Re: New Report Clears Up Myths About Constipation

[Guest guest]

First off everyone read Will, " ----------'s his pants over articles like

this " 's response; double for me. There may be no " evidence " of

" autointoxication " but plain common sense: What does your colon do

(mainly)? Removes fluid from the stool. Where does that fluid go? Into

the bloodstream (then filtered by the liver). What happens if you leave

food at 98.6 degrees for days on end? It rots. So now we have our body

doing the same thing that our coffee machine does: Pulls fluid through a

substrate leaching the chemicals out. Only in this case we are percolating

through rotting food and drawing that fluid into the body. Ludicrous!

Again, another example of denying validity because of an apparent lack of

science. What happens if a person doesn't breathe for 2 hours? There has

never been a controlled double blind experiment to " prove " the answer you

just gave me (as far as I know), therefore under this school of reasoning

the lack of breathing would not result in death.

Constipation is not a disease it is a statement of condition: The

bowel movement is not vacating. This can come about for many different

reasons, the solution to each being different. Some people are constipated

because their stool is too dry and hard and the peristaltic action cannot

move it through. In this instance fiber (without moistening the stool) can

exacerbate the problem. This does not mean that fiber is invalid only

common sense again to determine the cause (something that would not occur to

these guys) of the condition and act accordingly. Ignorant

rogance. -Dave

----- Original Message -----

From: " " <jensanmateo@...>

<gallstones >

Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 12:44 PM

Subject: New Report Clears Up Myths About Constipation

> Here's a news article that was posted on Health

> by Reuters a little while ago.

>

> Looks like physical activity is important.

>

>

>

> New Report Clears Up Myths About Constipation

>

> 9 minutes ago Health - Reuters

>

>

> By Charnicia E. Huggins

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The idea that chronic

> constipation is the result of a low-fiber diet may be

> one of the many myths and misconceptions about the

> condition, according to a new review of the issue.

>

> The same is true of the idea that consuming more

> fluids will ease constipation, or that those who rely

> on laxatives will become dependent on them.

>

>

> " Defecation is a very private process rarely discussed

> with the physician but more easily discussed with

> friends, " study author Dr. Stefan A. Muller-Lissner of

> Humboldt University in Berlin told Reuters Health.

> " Therefore it is prone to unsubstantiated theories and

> beliefs derived from subjective impressions and

> unsystematic observations. "

>

>

> He said " the role of fluid and dietary fiber intake is

> overemphasized and there is an unsubstantiated fear

> that laxative intake in reasonable doses were

> unhealthy, "

>

>

> Muller-Lissner and his colleagues address some of the

> notions about constipation in a report published in

> the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

>

>

> They first debunk the myth that chronic constipation

> may lead to autointoxication from the absorption of

> poisonous substances backed up in the colon.

>

>

> This belief was held even among the ancient Egyptians,

> according to an inscription dating back to the 16th

> century B.C., and in the early 20th century a famous

> London surgeon asserted that all chronic diseases

> result from autointoxication. Yet, there is no current

> evidence to support such a theory, write

> Muller-Lissner and his team, adding that some people

> continue to undergo regular " colon cleansing " with

> laxatives and enemas.

>

>

> Fiber is known to add bulk to stool and to increase

> the frequency of bowel movements, and many people

> believe that a low-fiber diet can cause constipation.

> Available research suggests people should not assume

> this to be true, however, although a diet that is poor

> in fiber may indeed contribute to chronic

> constipation.

>

>

> A high-fiber diet may alleviate the condition in some

> patients, the researchers note, but those with severe

> constipation may experience worsened symptoms upon

> increasing their fiber intake.

>

>

> In considering whether constipation is caused by a low

> intake of fluids or if it can be improved by

> increasing fluid intake, Muller-Lissner and his team

> report that there is no evidence to support either

> belief. Unless a person is dehydrated, increasing

> fluid intake does not appear to treat constipation,

> their review findings indicate.

>

> The researchers also look into the possibility that a

> sedentary lifestyle contributes to constipation and

> that physical activity may be beneficial.

>

> After reviewing several studies on the topic they

> conclude that physical activity may affect bowel

> function, but other factors such as diet and

> personality may also play a role. Programs designed to

> increase physical activity may not improve bowel

> function among young patients with severe

> constipation, but may help elderly individuals, when

> combined with other aspects of " a broad rehabilitation

> program, " the authors write.

>

> Muller-Lissner and his team also investigate various

> claims about the chronic use of laxatives, including

> the idea that it may cause nerve or muscle damage in

> the colon, may increase the risk of various cancers,

> including colorectal cancer, and may cause users to

> become dependent on laxatives.

>

> Claims of nervous system damage caused by laxatives

> have been based on " poorly documented experiments, "

> they write, adding that it is " unlikely " that

> laxatives taken at recommended doses will harm the

> colon.

>

> Also, while chronic constipation does appear to be

> associated with increased colorectal cancer risk,

> there is no evidence that the use of laxatives

> independently increases a person's risk of the cancer.

>

>

> As for the risk of developing dependency on laxatives,

> there is no such potential, Muller-Lissner and his

> colleagues state, although they acknowledge that

> psychiatric patients may misuse them.

>

> Individuals affected by constipation should " not be

> bothered by a low stool frequency as such, "

> Muller-Lissner concluded. " Try fiber, " he advised,

> " and use laxatives if this does not work

> sufficiently. "

>

> SOURCE: American Journal of Gastroenterology, January

> 2005.

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>