Constipation is a common summertime concern. When you’re working up a sweat outdoors, your body is losing water. This puts you at risk of dehydration. As your body conserves fluids, one result can be constipation.
You need adequate fluids and fiber to be regular. If you lack one or both, stools can become hard and difficult to pass. Here are five ways to sidestep summer constipation and help keep your digestive system on track.
- Pay attention to your body. Go to the bathroom as soon as you get the urge, even if you’re in the middle of a fun activity. The longer you wait, the harder your stool may become.
- Drink water even when you don’t feel thirsty. If possible, be proactive by drinking a glass of water before you spend time outside. Carry a bottle of water with you while you’re outdoors and always hydrate again once you’re back inside.
- Add a daily scoop of Tomorrow’s Nutrition Sunfiber to your water regimen. It is taste-free and dissolves invisibly into water without getting thick or gritty. In addition to giving you more fiber, Tomorrow’s Nutrition Sunfiber is a prebiotic, so it will help to nourish the beneficial microflora in your digestive system that help keep it working as it should. In fact, Tomorrow’s Nutrition Sunfiber is clinically proven to gently improve both occasional constipation as well as occasional diarrhea. It also supports mineral absorption, including magnesium and calcium that tend to be lost when sweating.
- Limit alcohol, sweets and junk food. When you fill up on low-fiber treats such as ice cream or road trip snacks, you may not leave enough room for high-fiber, healthier options. And because alcohol can be dehydrating, consider alternating your adult beverages with a glass of water.
- Nibble on some natural stool softeners. A diverse diet is also beneficial to gut health and function by adding fiber and fluids. In fact, food can provide an estimated 20% of your fluid intake. Take advantage of the great variety of fruits and vegetables now in season. Other alternatives include prunes, which are loaded with fiber, and magnesium-rich pumpkin seeds which may help draw water into the intestines.
It’s also important to keep moving. Exercise can stimulate your digestive system. You don’t have to break a sweat to get unblocked. Something as simple as taking an early morning walk can often help get things unblocked.
