I remember being about 6 months pregnant and suffering horribly from constipation, and vowed that I would never let myself have that problem again (constipation, not pregnancy, I did end up having a second child!)
I was pretty good for a number of years, but one of the side effects of going through Adrenal Fatigue was extremely slow bowels. It brought back all the pain and discomfort from so many years earlier. I couldn't believe it had happened to me again (constipation, not pregnancy - wouldn't that have been something at 48 years of age!)
Maybe you're reading this right now and nodding your head in sympathy with me.
Constipation can be very uncomfortable and even painful, and studies have even found that infrequent bowel movement allows toxins to linger in the colon, increasing the risk of developing cancer.
Here are a few ways to get things moving:
- Drink fresh juice of carrot and apple to aid colon detox (raw is best – the enzymes present also aids digestion)
- Drink a cup of warm water with juice of half a lemon, first thing in the morning – it is very cleansing, aids liver function and moves the bile
- Continue to stay hydrated through the day - aim for 6 - 8 eight ounce glasses of pure, filtered water and eat hydrating foods such as cucumber, watermelon, celery, radishes all have a high water content that helps things move along
- Exercise regularly – movement helps peristalsis - do you remember your parents or grandparents taking their daily "constitutional"? They knew that movement helped their bowels
- Ensure adequate intake of dietary fiber – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, flaxseed, wheat bran, psyllium husk
- Take natural supplements of aloe, magnesium citrate, and vitamin C
- Use laxative herbs such as senna or cascara sagrada only for “emergency” and over a short period of time – they have a very cooling constitution, strong downward energy, and present the risk of creating dependency. If you do use these herbs, adding warming herbs such as ginger can help ease the discomfort that some people may experience.
If you are suffering from constipation or other digestive disorders, I can help.
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