Got Constipation? Maybe Probiotics Can Help!

If you tried the three tried-and-true methods for relieving constipation:

• Investigating the possibility of an obstruction or disease in the colon
• Slowly increasing fiber from whole foods in your diet along with your water intake and
• Getting out of your chair and engaging in regular exercise

and you still have irregularity problems, then maybe you don't have the right balance of bacteria and yeast microbes in your digestive system to deal with the increased fiber and help your digestive system run more smoothly. The beneficial bacteria and yeasts are called probiotics.

If you haven't tried probiotics for constipation, then they may be the answer you seek. Probiotics are live organisms that deliver health benefits to the host. Probiotics can be found in many cultured foods, fermented drinks, probiotic-fortified foods and drinks, and probiotic supplements. They ferment some of that healthy fiber that you are eating from whole foods and convert it into substances that either your colon cells can use for energy or to other helpful materials for your body.

Scientific data is available which shows that the kinds and numbers of bacteria and yeasts in the digestive tract differ between healthy individuals and those that experience chronic constipation. People with chronic constipation usually have higher levels of the more pathogenic (disease-causing) microbes than healthy people. This imbalance of microbes is called "dysbiosis" and it can lead to constipation.

Why would dysbiosis cause constipation? Dysbiosis can cause constipation because the unhealthy microbes are preventing the beneficial microbes from doing their jobs. Some of the ways probiotics can help with constipation are that:

• They communicate with your intestines in a healthy way.


• They play a role in the proper development and functioning of your intestines.


• They help to keep the unhealthy microbes under control, so there is less inflammation in the digestive tract.


• Some probiotics produce acids that lower the pH in the colon which increases muscle contractions along the colon (peristalsis) to facilitate regularity.


• Some probiotics help to balance electrolytes (mineral salts) and water absorption.


• Some probiotics enhance mucous secretion so that stools can glide more easily through the colon.

The three tried-and-true methods for relieving constipation by checking for an obstruction or disease, increasing whole foods and water intake, and participating in some form of exercise to get your muscles moving (including your intestinal muscles) are definitely great starting points for most people. If, however, you are still experiencing chronic constipation, then maybe probiotics can help you.