‘Nutrition’ Tagged Posts

Taking Antioxidants May Be Doing More Harm Than Good.

Popular belief is that antioxidants prevent heart, Parkinson's And Alzheimer's Disease. Some research shows that too much may cause one of these dre...

 

Popular belief is that antioxidants prevent heart, Parkinson’s And Alzheimer’s Disease. Some research shows that too much may cause one of these dreaded diseases. It’s a very popular and believable theory, mainly because it makes sense. It has also given hope to many people in search of ways to enhance and extend their lives naturally. And let’s not forget, it’s profitable for many professionals. Patients regularly ask us at the chiropractic office at New Century Spine Centers in San Diego which supplements to take.

What we are referring to is the belief that taking antioxidants is good for you. Many believe they can prevent such diseases as heart, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. A study published in the August 10th issue of Cell sheds new light on this claim. It says that too much of a certain antioxidant may even cause heart disease in the long run.

Understanding how antioxidants are thought to work is very important. Heart, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other deadly diseases are associated with oxidative stress, in which “free radical” molecules are produced in reaction to oxygen intake. Free radicals travel through the body, triggering chemical reactions that damage proteins causing them to form aggregates. It is believed that antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E offer health-promoting benefits by protecting against damaging free radicals that damage the body. That’s why many people take antioxidants to prevent heart and other protein-aggregate diseases in many.

In a study on laboratory mice, University of Utah researchers (Ivor J. Benjamin, M.D. and Christi T. Smith Chair of Cardiovascular Research, division chief of cardiology at the Utah School of Medicine) found that an overload of natural antioxidants could actually lead to heart failure.

Reductive stress is a condition caused by excessive levels of reduced glutathione, which is one of your body’s most powerful antioxidants. When your cells work properly, they produce just the right amount of reduced glutathione, which is healthy for your body. However, in some people, a mutated gene can disrupt the fine balance, causing the cells to produce too much.

In the study of laboratory mice with failing hearts caused by mutant alpha B-Crystallin, researchers found increased activity of the biochemical pathway leading to high levels of reduced glutathione in the animals. Glutathione is regulated at multiple steps principally by the G6PD enzyme. To establish the connection between reduced glutathione and heart failure, Benjamin mated mutant alpha B-Crystallin mice that carried too much G6PD with mice that had far lower levels.

The resulting offspring had normal levels of reduced glutathione and did not get heart failure. The researchers found that by lowering the level of reduced glutathione in mice with failing hearts, they were able to increase their rate of survival dramatically. Lowering the level of reduced glutathione dramatically changed the survival of these mice. The researchers stated that basically they prevented them from getting heart failure. The researchers also added that although many people take antioxidants to prevent heart and other protein-aggregate diseases, there actually is scant evidence to prove they work.

“This field of medicine has not appreciated reductive stress and its influence on disease,” he said. “This is about balance needed in the environment of our cells, and it can have profound consequences on the treatments of heart disease and other serious disorders.”

This just shows how too much of a good thing can possibly be a bad thing. This is a concept that is misunderstood by most of the population. This probably leads to many health problems in many individuals. Many have a skewed concept of how the body functions and what exactly optimal performance or optimal health truly is.

For example, let’s take performance. Many athletes are constantly trying to boost performance with supplementation. Some natural (and legal) other synthetic and usually illegal. Some athletes take anabolic steroids to boost performance. Steroids such as testosterone – help build muscle, strength and reduce recovery time. And they naturally occur in your body for these and many other purposes.

Naturally occurring steroids are also good for you. If naturally occurring steroids do these good things for you, logic has it that increasing their levels will do more good things for you. And it is true in many instances. Athletes that take the right steroids, increase their athletic performance. And it increases it a great deal.

However, this is not OPTIMAL performance. This is PATHOLOGICAL performance. Here’s why: Optimal performance is when your body is functioning at the highest level for your given genetic potential. Anything beyond that is ABNORMAL. Therefore PATHOLOGICAL.

