Intestinal function can fail at any age. And this is happening more and more in today's world. Improper nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, uncontrolled use of drugs and an abundance of stressful situations lead to indigestion and stool. Incorrect bowel function, which is expressed in the accumulation of gases, diarrhea or constipation, is not only unpleasant and disrupts a person’s habitual lifestyle. This condition is very dangerous for he alth, since immunity, absorption of nutrients, hormonal levels and the content of useful trace elements in the blood depend on the work of the intestines. Therefore, every person should know how to normalize the stool in case of any failure.
Causes of bowel dysfunction
Why do intestinal disorders occur? There are several reasons for this:
- poor quality or stale food;
- eating badly cleanedwater;
- eating semi-finished products and fast food;
- eating only thermally processed food;
- reproduction of pathogenic microflora in the intestine;
- long-term medication, especially antibiotics;
- parasitic diseases;
- lack of water - many people do not drink it at all, replacing it with juices, tea and soda;
- nervous and mental strain.
Features of the intestinal microflora
In order for the body to receive all the necessary nutrients from food, it must be properly digested and absorbed. For this, in addition to digestive juice, various enzymes are used. Most of them are produced with the participation of beneficial bacteria that are natural inhabitants of the intestine. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli perform many useful functions: they produce useful vitamins, strengthen the immune system, cleanse the intestines of toxins, and prevent the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. They produce antibacterial substances, neutralize toxins and harmful bacteria.
In order for the intestines to work properly, you need to know how to restore the microflora. To do this, it is recommended twice a year to cleanse the digestive tract from accumulated toxins, toxins and feces. It is best to do this with vegetable salads, juices or dried fruits. The work of all organs, strong immunity and normal stools depend on the normal intestinal microflora. And violations occur for various reasons. Especially often you have to figure out how to normalize the stool after antibiotics, becausehow these drugs most disrupt the composition of the intestinal microflora.
Constipation in adults and children
The most common consequence of a malfunction in the digestive system and a violation of the intestinal microflora is constipation. Some people do not attach much importance to this, but a rare stool can be very dangerous. It leads to a deterioration in the absorption of nutrients, to a lack of vitamins in the body, causes inflammatory processes in the intestines and can even cause the development of a cancerous tumor. Who gets constipated the most?
- Especially often the violation of the chair occurs in the elderly. They accumulate fecal masses in their intestines, which impede the movement of food and contribute to the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the lack of movement weakens the muscles of the intestine, impairing its work. The metabolism also slows down. All this leads to constipation, which is difficult to manage without medication.
- Frequent constipation occurs in pregnant women. Due to the increased volume of the uterus, there is a violation of blood circulation in the intestines. Peristalsis is also reduced to prevent muscle contraction and prevent loss of the baby. Especially often the question arises of how to normalize the stool after a caesarean section or after a normal birth. After all, weakened muscles and sutures interfere with normal bowel movements.
- Children are less likely to become constipated and mostly for functional reasons. For example, due to developmental pathologies, endocrine diseases, allergies or iron deficiency anemia. Constipation can occur when changing the diet, for example, when switching to artificial feeding. Often parents are interested in how to normalize a child's stool after they have forcibly accustomed him to a potty. At the same time, the baby has a fear of the process of defecation.
Helpful tips
At the initial stage, when constipation is just discovered, it is not recommended to immediately use laxatives. Their uncontrolled and regular use further disrupts the intestinal microflora, can cause addiction and other side effects. How to normalize stool with simple steps?
- Regularly give the body feasible physical activity. It is better to start every morning in gymnastics. More walking, swimming, yoga or dancing.
- Constipation during pregnancy or in children is best de alt with by microenemas or special suppositories. Enemas can be done with decoctions of herbs - chamomile, sage, yarrow, or buy ready-made.
- You can relieve muscle spasm with spastic constipation using thermal procedures. A warm bath or heating pad on the lower abdomen will relieve pain and facilitate bowel movements.
- You need to regularly drink at least 2 sheets of pure water. This is in addition to tea and other liquids. After all, constipation is often caused by dehydration. Therefore, you need to make it a rule to drink a glass of water every morning and half an hour before each meal.
- You can not delay the urge to empty the bowels. If you often endure for a long time, developconstipation.
Proper nutrition to normalize stool
The work of the gastrointestinal tract directly depends on how a person eats. Frequent snacking "on the go" and dry food, improper eating habits, an abundance of preservatives and other additives in products - all this leads to constipation or diarrhea. It is very important for people who are faced with such a problem to know how to normalize digestion and stool through proper nutrition.
- First of all, you need to change the mode of eating. It is better if the food is fractional: 5-6 times a day, but in small portions. When a person fills his stomach with a lot of food 1-2 times a day, this is a very big load on the digestive system. It is advisable to eat at the same time, eating more high-calorie and nutritious food in the morning, and the last meal should be 2-3 hours before bedtime.
- During eating, you should give all your attention to this process, and not to watching TV or reading a book.
- It is undesirable to eat during a strong nervous strain or stress. Food taken in this state will not benefit, but may, on the contrary, disrupt the digestive tract.
- You need to give up foods that slow down intestinal motility: coffee, chocolate, cocoa, black tea.
The most effective products for stool normalization
Unfortunately, modern people mostly consume harmful foods rich inartificial additives. These are semi-finished products, canned food, fast food, coffee, carbonated drinks, confectionery. Such nutrition leads to the fact that sooner or later a person faces the question: “How to normalize stool?” The easiest way is to change your diet. There are many products that effectively cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and normalize its functioning. What do you need to eat to restore the intestinal microflora?
