The elderly are a high-risk group for constipation. Due to gradually reduced physical activity and organ aging, they often suffer from the distress of constipation. Folk remedies for treating constipation, such as frequently eating fruits like pears and bananas, are common. However, some are not very effective, and for many, not only does the constipation not improve, but their health is also negatively affected. In fact, not all fruits can be a "nemesis" for constipation in the elderly; those with a "cooling" nature should still be eaten in moderation.
Constipation is also categorized by syndrome type.
According to different clinical manifestations, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classifies constipation into various syndromes. For most young and middle-aged adults, constipation is often of the "excess" or "heat" type. Therefore, appropriately consuming foods that clear heat, moisten the intestines, and promote bowel movements, such as pears and bananas, can relieve constipation.
However, constipation in the elderly is often of the "deficiency" type. As the body's "yang" energy gradually weakens with age, most elderly individuals exhibit varying degrees of "spleen and kidney yang deficiency." This is often characterized by dry, hard, and difficult-to-pass stools, cold limbs, an aversion to cold and a preference for warmth, soreness in the lower back and knees, or abdominal cold pain that is relieved by warmth. For these patients, blindly increasing the intake of "cooling" fruits like pears and bananas is like "adding fuel to the fire." It will not only worsen their constipation but can also trigger or aggravate "yang deficiency" symptoms such as aversion to cold and abdominal cold pain.
Elderly patients with constipation should eat more lamb.
Therefore, with the exception of a very small number of elderly constipation patients whose primary symptoms are dry stools, bad breath, a red face, thirst, and abdominal bloating (indicating an excess-heat syndrome), all other elderly individuals should appropriately reduce their intake of "cold" fruits and vegetables like pears, bananas, cucumbers, winter melon, oranges, and watermelon in their daily diet. Instead, they should increase their intake of foods with a "warming yang" effect, such as walnut kernels, Cistanche, lamb, lamb kidneys, dog meat, and chives.
Because elderly individuals often have "qi and blood deficiency" and "fluid deficiency" in addition to "spleen and kidney yang deficiency," those suffering from constipation should also appropriately increase their intake of foods that "benefit qi, nourish blood, moisten the intestines, and promote bowel movements," such as Chinese yam, corn, japonica rice, glutinous rice, red dates, honey, mulberries, black sesame seeds, and pine nuts. At the same time, they should avoid smoking, alcohol, strong tea, chili mustard, and pepper.
Daily conditioning is the fundamental solution.
Constipation in the elderly is closely related to the decline in intestinal function and reduced peristalsis. For this type of constipation, one must never rely on laxatives. The consequence of seeking "temporary relief" can be a vicious cycle, leading to weak intestinal peristalsis and even drier intestines.
Therefore, elderly patients with constipation should adopt comprehensive lifestyle conditioning. In addition to dietary adjustments, attention should be paid to the following points: First, develop the habit of drinking water proactively. Second, when the condition and physical condition permit, engage in some light activities according to one's health status, such as walking, Tai Chi, or gymnastics. Third, develop a habit of regular bowel movements, attempting to defecate on time, regardless of whether there is an urge. Fourth, use a massage method to relieve constipation. Place one hand over the other, apply even pressure, and start from the lower right abdomen, massaging clockwise around the navel 100 times, and then counter-clockwise 100 times, three times a day.
The above introduces a treatment for constipation in the elderly, starting with reducing the intake of "cooling" fruits. It is hoped that the information provided can be helpful to elderly friends. In reality, the diet of the elderly is the most effective for preventing and treating constipation. However, what to eat and how to eat are the main factors that determine success. Treating constipation requires differentiating both the symptoms and the individual's physical condition. It is hoped that the elderly troubled by constipation can recover soon.