Natural Laxatives Found In Common Foods

When you have constipation, it is best to seek relief in foods that serve as natural laxatives. Over-the-counter constipation medicines and suppositories can be harsh on the digestive system, and also pose the risk of dependency and addiction. The body can also become accustomed to a medicinal laxative, meaning that it will become less effective over time.

The good news is that there are many foods that can supply a natural laxative to help get your digestive system moving again. There are also several lifestyle changes that you can make that will encourage your body to perform bowel movements. This combination of diet and lifestyle changes should make a noticeable improvement in your symptoms.

Which nutrients act as natural laxatives?

Dietary insoluble fiber is a great natural laxative because it is indigestible, therefore it must be pushed through the digestive system and expelled during a bowel movement. Increasing the insoluble fiber intake in your diet will for sure digestive system to get moving again, and help to move the food through your colon.

Complex carbohydrates can also act as natural laxative because they are more difficult for the digestive system to break down and are absorbed into the body more slowly. On the other hand, highly refined foods and simple sugars are absorbed quickly into the body and provide little benefit to constipation relief. A diet high in simple carbohydrates and refined foods often leads to constipation because the food is absorbed and there is little fiber left to push through the colon.

What foods serve as the best natural laxative?

Perhaps the most famous natural laxative are prunes and prune juice. Prunes are loaded with both soluble and insoluble fiber and also have enzymes which can stimulate the colon.

Psyllium husks, finely ground flakes of psyllium bran, are relatively new to the scene, but also act as a great natural laxative and are very high in natural fiber. Psyllium husk can be ingested in the form of fiber pills, and they also can be spread over foods such as yogurt and cereal. Make sure to combine plenty of water with your psyllium husk intake for optimal performance.

Aloe vera is another ingredient often used in homemade laxative formulas. The leaves of an aloe vera plant can be boiled and the resultant juice is a potent natural laxative cocktail. The taste is very bitter and is tough to get accustomed to, but it is very effective as a laxative. Sugar or honey may be added to the mixture to sweeten it and make it more palatable.

Pears are well known to have a laxative effect on the body. In fact, most fleshy, whole fruits are high in fiber and complex carbohydrates which are more difficult for the digestive system to break down, and therefore encourage bowel movements. Try to incorporate plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet if you suffer from constipation.

Flax oil and flax seed are also a favorite in dealing with constipation. Flax seeds can be ground in a Miller grinder and then spread across your favorite foods. They also make a great addition to protein shakes or smoothies. Flax seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, and also insoluble fiber.

Physical exercise can act as a natural laxative

In addition to making dietary changes, increasing your physical activity level is also likely to help with constipation. It has been proven that physical exercise stimulates the digestive system and encourages bowel movements and, conversely, people who are bedridden often suffer from constipation. It is advised that you increase your physical activity level in order to improve the symptoms of your constipation.

Vitamin B12 Shots And Injections

Vitamin B12 shots are one of the latest fads to hit the fitness and weight loss scene, with several celebrities even endorsing their health benefits. They claim that vitamin B12 injections help to increase their energy and improve their mood. Some claim that vitamin B12 can even increase the body’s metabolism and ability to convert food into energy, therefore encouraging weight loss.

But is there any medical or scientific evidence to support these dramatic claims? Or are vitamin B12 shots simply another health fad that will pass with time like the Atkins or South Beach diet? There are so many “snake oil” products on the market for weight loss because there is often a level of desperation felt by people wishing to lose weight, which often leads them to try new products that make dramatic claims as to their efficacy. But as the saying goes, most things that sound too good to be true usually are. Let’s take a look at the claims made about B12 shots and see if they live up to the hype.

What is the B12 vitamin and why is it important?

B12, also called cobalamin, plays an important role in the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system, and in the formation of the blood. Cell metabolism is indeed dependent upon proper levels of vitamin B12, as are DNA and fatty acid synthesis, as well as energy production.

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that the body cannot store it effectively as it can with fat soluble vitamins, and any excess amount of the vitamin will be flushed out. Historically, vitamin B12 was most well known for its relationship to pernicious anemia, a form of autoimmune disease affecting the ability of red blood cells to clot.

What are the benefits of vitamin B12 shots?

Theoretically, there will be no added benefit of a vitamin B12 injection unless the patient currently has a vitamin B12 deficiency in his diet. In developed countries, B12 deficiency is extremely rare, as the vitamin can be obtained in plenty through a healthy diet. Vitamin B12 is high in food such as meats, dairy, eggs, and green leafy vegetables.

