With constipation comes discomfort and sometimes stomach pain. However, there are things you can do to deal with constipation aside from taking stool softeners or bowel stimulants.
To help relieve constipation
- If you are experiencing constipation, avoid taking laxatives or any form of stool softeners. They will only hinder your results and stop you from losing weight.
- If your constipation is making you uncomfortable, you must choose your foods wisely. Stick to fiber-rich foods like:
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Cucumber
- Chicory
- Tomatoes
- Red Radishes
- Apples
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Grapefruits
- Fiber is helpful for constipation as it serves to both add softness and bulk to the stool. Slowly increase your fiber intake as too much can cause gas and bloat. It is recommended that you increase your fiber intake to 20 to 25 grams per day.
- Eat the veggies raw rather than cooked. Cooked veggies have softened fiber content making them easier to digest than raw ones.
- Drink lemon water. Mix the juice of half a lemon into a glass of warm water. Remember that you are allowed one whole lemon per day. Drink the lemon water at night and first thing in the morning. If lemon water is not working, drink organic smooth move tea before bedtime.
- One of the best things that you can do is to drink as much water as you can. Water helps the body function properly and one of these is to keep your bowel movement soft during weight loss. As you hydrate, the better it flushes your system. Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water a day if you are not already. Mixing soluble fiber into your water is also a good way to prevent constipation on the HCG Diet.
To help prevent constipation
If you struggle with constipation, regardless of whether you’re dieting, there are a few things you can start doing before starting the HCG Diet to minimize the likelihood of constipation.
- Stay active as much as possible. Try to get regular exercise. Regular exercise can help keep stool moving through the colon.
- Before you start with the HCG diet, start including high-fiber foods into your every meal like fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, and bran. Bran is a great source of fiber. You can eat it on its own or mix it with other foods like soup and yogurt. Most of the fiber in fruits is found in the skin, such as apples. Fruits with seeds like strawberries have more fiber.
- If you have bowel sensitivity, avoid high-fructose fruits such as pears, apples, watermelon as this can cause gas.
- Go when you want to. Don’t wait until you feel a need to go. Try to create a regular schedule for a bowel movement, especially after a meal.
- Drink lots and lots of water each day. Avoid liquids that contain caffeine such as soft drinks and coffee as they can dehydrate you.
- Treat your constipation with dietary supplements like magnesium and probiotics.
- Manage your stress as this can lead to constipation in several ways. Stress hormones directly influence your bowel movement by affecting your bodily processes.
