What is constipation?
Constipation is the inability to pass stools for three days or more. It can be due to a number of causes like dehydration, improper diet, ill health, certain medications, alcoholism, along with many other factors. It can cause pain and discomfort in the abdomen, lead to loss of appetite and many other such symptoms. There are many herbs as well as dietary recommendations that are given in Ayurveda for treating this problem and giving relief.
Ayurvedic diet for constipation
According to the Ayurveda system, constipation (Anaha) is caused mainly due to imbalances in Vata Dosha, although imbalances in the other two Doshas can have an effect as well. The main aim of Ayurvedic treatment is, therefore, to balance out these Doshas and restore normalcy to the body system. There are many simple changes in everyday diet that can help with this condition.
Dietary recommendations for constipation
- Increase your daily intake of water.
- Store some water in a copper vessel overnight and have this in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Have a glass if warm milk with a little castor oil or clarified butter just before going to sleep.
- Include fruits like apples, oranges, bananas and plantains that aid digestion.
- If you wish to have dry fruits. Soak them in water for sometime to get rid of the heat contained in them.
- Include lots of green leafy vegetables in your daily diet. They help in better digestion by providing adequate amounts of roughage.
- You should include small amounts of oil and clarified butter in your daily diet and not have foods that are very dry.
- Sugarcane, papaya, beetroot and tomato are very beneficial. You should avoid vegetables like cabbage as well as mushrooms, legumes and such other foods that are hard to digest.
These are just some simple changes that you can bring about in your daily diet that can go a long way in treating constipation and giving you relief along with preventing recurrence of the problem as well.
