A Naturopaths Guide To Avoiding Constipation

Content by: Lynda Griparic


Lynda: You feel bloated, congested, and maybe a little gassier than usual. You’ve spent the majority of the day trying to get some form of bowel movement happening so that you can have substantial relief, yet every trick under your belt fails dismally. You’re desperate and do not want another day of feeling toxic. Sound familiar?

Can I share with you what I do to avoid another day in poo-less despair?

My bowel movements are 98 percent regular. I’ve spoken about my experience with constipation in many podcast interviews and after much experimentation and dedication to personal awareness, I’ve figured out that constipation happens either when I travel or when I neglect my morning ritual and run around like the house is in flames.

So in order to avoid another day without a bowel movement and instead encourage healthy and satisfying evacuations, I make sure to do the following:

Eat whole foods.

I eat meals rich in plant fibre, healthier natural fats, and bitter greens such as a green smoothie for breakfast, Sexy Sardine Salad for lunch, and Curried Lamb Casserole for dinner. I also make sure to have superior meal hygiene to help the body break down and use the bowel-supportive foods well.

Move.

Sit, stand, walk, jog, swim, or do some yoga during the day. I rarely spend more than two hours in the same position even when I have deadlines to meet for work. Movement, whether it’s exercise or simple activity during the day exercises the intestines, improves bowel tone, and stimulates peristalsis, the pinching, squeezing, and kneading action of the intestines that helps move waste through and out of the colon quickly.

Drink water.

I drink at least 1.5 litres of room-temperature water, sometimes with a pinch of Himalayan salt for enhanced absorption, and enjoy 2 to 3 cups of my favourite organic herbal tea blend, brewed for 10 minutes, throughout the day. This blend contains a selection of herbs and spices that gently nudge stools through the intestines and reduce any inflammation and bacteria that may result from the toxins I recycle by having constipation. Note: Dehydrated faeces becomes hard and compact and is much more difficult to pass.

Magnesium.

I personally take a full dose of practitioner-only magnesium bisglycinate powder with a large glass of water in the evening, generally 30 to 40 minutes after dinner and not too close to bedtime so that I do not disrupt my sleep with multiple loo visits. I often add a simple greens powder that contains algae, leafy greens, and vegetables for extra fibre, cleansing and alkalising agents. Note – Always speak to your medical professional before embarking on a supplement regime.

My morning ritual

The next morning I bring back my morning ritual even if it means getting up half an hour earlier. At the moment my ritual consists of a 15-minute guided meditation or breath work. I use MUSE for my guided meditation as it measures my brainwaves and gives me a poke if my mind wanders. Other great platforms are Headspace, Insight Timer, or Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work.

My favourite forms of breath work are kundalini breath of fire, or alternate nostril breathing. Then I move onto a three- to five-minute Maya Abdominal Massage, a practice of gratitude, movement of some sort (yoga, walking, jogging, HIIT, or swimming), and the newest addition is reading 10 pages of a book that will contribute to self-development.

This 40- to 50-minute morning commitment accelerates my personal growth, supports my ability to respond to daily stress, strengthens and nourishes my digestive organs, and therefore supports my bowel movements. I walk away from my morning ritual feeling charged and ready to take on some pretty monumental, rewarding, and often uncomfortable projects.

Apple cider vinegar

I add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, ½ cup boiled water, and ¼ cup of room-temperature water into a large glass and drink it at least 5 to 10 minutes before my first meal of the day. Learn more about ACV here.

If you want healthier bowel movements, you need to put the effort into your diet, movement, and mindset. I love this quote as it highlights this sentiment perfectly, “Proper preparation prevents poor performance.”

There you have it, a snapshot of how I get my mojo back. Hopefully some of these tips will help you move more freely, too. Please remember that everyone will have different triggers for constipation, so if you don’t get any relief, read “15 Ways To Have a Great Poo, Every time” or seek support from a medical practitioner.

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Lynda Griparic

This article is brought to you by Lynda Griparic. Lynda is a qualified naturopath, nutritionist, writer, and speaker with over 14 years of experience in the health industry. Lynda specialises in gut health and weight loss. She has extensive experience in running healthy, effective, and sustainable weight loss programs and... Read More
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