DIET FOR CONSTIPATION AND OBSTIPATION.
Diet is too often a makeshift for ignorance, or it may be an aid until
the cause of indigestion is removed; or if not curable, a compromise
effected on the best possible terms for continued existence. We have
found out the almost universal cause for constipation, obstipation and
costiveness; therefore until you can have the proper local treatment we
suggest the following foodstuffs, trusting to the sufferer's judgment
how much and how often to take the nourishment.
Coarse foods, stimulants and laxatives unduly excite the bowels. Avoid
them if possible. Be regular in your habits as to meal-times; eat three
times daily, and about an equal amount at each meal.
You may take:
_Soup_: all kinds of meat and vegetable soup; broth; bouillon.
Reliable preparations of beef juice, jelly, etc.
_Fish_: all kinds, broiled or baked; raw oysters; Doxsee's clam
preparations.
_Meat_: boiled or roasted; poultry; game, etc.
_Bread_: graham; brown; whole wheat; corn; rye; ginger;
shredded-wheat biscuit.
_Cereals_: wheaten grits; wheatena; granose; oatmeal porridge;
Milkine; Horlick's and Mellin's food.
_Vegetables_: cauliflower; spinach; beans; asparagus; carrots;
onions; Brussels sprouts; tomatoes; peas; celery; cabbage.
Vegetables should be especially well cooked to render them soft and
easy of digestion.
_Salads_: may be eaten if dressed with a generous supply of olive
oil.
_Dessert_: oranges; melons; prunes; tamarinds; figs; apples (raw or
baked); pears; plums; peaches; cherries; raisins; stewed fruit;
honey; blackberries; strawberries; huckleberries; bananas.
Some may find it advantageous to eat fruit before or between meals.
_Beverages_: water--pure spring water preferably; if this cannot be
had, get, if possible, distilled water that has been aërated;
buttermilk; fresh cider; beer; ale.
Mineral waters like Hunyadi, etc., irritate the cause of constipation
(proctitis) in a way similar to cathartic remedies.
Drink a tumbler or more of hot or cold water an hour before
meals--preferably hot water. If the hot water be distasteful add a
little salt. Drink freely of water about the temperature of 60° during
the meals, but not for the purpose of emptying the mouth of food.
On retiring at night and rising in the morning sip slowly from a
quarter to half pint of water (hot or cold). In the morning be sure to
rinse the mouth free of the accumulated mucus before drinking the
water.
The use of tea, chocolate, coffee and alcoholic drinks is so abused by
those even who consider themselves temperate in their habits, that I
recommend these beverages as remedies only in certain conditions of the
system.
About four pints of pure water (_i.e._, free from all salts or other
foreign ingredients) should be imbibed in twenty-four hours.
_Avoid_: sweets; pastry of all kinds; puddings; rice; milk; cheese;
new bread; nuts; fried foods; rich gravies; farina and sago
puddings; salt meats; salt fish; veal; goose; liver; hard-boiled
eggs; pork; tea; tobacco; spirituous liquors; uncooked strawberries
and huckleberries. Avoid also tomatoes and peaches when not fresh,
as the acid generated by keeping them a few days is very irritating
to an already inflamed bowel.
Avoid substances that would inflame the tissues or cause congestion of
any organ of the body. If the tongue be coated avoid sugar, starchy
foods and fresh milk.