Constipated here, please help...

[Justice2006]

For the past 3 months, I have been very irregular.  I work full time which causes me to miss meals, previously I used a colon cleanse diet plan which was causing me to go maybe 3 times a day.  Now I'm lucky if I go maybe every other day to every three days.  I am currently constipated, for about four days now.  I have been loading up on benefiber, taking it three times a day, and had no urges to go.  I don't want to do an enema because I've heard they are not good for health.  What should I do?

[LizM100]

I used to have chronic constipation. Too much fruit or vegies just gave me tons of gas with no relief.  But my naturalpath suggested that I add a Calcium and magnesium supplement to my diet.  I have used Calcium Citrate and Magnesium w/Vit D (I use the Vitamin Shoppe brand) for about 6 years and I usually go after my morning coffee.  I take 5-6 tablets daily (they recommend 6) in divided doses and I take my last dose after dinner. Obviously some fruit, vegetables and 6-8 glasses of water are very important.  Good luck.

[Morecambe]

I don't know anything about benefibre - but have you tried a diet high in natural fibre such as:-

- fresh pulverised raw fruit to which organic bran has been added
- fresh pulverised raw vegetables to which organic bran has been added - especially green beans and sweetcorn (these can be lightly steamed)
- brown wholemeal bread
- yoghurt to which organic bran has been added
- home made muesli (organic oats + bran soaked in milk to which grated fruit/nuts have been added - the mixture looks like wet cement)
- ~2 litres of water per day
- no junk food, white bread, cola or other rubbish!!

Good luck
Morecambe