It’s the same old saying that too much of a good thing may be bad for you. And, it’s the same as far as antioxidants are concerned as well. It makes complete sense that the proper level of antioxidants is good for you. And they probably help fight disease such as heart, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. But too much can be bad.

Too many approach the use of natural supplements like the athlete approaches the use of steroids. If a little is good – a lot is better. Know this: There is a perfect balance in your body where everything functions at 100% of your genetic potential. More is not better – it is worse. And as the study mentioned in this article demonstrated, too much of a good thing can be…Poison!

This is why choosing and taking supplements (of any kind) is much more involved than going into GNC and aimlessly picking a bunch that are popular or sound good. The old (and uneducated) belief that supplements can’t hurt you because they are natural is false. Snake venom is natural. So is mercury. Some of the most dangerous substances in the world are natural. The supplements you take should depend on your diet and the particular needs of your body.

Want to find out more about nutrition, then visit New Century Spine Centers site on how to choose the best vitamins for your needs.

Can Sun Rays Prevent Thousands Of Cases Of Breast And Colon Cancer Each And Every Year?

 

If you are like most people, you probably think the sun causes cancer. Our chiropractic patients in San Diego regularly bring up this issue. And why shouldn’t you? Some news coverage has demonized the sun as dangerous. It has sent many running from it like Vampires at dawn. And as a chiropractor in San Diego, I feel like I need to set the records straight.

The truth is that overexposure to the sun can cause some health problems. What you probably also aren’t aware of is that underexposure can be dangerous to your overall health as well. Here is why. A study looking at the relationship between vitamin D serum levels and the risk of colon and breast cancer across the globe has estimated the number of cases of cancer that could be prevented each year if vitamin D3 levels met the target proposed by researchers.

Cedric F. Garland, Dr.P.H., cancer prevention specialist at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and colleagues estimate that 250,000 cases of colorectal cancer and 350,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented worldwide by increasing intake of vitamin D3, particularly in countries north of the equator. Vitamin D3 is available through diet, supplements and exposure of the skin to sunlight.

“For the first time, we are saying that 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancer could be prevented each year worldwide, including nearly 150,000 in the United States alone,” said study co-author Garland. The paper, which looks at the dose-response relationship between vitamin D and cancer, will be published in the August edition of the journal Nutrition Reviews.

This research study combined data from surveys of serum vitamin D levels during winter from 15 different countries. It is the first of such a study to look at satellite measurements of sunshine and cloud cover in countries where actual blood serum levels of vitamin D3 had also been measured. The figure was then applied to over 170 countries to estimate the average serum level of a vitamin D metabolite of people living there. Findings were compared to other findings.

The data revealed an inverse association of serum vitamin D with risk of colorectal and breast cancer. The protective effect began at levels ranging from 24 to 32 nanograms per milliliter of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in the serum. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is the main indicator of vitamin D status. The late winter average 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the U.S. is about 15-18 ng/ml. The researchers maintain that increasing vitamin D levels in populations, particularly those in northern climates, has the potential to both prevent and possibly serve as an adjunct to existing treatments for cancer.

It was stated that the suitable dose of vitamin D in order to reach this level could be very small in a lifeguard in Southern California. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it can be quite a lot for someone in Northern Europe who tends to remain indoors most of the year. This could be best achieved with a combination of diet, supplements and short intervals of 10 or 15 minutes a day in the sun. It could be less for very fair-skinned individuals.

These studies and more can be found by visiting New Century Spine Centers website in San Diego. The web address is www.BackCareTreatment.com. The serum level recommended by the study would correspond to intake of 2000 International Units per day of vitamin D3 for a meaningful reduction in colorectal cancer. The researchers recommend 2000 IU/day, plus, when weather allows, a few minutes in the sun with at least 40% of the skin exposed, for a meaningful reduction in breast cancer incidence, unless the individual has a history of skin cancer or a photosensitivity disease. Garland also recommends moderate sun exposure and use of clothing and a hat when in the sun longer than 15 minutes.