If a person already has sufficient levels of vitamin B12 in the blood, they are theoretically unlikely to see any substantial health benefits by receiving a B12 injection. There is however, not likely to be any detrimental health effects either because vitamin B12 is water-soluble and any excess will be quickly expelled by the body. Short-term side effects may include headache, nausea, and irritability, but they usually quickly disappear.

But this does not explain all the anecdotal evidence supporting claims that B12 shots can indeed speed weight loss and improve mood. People who experience such benefits most likely are not eating a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle which includes plenty of physical activity to begin with.

Don’t view B12 injections as a shortcut or miracle drug

Many people often look for shortcuts especially when it comes to weight loss. The truth is that scientific evidence shows that there are no shortcuts or miracle drugs when it comes to good health. The best advice is to obtain all your essential vitamins to eating a healthy diet, and living a healthy and balanced lifestyle with plenty of exercise. This is the best way to assure general good health both physically and mentally for the long-term.

A vitamin B12 injection may give a very short term improvement in energy levels and mood to people who currently have deficient levels of vitamin B12. As mentioned, this should be fairly rare in most developed countries because the vast majority of people are able to obtain sufficient levels of vitamin B12 in the natural diet.

So, in the final analysis, you would be wise to take the extravagant claims of the health benefits of B12 injections with a grain of salt. Focus on living a healthy lifestyle, rather than chasing the latest fad that promises quick and easy results based on a pill, shot, or injection.

Iodine Supplements And Iodine Deficiency

Iodine supplements can be necessary in cases of deficiency where not enough of the element is obtained through the natural diet. Today, dietary iodine supplements are rarely necessary in developed countries because iodine is routinely added to processed foods. However, there are many secondary uses where iodine supplements are helpful and still prevalent today.

Many processed foods, especially salt, are supplemented with iodine

You’ve probably seen the containers of table salt labeled “iodized salt”. Because iodine deficiency was prevalent in much of the world in the early 20th century, many countries mandated the addition of iodine in certain foods, especially salt. In Canada, this practice is currently mandated, and in the United States it is not mandated but is still practiced by many leading food manufacturers.

What is iodine and why does the body need it?

Iodine is one of the natural elements found in nature. The body cannot produce it and it must obtain all that it needs from the diet. Most natural iodine is found in the sea and can be obtained naturally by eating seaweed, kelp, and seafood. Because of iodine’s connection to the sea, historically many cases of iodine deficiency have occurred in locations that are inland and far from the sea.

Iodine is especially important to functions of the thyroid gland which needs iodine to produce hormones. If the thyroid does not have enough iodine, it has to work harder to perform its essential functions. This can cause a goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland, which can become apparent in swollen neck.

Iodine deficiency is also one of the leading causes of mental retardation worldwide, producing typical reductions in IQ of up to 20 points. Some have speculated that deficiency of iodine and other nutrients can be associated to observe differences in IQ between certain ethnic groups. Cretinism is a condition associated with iodine deficiency, as well as mental deficiency, deaf-mutism, hypothyroidism, and stunted growth.

Although dietary iodine supplements are not necessary for most people in developed countries because deficiency is rare, there are many secondary uses for iodine supplements:

Iodine supplements are used to protect against radiation exposure

Iodine supplements taken orally have proven successful at protecting the thyroid gland from exposure to radioactive iodides. Potassium iodine tablets are available and FDA approved for this use, to protect against radiation damage to the thyroid. These iodine supplements should only be taken in a radiation emergency, however, and should not be taken in advance or to prevent illness.

Iodine supplements for treating mouth sores and ulcers

Evidence suggests that iodine can be helpful in preventing and reducing soreness and swelling in the mouth, caused by chemotherapy treatments for cancer, when it is applied directly to the affected area. It can also help to heal diabetic ulcers when applied directly to the area.

Iodine supplements for water purification and killing germs

Iodine drops can be added to water to kill germs and bacteria. It is often utilized by backpackers and hikers to purify free standing water sources. Although the taste of the water is sometimes lacking, the iodine does effectively purify and reduce the risk of sickness. Iodine can also be applied directly to a cut or wound to kill germs.

As mentioned, in developed countries there is currently a greater risk of iodine toxicity than there is of iodine deficiency. If you are showing signs of iodine deficiency, such as an enlarged thyroid gland, seek the expert advice of your doctor before taking iodine supplements. It is quite likely that your condition is caused by something other than iodine deficiency, and your doctor can run lab test to determine your iodine levels.