ConstipationConventional texts state that 10% of people have less than one bowel movement per day and that 1% have less than three per week. Although this may be the official definition of constipation, hardly anyone needs a definition to know when they are suffering from constipation! Despite the many factors that could delay the passage of waste along the large intestine ranging from parasites and fungus/Candida, to toxic chemicals and heavy metals which affect the peristaltic movement (wave of muscle activity which drives the food along the gut), perhaps the most important in constipation is dehydration and insufficient fibre. The colon's major function is the absorption of water and minerals to deal with essential functions in the body including detoxification. Detoxification of foreign and waste chemicals takes precedent over the need to pass solid waste out of the body and, if there is insufficient water intake for both functions, then the net result is obviously constipation. Mucus which lines the gut wall is another important lubricant that aids the movement of solid waste. It is derived from both soluble and insoluble fibre from grains, fruits and vegetables - hence the best natural laxatives are stewed prunes and apricots and syrup of fig - and is affected by pathogenic organisms especially parasites and fungus/Candida, leading to constipation.
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