Stress can seriously take a toll on your gut health.
"Constipation is having bowel movements less frequently than once every three days or having difficulty or discomfort in defecating hard stools,", MD, president of the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association and clinical assistant professor of gastroenterology emeritus at Oregon Health & Science University, explains.
Although gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome can cause chronic constipation, there's a good chance that high-stress, anxiety-filled situations may be contributing to you feeling backed up. Keep reading to learn why stress-induced constipation occurs and what you can do to treat it., leading to issues like constipation.
Although stress can directly signal your nervous system to slow your bowels, there are other ways constipation may be linked to stress. For example, you might find that you reach for sugary, processed foods instead of fiber-rich grains, fruits, and vegetables when you're feeling stressed, or you may find that you struggle to squeeze in a workout because of your hectic schedule.
, or seeing a doctor or therapist to dig deeper into the things that are causing you to feel chronically stressed out. In the meantime, you need to make sure you're meeting your most basic needs., and eating a healthy, balanced diet."Increase your intake of foods high in fiber like beans, squash, berries, green vegetables, seeds, grains, high-fiber cereals, fruit, nuts, and avocados," Dr. Clarke says.
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