Top 10 Root Causes of Constipation + 4 Functional Nutrition Solutions
One of the most common issues we see women in our practice experience is constipation. So today, we’re going to unpack what constipation really is, what’s happening in the body when you experience it, some of the potential root causes, and a few of our top Functional Nutrition solutions we use with clients to help them get relief.
What Is Constipation Really?
The Mayo Clinic states that “constipation generally means passing fewer than three stools a week or having a difficult time passing stool.” While this is the conventional definition, and there are varying degrees of constipation, as Holistic Nutritionists, we consider having fewer than 1–3 high-quality bowel movements per day to be constipation.
A far cry from three per week!
This is the standard we use because we’re not looking at what’s “average”—we’re looking at what’s optimal for the body.
What Happens When I’m Constipated?
You may think constipation isn’t a big deal, and occasionally, it may not be. But when someone is experiencing constipation regularly, or even a few times per week, it shouldn’t be ignored.
Constipation can be a sign that something in your diet, lifestyle, or body needs to be addressed. When bowel motility is consistently slow, it can affect the gut environment and contribute to an imbalance in the gut microbiome. It can also impact how effectively the body eliminates waste and may contribute to digestive discomfort and other symptoms.
Wondering what your poop could be telling you about your health? Read this!
10 Root Causes of Constipation
Here are some of the first things we look at as Registered Holistic Nutritionists when a client comes to us experiencing constipation:
1. Dehydration
2. Lack of fibre
3. Underproduction of key digestive substances, such as hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes
4. Lack of key nutrients like magnesium, sodium, and potassium
5. Food sensitivities or allergies
6. Hormone dysregulation
7. Chronic stress or emotional factors
8. Chronically resisting or ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
9. Structural imbalances
10. Lack of movement
4 Functional Nutrition Solutions for Constipation
Once we’ve ruled out and supported foundational areas like proper hydration, electrolytes, fibre intake, and movement, we can go deeper into assessing your diet, nutrient gaps, lifestyle factors, digestive function, and, when appropriate, functional testing.
1. Targeted Nutritional Support
This is essential for proper GI function as a whole. As nutrition experts, we’ll help you assess whether your diet is supporting or potentially hindering healthy digestion and bowel function.
There are also common food sensitivities and dietary factors that may contribute to digestive symptoms like constipation, bloating, and gas, which we can assess as part of the bigger picture.
2. Functional Digestive Testing
Depending on the situation, we may suggest functional digestive testing to rule things out and get a more comprehensive picture of what’s happening in your gut specifically.
3. Targeted Supplement Support
Once we’ve properly assessed the GI tract through our intake process and, when appropriate, digestive testing, we can suggest targeted, case-specific supplements and support for each individual.
We don’t recommend cookie-cutter approaches or DIYing your gut health protocols, as what works for one person may not work for another.
We love this high quality magnesium that acts as a gentle bowel support to help clients get relief fast without the GI stress!
4. Structural Factors & Lesser-Known Contributors
For some chronic cases, it may be helpful to look beyond diet and supplements and consider structural and lesser-known contributors, such as pelvic floor dysfunction, spinal alignment, nervous system dysregulation, and emotional factors that may be influencing gut function.
Ready to get to the root of constipation and finally get relief? Contact us today to book your initial assessment!
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist
One of the most common issues we see women in our practice experience is constipation. So today, we’re going to unpack what constipation really is, what’s happening in the body when you experience it, some of the potential root causes, and a few of our top Functional Nutrition solutions we use with clients to help them get relief…