Chapter 6 G
CONSTIPATION
Constipation means that our
intestines work too rarely or irregularly. It also refers to hardening of
feces, which is a typical problem in the Western countries. Constipation and
hemorrhoids are not found among primitive people, whose food is natural and
includes more fiber. It is common only in urban environments where people have
turned to another kind of nourishment. Furthermore, many other diseases that
were not as common before are a result of the new diet:
Doctor Denis Burkitt, who was
a missionary doctor in Africa, was a skilful researcher. He did research on the
undigested substance and fiber in the diet. Burkitt observed that the natives
of Africa in their tribal environments did not actually suffer at all from
stomach and intestine problems. They very seldom had constipation,
appendicitis, gallstones and colonitis, cancer of the colon or other digestive
and intestinal disorders. Those who had moved to a town started to have these
diseases within 15-20 years.
Dr. Burkitt
observed that the turnaround time for food (the time from eating to defecation)
was notably longer for those who ate "cultural food" than for those
who lived on natural food. The time among the natives was on an average 18-30
hours. For people living in towns, it varied from two to seven days. The
essential difference between these two diets was the amount of fiber and
undigested ingredients.
The diet of the
natives was very natural, fruit and vegetables were eaten without processing
and a lot of preparation. The tribe population got plenty of undigested
ingredients, fiber, and unrefined versatile carbohydrates from their food. The
diet of the town people was quite the opposite. (4)
How can constipation and
hemorrhoids often caused by constipation be taken care of? Our food plays a big
part in this. The next factors have been noticed to be beneficial, for example:
The significance of fiber is great, both in
the care of constipation and in preventing many diseases. Intestinal disorders
are usually caused by a small amount of fiber and the wrong kind of food (plenty
of sugar, white flour, and foods containing animal fat, such as fatty sausages)
are the cause of many "elite diseases".
If we do not get
enough fiber from our food (about 25-35 grams per day), it always slows
down the food turnaround time and enables many harmful ingredients, such as
carcinogens (that cause cancer) and cholesterol, to be absorbed into the body
because they have more time. Instead, food containing fiber, both insoluble and
soluble, has been found to benefit the body and speed up the food's journey
through it.
Useful
ingredients are, for example, dissoluble fiber from oats and barley, berries,
fruit, and vegetables, because they make defecation easier by making the feces softer.
All of these and also rye bread contain plenty of insoluble fibers, which speed
up the progress of food in our body and increase the amount of feces. Both
fiber types are useful in the care of constipation.
Water and sufficient
drinking are also useful in preventing constipation, because lack of water can
cause constipation.
The significance
of water is based on this: if we do not get enough water, the contents of our
intestine will dry up more and more. The contents become hard and the progress
slows down. Instead, it we get enough water - at least 1.5-2 liters per day -
it has a positive effect on the intestine and prevents constipation. Sufficient
amounts of water are a benefit also in the prevention of kidney stones.