Looking to find the best information on nutrition, then visit www.BackCareTreatment.com to find the best advice on chiropractic for you.

Natural Tea For Anti Aging: Is Natural Tea For Anti Aging In Fact Helpful?

 

Numerous people today swear by the advantages of natural green tea, whether for fat loss or vitality or meditation. Quite a few even employ green tea for anti getting older and think that it stimulates renewal in the body and cell repair and vitality. These procedures help to maintain the effects of age at bay, at the least as much as practical.

Using green tea for anti getting older is something that has been around in Asia for a long time; they have been consuming natural green tea as a stomach tonic and as a medical ingredient for as long as there has been recognized history. Currently, green tea for anti getting older may signify the precise tea itself or vitamin supplements and products.

But does green tea for anti aging genuinely work? No matter the manner in which it’s accessible, anyone considering employing this will desire to know if it’s genuinely useful. If not, it doesn’t make a difference if you have the tea itself or are merely taking dietary supplements!

Many utilize natural green tea for anti aging as it has antioxidant aspects. These properties beat off free radicals, which are agents that cause cell damage. This cell ruin is what brings about the signs of getting old, from facial lines to liver spots to gray hair.

Antioxidants additionally seem to encourage the body to repair itself by encouraged cell fix on its own. When cells are repaired and regenerated then the human body clearly looks bigger and more refreshing. Utilizing natural green tea for anti growing older has numerous perks in this manner and can retain the skin, hair, and other attributes looking more youthful for longer.

This won’t mean you can employ green tea for anti aging and dispose your arthritis pills or your hypertension medication, or that you’ll never go through the results of old age. Then again there are several things these days that create speedy cell impairment, from a bad diet regime to tobacco to pollution in the air.

One additional reason that many employ natural green tea for anti aging is because it triggers good digestive wellbeing. This way a someone can be more healthy by and large because the digestive tract can affect the way an individual feels and can also affect many other facets of their health.

When the digestive system is not working as it should be then toxins and other negative enzymes can build up in the body and produce premature getting old. Utilizing natural green tea for anti growing older means flushing these stuff from the body more frequently so that they don’t cause cell destruction as well as feelings of listlessness and a lack of energy. As a result an individual may simply feel more healthy by and large and might unearth that they suffer lesser outcome of getting old.

Grow older happily, use the vital anti aging products like natural anti aging to exceed even younger folks.

Various Classes Of Relief For Constipation

 

(Foreword: The following information is provided as is, and should not be construed as an endorsement of any kind of the items mentioned. Furthermore, all readers should ask for the advice of a doctor when making choices concerning health. The writer is not a doctor and is providing the article from research obtained from third party sources.)

Numerous statistical figures have quoted that the impact of constipation to be as low as 2% to as high as 30%. A large recent 2006 survey conducted by the famous pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim pinpoints the number to be at 12% worldwide. Even at 2% though, most people would agree that constipation seems to be a problem afflicting a broad segment of the population.

One explanation for why the statistics are so inconsistent is that constipation has historically been a poorly-defined condition. The poor definitions are due the fact that constipation varies quite a bit between patients. Frequency of bowel movements, time spent straining at the toilet and hardness of feces are but three examples of patient-reported symptoms that vary wildly from person-to-person. Some attempt has been made by both U.S. national agencies and private groups (such as the Rome Foundation) in unifying our definition of constipation. Nevertheless, diagnosis is made difficult by such variations.

Diagnosis of disease is followed by the monumental goal of pinning down the primary cause in each patient. Diagnosis is easy if there are many other tell-tale signs, such as those found in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. In another subgroup, patients may suffer from nerve and muscle damage that are the culprits of constipation. But for a very large group, physicians will be unable to find a cause. In this large group, the condition is simply called “idiopathic constipation”.

