Constipation isn't a serious illness, but it's incredibly bothersome. The pain of being unable to go without saying, the accumulated stool in the intestines continuously produces toxic gas and toxins, causing gastrointestinal dysfunction, endocrine disorders, poor sleep, and mental tension. These "after-effects" are even more distressing.
Some people ask, "I eat plenty of fruit and rarely touch greasy or 'heaty' foods, so why am I still constipated?" Others say, "I eat radish and celery, which are considered laxative foods in Traditional Chinese Medicine, every day. Why can't they get rid of my constipation?" For this reason, experts from the "Life Times" point out that there are many misconceptions about diet and constipation.
Myth 1: Eating more radishes can relieve constipation
"Actually, this is a very common misconception in the diet for constipation," points out a professor of internal medicine at the Dongzhimen Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Constipation is divided into many types, such as "heat constipation" caused by internal heat and "deficiency constipation" caused by spleen and kidney deficiency, and fluid deficiency.
Among the middle-aged and elderly, deficiency constipation accounts for a large proportion. In layman's terms, it's insufficient gastrointestinal motility. "White radish has the effect of promoting digestion and relieving qi, so it can be effective for constipation caused by bloating. But for the middle-aged and elderly, who are already lacking in 'qi', expelling more of it will only worsen the constipation," says Jiang Liangduo.
Myth 2: You should eat a lot of dietary fiber
"Dietary fiber can indeed relieve constipation, but it can also cause bloating and abdominal pain. For people with poor gastrointestinal function, excessive intake can actually irritate the digestive tract," says a dietitian from the Nutrition Department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. "And not all foods rich in dietary fiber have a laxative effect. For example, Chinese yam is considered warm-natured, and eating too much of it can actually worsen constipation," the professor adds.