Reduce auto-intoxification, reduce pain & inflammation of arthritis
Sonia Jones ND from The Haven Spa and Health Clinic
Constipation is a common complaint, especially amongst woman and can get worse as we age. If you have a tendency to get constipated you need to make this situation your priority. Solving this problem will have a profound effect on your over all health, and will reduce inflammation and pain. There are several things you can do and naturopathic treatments are always holistic, enhancing your health, improving all the systems of the body.
Laxatives are not a good idea in the long run. They can cause potassium loss and fluid imbalances, leading to dehydration. A lot of the laxatives are irritating to the bowel lining, stimulating the nerves to encourage a bowel movement (peristalsis), for some causing cramps.
Eventually, a dependency develops due to the weakening muscles of peristalsis and ultimately causing constipation. The very condition you are trying to solve.
The longer matter stays in our bowels the more fluids are reabsorbed back into the blood stream, causing our liver an enormous amount of extra work, which is the last thing it needs. This is called auto-intoxification. You are literally poisoning yourself.
Practical Advice
Here are some steps that will help to solve the problem of constipation.
Cut down on or give up dehydrating drinks and add hydrating drinks to your daily routine.
Hydrating drinks
Water
Herbal teas
Fruity teas
Fruit juice with water
Vegetable juices
Dehydrating drinks
Coffee
Tea
Soft drinks
Chocolate drinks
Milk shakes
Alcohol
Much more fresh fruit and vegetables to your daily diet.
I am sure you have noticed that nature has provided us with plenty of watery fruit and vegetables in the summer such as watermelon and cucumbers etc. In the more wintry months nature has provided us with more starchy vegetables like pumpkins and parsnips.
All fruits and vegetables provide fiber, fluid and nutrients in varying degrees, all of these are necessary for a healthy working bowel and the correct bowel flora. Reducing your toxic burden.
Whole grains are a very important part of any diet. They need to be in their natural state with their fibre and nutrients intact. Drastically cut down on refined flours (foods made with white flour) or better still avoid them altogether, add a variety of whole grains, like brown rice, beans or lentils or millet that provide the all important fiber an much needed nutrients.
Linseeds (flaxseeds) are wonderful little seeds. These seeds are indispensable for a number of reasons. They add loads of fiber to your diet, along with ‘essential fatty acids’ (reducing inflammation), and due to the fact they are mucilaginous have a very soothing affect on our digestive tract. The total opposite is true of wheat bran which irritates the delicate lining of the bowels.
Flaxseeds (linseeds), in research have shown they contain compounds that protect us from breast cancer (men can also get breast cancer, admittedly much less often). They are also good for any inflammatory conditions. Most people find them very effective in relieving constipation in a very mild and soothing way, with plenty of added bonuses.