causes of constipation,diet habits,common cause of chronic constipation,common cause of constipation 23

the fibre in the vegetables and fruits contain cellulose which cannot be digested by human beings as we do not have the necessary enzyme Cellulase that is normally present in herbivorous animals. The undigested cellulose adds bulk to the stool; in the presence of enough extra water, the material can be comfortably moved on in the colon to be emptied once or twice a day. If we eat highly refined foods like white polished rice or wheat instead of brown unpolished items, meat instead of pulses and vegetables, fruit juices instead of whole fruits, alcohol instead of water, all the food that is consumed is absorbed in the small intestine leaving no bulk for the wastage to be moved on. Hence it takes longer time to accumulate roughage in required quantities. This results in chronic constipation.

The next common cause of chronic constipation is poor toilet training. The 24 hours cycle of defecation is a reflex that is developed through training by our parents in childhood, just like the cycle of sleep, eating habits, bladder training etc. This is directly related to the nurture and culture. Several cues are used to initiate the defecation reflex during the training. These could be the type of closet, the place, exercise, drinking of coffee or tea and or breakfast or your emotional state. Chronic constipation results if care is not taken in childhood for this training or if the life style is disturbed due to emotionally demanding situations that can disturb this defecation reflex. It is not uncommon to see loaded chronically stretched large intestine in such children who may empty the bowel once a week.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the other functional cause that can be very chronic and disturbing.Here constipation alternates with diarrhoea associated with a feeling of incomplete emptying of bowel. This is due to autonomic nervous imbalance related to stress.
Constipation due to obstruction to the passage of stools in large or small intestine caused by pressure from outside or