Constipation is a serious health concern. One of my clients, Diana, had pain in her belly and felt nauseous for days. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she rushed to the emergency room. She had been constipated most of her life, but this was the worst episode. For a week, she squeezed daily for hours and nothing came out.
She called me after she was released from the ER where they performed an enema and sent her home. She still had the urge to go to the bathroom and felt like she didn’t quite finish.
Upon examination, I found her colon to be full, hard, and bumpy. I have never felt a colon so full before. It was scary. When I asked her what provoked the sudden blockage, she replied that she had polyps that needed to be removed. So the doctor recommended she eat a soft diet for several days before the procedure. So she indulged in cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
I explained to Dana that the constipation she suffered from for years was due to a dairy allergy. Most people develop symptoms of dairy allergies early in life but since there is no pain, they continue consuming dairy products. Those who think they’re “milk intolerant”, replace milk with Lactaid and continue eating cheese and yogurt — for probiotics.
Over time, the layers of the digestive system get damaged, the colonic bacteria are impoverished, and harmful bacteria take over. The patient can suffer from leaky gut syndrome, and SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth). An array of symptoms also can appear: constipation, pain, indigestion, skin breakouts, rashes, and a host of unexplained symptoms. When the patient visits the doctor, they will mention anything but constipation. So they receive treatment for the symptoms but the real problem is never addressed.
How to Eliminate Constipation
I advised Dana to stop eating dairy products immediately. I started her on a broth fast and a lot of high-fiber foods. We kept the proteins and carbohydrates to a minimum to not overload her digestive system until the colon is cleaned out.
I created a meal plan for her which she followed to the letter. She fasted 2 days a week and took a stool softener her doctor prescribed. By the end of the week, she had 4 bowel movements a day. The following week, her colon was completely clean and she was having 2 regular bowel movements a day.
As I explained to Dana, this is just relief. Now we have to work on rebuilding her digestive system so it can work optimally and prevent constipation.
If like Dana, you suffered from constipation all your life, here are some steps you can start with:
- Avoid dairy in any form: cheese, yogurt, half and half, ice cream, cookies or anything made with milk
- Check if you have a gluten allergy
- Increase fiber in your diet. Lettuce is a natural laxative. Eat lettuce, broccoli, kale daily. Replace meat with legumes in a few meals. Beans, lentils, chickpeas are a rich source of fiber minerals, and resistant starches. Their insoluble fiber acts like a brush to increase intestinal motility
- Always drink plenty of water
- Exercise, particularly yoga, helps squeeze your colon and increase regularity
Need some recipes? Check the Johns Hopkins website for high-fiber food dishes.
To learn more about constipation, its symptoms, and its causes, see my previous post CONSTIPATION, A SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERN
If you have chronic constipation, you need a more customized intervention. Give me a call and let’s start the conversation that will restore your health. The Zizania nutrition plan is a lot simpler than you think, works faster than you expect, and delivers the results that will set you free from digestive problems. What do you have to lose? No pun intended.
