Applesauce and banana

[Guest guest]

While applesauce and Banana are both on the BRAT diet for diarrhea, and they

do contain pectin, they also contain fiber .

And Banana is a huge source of potassium. Both work well for constipation

IF the banana is soft and ripe (not firm and yellow) . I cook the apples

(with the skins on) into applesauce and have used it for constipation for

many years.

Here is a natural recipe for fruit in the diet:

How Long Will This Take?

Getting food from our mouths to our stomach, digesting it and then emptying

our colon is something we humans spend a lot of time doing. When we suffer

from constipation that whole process can seem like an eternity. Have you

ever wondered how long the whole process takes?

Since we eat different foods at different times and come in all shapes and

sizes, the average transit times (like commuting to and from work!) are only

estimates scientists have reached, when studying digestion.

The estimates are that it takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours for the stomach to be

at least 50% emptied, with total emptying times about 4-5 hours. Then there

is the small intestine transit time of another 2-3 hours, with colon transit

times between 30 and 40 minutes.

It would be impossible to get exact transit times because food doesn't move

through the digestive process all together. Foods don't always get processed

in the same order as they came in- some of the food from the same meal will

be in the colon, while another portion remains in the stomach.

A meal is a mixture of several types of chemicals and materials. It's a

miracle the body knows what to do with everything, but it does. Sometimes

the choices we make will effect the transit time unpleasantly, and that can

mean problems with constipation. One of the best foods to get the journey

back on track is fruit. Enjoying at least two fruits a day can keep the

transit police happy. (Is that the sound of happy people's toilet's

flushing?)

Top Ten Fruits

Fruits are made by nature- a perfect food. They are easy to digest and

absorb. Fruits are your colon's friends. If you ever suffer from

constipation, you'll want to reach for fresh fruit. Here's a look at the top

ten fruits that help improve constipation.

- Raspberries

- Blackberries

- Strawberries

- Prunes

- Papaya

- Orange

- Apple

- Pears

- Figs

- Avocado

Fruits offer many health benefits, including providing vitamins and

nutrients, but this list have added benefits for sluggish bowels. Can you

guess what these fruits pack a punch with? Did you answer fiber? Thought so!

These fruits are packed full of fiber. Let's take dried figs. 5 figs will

supply 237 calories, with 8.5 grams of fiber for every 100 of those

calories. One cup of raspberries, at 60 calories will help get things moving

with 8 grams of fiber.

Most of us have already been told how fiber is so good for us. It's great to

know that you don't have to down bowl after bowl of bran to get rid of

constipation. In fact, if you aren't used to a lot of fiber in the diet, it

can make you feel bloated, gassy and more uncomfortable than being

constipated did in the first place.

More Fruits to the Rescue

Don't worry if the fiber-rich fruits on the top ten lists don't appeal to

you. Most fruits are naturals at gently relieving constipation. Here's a

list of other fruits you might want to add to your diet:

- Apricots

- Blueberries

- Boysenberries

- Cantaloupes

- Cherries

- Dates

- Grapes

- Peaches

- Plums

The combination of fiber (which is usually provided by the skin, so don't

peel that apple!) and sugars that are harder for the body to digest, makes

fruits a good bet for clearing bouts of constipation. Since the body can't

break down the sugar, it pushes it out. You might say that fruit are

nature's laxative. They also act as toners to the stomach and intestines.

--

Sara- different pathways lead to Nirvana.