Diet Information |
|
Are You Suffering From Chronic ConstipationDr. Rita Louise Embarrassing as it may be, we have all suffered from constipation at one time in our life or another. According to the National Health Interview Survey as many as 3 million Americans suffer from frequent if not chronic constipation. While constipation is not recognized as a degenerative disease or serious disorder, people who are constipated often feel bloated, uncomfortable and even sluggish. Constipation by itself is miserable enough, but sufferers often experience painful bowel movements that can become compounded by hemorrhoids that form due to straining. To understand constipation, it is important to understand how our digestive system works. When we eat, food is ground up in our stomachs so it can be digested. This “liquid” food passes into the small intestine where nutrients are extracted. It then moves on to the colon, where water is removed, allowing a stool to form. If too much water is extracted from the stool as it passes through the colon, it can become hard and difficult to pass leaving you constipated. There are a number of reasons why people get constipated. These include not eating enough dietary fiber, not drinking enough liquids water, lack of exercise, ignoring the “urge” to have a bowel movement and plain old stress. Other causes can include having a lazy colon that does not contract properly, causing waste materials to pass through the colon slowly, food allergies that can cause the colon to contract, or mechanical obstructions that inhibit the movement of waste materials. Many prescription drugs and certain neurological disorders can also slow down the movement of waste materials through the colon. Constipation can also be brought on by an abuse of laxatives that over time can damage the nerve cells in the colon and interfere with its ability to contract properly. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to relieve chronic constipation naturally. Recommendations For Wellness Consume a high fiber diet made up of lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. If that is not possible, incorporate a dietary fiber supplement such as psyllium hulls, Natures Sunshine’s Nature’s Three or their Irritable Bowel Fiber into your daily health routine. Dietary fiber holds water and help to keep the stool soft, while added bulk help to move the stool through the colon. If other fiber supplements fail in your attempt to become regular, try taking Chitosan a form of dietary fiber along with vitamin C. The chitosan binds to fats from the foods we eat making the stool soft and smooth. The vitamin C helps to activate the chitosan in the stomach. Drink plenty of water, especially if you are taking supplemental fiber. Try eating a few dried prunes or drinking some prune juice. In addition to adding fiber, prunes have a mild laxative effect. Avoid sugar and other processed foods. Begin a regular exercise program to help promote normal bowel movements. If you think allergies are the cause of your constipation, try an elimination diet to help you to identify what may be triggering your body and causing your colon to contract. Meditate, do yoga, go for a walk. Do things that will allow you to reduce your stress levels and help your body to relax. This can help relax your colon. Get a colonic to flush out any old fecal matter that may be trapped within the colon or try a colon cleanse. Take a good probiotic such as acidopholis or bifidophilus to help promote a healthy environment within the colon. Peppermint 3910-9 has a long history of helping relax the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. Supplementation with magnesium and large doses of vitamin C, have a mild laxative effect on the body. If all else fails, herbs such as casgara segrada, turkey rhubarb or herbal combinations such as Natures Sunshine’s LBS II and LB-X can be used to evacuate the colon. While these should be used with caution, they are less aggressive than many commercial laxatives that are available at the supermarket.
