Constipation

Constipation Treatment in Valparaiso

Healthy bowel movements are key to effective gut detoxification and overall well-being. Healing Arts Center can help you get regular and feel your best.

Regular bowel movements are the primary way your body eliminate toxins, metabolized hormones, and other waste products.

But when you’re constipated, waste stagnates in the digestive tract. This irritates your gut lining, allowing harmful bacteria to flourish. Eventually, your bloodstream reabsorbs waste and circulates it throughout your body.

This nasty process leads to systemic problems. And those can sap your energy, cause irritability, and increase your risk for serious illnesses.

Forum Health’s Dr. Shilpa P. Saxena explained this process on the TEDx stage:

Constipation is embarrassing and uncomfortable. It can also be painful — even debilitating. Gas and bloating are common. You might also experience abdominal cramps, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, lack of appetite, and vomiting.

How often should I poop?

Bathroom issues can be difficult to talk about. As a result, most people don’t know what’s normal.

Conventional understanding is that bowel movements should occur at least once every three days. But in functional medicine, we believe daily elimination is essential for effective gut detoxification and overall health.

You should have at least one healthy bowel movement per day. Otherwise, you could accumulate harmful toxins.

What makes a healthy bowel movement?

You can have regular and frequent bowel movements but still be constipated.

Truly healthy bowel movements meet these four criteria:

Spontaneous (not induced by medication)
Easy to pass (not requiring you to strain)
Soft but solid (long, snake-like pieces)
Complete (feeling satisfactorily empty)

What’s causing my constipation?

Constipation has many potential causes, including allergies and sensitivities, serious illnesses, medication use, diet and lifestyle. Addressing these issues will often restore normal intestinal function and relieve constipation.

Allergies

Stress

The gut and brain are connected. If you experience chronic stress, the bacteria in your gut can change, potentially leading to depleted magnesium.

Poor Fiber Intake

It’s important to eat the right amount of fiber — and the right kind. This helps keep the muscles in your gastrointestinal tract strong.

Lack of Hydration

If you don’t drink enough water, you might have hard stool that’s difficult to pass. A general rule of thumb: What’s half your body weight in pounds? That number is how many ounces of water you should drink each day.

Other Diet Choices

Your body has unique nutritional needs. Constipation could be caused by an unknown allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity. Or, you could be eating too much sugar or processed food.

Hormone Imbalance

Low thyroid hormone can lead to constipation. A sluggish thyroid could be to blame — even if you’re not diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Constipation is also connected to insulin, as well as female hormones and adrenals.

Lack of Exercise

Beyond relieving stress, exercise can be useful to “get things moving.” If you sit too much, your digestive system might not function properly.

Healing Arts Center’s Approach

Over-the-counter medication and fiber supplements can mask your symptoms. But they don’t resolve constipation. And overuse can inflict damage in the long run.

With so many possible causes, constipation clearly calls for a functional and integrative medicine approach. Healing Arts Center providers act as medical detectives. We’ll assess your whole body to identify underlying causes and develop a custom treatment plan.

We’ll help you address lifestyle and diet issues for lasting results. As a Healing Arts Center member, you have ongoing access to a personal health coach. You’ll also work toward ideal gut health through a detox program tailored to your unique needs.

Need more information about Constipation Treatment? Contact us today to get a free consultation at our Valparaiso office.

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