- The most important thing that the digestive tract needs is fiber. It is not digested, but stimulates intestinal motility and effectively removes toxins and food debris. The main source of fiber is vegetables, especially spinach, cabbage, carrots, beets, whole grains - black bread, oatmeal, bran, as well as fruits: plums, apples, grapes, figs. It is recommended to eat at least a kilogram of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, only then can the body's need for fiber be satisfied.
- Few people know how to normalize adult stools with garlic. This product effectively improves intestinal motility, thereby facilitating the passage of food and making it more frequent. Garlic has a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, normalizing the microflora. But in order for these qualities to manifest, it must be consumed fresh, adding to already cooked food.
- Instead of tea and soda, drink water with lemon juice. Moreover, with constipation, warm water works best, and the juice should be fresh. You need to drink such a remedy several times a day.
- Honey is very usefulwith any violations in the digestive system. But it should only be consumed raw. When heated above 50 degrees, all useful substances in it are destroyed. Therefore, you need to either eat it in its pure form or dilute it in warm water. A day to normalize the stool, you need 2 tablespoons of honey.
- Dairy products help restore microflora. This is the best breeding ground for beneficial bacteria in the gut.
- Effectively helps oil with constipation. It is recommended to drink a tablespoon of olive oil, and preferably linseed oil, before each meal.
The best drugs for constipation
Many people don't make a problem out of the question of how to normalize stool. They immediately take a laxative for any difficulty in emptying the intestines. But this approach is fraught with danger: the intestines get used to the action of stimulants and soon will not be able to work without them. Therefore, it is best to try to cope with constipation without medication. And in difficult cases, you need to see a doctor. He will select the necessary medicines that normalize the stool without harm to he alth. What are effective and safe preparations for intestinal microflora?
- Lactulose-based drugs are considered the best. They are prescribed even to small children. They do not cause addiction and side effects. These drugs stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria, which leads to the death of pathogenic microflora. They restore intestinal motility and contribute to its rapid emptying. These are such medicines: "Duphalac", "Lactusan", "Prelaxan", "Maxilak" andothers.
- For a single bowel movement, drugs are used that stimulate receptors in the intestinal mucosa. They can not be taken for a long time because of the danger of electrolyte imbalance and atrophy of nerve endings. These are such medicines: "Senadexin", "Regulax", "Guttalax" and others.
- Osmotic drugs help to empty the intestines after 8-10 hours by retaining water. It softens the feces and promotes their movement through the intestines. But such drugs cause flatulence, bloating and pain. Fortrans, Forlax and others have this effect.
- Often, to normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to take enzyme preparations. They improve the digestion process, relieve pain and facilitate the discharge of feces. Pancreatin-based drugs work best: Mezim, Festal, Panzinorm.
How to restore the microflora with drugs
In violation of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, preparations containing beneficial bacteria or substances to stimulate their reproduction are often prescribed. These microorganisms are natural inhabitants of the intestines and help digest food. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria prevent the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, participate in the production of vitamins and enzymes, and normalize the activity of the digestive tract. What are the preparations for the intestinal microflora?
- Probiotics are live microorganisms that are a normal environmentintestines. They are contained in such preparations: Bifiform, Linex, Lactobacterin, Acipol, Trilact and others.
- Prebiotics are substances that help beneficial bacteria survive and multiply.
- Complex preparations containing both bacteria and substances for their nutrition. This is Hilak Forte, Bactistatin.
Prebiotics (drugs)
The list of such medicines is not that big. Prebiotics are mainly contained in complex preparations. They are a source of food for beneficial bacteria, and therefore stimulate their growth and activity. Inulin, lactulose, these are all prebiotics. Preparations, the list of which is quite wide, effectively normalize stool in adults and children. Among them, the most effective are:
- "Duphalac" based on lactulose.
- Redugas containing inulin.
- "Eubicor" contains dietary fiber.
Folk recipes to normalize bowel function
Before you start drinking chemicals, you can try to adjust the stool using natural remedies. In folk medicine, there are many proven effective recipes for dealing with constipation.
- Very effectively normalizes stools, and besides, aloe juice helps to cope with other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. You can buy it at the pharmacy or make your own. Drink 50-100 ml of juice per day.
- It is often recommended to restore the intestinal microflora to take a solution of apple cider vinegar. But hemust be natural, and not flavored vinegar essence. 2 tablespoons should be diluted in a glass of warm water. This drink is drunk three times a day before meals.
- Grind flax seeds and peeled sunflower seeds in a coffee grinder. The resulting powder should be taken 2-3 times a day, after diluting it with water.
- And how to normalize adult stools with herbs? Various bitters are effective, which cleanse the intestines of parasites and stimulate the production of bile. These are decoctions of wormwood, dandelion, yarrow and others. There are also herbs that have a long-lasting effect and effectively normalize stools: buckthorn bark, licorice, hay, nettle, anise, chamomile.
- Very he althy and tasty medicine to normalize the stool can be prepared from dried fruits. To do this, grind prunes, figs, dried apricots and raisins in a meat grinder. Add honey and some lemon juice. This mass should be eaten on an empty stomach.
- Brew a tablespoon of flax seeds with a glass of hot water and insist. You need to eat them before going to bed and drink the resulting infusion.
