The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.128)

2020 • 11 56 ellness Translated by Woon Xiao Rui High- bre – Not Always a Remedy for Constipation Constipation happens for many reasons, and it can only be improved by solving the root of the problem. A patient of mine complained of constipation. He is a very self-disciplined man, always making sure that he consumes enough vegetables, fruits and water. His bowel movement pattern had been regular. But suddenly, he started to experience bowel movement difficulty. On hearing that whole- grain food could regulate bowel movement, he began to switch from white rice to brown rice for his lunch and dinner. He thought that would solve his constipation problem, but instead, his condition worsened. Constipation happens for many reasons. Some due to lack of fibre intake. Some are caused by insufficient water consumption. For simple reasons such as these, one would only need to increase intake of vegetables, fruits and water to improve the condition. However, more often than not, the causes of constipation are not that simple. During my pregnancy, I maintained a daily high-fibre diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, oats and nuts. I also drank plenty of water, and maintained regular exercise right up to the final stage of pregnancy. Yet, like many other pregnant women, I was occasionally troubled with constipation woes. During pregnancy, the secretion of progesterone in the body is increased. This reduces the contraction of the uterine smooth muscles and affects the colon’s peristalsis (movement of the intestine). Besides that, a growing foetus may inflict pressure onto the intestine. The consumption of iron supplements may also lead to constipation. When these conditions occur simultaneously, going to the toilet is no longer an easy task. Hence, I decided to seek help from a gynaecologist. I took the doctor’s advice and added prune juice in my diet. To be honest, I have an aversion to sweet beverages. But my constipation was already causing distress to my life and work. I was virtually on the verge of drowning, and so I held onto whatever I could find, regardless of whether I liked it or not. Actually, constipation can only be improved by solving the problem at its root cause. After giving my patient dietary advice, I started to ask about his current situation, whether there had been any changes to his lifestyle recently. It turned out that he had just changed to a new job. His new job kept him very busy, and his supervisor constantly kept an eye on the employees, making sure they would not slack off at work. As a result, he was too afraid to go to the toilet, constantly holding in and ignoring his urges. He would try to go to the toilet after work, but it never worked out regardless of how hard he tried. My patient admitted that constipation had caused him to bloat and have stomach aches. He was distressed, lost his