Colon Cleanse Blog

How to Relieve Constipation in Early Pregnancy

Updated: Jul 08 2010

Constipation in Early Pregnancy

More than 50% of all pregnant women suffer some degree of constipation. As you may already know, suffering from symptoms of constipation alone can be uncomfortable, painful, embarrassing, and frustrating all at the same time. Now imagine having to go through the pains of constipation during pregnancy.

Generally, a woman’s body goes through many changes during pregnancy that can make her uncomfortable, such as extreme tiredness, tender/swollen breasts, swollen ankles, skin blemishes, upset stomach (morning sickness), cravings or distaste for certain foods, mood swings, headaches, weight gain or loss, and the urge to urinate more often, just to name a few. When constipation is added to the list of aches and pains, it can make her feel worse.

4 Causes of Constipation for Pregnant Women

Constipation in early pregnancy can sometimes cause many other symptoms, such as bloating, excess gas, heartburn, and back pain. Bottom line, constipation tends to be more pronounced during pregnancy and here’s why:

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7 Types of Foods to Avoid with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Updated: Jul 01 2010

Are you ready to gain control over this painful, uncomfortable, at times embarrassing disorder – Irritable Bowel Syndrome? With effective natural remedies you may not cause permanent harm to the intestines which may lead to a serious disease, such as cancer.

The uncomfortable symptoms associated with IBS can all be alleviated by following the proper diet and supplementation. Following an IBS diet will help manage and control irritable bowel syndrome.

Acknowledging the fact that each individual with IBS reacts differently to certain foods, here is a list of 7 foods to avoid due to irritable bowel syndrome:

1. Avoid Fried, Fatty & Fast Foods

IBS Trigger Foods

Examples of deep fried and fast foods are french-fries, chips, hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, corn dogs, onion rings, fried chicken, anything battered and deep fried, store bought dried bananas, and foods high in saturated fats. Generally recognized as IBS trigger foods, these foods are low in soluble fiber. When consumed excessively, they may considerably stimulate your intestinal tract and cause diarrhea or constipation (both symptoms of IBS) due to high levels of fat from cooking oils used for frying purposes.

Health Tip: Consider baking and poaching as healthier, alternative cooking options for foods that are normally fried. Also,try switching to oils like olive oil or raw virgin coconut oil when cooking foods.

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Foods that Cause Constipation

Updated: Jun 24 2010

Foods that Cause Constipation

Constipation is defined as a symptom, not a disease. Before constipation turns into a more serious, chronic, or even lethal disease, it’s important to address the root cause of it, as well as primary prevention options, in order to implement real solutions that work!

With that in mind, a great starting point would be to avoid any foods that cause constipation. This works great at targeting the source of the problem.

Why You Might Ask?

Every single day, your body absorbs millions of toxins from genetically modified foods, pesticides, meat, dairy, soy, white flour, table salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG), microwaved foods, refined sugar, and artificial sweeteners. You also receive toxins from caffeine, alcohol, electromagnetic radiation, heavy metals, industrial chemicals, and prescription drugs. These impurities contaminate nearly everything we eat, drink, touch, or breathe and they are the root cause of conditions and disease!

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5 Easy Tips for Relieving Constipation

Updated: Jun 18 2010

Relieving Constipation

Let’s face it, although not a disease, constipation is a major problem! Your body gives you all the signals that it’s time to go to the restroom and poop it out. When you get there, you find yourself in a frustrating predicament where nothing is coming out. You feel bloated, uncomfortable, perhaps even embarrassed, especially if at a party and there is only one bathroom available to a house full of guests. Then, when you finally go, you experience straining, and it hurts! So what do you need to proactively do toward relieving this problem?

If you are suffering from two of the following symptom, you may be experiencing constipation:

  • Hard or pellet-like stools at least 25% of the time
  • Straining with bowel movements at least 25% of the time
  • A feeling that you don’t completely empty your bowels at least 25% of the time
  • Fewer than 5 bowel movements per week

Is this you? For starters, take a look at the possible culprits which may be causing your constipation: Stress, lack of exercise, artificial sweeteners, consumption of meat in large quantities, over eating, irregular habits of eating, a diet lacking in fiber or fluids, and medication use.

