not fluids and should be avoided.

As mentioned earlier, constipation is an indication of dehydration that means sufficient water is not being consumed in a day. Drinking at least one-and-half to two litres of purified water everyday helps to soften the stool and ease the symptoms of constipation.

Inadequate water consumption results into dry, hard faeces that are difficult to excrete. A glass of water, taken early in the morning, can help in maintaining normal bowel movements.

Increasing dietary fiber is an effective way to treat this condition. Fiber not only alleviates chronic constipation, but also promotes overall intestinal health.

People suffering from constipation should eat foods high in the fiber. Food staffs such as vegetables, whole grains and fruits are considered to be rich in fiber.

Many people prefer feeding on meals comprised of meat and other slicy food substances. Such meals are not healthy and can easily cause gastro-intestinal complaints like constipation among others.

People should learn how to change their feeding lifestyle and vegetables are highly considered as one of the most accessible foodstuffs in our society. Green leafy vegetables are found all over the country and people just need to know how to grow them.

Vegetables on average have a pleasant taste that could suit everybody. There are so many different types of vegetables that there is something to suit everybody’s taste buds. Among the most common vegetables we have legumes such as green beans, peanuts and ground nuts.

Leafy vegetables where you find cabbage, spinach and others to mention but a few constitute the most liked vegetables in our diet. Leafy vegetables have a high content of vitamins D, A, E and K. They are also rich in fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, folic acid, and magnesium.

Root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes are known to be rich sources of fiber, and generally contain high levels of Vitamin A with great low calorie vegetables.

Fresh fruits such as watermelons have high water content and help combat constipation. Cereals such as rice and maize are also good sources of fiber.

Fiber is an important part of a balanced diet that can prevent constipation. A fiber rich diet can increase the size of the stool and speed up its passage through the body. In case of difficulty in digesting food rich in fiber, a better option to manage constipation is to eat soluble fiber as it can be easily digested.

Dried fruits such as prunes are an excellent source of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is also contained in apples.

To maximize benefits of fiber, it is essential to drink sufficient water and also exercise regularly. Exercising keeps the faeces or body’s solid waste soft thereby making it easy to pass through the intestines. Lack of exercise or inactivity can also increase the risk of constipation.