Saturday, September 17, 2011

Cascara Sagrada – a moving experience

If you’ve ever suffered from constipation, you know how miserable and uncomfortable this condition can be. Most often we become constipated because of poor diet. Eating too many processed foods high in sugar and fat, and not eating enough vegetables, fruits, and fibre can wreak havoc on our digestive system, and for lack of a better term, plug us up. Constipation can also be caused by other factors such as sedentary lifestyle, chronic illness, the use of iron supplements, and prescription drugs.

There are two main types of constipation.  Acute constipation and chronic constipation. Acute constipation is usually short-term and involves bloating, discomfort, and an inability to evacuate the bowels. Acute constipation is most often caused by a lack of fibre and water in the diet, and a lack of exercise. Chronic constipation is much more serious. It involves the inability to readily evacuate the bowels over longer periods of time – months or years – and can lead to more serious health issues.