Often first line therapy for people diagnosed with chronic idiopathic constipation is introduction of high fiber into diet. Recent studies show that fiber and fluids are effective in only a small fraction of patients. Because of the ease and accessibility of high fiber treatment, it is quite popular with physicians and patients. Response is expected within two weeks, at which time both parties may decide whether the diagnosis and therapy were successful.

Other types of natural treatments include both lubricant laxatives and herbal supplements such as senna. Herbal and natural supplements are not always safe. The FDA has banned some natural supplements, namely aloe vera and cascara recently, for failure on the part of manufacturers to provide sufficient safety data. However, some other over-the-counter treatments remain available.

There are also a number of prescription-only constipation medications available. Some of these act as laxatives, whereas others are special compounds that modulate the functional properties of the gastrointestinal tract. In recent times, exciting therapies such as biofeedback have also risen to prominence. Expect treatments for constipation to advanced greatly in the next few years.

Come to our site on treatment for constipation to discover the most up-to-date ideas. Readers wanting to know more can head over to learn about constipation natural remedies.

Quick Tips For DIY Anti Agiing

 

Aging is a reality of life, and without hesitation you would consent that there are optimistic as well as negative factors to this phase of life. Old age is responsible for knowledge that life’s lesson taught a person, the mirror then again reflects the inevitable transformation of the body. Anti aging measures is what any person can carry out to fend off the effects of growing old.

It might come to you as an alternative product on sale but DIY anti getting older formulas is more on motivating you to take care of yourself. It will make you drop old bad routine and commence with superior ones.

Browse the aisles of your pharmacy or beauty supply business and you’ll observe dozens of products that are supposed to decelerate the look of age. These could be wrinkle creams or special vitamins meant for those of a precise age. When pondering of DIY anti aging formulas you might desire to view some products to help you along. Look for active ingredients on the content of the product for better result.

Countless also believe that vitamins ought to be a part of DIY anti getting old formulas and this means not simply ones you ingest but those contained in moisturizers and creams. Rebirth of cells of our body are assisted by vitamins consequently it makes someone healthier long term.

Your own habits can go a long way in the direction of DIY anti aging success, either for the good or the bad. Of course you know that smoking can on destroy your cells. It is good to stop inhaling those tobacco products prior to starting with DYI anti growing older programs. If it is impracticable for you to entirely decrease smoking then help yourself by lighting up less daily. Just think about all the benefits that is waiting once you terminate smoking so you can stay away from all its disadvantages.

All the food and drinks that you consume daily is crucial on executing a decent DYI anti getting older plan. As skin wrinkles it instantly means that you are getting older, get into the tradition of drinking water regularly to hydrate your skin. Caffeine is a diuretic, implying it causes the body to lose moisture, so it’s good to be moderate with your caffeine intake.

Exercise and physical activity boost circulation which means additional blood and oxygen to each cell of the body. It can be much to ask of you to add an work out schedule, but apart from its benefits to DIY anti growing old methods you could instantly acquire its other advantages on easing the pain of arthritis or some other undesirable pains. It keeps the joints cell and free from stiffness that many undergo with age.

Do it yourself anti aging needs a few changes on your habits to award you a well-balance physical and medical improvements. Stimulating your body is also another reason why you have to stop smoking, eat healthy foods, and jolt your body with everyday activities. Since there are so many advantages to these behavior, it’s good to consider how soon you can include them into your own DIY anti getting old schedule!

Grow older gracefully, utilize the necessary anti aging products similar to natural anti aging to outshine even more youthful individuals.

Quick, Home-grown, Inexpensive Anti Getting Older Processes

 

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could simply take a pill that turns back the aging process swiftly and effortlessly? Since that magical tablet is yet to be invented, a ton of people are looking for rapid and reasonably priced anti growing old products, processes, and strategies that can be completed without any specialist help from a health practitioner or a plastic surgeon.

