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healthbriefs Natural Relief for Constipation E


ating dietary fiber and drinking plenty of fluids are the main ways for keep- ing our digestive tracts active and happy. Thus, the most common reasons for constipation are a diet lacking in fi- ber and insufficient fluid intake. But other rea- sons can also contrib- ute, such as inadequate exercise, an unbalanced or changed diet due to traveling, ingestion of medications, or hormonal fluctuations. Whatever the reasons, it’s good to know that natural remedies can provide a viable option, instead of resorting to harsher, chemical laxatives. Generally, all fruits, except for ba-


nana and jackfruit, can help get a slug- gish bowel moving. Bael fruit, found in Asian markets, is considered a natural laxative and is eaten to help clean and tone the intestines. Another way to seek relief is eating pears or fresh guavas after dinner or with breakfast. Eating


half a medium-sized papaya for break- fast has laxative effects, as do fresh figs. Note that prunes and dry figs should be soaked overnight in a little water and eaten in the morning.


Consider a “fiber


day” to move things along, with menus con- sisting only of steamed vegetables, fruits and salads. Sprinkle various dishes with high-fiber seeds, such as sunflow- er, pumpkin and ground flax seeds.


According to the


American Dietetic As- sociation, the average American currently


ingests about 11 grams of fiber daily. Women should aim for 21 to 25 grams a day, and men, 30 to 38 grams. Remember, if constipation strikes,


when we literally get moving, so will our bowels.


Sources: Home-Remedies-For-You.com/ remedy/Constipation.html; WebMD.com


Trans-Fats and Depression Linked?


A new study from Navarra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria universities shows that a high consumption of trans-fats and saturated fats can increase an individual’s risk of suffer- ing from depression. The study further demonstrated, “The more trans-fats [that] were consumed, the greater the harmful effect they produced,” says lead author Almudena Sánchez-Villegas, an associate professor of preventive medi- cine at Las Palmas.


The researchers worked with 12,059 volunteers, of whom none had experienced depression during the previ- ous six years, analyzing the volunteers’ diets, lifestyles and ailments before, during and after the project. At the end of the study, 657 new cases of depression were detected. The researchers confirmed that participants who had consumed the most trans-fats and saturated fats in their diets had increased their risk of the disorder by up to 48 percent, compared to those who did not eat these fats or substituted polyunsaturated fats found in olive and other natural plant oils and fish.


Source: PLoSOne.org 14 Broward County, Florida http://FtL.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com


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