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Does
constipation cause weight gain?
Constipation
is a medical condition which is associated with bowel movements
that are difficult to pass. It can also mean that the affected
person has three or fewer bowel movements in a week. In such a
situation, the stool which passes through the large intestine
is very slow and when the same stays in the area for too long,
the intestine removes the water from it. As a result the stool
becomes hard and dry, thus making it difficult to come out.
When this happens, your body is unable to eliminate waste or the
accumulated feces. This results in a slow rate of metabolism and
subsequently, weight gain. The other important thing is that the
waste is built up in the body and causes bloating. It may also
lead to retention of water in our bodies, which is another cause
for being overweight. Therefore, it is an established fact the
constipation is one of the reasons for being obese.
There may be many reasons for this problem. Our lifestyle, eating
habits, certain medicines, stress, etc. form some of them. Here
are some steps which can help preventing and relieving the condition:
· Eating a fiber rich diet - Fiber is helpful in forming
soft stool and is found in a lot of vegetables, fruits and grains.
Foods like cheese, meat, pizzas, burgers, chips, etc. should be
avoided.
· Drinking a lot of water and other helpful liquids - One
of the causes of constipation is dehydration. Therefore, drinking
a lot of water, fruit and vegetable juices can help preventing
the same. Coffee and alcohol should not be consumed.
· Exercising - A sedentary life can lead to a slow metabolism.
Therefore, ensure that you exercise enough to keep your body active
and fit.
· Using the restroom when there is an urge - Whenever there
is a bowel movement, you should visit a restroom and stay there
for some time to allow the fecal matter to come out. You should
be relaxed during that time and should not hurry out of the room.
· Advice of a physician - Anyone who has chronic constipation
should visit a physician immediately so as to get treatment for
the same.
All the above steps will help speed up metabolism and hence, you
will be able to eliminate the waste from your body at regular
intervals. This can prevent weight gain and give you a healthy
body.
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