Here is the good news, there are a lot of things you can do by yourself which will help you to look and feel more younger. Not to mention that there’s a plethera of reasonably priced anti getting old products that operates very in existence. It might surprise you that it could in fact be utilized for anti getting old methods. A plethera of females have been generating home-grown facial masks and employ these products to make themselves seem and feel young.

Of course there are affordable anti getting old processes your health practitioner or skin doctor can present, but before you go that course consider some rapid pointers in regards to your own home-produced products and other ways to take years off your look.

The origin of homemade inexpensive anti getting older products that you can effortlessly acquire at the food store was created to compete with any department store product. A facial mask of honey and oatmeal has long been a option for ladies looking to take years off their appearance, and it can work for anyone. A lot of articles regarding anti getting older and reasonably priced, anti growing old masks can be located all over the internet.

Utilizing vitamin E oil on the face is alternatively part of affordable anti getting older products you put together at home. Many individuals believed that utilizing baby oil after shower keeps the skin soft and supple. These are all reasonably priced anti getting old products that can make you look as well as feel younger.

You may not be knowledgeable but your own behaviours are also thought of as as an cost effective anti getting older method. Antioxidants aid cells to renew; our humble fresh fruits and vegetables got lots of it. Evaluate the cost of a basket packed of fresh fruits and vegetable from a basket filled of department store products, now that’s inexpensive.

Healing vitamins and oxygen stimulates blood circulation and is an necessary part of an reasonably priced anti growing older method. Little do we identify that this is alternatively considered as one of those affordable ways of anti aging. You’ll then determine that a standard work out and being physically active can change the way you appear and feel.

Grow older with ease, utilize the essential anti aging products such as anti aging skin care to outshine even more youthful people.

Weight Loss – The Good, The Bad, And The Deadly!

 

If you’ve finally decided to shed that excess weight you’ve piled on over the last year and you want to do it as quickly as possible, then going through this may even save your life from unnecessary pain and suffering.

Some health gurus say the only way to lose weight is through low or no carbohydrate eating plans with generous amounts of protein and fat or to follow a high-carbohydrate diet and minimize fat or a . And then there are the eat anything you want and take a supplement diet and it will shed the weight for you. Who should you trust?

The weight loss industry is big as it is and still growing. Every year millions of dollars are spent by people looking for the easy way out of their love handles.

There are countless advertisements. They all send out the same message which is work little and get big results. Something you must understand is there is no easy way out; no magic pills that safely melt away fat. Some can even cause death. An herb also known as a common herb was used in some dietary supplements energy boosters. Similar to amphetamines and has been linked to side effects of heart arrhythmia, and seizures.

In some cases even heart attack and stroke. The herb could promote hemorrhagic stroke and it can affect the vascular and nervous systems. This particularly occurs when combined with caffeine, as is often the case in supplements.

According to findings published in Neurology, daily doses of more than 32 milligrams were linked to a three-fold increase in hemorrhagic stroke risk. So What Is The Weight Loss Solution?

The bottom line is that proper diet and exercise are most important. There are no magic solutions to weight loss. If you figure out the diet and exercise program that is right for you, it can work like magic.

Most people fail at weight loss because they are on the wrong program for them and they quit. Everyone is individual. Some respond well to high carbohydrates and others shed pounds and function better eating almost no carbohydrates at all. But one thing remains universally constant is that you must exercise.

Even little exercise such as walking 20 minutes two to three times a week can have a dramatic affect on your weight loss. Starting a weight training program is also encouraged because it will add lean muscle mass which helps with metabolism. Lean muscle mass will actually help you churn calories and lose weight.

An important note before you starts any new diet or exercise program is that you should consult with your doctor. Additionally, you can call New Century Spine Centers in San Diego at 619-630-9153 and you’ll be helped on getting a plan that’s right for you. Think about that more has been accomplished through motion than ever will get done through meditation. Stop thinking about it and just do it! If you need help we are only a phone call away. Remember, we’re always here, using the miracle of Chiropractic to help your body heal and maintain the health you deserve!