Other probable suspects are certain medical conditions, such as an underactive thyroid, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, diabetes and cancer, among other illnesses.

The good news is, depending on how much you choose to commit yourself to ridding of the toxins in your body, you can potentially get constipation relief fairly quickly. The true test of commitment is when you choose to dedicate yourself to “maintaining” a toxin free, healthier and balanced life with consistent action steps taken over time on a regular basis, developing better eating habits, and an overall better style of living.

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IBS Diet: How to Follow a Balanced Diet with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Updated: Jun 15 2010

IBS Diet

Although Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, the hopeful news is that with proper diet, stress management, and natural supplements, most people will be able to control their IBS symptoms, such as abdominal pains, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea or constipation. For all intents and purposes, we will be focusing on what foods to consume, versus what foods to avoid toward maintaining a balanced and healthy IBS diet.

Imagine, living a life, free of agonizing and embarrassing urges, where you are actually enjoying your time at a party or at home or work, without having to frantically worry if you are going to find much less make it to the bathroom on time to relieve yourself when attacked with the runs? At first, the very thought may sound like it’s too good to be true. Well, what if I told you that this is possible and certainly can be your reality!

Did you ever think of keeping an IBS diary? According to WebMd.com, if you regularly write down the types of foods you eat, when and where you ate them, the amount, and the symptoms associated with the food, it may help you and your doctor figure out what foods and situations trigger your IBS symptoms.1

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IBS Symptoms: Do You Suffer From Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Updated: Jun 03 2010

IBS

Are you suffering from abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation?

According to National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), if you are experiencing any of the previous symptoms referenced above, you could “potentially” be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), although not necessarily.

Much like the symptoms of constipation, IBS symptoms are rather diverse and can vary widely from one person to the next. In fact, it is important to be aware that there are a number of diseases and conditions producing similar symptoms to that of IBS, such as:
  • Gallstones
  • Diverticulitis
  • Diverticulosis
  • Colon Cancer
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Gluten Intolerance (Celiac Disease)
  • Bowel Blockages
  • Food Allergies
Having said that, although Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, the hopeful news is that with proper diet, stress management, and natural supplements, most people will be able to control their IBS symptoms. Unfortunately for others, however, IBS can be disabling, where they may not be able to work, attend social events, or even travel short distances.

The NDDIC further reports that as many as 20 percent of the adult population, or one in five Americans, have symptoms of IBS, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. Extensive research also indicates that irritable bowel syndrome occurs more often in women than in men, and it begins before the age of 35 in about 50 percent of people.[1]

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Study: Gastrointestinal Problems Common in Children with Autism

Updated: May 24 2010

Child Constipation

Being a parent is hardly ever an easy task. Especially when gastrointestinal problems arise. Like all kids, children with autism are more prone to suffer from belly aches, diarrhea and constipation symptoms. While these are discomforts for any child to occasionally go through, they may be particularly common for children in the greater autism spectrum.

The Autism Speaks’ Treatment Network (ATN), one of the largest autism research, treatment and support organizations in North America, has just published the results of a new study into the prevalence of gastrointestinal problems in autistic children.


They found that nearly half of all children diagnosed with autism suffer regular GI discomfort, and that instances increase as children grow older. The importance of such research is underlined by the fact that nearly one in every hundred U.S. children is now believed to fall into the greater range of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Altogether, 1,185 children were examined. Overall 45 percent of them were found to have symptoms of gastrointestinal distress at the time they entered the study. The most commonly cited symptoms included diarrhea, constipation and generalized abdominal discomfort. The researchers also found that children age 7 and older were about 12 percent more likely to exhibit gastrointestinal problems than younger children with autism.

