Don’t Suffer in Silence!
Millions of women struggle with digestive issues and at a higher rate than men. Few doctor visits involve discussing them, let alone solving them, and women suffer in silence. Constipation is not a fun, sexy or an exciting topic to discuss, but a necessary conversation to have when it comes to overall health. According to the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research, chronic constipation affects 15-30% of Canadians.[1] Healthy bowel movements are essential to overall health.
There are many things that can lead to constipation:
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Lack of exercise
- Medication
- Changes in routine
- Not giving yourself enough time to go to the bathroom
- Proper eliminative positioning on the toilet
Not sure if you’re constipated? Ask yourself these questions: How often do you have a bowel movement? Do you have hard, dry, or lumpy stools? Do you have stools that are difficult or painful to pass? Do you feel like you still need to go after you’ve had a bowel movement? These can all be signs of constipation.[2]
Renew Life® is a trusted brand in the digestive care field with products that may help.
CleanseMORE® is a colon targeted formula designed to help provide relief from occasional constipation. It is made with the mineral magnesium hydroxide along with natural herbal ingredients such as cape aloe leaf, triphala and rhubarb root to help stimulate a laxative effect. With over a decade in the market, Canadians have found relief for their constipation with CleanseMORE®.
Ultimate Flora® Colon Care is a probiotic formula to help support intestinal and gastrointestinal health. This daily multi-strain blend provides 80 billion live bacterial cultures in a convenient once a day capsule. It contains 10 different probiotic strains of live bacteria enclosed in specialized acid-resistant vegetarian capsules to help protect the live bacteria from harsh stomach acids.
FibreSMART® is a flax-based fibre supplement formulated to help support daily bowel health. It contains both soluble and insoluble fibre and has additional ingredients for the intestinal tract such as Marshmallow Root and Slippery Elm Bark. It is easy to incorporate into your daily routine by adding it to liquid or soft food. Contains no nuts, gluten, dairy and soy.
IntestiNEW® is an easy-to-mix powder made with soothing herbal ingredients that support a healthy intestinal lining. It contains 5000mg of L-Glutamine and 200mg of N-Acetylglucosamine per serving along with ginger root which may help relieve indigestion, nausea, and digestive upsets.
Tips to help avoid constipation:
- Include plenty of high-fibre foods in your diet such as beans, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Fibre increases the bulk of stool and accelerates colon transit time.[3]
- Include more fermented foods like kimchi, kombucha, kefir, tempeh, and sauerkraut which contain beneficial bacteria.
- Eat fewer processed and refined foods which tend to lack fibre and nutrients.
- Drink plenty of filtered water to keep the colon hydrated.
- Exercise to move food through the colon more quickly. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, helps to stimulate the natural contractions of intestinal muscles.[4]
- Manage stress as best as you can (meditation, yoga, breathing exercises).
- Make sure you have enough time and privacy to pass stools comfortably. Being too busy and ignoring urges may reduce those impulses and they become less frequent.
- Create proper eliminative positioning. The natural and anatomically correct position for elimination is more of a ‘squatting’ position where your knees are above your waist. Use a step stool or phonebook to put your feet on so you can position yourself properly while using the toilet.[5]
- Set a routine. Consistent eating and sleeping patterns can help regulate bowel function.[6]
Don’t suffer in silence, there are solutions and Renew Life® can help.