Constipation, Weight Gain and Health

Constipation, Weight Gain and Health

Have you noticed that when you get constipated, you gain weight or it becomes hard to lose weight? Maintaining regular bowel movements promotes better health and keeps your stomach flat. Bowel regularity will aid you in losing weight and keeping it off.  A healthy intestinal tract will allow you to absorb nutrients efficiently, which helps stave off cravings and allows you to build lean muscle without gaining fat.  And most importantly, maintaining regular bowel movements can greatly reduce chances of diverticulosis or colon cancer.

Factors That Can Contribute to Constipation

• Low thyroid function
• Pharmaceutical drugs; especially pain killers, antidepressants, antacids, blood pressure meds, and allergy meds
• Chocolate
• Iron supplements
• Deficiency of vitamin C and/or magnesium
• Dairy
• Depression
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Neurological conditions
• Lack of exercise
• Too little fiber
• Not enough water intake
• Change in your diet

What You Can Do

• Eat more fiber especially from cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprout, cabbage); be aware that psyllium fiber by itself can cause drying of the colon
• Drink more water
• Exercise everyday
• Take magnesium citrate
• Take vitamin C to bowel tolerance (loose stool); then cut back by 500 mg.
• Take herbal supplements for constipation
• Probiotics
• Don’t worry if your new juicing program or detox causes temporary constipation

“Healthy Digestion” tea, which is made with:

• Dandelion
• Skullcap
• Chamomile
• Fennel seed
• Blessed thistle
• Peppermint

Recipe of the Week

Colon Cleanser

• 1/2 green apple
• 1/2 pear
• 1/2 lemon. peeled if not organic
• 1 bunch spinach
• 1 handful parsley

Cut produce to fit your juicer’s feed tube.  Juice ingredients and stir.  Pour into a glass and drink as soon as possible.

Serves 1

From The Juice Lady’s Guide to Juicing for Health