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ગુજરાતી: કબજિયાત માટે આહાર – વિહારની પરેજી
हिंदी: कब्ज में आहार-विहार की परहेज़ (क्या खाएं, क्या न खाएं)
Key Takeaways
- Constipation improves with suitable foods, enough activity and regular toilet habits.
- Ayurveda lists helpful foods such as ajwain, cumin, coriander and papaya, and items to limit such as banana, chickpeas and curd.
- Walking, exercise and castor oil abdominal massage are helpful habits; late nights and daytime sleep are not.
- Do not self-administer enemas regularly; sudden change in bowel habit, blood or weight loss needs a doctor.
Patients suffering from constipation should carefully follow the diet and lifestyle precautions given below.
Foods that are beneficial and can be taken:
Ajma (carom/ajwain seeds), adad (black gram), pickles (athana), ginger (in larger quantity), tamarind, grapes, fig, cucumber, black grapes (more), mango, kokam, coriander leaves, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, dates, sour drinks, sugar, khichdi, galka (ridge-gourd variety), carrot, cow’s milk (more), jaggery, wheat, ghee, chikoo (sapota), ber/jujube, cumin, jowar (sorghum), tomato, muskmelon, sesame seeds, sesame oil, tandaljo/amaranth greens (more), tuvar (pigeon pea), turiya (ridge gourd), dal (lentils), castor oil (more), milk, milk decoction, dudhi (bottle gourd), coriander, papaya (more), parwal (pointed gourd), betel leaf, papad, spinach, bhadku-thuli (coarse-grain preparations, more), bhakhri, rice, bhindo (okra), moong, butter, sweets (in small quantity), salt, tender radish, mustard, brinjal, hot/fresh roti, garlic (more), lemon, peas (few), val beans (few), sweet potato, sugarcane juice, sargavo (drumstick), turmeric, hing/asafoetida (more) … and similar items.
Lifestyle habits that are beneficial:
Walking, physical exertion/exercise, abdominal massage with castor oil, purgation (rechan) when advised by a physician, yogic exercise (asanas, sports, etc.), bathing, swimming, and sudation (swedan) — applying castor oil to arka/madar leaves, tying them on the abdomen, and giving steam fomentation over them.
Foods that should be avoided:
Kadhi (spiced yogurt curry), kodri (kodo millet), banana, guar (cluster beans), chana (chickpeas), rice, buttermilk/chaas (especially), guava, cold drinks, fried foods, curd/yogurt (especially), orange, pav (bread), papdi (flat beans), refrigerator-cold water, fruit juice, fruit salad, goat’s milk, potato, ice, bajri/pearl millet (especially), biscuits (especially), corn, groundnuts, masoor dal (red lentils), fenugreek seeds, fenugreek leaves (methi bhaji), stale food, shrikhand, water chestnut (singoda), apple, dry ginger (sunth) … and similar items.
Lifestyle habits that should be avoided:
Excessive sexual activity, excessive fasting, staying up late at night, sleeping during the daytime, and unnecessary travel.
How to take Basti (medicated enema):
Basti (medicated enema) should not be given at home. If the vaidya advises Matra Basti, have it given at a Panchakarma centre by trained staff.
Which foods are beneficial in constipation?
Foods such as carom seeds, cumin, coriander, bottle gourd (dudhi), castor oil, papaya, amaranth greens (tandaljo), cow’s milk, ghee, jaggery and dates are generally well-suited for people with constipation.
Which foods should be avoided in constipation?
Kadhi, banana, chickpeas (chana), buttermilk (especially), curd/yogurt (especially), refrigerator-cold water, fruit juice, potato, biscuits, pearl millet (bajri, especially), fenugreek and stale food should be avoided.
What lifestyle should be followed in constipation?
Walking, exercise, castor-oil abdominal massage, bathing/swimming, and steam fomentation over the abdomen using castor-oil-coated arka (madar) leaves are beneficial. Excessive sexual activity, staying up late, and daytime sleep should be avoided.
How is Basti (enema) taken for constipation?
Basti (medicated enema) should not be given at home. If the vaidya advises Matra Basti, have it given at a Panchakarma centre by trained staff.
For authentic Ayurvedic treatment of chronic stomach disorders such as constipation, and for further guidance, please contact us.
Dr. Nikul Patel (B.A.M.S.)
307, 3rd Floor, Shalin Complex, Above Farki Lassi, Krishnabaug Char Rasta, Maninagar, Ahmedabad – 380008
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