Surprising Factors that Cause Constipation
Did you know that factors such as stress, a sedentary lifestyle or following an unbalanced diet can be the triggers of constipation, as well as other digestive problems? Discover the factors that cause constipation in this article.
When we refer to constipation, we usually associate this disorder with poor diet or genetic issues. However, there are some factors that influence this imbalance.
Acute or chronic constipation?
When diagnosing and treating constipation, it’s essential to define whether it is a specific disorder, caused by a temporary situation, or if it is a health problem that we have been dragging on for years.
In the case of acute constipation, some natural remedies can be very effective from the very first day:
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Prunes
- Kiwis
- Apples with their skin
- Plantago psyllium
If you suffer from chronic constipation, however, you can analyze the following factors to determine which may be influencing your case.
See also: 9 Fruits That Combat Constipation
Factors that cause constipation
1. Nervousness and stress
When you suffer from stress or any emotional situation that you struggle to cope with, your nervous system is altered, which negatively influences the general functioning of your body.
You cannot imagine to what extent your nerves affect your health.
The solution in these cases is not to take laxatives, but rather to balance the nervous system with the following advice:
- Eat varied food, rich in fruits and raw vegetables, whole foods and good quality fats (avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil, etc.).
- Try regulatory supplements for the nervous system: brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, pollen, spirulina, magnesium.
- Take relaxing medicinal plants: lemon balm, passion flower, valerian, lime blossom, chamomile.
- Try therapies and relaxing exercises: massages, yoga, tai chi, stretching, dancing, etc.
2. Lack of protein in the diet
This factor is one of the most unknown: A diet with a high carbohydrate content and very little protein can cause constipation.
This can be a problem for some vegetarian or vegan people who don’t follow a balanced diet. However, the solution is not to eat a lot of protein, but rather to look for good quality sources of protein.
There are many plant-based foods that contain protein:
- Vegetables
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Avocado
- Whole grains
3. Too much meat
If we go to the other extreme, diets that have a high content of meat and sausage also favor constipation, especially if you also consume bad quality fats (fried, precooked, etc.) and little vegetable fiber.
Meat that’s rich in fat (red meat, sausage) also inflames the intestine and can cause cancer.
4. Permanent dehydration
Drinking little water is a serious health risk that can cause many disorders, such as constipation.
To evacuate stool,y our body needs a certain degree of hydration. When the stool is in the form of small balls, it’s very likely that the main cause is dehydration.
5. High estrogen in women
Hormone levels of estrogen may be related to chronic constipation in women.
The way to check it is to see if the woman stops suffering from this disorder just days before the period and even during it, since this is the time when estrogen levels are lower.
One of the best remedies for regulating estrogen levels is chasteberry, which you can take in infusions or tablets.
6. A sedentary lifestyle
The lack of exercise and spending most of the day sitting affects the intestinal peristaltic movements in a very negative way.
You must move every day and perform a more intense sport at least twice a week.
We recommend you read: 6 Types of Obesity and their Causes
7. Laxative and medication abuse
Irritating laxatives and some types of drugs destroy the delicate bacterial flora of your intestines and completely alter their function.
Whenever possible, you must replace these medications with natural and non-irritating alternatives, in addition to taking supplements for some time to regenerate the intestinal flora.
8. Weak liver
When your liver doesn’t work for different reasons, either due to liver disease or due to an excess of toxins in our body, deficient bile salts prevent good intestinal function.
Some very beneficial remedies are the following:
- Milk thistle
- Boldo
- Artichoke
- Lemon juice with olive oil on an empty stomach
It would be recommendable, in addition, to perform a cleanse periodically.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Bechiarelli, A. J. A., Ramos-Clemente, M. T., Guerrero, P. P., & Ramos, C. R. (2016). Estreñimiento. Medicine (Spain). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.med.2016.03.010.
- Argüelles Arias, F., & Herrerías Gutiérrez, J. M. (2004). Estreñimiento crónico. Medicina Clinica. https://doi.org/10.1157/13066373.
