Tuesday 30 June 2015

REMEDIES FOR CONSTIPATION IN CHILDREN

 Constipation is very common in children. Children can be very selective in what they eat and like to eat. Managing constipation in children can be difficult.
  It is good to try diet before other remedies to manage constipation in children. Give children cereals rich in fibre for breakfast. Serve oatmeal for breakfast. You can also get them snacks,like cereals bars  in between meals. Give them fruits like mangos, pears, oranges with the pulp, and  sweet apples . Pop corn with minimal butter and salt also helps with constipation in children. Serve whole grain and whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Reduce rice intake as this will make stool harder in the bowels. Reduce their sugar intake, as this will worsen constipation. Increase water and milk intake, as this helps to soften the stool in their stomach. When serving vegetables, steam mildly with some ingredients that will make more palatable for children to eat. Make foods like vegetable hamlet.
 Fresh vegetables like broccoli may turn them off. Reduce sugary juices, instead make your own fresh fruit juice, as these have natural sugar contents that digest easily and has less preservatives. 
  If increasing vegetable, fruit, fibre and fluid intake does not work, check with your family doctor. Do not use medicines for children to cure constipation without seeing a pediatrician. Using laxatives or stool softener for children may cause extreme dependence and long term bowel problems. Let it be last resort .

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