Many people suffer with digestive tract problems, but because they can be embarrassing to discuss, it sometimes seems that each generation has to discover for itself the common-sense approaches to constipation that can bring comfort. Maybe there should be curricula in schools to teach kids how to keep their gastrointestinal tracts happy and functioning well. There are probably other teenagers wondering about the questions our reader broaches here.
Q. I am 14 years old. I don’t know if I’m constipated but I don’t go to the bathroom regularly and often feel uncomfortable. Is there a good way to manage this problem?
A. Discomfort during bathroom visits is probably a better gauge of constipation than the number of times you go. Normal frequency can range from a couple of times a day to three or four times a week.
Common-Sense Approaches to Constipation:
To ease constipation, you may want to try adding more fluid and fiber to your diet, including Uncle Sam cereal with flaxseed, legumes such as beans and chickpeas, fruit and veggies.
Another of our common-sense approaches to constipation is to chew sugarless gum. You may need to experiment to find the correct “dose” so you don’t end up with diarrhea. That is all too easy, because the sugar substitutes such as maltitol or sorbitol in sugar-free gum are not absorbed. They attract water into the large bowel. This loosens the stool-sometimes a bit too much, as we discuss here.
You’ll find a list of more high-fiber foods, a dynamite pumpkin-bran muffin recipe and a list of drugs that can cause constipation along with our ten tips to combat constipation in the Guides to Digestive Disorders and Constipation we are sending you.
Cutting back on refined flour and sweet treats can be challenging, but substituting vegetables, fruits and whole grains have health benefits beyond reducing constipation. You may find it easier to keep your complexion clear and maintain your weight easily with these simple changes. We hope you find it helpful!