Want to find out more about nutrition, then visit the chiropractic site on how to choose the best chiropractor nutrition expert.

A Diet Full Of Color May Be The Key To Good Health!

 

Remember in school, your teacher taught you the pyramid of foods to eat for a healthy diet? A few years ago, it was changed completely as more and more research and studies showed that eating less meat and dairy and more fruits and veggies are healthier for us. In fact, strong research consistently indicates that increased overall fruit and vegetable consumption – especially vegetables – can prevent an estimated 10 to 20 percent of breast cancer cases.

Dr. Daniel Nadeau, author of The Color Code: A Revolutionary Eating Plan for Optimum Health, recommends that we eat more than 4-8 servings of fruits and veggies a day and a variety of foods from four basic color groups: Red, Blue-Purple, Orange-Yellow, And Green. Each of these foods contain phytochemicals (pigments which give plants their bright colors) that help guard against chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Carotenoid substances are found in deep green and orange vegetables and fruits, like broccoli, carrots and cantaloupe, kale, spinach and other cooked greens), alpha-carotene (in carrots and pumpkin) and beta-cryptoxanthin (in oranges, peaches and papayas).

From the red group, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, red grapes, beets and red peppers are powerful sources of antioxidants. They also contain a large amount of Vitamin C and ellagic acid. Ellagic acid destroys carcinogenic substances and makes cancerous cells self-destruct. Cranberries fight ulcers and cherries reduce inflammation.

Foods in the orange-yellow group such as oranges, grapefruits and other fruits with citrus peel reduce skin cancer risk and carrots are one of the top cancer fighting foods.
Green vegetables like avocados help to lower cholesterol and spinach protects the eyes from cataracts.

Blueberries may improve memory. Blue foods reduce stress and help eliminate free radicals. Grape juice stops plaque formation in the blood vessels, keeps arteries elastic and inhibits clot formation. Want more information? Visit the New Century Spine Centers website in San Diego for more great nutrition information.

Learn more about a nutrition plan. Stop by New Century in San Diego where you can find out all about chiropractic care and what it can do for you.

Effective Natural Cures for Fibromyalgia

 

If you or someone you know suffers from fibromyalgia, then you’re well aware of the chronic pain that can be caused by this condition. If you don’t know about the illness, fibromyalgia is a pain disorder of the musculoskeletal system that has no known cause.

A number of leading scientists have theorized that diet plays a big role in the development of this syndrome. Think about it: for millennia, the human body subsisted on a diet of seeds, herbs, water, meat, vegetables and fruit, but in modern times we now consume large amounts of sugar, sweets, cookies, chips, chocolate, coffee, carbonated beverages, fats and oils, cigarettes, alcohol, vinegar, prescription drugs, chemicals, pesticides, and enormous levels of preservatives to fuel our bodies.

Over time these substances interfere with the body’s normal functions and can create disorders such as fibromyalgia.

While there are many options of prescriptions drugs available for the treatment for fibromyalgia, they are only designed to try to relieve the symptoms of the disease, not the underlying cause. I believe that natural cures may prove to be a lot more effective, as they will allow sufferers to start to alkalize their bodies that have been in the process of acidification for years as the result of the diet we just discussed.

Restoring the body’s balance with natural cures will bring back the energy, the strength, the vigor – the true health – that we were designed to enjoy.

Among the many various treatment for fibromyalgia are free-form amino acids. Research has shown that fibromyalgia patients have an inability to properly process proteins, which are converted into amino acids that are used by the body to create enzymes. These enzymes play a role in the repair, growth and maintenance of body tissues, and help to regulate blood sugar levels – a necessary action for the proper function of the immune system.

Many fibromyalgia patients believe amino acids are the most important natural supplement to take as a means to cure their ailment. It’s important that only free form amino acids are used to treat fibromyalgia as they work immediately and don’t need to be fully digested in order to take effect.

