NATURAL RELIEF FOR CONSTIPATION
E
ating dietary fiber and
drinking plenty of fluids are the main ways for keeping our digestive tracts active and happy. Thus, the most com- mon reasons for constipa- tion are a diet lacking in fiber and insufficient
fluid intake. But other reasons can also contribute, 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 af- ter dinner or with breakfast. Eating half a medium-sized papaya for breakfast 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 consisting only of steamed vegetables, fruits and salads. Sprinkle various dishes with high-fiber seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin and ground flax seeds. According to the American Dietetic Association, the average American cur- rently 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.
natural awakenings June 2011 17
A
AN ANTIOXIDANT BOOST FOR MALE FERTILITY
ntioxidant supplements may benefit couples that have difficulty conceiving naturally, according to a new systematic review published by The Cochrane Library. A small number of trials suggest that the part- ners of men who boost their antioxidant intake are more likely to become pregnant.
“When trying to conceive as part of an assisted re- productive program, it may be advisable to encourage men to take oral antioxidant supplements to improve their partners’ chances of becoming pregnant,” advises lead researcher Marian Showell, who works in obstet-
rics and gynecology at the University of Auckland, in New Zealand. Further study is needed, but this might prove to be an easy route to success.
Source: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011
NO SODA IS KIND TO YOUR HEART A
nyone who prefers diet sodas over regular soda pop for fear of high sugar levels might want to consider this: According to new research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2011, people who drink diet sodas every day still have a much higher risk of vascular disease—61 percent higher—compared with those who drink no sodas at all. These are the findings of the large, multi-ethnic Northern Man- hattan Study of 2,564 individuals that were monitored and analyzed in terms of the types and amount of sodas they drank for an average of 9.3 years, during which 559 vascular events occurred. “If our re- sults are confirmed with future studies, then it would suggest that diet soda may not be the optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages for protection against vascular outcomes,” says lead author Hannah Gardener, a doctor of science and epidemiologist at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.
Source: American Heart Association, 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64