Have you ever experienced constipation during Pesach? Chances are you have! Constipation is prevalent during Pesach, a time of year that our diets consist mainly of matzah. Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. The stool is often hard and dry, which can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and feeling as if one has not ultimately passed the bowel movement. The good news is that there are many easy ways to prevent it. Here are the reasons why people get constipated during Pesach.

Dietary Changes

During Pesach, People tend to eat a lot of matzah. People eat a lot of matzah because it is not filling. Matzah is made of very refined flour with practically no fiber. Fiber is generally good for your digestive system. Without a certain amount of fiber, the chances of being constipated are much higher. Since matzah doesn’t contain enough fiber, it causes constipation.

The diets on Pesach contain a lot of carbs and not so many fruits and vegetables. However, fruits and vegetables are a great way to prevent constipation. So, maybe instead of eating a cookie, eat an apple or some carrot sticks! Try to increase the number of fruits and vegetables during the holiday.

Dehydration

Israel is a warm and dry country.  Due to this, people need to increase the amount of water they drink, especially as the weather gets warmer. Not drinking enough water can cause severe constipation.  The combination of water and fiber is crucial for your stool to move smoothly through the digestive tract. Therefore, it is essential to drink a lot of water! In Israel, at least 2 liters of water is needed daily to keep hydrated -even indoors.  If spending time outside, a minimum of 3 liters daily is required.

Medication

In preparation for Pesach, many people are stressed about the amount of cleaning and cooking. This can make people unable to sleep and causes them to take sleeping medications. A widespread side effect of the sleeping medication is constipation. This is also a common side effect of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication. So, try to avoid unnecessary sleeping medication.

Stress

Emotions can often influence our intestinal activity.  For example, if someone is stressed, they might have irregular bowel movements.  By definition, irritable bowel syndrome is alternating constipation and diarrhea, heavily affected by stress. It is essential for people not to develop anxiety when they have irregular bowel movements because it could worsen.

We hope that you have a good holiday! We hope that our tips can give you a little insight into what is causing constipation, and we hope you find them helpful! Have a great Passover!