How do I know If I Have Constipation Symptoms?

The typical signs of constipation include a hard dry stool, straining while defecating, bloating and long periods between bowel movements. Another constipation symptom could be hemorrhoids, which can be the result of both straining and passing hard stools.

These symptoms of constipation should not spell 'doom and gloom' for the sufferer, but they should be used to acknowledge that there is a digestive problem, most likely with diet. Constipation signs, such as the ones listed above, are normally cause by poor diet, lack of fluids, lack of exercise and perhaps a clogged/loaded colon.

A diet that is low in fiber, but high in sugar and fats will do nothing to assist your bowel movements. Increasing fiber intake can significantly improve constipation, because fiber actually assists in creating a soft-textured stool, making it easier to pass. To explain this, fiber actually travels right through the digestive process without being absorbed into the body. it actually absorbs water and becomes gel-like, hence making your stool softer. In a low-fiber diet, the intestines actually draw nearly all of the water out of the stool, which becomes rock-hard and difficult to pass.

Lack of fluids (especially water) is another very important factor than can lead to constipation symptoms. We've just discovered the important of fiber, and it's reliance on water in the digestive process, and most experts suggest that we should consume between 6-9 glasses of water a day to replace what we expel and excrete. Coffee and tea are actually seen as dehydrating, so they should not be counted as part of the 6-8 glasses.

Lack of exercise can also lead to constipation signs. We drive our cars everywhere, even short distances that would suit walking, and our children are spending more an more time playing video games and watching TV. Lack of exercise works to slow our metabolism and in turn can be seen as a factor in slowing the digestive system and reducing the regularity of bowel movements.

A clogged or unhealthy colon can cause constipation symptoms by stemming the flow of fecal matter through the digestive process. The colon (large intestine) is that largest part of our digestive system, and adults on average have between 6-40lbs of fecal matter in the colon at any given point in time (10-20lbs of which can be compacted). Having a large volume of such matter in your colon is not healthy, and a simple colon cleanse with a product like OxyPowder can assist in unclogging the colon, ridding it of the bad bacteria, and hance allowing a smoother passage for fecal matter to flow regularly.