Methyl Sulfonyl Methane, a compound found naturally in the body, is deficient in the bodies of those afflicted with fibromyalgia. It is present in various fresh fruits and vegetables, but processing or cooking destroys this substance. It serves to reduce pain and is a natural anti-inflammatory, and is reported to improve overall health by those who supplement with Methyl Sulfonyl Methane.

Designed to work in conjunction, methyl sulfonyl methane and free form amino acids can be very effective natural cures for fibromyalgia when taken together.

Recent studies have also shown that fibromyalgia sufferers are also deficient in vitamin D. Some of the common symptoms of this deficiency are muscle pain and muscle weakness. If a vitamin D supplement is used, positive health benefits can be achieved. For people with fibromyalgia, it is suggested that vitamin D3 is the most beneficial.

As you can see, people with fibromyalgia does not have to face the rest of their life in pain and they don’t have to look forward to taking prescription medications every day of their life. The natural cures discussed here let fibromyalgia sufferers finally be able to see the end of their struggles.

Fibromyalgia has plagued its victims for centuries and scientists have studied it since the 1800’s, but natural cures that are instrumental in treating the root cause of fibromyalgia have been discovered only recently. Today, large numbers of sufferers are discovering that natural cures are genuinely effective for improving their health.

You have now found some natural cures for fibromyalgia that may prove to very beneficial when you are looking for an alternative to prescription drugs for treating your condition.

Instead of just prescription pills, there are a lot of more natural and alternative treatment for fibromyalgia. Sometimes that may be just what the doctor ordered!

Exploring The Efficacy Of The Prune As A Digestive Aid

 

The initial prescription by a physician for treating constipation often contains no medication at all. Instead, a physician will ask a patient to try supplement his or her diet with the addition of extra fiber. The extra fiber may come from natural sources, or from supplements that are derived from natural sources.

A lot of people have heard of supplements such as metamucil that are fortified with loads of fiber. Metamucil is a product made by Procter and Gamble, marketed to people who suffer from constipation. But a little research will show that there are high fiber foods from entirely natural sources. Prunes, or dried plums, are one such example. The most interesting fact is that prunes contain another agent that is beneficial for treating constipation.

Plums have been a part of mankind’s food source for many millennia. Archaeologist evidence shows large number of pits in waste sites that go back to ancient times. Then as now, the process for manufacturing prunes has probably changed relatively little. The plum fruit is harvested from the plant and then arranged in a cool oven structure. The plums are dehydrated at 180 degrees Fahrenheit for a little under 20 hours. The resulting prunes are collected for further processing.

The chemical makeup of prunes is complex, which is one reason for its multipronged effectiveness as a constipation agent. And although we have sufficiently advanced technology to discern these chemicals, we have yet to fully understand the mechanism whereby each chemical aids in laxative activity.

The things we do understand regarding its anti-constipation properties are two folds. First, we know that the high fiber content of prunes means that eating it helps bulk up foods in the way traditional fiber supplements aid digestion. Two, we also know that prunes contain a lot of sorbitol which is a sugar-like substance that retains water and makes stool softer and therefore faster-moving in the gut.

On top of ingredients with laxative properties, prunes are a high energy source. The high energy is derived from its mix of both simple and complex sugars such as glucose and fructose. People who eat prunes get a quick energy boost as well as a sustained one from digestion of complex sugars.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are a number of other useful natural chemicals that support human health. One example are the phenolic compounds that seem to amplify the laxative properties of sorbitol and fiber. Another example is the helpful mineral potassium which aids in muscle contraction. Ample potassium ensures proper muscle energy and function.

Although there’s no need to prepare the prunes in a special way before eating, a commercial food preparer in the United Kingdom stumbled upon a home recipe for treating constipation that involves blending prunes with other fruits and vegetables. The recipe, known by the name Beverley-Travis, has become famous and even studied for its efficacy in improving digestive health.

Discover the latest information and writings in regards to purchasing natural laxatives. This and related topics on stool softeners are accessible to all.