FOOD INTOLERANCE NETWORK
FACTSHEET
Constipation or incomplete
evacuation?
Q. Can you recommend a failsafe laxative?
A. First, make sure you really do have constipation,
that is, hard, dry stools. A condition known as Incomplete Evacuation is often
misinterpreted as constipation, especially in children.
Children with this condition who go failsafe will say "now I feel
as if all the poo comes out", adults will say "it always used to feel
as if there was more to come" and medical journals describe "a
feeling of incomplete evacuation".
One woman described it like this: "Sometimes I feel as if I have a
heavy stomach (slightly bloated at times) continuously for about a week and
going to the toilet doesn't solve the problem. It is like having a bit of
diarrhoea and being slightly constipated at the same time."
A mother wrote:"I don't think he empties his bowel properly. He
does try to go to the toilet but it is often just small amounts and
sticky."
THE REMEDIES for these two conditions are very
different.
FOR CONSTIPATION:
* drink lots of FLUIDS - especially water or magic cordial
* eat lots of FIBRE - All-bran (if you can tolerate wheat), pears,
celery, cabbage, other vegetables, dried beans such as kidney beans and lentils
(add these to failsafe mince), stewed rhubarb (moderate in salicylates), rolled
oats. For children, you can bake All-bran into muffins.
* if gluten-free, try rice bran, puffed amaranth breakfast cereal, and
gluten-free bread containing guar gum, xanthan gum or Hi-Maize.
* you can also use Metamusil (natural flavour) or psyllium husks,
available from health food aisles and stores, sprinkled on your cereal. Be
aware that a sudden increase in fibre intake can cause bloating and diarrhoea
if you overdo it.
* You can buy guar gum as a source of dietary fibre, called Benefibre by
Novartis. Guar gum is additive number 412. Adverse reactions to large amounts
are listed as nausea, bloating and diarrhoea.
* Laxatives are never recommended for daily use. For occasional use,
glycerin suppositories are OK. Some people say that a tablespoon of failsafe
oil helps.
FOR INCOMPLETE EVACUATION, also
known as STICKY POOS:
Avoid food chemicals that cause the problem. MSG, preservatives and
salicylates are the most likely suspects, although everyone is different and
any additive or food chemical can be implicated (see the most likely on page 9,
Failsafe Cookbook). The elimination diet and challenges will show you what your
problem is.
For people who are salicylate sensitive, it is really important to not
treat incomplete evacuation with traditional constipation remedies involving
'more fruit and vegetables' which of course are high in salicylates. In fact,
prunes and prune juice are about as high in salicylates as you can get - and
they are the very worst thing you can give a child or adult with sticky poos.
If salicylates are the cause of the problem, daily prunes will make the problem
worse, or make it seem like a chronic condition.
Failsafe remedies for constipation, above, can help. Fibre can help with
this condition as long as it is low in salicylates and you can tolerate, for
example, wheat if taking wheat bran. Psyllium husks can be useful. Some people
say failsafe oil is helpful, see above.
When doing challenges, expect Incomplete Evacuation to be delayed or
build up slowly. You may also experience it as a withdrawal symptom during your
elimination diet.
FOR STOMACH ACHE and BLOATING
For occasional and temporary relief of symptoms: Eno sparkling antacid
regular (not lemon) (ingredients: sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, citric
acid). It also works as an antidote for behaviour problems, difficulty falling
asleep and other food intolerance reactions. Not recommended for daily or
frequent use. Consult your pharmacist about doses for children.
Further reading: The Failsafe Cookbook by Sue Dengate, Friendly Food by
Anne Swain and others, both available in libraries and bookstores.
www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info
The information given is not intended as
medical advice. Always consult with your doctor for underlying illness. Before
beginning dietary investigation, consult a dietician with an interest in food
intolerance. You can find a supportive dietitian through the Dietitians
Association of
© Sue Dengate update
