If you’re suffering from constipation, you are no doubt looking for some answers to bring relief. Treatments for constipation vary with type of constipation from which you’re suffering. Most people do not know that they should have 1 bowel movement for each meal they eat. At a minimum people should have two bowel movements daily.

If you experience constipation for more than 1 week, you should consult your healthcare provider to determine cause of your problem. Most people are suffering as a result of lifestyle changes and choices. For some people, though, constipation can signal a more serious problem such as a bowel obstruction or even colon cancer. If your bowel movements smell foul it is your body giving you a warning signal! Listen to your body.

If you’re diagnosed with a bowel obstruction, you and your physician will have to make a decision about appropriate treatment. If you’re suffering from constipation as a result of lifestyle, there are several treatment options for you.

Changing your diet. People who have chronic constipation will almost certainly need a change in diet. Increasing amount of fiber in diet can help relieve chronic problems with constipation. Eating raw fruits and vegetables, brown wild rice, flaxseeds, bran and whole grain cereals will provide a good source of fiber.

Adding exercise. It’s also important to increase amount of activity you’re getting. Starting an exercise program can help regulate your bowels. Exercise can be as simple as taking a brisk 20 minute walk every morning of evening.

WHY DIETS MAKE YOU CRABBY

By Pauline Wallin, Ph.D Author of "Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating Behavior"

Word count: 668

Copyright Pauline Wallin, Ph.D. 2003. All rights reserved

If you've ever been on a diet you know feeling of irritability that sets in after a few days. Nutrition experts have attributed this feeling to a physical state of deprivation, such as low blood sugar or dehydration.

While these conditions do have a definite effect on mood, they don't tell whole story. Consider fact that you are not ALWAYS crabby when hungry or thirsty, even though your body may be in a state of deprivation.

Diet-related crabbiness stems not just from your body's physical state, but also from mental fatigue. As you know, it takes concentrated effort to change your eating habits. That effort uses up mental strength, which gets depleted.

According to psychological research by Dr. Roy Baumeister and his colleagues, mental strength operates similarly to physical strength. Suppose, for example, you've just spent afternoon moving furniture. By time you're done, you don't have much strength left to play tennis.

In same way, when you've spent day exercising self-control with food, you don't have much strength left for controlling your behavior in other situations. Thus, you're more likely to snap back at someone, lose your patience easily, or overreact to minor frustrations.

** HERE'S A TYPICAL SCENARIO:

~ You start off day feeling OK, determined to stay on your diet. This takes some effort. If you've been used to having a donut or sweet roll for breakfast, it requires effort to eat something different. When you turn on TV or radio you're confronted with food ads designed to make your mouth water. It takes effort to ignore these temptations.