|
RELATED ARTICLES
No Finger Foods If you’re really convinced that you’re hungry, it’s time to eat. This means food on a plate to be eaten with utensils knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks, not fingers. What a radical thought. Diabetes Is Beatable - Part 1 Many people, like yourself, are either victims of or know people who are victims of diabetes. I myself have been diagnosed as Pre-Diabetic, so I have a chance to reverse things if I modify my behavior. Protein Principles for Diabetes Dietary considerations can present a Hobson’s choice in diabetes. Even when the intake is nutritious, assimilating it can be another matter. Then there is the problem of progression of diabetic complications if one ends up with excess glucose or fat in the system. Excess carbohydrates in a meal, and the resulting uncontrolled blood sugar levels can be detrimental to any number of tissues, from the lens of the eye, to the neurons, small blood vessels and the kidneys. Fat is also a problem with increase incidences of atherosclerosis, large vessel disease and cardiac complications. What, then is the appropriate macronutrient for the diabetic population Enough medical literature exists to suggest that in diabetes, proteins are probably the best bet. Another Dangerous Drug – when will it end “Risks found with another pain killer” – This is the headline of an article from the New York Times. 5 Great Ways to Burn More Fat Today! "If youre trying to lose weight, give these 5 techniques a try. Youll melt off the pounds and feel great to boot." Destressing Your Life! Do you have stress in your life...... Vegetarian Does Not Have To Be "All Or Nothing" Many people contemplate becoming a vegetarian at one point or another. Some consider a meatless diet because they feel sorry for the animals. Others think a vegetarian way of eating will improve their health. Nutritional Nutrients Nutrients form the basis for your body, emotional and spiritual needs. Fruit, vegetables, carbohydrates and fish and lean meat is important, but we’ve all heard the scare stories, ‘Mad cow disease’, ‘bird flu’, ‘radioactive fish’, ‘GM crop nightmares’ - and the coincidental timing of all these has made some consumers think twice about what they eat. Following these and many food-borne illnesses that have erupted across the international community, many people have made adjustments to their grocery lists, opting for organically grown meats and vegetables. Aspartame Interview With Dr. Hull This aspartame interview was granted on 8/30/03 with Rebecca Kang from Singapore: The Fail-Safe Weight Loss Formula Yes Virginia, the fail-safe weight loss formula exists. Diet Sodas Drinkers: Are You Dehydrated Many of us have grown up drinking caffeinated diet sodas as an alternative to sugary regular sodas. We figure this is a better choice rather than loading ourselves and our childrens bodies with large quantities of sugar. Whilst diet sodas do help us avoid a sugar overload which can lead to weight gain we should also be aware of the effects of caffeine contained in many cola flavored diet sodas. 5 Fitness Myths That Are Responsible For Thousands of Fitness Failures Unfortunately, many people are misinformed and are also misled by the many promises of the weight loss industry. Everywhere you look, you see or hear of people promising “Dramatic Weight Loss” with products such as “The Fat Trapper”, or “Exercise in a Bottle”. Are Weight Loss Supplements Worth It What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss supplements out there on the shelves today Are they worth the money Will they actually help you lose weight How do you know which ones are going to work for you Is there any proof that these products work Milk Soy Protein Intolerance: A Mothers Perspective I first learned of Milk Soy Protein Intolerance MSPI in the office of a pediatric gastroenterologists office with my seven-week-old son, Max. After the first week of his life Max lost weight and was labeled "failure to thrive." As an educated mother and nurse I was devastated that this could happen. That day in the GI specialists office, he performed a proctosigmoidoscopy and biopsy on Max. He sat me where I could see him perform the test and told me what I would see. He said that the lining of the bowel would be red, swollen and bleeding, and it was. I just sat there and cried. After the test was over and I could hold Max, Dr. Mack told me that MSPI was indeed what Max had and that I should stop breastfeeding right away and put him on a special formula. He told me that there was a diet I could follow if I wanted to continue breastfeeding, but that it was very stringent and difficult. Wanting to make the best choice for my son, I stopped breastfeeding that day and started him on Alimentum. The results were dramatic. After one bottle of Alimentum he slept for 2 and 1/2 hours straight; the longest he had ever slept. You Asked: Is Black Tea Good For My Health NC—Data emerging from several recent studies on black, green, and oolong tea – each one derived from the same plant species, camellia senensis – consistently demonstrate that tea may indeed give your diet a boost. The findings have sparked great interest, so here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions, courtesy of the Tea Association of Canada: Heart Disease and Homocysteine Are you aware that one of the most important indicators of heart disease is homocysteine -1 Can calcium aid in boosting you health A popular mineral today, coral calcium, is mainly calcium, but is also abundant in many trace sea minerals. Some people consider coral calcium to be natures purest calcium supplement. Harvested from sea marine coral in Okinawa, Japan, coral calcium has been consumed by Okinawan’s for many, many years. Guitar Players...Get a Balanced Practice Diet Do you have a wide variety of things that you practice. Or do you like to binge You know...the type of player who practices sweep picking for a kazillion hours a day but only know three chords! Healthy Chocolate for Your Valentine Lets face it. Were all going to eat chocolate for Valentines Day. But theres no need to feel guilty! Chocolate is actually good for you…its all the things added to it that are the problem. Heres how you can choose delicious healthy chocolates for your Valentine. Herbal Supplements - Bedellium, Withania, Shilajit, Emblica, Brahmi, Tulsi, Shallaki, Garlic, Triphala, Bitter Melon, Neem, Vallerian, Arjuna Ayurveda is perhaps the oldest system of health care in the world and originates from the Indian subcontinent. |
home | site map |
© 2005 |