Ladies Home Journal

 

"Conditions Nobody Talks About"

(continued)

 

Some people use charcoal tablets, which may absorb waste products and reduce fermentation that could cause B.O. Other folks prefer chlorophyll liquids or tablets, since the magnesium in them may reduce body toxins. Medical sciences hasn’t come down with a firm opinion on either so you’ll have to rely on the good old armpit sniff-test to see what works best for you.

Bowels of Hell

If America had an official bathroom theme song, it would be Carly Simon’s “Anticipation” (“It’s Making Me Wait”). More than thirty percent of us suffer from constipation. Not everyone has a bowel movement on a daily basis, but if you go without a movement for more than three days you should take some action.

Constipation is often a lifestyle issue that can be solved by the FEW formula – fiber, exercise, and water. Fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables absorb water in the body to help soften stool and stimulate the colonic contractions that make you want to defecate. Regular exercise strengthens the abdominal and pelvic muscles, thus stimulating bowel movements. If you don’t drink enough water, stool can be hard and dry. Dr. Mindell recommends dividing your weight in two and drinking that many ounces of H2O a day.

If FEW is not enough, try some psyllium powder, the fibrous paint component that is the main ingredient of Metamucil. A teaspoon mixed with eight ounces of water or juice should do the trick. The best natural laxative is probably the herb cascara sagrada. Try mixing a teaspoon with some water and half a teaspoon of dried ginger root and fennel seed, which mask the mixture’s bitter taste while relieving gas and cramps.

Stomach It

The fast (food) lane isn’t good for the stomach. Belching is a sign that you’ve swallowed too much air – which is usually the result of gulping food. “In the fast-food generation, no one eats, they inhale,” Dr. Mindell says. “Like your mother said, chew thoroughly, so you don’t swallow as much air.”

The gastro-intestinal tract is one of the weakest parts of human anatomy, and any condition that affects it is exacerbated by stress. A study by the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 1995 found that relaxation techniques help people stop swallowing air, which leads to digestion problems. In the study, relaxation techniques caused 38 healthy people to swallow three times less air when they did stressful tasks, such as listening to irritating music or watching unpleasant pictures. Your stomach could be soothed by simply closing your eyes, doing deep breathing, or staring out the window.

Of course, it also helps not to introduce more bubbles into your stomach. Carbonated beverages lead to burping since, as Dr. Mindell puts it, “the bubbles have to come out somewhere.” One trick: defizz carbonated beverages by pouring them in a glass before drinking.

The quickest remedy for indigestion, Dr. Mindell says, may be papaya. The tropical fruit improves digestion by helping the body break down enzymes. A chewable papaya tablet can bring quick relief without the rebound effect of over-the-counter antacids, since papaya doesn’t cause more stomach acid to be produced. If you have indigestion often, drink a 6-ounce glass of unsweetened papaya juice or wedge of fresh papaya for dessert.

You should feel better in no time. And then go see an Adam Sandler movie. The jokes are a lot funnier when they’re not on you.

 

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