Constipation is a common disturbance of the digestive tract. The most common symptoms of constipation are infrequency, irregularity or difficulty of elimination due to hard faecal matter. Among the other symptoms are a coated tongue, foul breath, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, dark circles under the eyes, depression, nausea, pimples on the face, ulcer in the mouth, constant fullness in the abdomen, diarrhoea alternating with constipation, varicose veins, pain in the lumber region, acidity, heart burn and insomnia.
The most important cause for chronic constipation are wrong diet and a faulty style of living. All foods in their natural state contain a good percentage of “roughage” which is most essential in preserving natural balance of foods and also in helping peristalsis – the natural rhythmic action by means of which the food is passed down the alimentary canal. Most of the food we eat in recent times is very deficient in natural bulk or roughage and this results in chronic constipation.
The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined food such as whole grain cereals, honey, molasses and lentils, green and leafy vegetables, french beans, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, cabbage, cauliflower, grapes, figs, papayas, gauva, oranges and milk products.