To make matters worse, the study also cites a strong and well-documented connection between gastrointestinal problems and a number of other issues. Upwards of 70 percent of autistic children with regular digestive stress also suffer from sleep problems and are more prone to behavioral outbreaks. This is more than twice the rate documented in autistic children without GI issues.

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Common Symptoms of Constipation

Updated: May 12 2010

Constipated

Almost everyone will hear about, read about, and maybe even personally experience constipation at least once during their lifetime. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) reports that more than 4 million Americans have frequent constipation, which account for over 2.5 million physician visits a year.

Are you suffering from stress, lack of energy, back pains, or feeling bloated? Did you ever consider the possibility that constipation may be the root problem to some of your reported pains of stress, lack of energy, back pains, or feeling bloated? Let’s explore this further.

What Is Constipation?


First it is important to define and have better clarity as to what constipation is. According to Wikipedia.org, constipation is defined as a symptom of infrequent hard to pass bowel movements.[1] According to NDDIC, Constipation is defined as a symptom and not a disease, having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate.[2] My definition of being constipated means that you have difficulty passing stools and do not have at least one bowel movements everyday.

Now that you have a better understanding of what constipation is, you also know what it is not – a disease. Just because constipation is not a disease, does this mean you are not to take it seriously?

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Study: Shift Workers Are More at Risk for IBS

Updated: Apr 29 2010

Shift Worker with IBS

Earlier this year The American Journal of Gastroenterology released the findings of a study into the connection between shift work and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The study was conducted jointly by the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and the Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research (also in Ann Arbor, Michigan).

The overall goal of their investigation was to determine the extent to which rotating shift work affects Irritable Bowel Syndrome. A strong connection between shift work and number of similar gastrointestinal symptoms including constipation, diarrhea, and generalized abdominal pain has long been established.

A population sample made up of 399 medical nurses was selected. Of that total number, 324 nurses normally worked consistent day or evening shifts, with the remaining 75 on rotating schedules.

The findings showed significantly higher occurrence of IBS in shift workers over their more predictably scheduled counterparts. The teams also found this to be the case regardless of factors such as age, gender or daily sleep quota.

They theorize that the frequent disruption of the body’s natural sleep clock may be the primary cause of the dramatic increase of IBS seen in shift workers. The human body is designed to pass waste within the first six hours after waking up from a full night’s sleep. It may simply be too difficult for the bowels to adjust the sudden changes their work schedules require of them.

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How Probiotics Assist a Colon Cleansing Program

Updated: Apr 15 2010

Probiotic Food

Simply put, probiotics are living microorganisms that assist your bodies natural balance. They can be delivered in a number of ways, but most often are found in live fruits and vegetables, liquid or capsule forms. One of their most popular functions is the promotion of intestinal balance and general digestive health, which means they also make a great compliment to your colon cleansing routine.

Colon Cleansing and Probiotics

In addition to removing unwanted waste matter, colon cleansing also helps restore the natural balance of your intestinal flora. That’s because cleansing helps to remove the harmful bacteria that compete with the natural flora for resources. Sometimes though cleansing isn’t enough — such as when the resident flora population is already too low. That’s when probiotics can really make a difference.

Some probiotics are transient microorganisms meaning they temporarily make a home inside your body. While there, they assist the positive permanent bacteria that lives in your body. It’s kind of like a good friend who stays with you when your sick.

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10 Foods You Can Eat During a Colon Cleanse

Updated: Mar 19 2010

When doing a colon cleanse, it is important you follow a healthy, low-fat diet. If you eat unhealthy foods, you’re not going to get the full potential of the cleansing program. It is important to stay away from all junk foods, fast food and microwaved meals. Be sure to drink lots of purified water throughout the day, and not coffee or sodas. Eating lots of organic, raw fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber are important for overall colon health, but especially important during a cleanse.

Here is a list of ten foods you can eat while doing a colon cleanse:

1. Apples

Apple

Apples are a great food to eat while doing a colon cleanse. Not only are they high in fiber, but they are also very low in calories and fat. One apple, with the skin still on it, will give you approximately 20-25% of your daily recommended fiber. They are a great food for anyone to eat, especially if they are trying to lose weight. Apples are usually high in pesticide residue, so be sure to buy organic, if possible. Drinking freshly-squeezed apple juice is another great addition to a cleansing diet, but stay away from juices that are high in sugar.

