Are you suffering from frequent constipation? Wondering if there is a simple food that can help treat this condition? Then oats are something you must have!
Why? This post has the answers. Read on to know more!
You can resort to various ways to cope with constipation. There is no shortage of OTC laxative medications available in syrup, tablet or gel form that you can use. However, it is prudent that you make changes to your diet and start eating foods that facilitate a healthy bowel movement. A majority of people suffering from constipation are advised to eat oatmeal to ease their condition.
It is not without reason that medical experts and diet specialists ask people to eat oatmeal. It does help you resolve constipation and also aids in various other ways to stay healthy. It is easy to digest and full of vital nutrients that the human body requires.
Is oatmeal good for constipation? Oatmeal contains a good amount of insoluble fiber (1). This aids in the digestion process. Fiber present in oatmeal helps in bowel movements and soaks water from the fluids you drink. As a result, the chance of hard and dry stool formation is nearly eliminated. Bulky and soft stool passes through the colon easily.
On an average, a cup of regular oatmeal made with water contains about 5 grams of fiber. This comprises of soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol, and insoluble fiber that aids digestion and bowel movements. While you get fiber from some fruits and vegetables, eating oatmeal is a good way to fulfil a significant part of the daily fiber intake. Fiber-rich foods are also good for cardiac health.
Apart from infants who have not started taking solid or semi-solid foods and people who are allergic to oats, nearly everyone can eat oatmeal.
Teens of varying ages often suffer from constipation. Their preference for junk foods, irregular eating cycles and lack of fluid intake make them constipated. You can give oatmeal to a kid or teen suffering from constipation. Nowadays, instant oatmeal is available in various flavours, and those may appeal to the kids. However, you may also prepare oat in the traditional way.
Adults can develop constipation for a number of reasons just like kids. They can include oatmeal in breakfast or have it at other times of the day to ease constipation.
Pregnancy induces a lot of physiological changes in the human body. Apart from weight gain, mood swings, a pregnant woman can also suffer from constipation at times. This is caused mostly owing to excessive secretion of progesterone hormone, which makes the digestive tract muscles more relaxed. The pressure of the fetus grows on the rectum region as well. The bowel movement slows down as a result. Some women take iron supplements during pregnancy, which hardens the bowel and leads to constipation. These women should eat oatmeal for hassle free bowel movement (2).
Infants can also develop constipation at times. This happens mostly when you introduce solid foods to an infant. An infant used to breastfeeding and liquid diet can develop constipation when solid foods are suddenly introduced in his or her meals. Solid foods are hard to digest for an infant’s stomach. Some paediatricians think feeding babies oatmeal over rice cereal is better, since the former is a nice laxative.
A lot of elderly women and men develop digestive problems and suffer from constipation. For them, eating oatmeal is an easy and suitable way to ease the discomfort. Eating oatmeal also enables their body to soak in the nutrients easily.
While eating oatmeal will help you eradicate constipation and obtain several health benefits, it is important that you choose the right type of oats. The variety available in the market can leave you somewhat baffled! Explore the options and compare them to pick the aptest variant. Keep in mind, however, that any oat you buy undergoes some processing.
A lot of people opt for instant oatmeal variants, especially those adults leading hectic lives or those parents who have finicky kids suffering from constipation. The convenience of instant oatmeal is undeniable. However, diet experts say these variants are less suitable from an overall health perspective. They are steamed and pressed by the manufacturers, and so require less time in preparing. The downside is that instant oatmeal gets dissolved faster, and this makes it high on the glycemic index (3). Nutritionists say that foods high in glycemic index result in a surge in blood sugar levels, which is followed by a dip. These oatmeal variants do not keep you full for long though they act as laxative agents.
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