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Person drinking a natural laxative tea to relieve constipation

How to Relieve Constipation Caused by GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications?

If you’re taking GLP-1 for weight loss and don’t know how to relieve the constipation it causes, check out these recommendations!

Taking medication has always come with the risk of side effects ranging from mild to severe. In the case of GLP-1 weight loss medications, much has been said about their impact on the digestive system.

Gastrointestinal discomfort is one of the most bothersome ailments. For example, heartburn, reflux, or bloating can affect our sleeping habits and how we eat. Constipation, on the other hand, not only causes discomfort due to bloating and sometimes pain but can also have significant consequences on our health. If you’re suffering from constipation due to GLP-1 consumption, here are some tips to relieve it.

GLP-1 and Constipation

GLP-1 medications (Ozempic being the most popular brand name), designed initially for diabetes treatment but popularized for their effectiveness in weight loss, can produce several adverse side effects. Mild side effects include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.

Constipation occurs because one of the mechanisms by which GLP-1 medications control sugar absorption is by slowing down stomach emptying. This can lead to decreased frequency and speed of the intestinal movements that promote bowel evacuation. As a result, stools remain in the colon longer, requiring more water absorption. Consequently, stools become drier, more challenging, and harder to pass.

Other Causes of Constipation

Of course, it’s not just the use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss that can cause constipation. Pregnancy, a sedentary lifestyle, a poor diet, and certain conditions like celiac disease, Parkinson’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and pelvic floor disorders can also lead to constipation. Whatever the cause, the recommendations to relieve it are usually the same, so if you’re facing this issue for any of these reasons, keep reading to find out how to solve it.

Consequences of Constipation

The main and most common consequences of constipation tend to be mild but quite uncomfortable. Typically, a patient with constipation will experience:

  • Abdominal bloating
  • Gas
  • Abdominal distension
  • Pain and cramps

While constipation rarely leads to severe complications, failing to address it in a timely and proper manner can affect your overall health. Prolonged constipation, according to the National Health Service website, could lead to:

  • Rectal inflammation (hemorrhoids)
  • Anal fissures causing bleeding
  • Fecal impaction (dry stools trapped in the rectal walls)

Fecal retention can, in turn, cause further complications due to the blockage. Some of them are:

  • Intestinal incontinence (involuntary stool release)
  • Bleeding
  • Loss of sensation in the affected area
  • Rectal swelling
  • Rectal prolapse (part of the small intestine moves and protrudes through the anus)

If treated promptly, usually with laxatives, the consequences of constipation can be avoided. Starting treatment immediately is vital to prevent more invasive methods, like suppositories or enemas.

How to Relieve Constipation?

Fortunately, changing your habits is an effective way to prevent and relieve constipation. Applying these measures will likely avoid the discomfort and complications associated with this condition.

  • Increase your fiber intake
  • Drink more water
  • Exercise regularly
  • Take natural laxatives

Increase your Fiber Intake

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH) suggests that relieving constipation requires adequate fiber intake. Although the amount varies based on age and sex, adults should consume an average of 22 to 34 grams of fiber per day.

Some foods you can add to your diet to increase your fiber intake include:

  • Whole grains (oatmeal, bran flakes)
  • Legumes (lentils, beans, chickpeas)
  • Vegetables like peas, carrots, and broccoli
  • Nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts)

Drink More Water

Another recommendation from the NIH is to increase fluid intake, which helps improve fiber absorption. This can be done by drinking plain water and incorporating foods rich in water, like fruits, vegetable juices, and soups.

Fluids help make stools softer and easier to pass. Also, staying hydrated helps relieve constipation and make you feel and look better. Drinking water helps regulate body temperature, keeps the skin hydrated and elastic, and lubricates the joints.

Exercise Regularly

In general, exercise is an excellent ally for maintaining a healthy digestive system, as inactivity can be a factor causing constipation. Aerobic exercise increases your breathing and heartbeat, promoting the intestinal contractions necessary to pass stools.

Any type of exercise can help keep your digestive system in shape. Still, if you want something that also helps relieve the discomfort of constipation causes, the most recommended are specific yoga poses such as supine, Matsyasana, and crescent twist, as well as wind-relieving, and child’s pose.

For the best results from your exercise routines to relieve constipation, it’s best to do them at least an hour after eating, since your stomach is handling digestion during that time. Exercising diverts blood flow away from the stomach, affecting the process.

Take Natural Laxatives

In addition to the foods we’ve mentioned in previous sections, natural laxatives are another product you can add to your diet. These products are typically made from ingredients with inherent laxative properties, meaning they usually don’t contain added chemicals or ingredients that could harm your health.

At Yes You Can!, we offer a variety of products that can help relieve constipation caused by GLP-1 medications for weight loss, or for any other reason. Below, we’ll tell you about them.

Pure Fiber

When it comes to increasing your fiber intake, Yes You Can! has the ideal product. Our Pure Fiber is a powdered supplement containing soluble and insoluble fiber to help meet your body's requirements. Taking one dose dissolved in water in the morning will be enough to start seeing improvements in your digestive tract.

Laxative Tea

The benefits of prunes for relieving constipation are well known, which is why Yes You Can! has created this supplement to help promote the health of your bowel function and relieve occasional constipation. Our natural Laxative Tea also contains papaya leaf powder — a fiber-rich fruit — rose hip, and fennel seed powder. This combination will relieve constipation while helping to detoxify your body.

Organic Pure Greens

All Yes You Can! products are designed to help you look and feel better holistically, so one of the products we recommend for relieving constipation is Organic Pure Greens. This powdered supplement promotes stomach health and contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber to help you stay active and healthy every day.

Relieve all your Stomach Discomforts with Yes You Can! Supplements

You don’t have to live with intestinal discomfort or resort to uncomfortable remedies to relieve constipation. Incorporate Yes You Can! supplements into your life and immediately start feeling light and relieved. Do you want to know more? Continue exploring our blog, visit our online store, or call us at 1-888-988-5515.

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