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The Bristol Stool Scale Explained

Updated: Mar 09 2010

Originally developed in 1997 by a small team of gastroenterologists at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, the Bristol Stool Scale was designed to be a general measurement system for health care professionals to evaluate stool consistency and form. Simply put, the Bristol Stool Scale is a medical tool for classifying bowel movements (as they appear in toilet water) into seven distinct categories.


A direct correlation exists between the form/consistency of the stool and the amount of time it has spent in the colon (due to many factors such as hydration, constipation or lack thereof, diet, etc). You don’t have to be a digestive health expert to benefit from knowing how to use the Bristol Stool Scale.

It can easily be used at home to analyze everyday bowel movements and provide some insight one your health. The scale can also be a useful tool for noting sudden changes in your digestive habits and determining if your colon is functioning as it should.

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Why You Should Perform a Colon Cleanse [VIDEO]

Updated: Feb 25 2010

There are many reasons for you to do a colon clease. In fact, in a previous post, we give you twenty reasons to detox. The video below discusses why you should perform a colon cleanse.

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20 Reasons Why You Should Do A Body Detox Today!

Updated: Feb 14 2010

Family

It may shock you to know that the average person has about 300 or more toxic chemicals within their blood stream. While the body has the ability to process a moderate amount of toxins, 300 toxic chemicals is too much for anyone to have to bear. For this reason, more and more people are suffering from chronic illnesses and diseases related to toxic overload.

Why is this happening? Currently, our fast-paced, mass-produced environment leaves people little time to focus on their health. Toxic overload can come from the air we breath, the chemicals in our cleaning and beauty products, highly-processed or chemically-sprayed food products, as well as the wide array of consumer products dipped in flame-retardant chemical treatment baths.

Following a body detox helps your system re-set itself from a chemical overload. Through detoxing, you can help get rid of some of the garbage the body is processing, as well as eventually bring the system back into balance.

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How You Will Know Your Bowels Are Clean [VIDEO]

Updated: Jan 28 2010

Many people wonder how they will know when their bowels are clean after doing a cleansing program. This can sometimes be difficult to know, because we are constantly bombarded with toxins in our food, water and living environment. In the video below, Dr. Edward Group III discusses some ways you can help improve the health of your colon.

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3 Common Types of Laxatives

Updated: Jan 20 2010

Dangerous Laxatives

Here is some general info I think everyone should be aware of. Laxative sales exceed $700 million annually. They’re usually the first thing that comes to mind when most people think about constipation relief, but they often bring serious health risks and are not a valid or complete solution.

Many different types of laxatives are available and they utilize very different ingredients to achieve essentially the same result—eliminating blockage. Generally speaking, laxatives can be lumped into three categories: osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, and bulk forming laxatives.

1) Osmotic Laxatives

Osmotic Laxatives cause excess fluids to be drawn into the intestines in a slow process that can take up to a few days to increase the stool’s fluid bulk. Basically, osmotics turn the stool into diarrhea so it’s easier to pass. This type of laxative can also cause severe dehydration and electrolyte depletion from water loss, as well as cramping and bloating due to gas buildup during the initial waiting period.

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What is the Colon?

Updated: Jan 01 2010

Healthy Colon

Believe it or not, most people and doctors cannot explain what the colon is and how it works. In my opinion the intestinal tract is the lifeline to perfect health. The colon, or large intestine, is one of the primary components of your digestive system.

It’s made up of basically the same types of tissue found in your skin, throat, stomach, and small intestine, but the colon has a few unique characteristics that set it apart from the rest of the digestive tract. For one thing, no part of the large intestine produces digestive enzymes. That task is left entirely to the small intestine. The colon is divided into four parts—the Ascending colon, the Transverse colon, the Descending colon, and the Sigmoid colon.

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