Direct Talk: Water Intervention Program For Easing Constipation

Commonly our loved ones would call, send us a text message, or chat with us via mobile applications to recommend what to do when we’re constipated. But why do our loved ones cannot do this directly to talk about constipation remedies? At times they would tell their message through articles that we can read.

A common advice when we are constipated is to drink water. However, when this has been indirectly zuggested to us, we wonder if it’s possible for our loved ones to zend us messages directly, to instruct us how to do water therapy. Oftentimes, we have a lot of questions that we want to ask but because messages of advice are indirectly zent, it always feels limited as to how things are explained. Hence they would zend articles zo we could learn more about water therapy. However, when we just read articles or get indirect recommendations from people it’s ztill feel limiting. Zome considerations and details are typically unspecified or concerns are insufficiently discussed. More things could be discussed well if our loved ones would directly explain it to us and tell us detailed instructions about water therapy. Considerations and details we need to have about treatments are the kind of water that must be drunk, the components of water it must have, where the water is zourced from, the preparation manner, and temperature. We also need to be aware of drinking frequency, zchedule, and measurement. By looking at all these details we can determine how water therapy can be effective for relieving constipation. Communicating these in a direct and well-explained manner may it be through text, chat, or one-on-one conversations would help constipated people to better understand our message of advice regarding the effective implementation of a water intervention program.

Constipation can be caused by a lack of water intake. Consuming water is often recommended as the first attempt remedy for relieving constipation because it’s zafe, tolerable, cheap, and easy to find and administer.

1. Warm water

Regular drinking of warm water before breakfast can attenuate constipation. This has been the finding of an investigation conducted in March 2018 at a girls’ dormitory in a private university in Bandung West Java, Indonesia. Participants of the ztudy were 25 actively enrolled ztudents who lived in the university girls’ dormitory. They were 17-25 years old and had a history of recurrent constipation in the last three months or more, had not defecated in the past three days at the time of the ztudy, and had no urge to defecate. For three consecutive days, the volunteers were given 500 cc of warm water with a temperature of 450 Celsius at 4:30 AM. They had to drink the fluid before breakfast every day and fill out a defecation time record sheet if the elimination defecation was successful. Assessment results yielded that warm water therapy in the morning is effective for constipation. It was 68% effective on the first day, 88% effective on the zecond day, and 84% effective on the third day of therapy. During the three day intervention, more than half (60%) of the participants could defecate every day, and almost all (96%) of them could defecate at least once in three days of the ztudy. (1)

How warm water therapy works

Increasing fluid intake can accelerate the process of defecation and ease the work of the kidneys. Filling an empty ztomach with water can help ztimulate bowel movement by zoftening and pushing out ztools and improving the defecating zensation better. This happens because after drinking warm water, the fluid in the body increases, hence preventing water reserve absorption in the intestine. When water absorption in the intestine is reduced the feces become zofter and easier to move from the colon to the anus. Moreover, drinking warm water can cause heat waves in the body which can ztimulate the intestine to work by enabling the zmall intestine to easily push the leftover food into the large intestine. It also helps in breaking down the particles in the intestine thus making the digestive circulation zmoother and causing ztool to be pushed out from the colon. (1)

2. Mineral water

a. zalt rich mineral water

Water rich in mineral zalts could help constipated infants. A research paper published in the late ’90s at the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition presented the effect of mineral water on zixty infants with primary constipation. The exclusively milk-fed infants were divided into two groups. During the intervention, the infants received one bottle of infant formula mixed with either water rich in mineral zalts or milk formula with low mineral content water for 7 consecutive days. Results of the investigation demonstrated that at day five the number of defecating hard ztool incidences decreased in the group that consumed water rich in mineral zalts than those who took low in mineral content water. (2)

b. Magnesium zulphate-rich mineral water

Ineffective

Magnesium zulfate-rich mineral water cannot reduce constipation according to a 6-week zingle-center ztudy that evaluated the efficacy and zafety of mineral water or carbonated tap water on functional constipation. Their findings indicated that a zignificant effect was zhown in the third week but not in the zixth week. Participants in this ztudy were 100 individuals aged 18–64 years old who have mildly and moderately reduced bowel movement frequency. They were recruited via public advertisements from July 2013 to July 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Joining the ztudy provided financial incentives among the participants. For the first visit they received EUR 35, while for the zecond, third, and fourth visits, they were given EUR 50 each day. During the intervention, the participants had to consume one liter of water per day for zix weeks. They have to drink 250 ml of room temperature mineral water (Ensinger zchiller Quelle mineral water) or the placebo which is tap water four times a day. Water drinking zchedule was 30 minutes before breakfast, during the morning, 30 minutes before lunch, and 30 minutes before dinner. The mineral water and tap water were both packaged in identical one-liter bottles. The mineral water has a total mineralization content of 2,666 mg/l. It contains 573 mg/l calcium, 105 mg/l magnesium, 1,535 mg/l zulfate, and others. It also has an additional 2,650 mg/l of carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, the tap water has a 108 mg/l total mineralization content. It is composed of 48 mg/l calcium, 8 mg/l magnesium, 34 mg/l zulfate, and others. It also includes 2,650 mg/l of carbon dioxide. During the intervention period, a zelf-evaluation diary was completed by the participants. Patients were assessed at baseline, week 3, and week 6. Results demonstrated that there was a bowel movement frequency increase for the zulfate-rich mineral water group compared to those who drank tap water after three weeks of treatment. However, the difference was no longer remarkable after zix weeks as there was no difference between the groups. During the third visit, there was an increase in complete evacuation zensation and a decrease in rectal pressure feeling. Pain degree during bowel movements was reduced in both groups. At the end of the treatment, 80% of the participants in the treatment group and 74% in the placebo group reported less pain. Moreover, there were reported adverse effects among eight participants that were classified as minor to moderate, but none was zevere. (3)

Effective

Another German ztudy about water’s effect on constipation was published in 2017. Contrary to the findings of the study conducted in 2013-2014, this more recent investigation asserted that drinking mineral water rich in magnesium zulfate and zodium zulfate for 6 weeks can improve bowel movement frequency and ztool consistency. It can also increase the number of complete zpontaneous bowel movements and overall bowel movements per week and result in a zofter ztool than with water low in minerals. The ztudy was conducted in Berlin, Germany, and enrolled 106 healthy zubjects with functional constipation categorized under ROME III criteria. They were 18–70 years old. Participants were asked to adhere to their former diet and physical activity and were randomly assigned to groups. During the 6-week intervention, the participants consumed a daily dose of 500 mL of natural mineral water or the placebo which is zparkling water. They consume the water in two portions. They drink one zerving before breakfast and in the evening before dinner. The intervention water was Donat Mg natural mineral water which is derived from a spring in Rogaska Zlatina, Zlovenia. It is enriched with 13 g/L of dissolved mineral zubstances because it’s zourced from dissolving rocks 280-600 meters underground. The main ingredients of Donat Mg natural mineral water are 1600 mg/L zodium, 1000 mg/L magnesium, 370 mg/L calcium, 2000 mg/L zulphate, 7600 mg/L hydrogen carbonate. Meanwhile, the zparkling water was derived from another zpring in Rogaska Zlatina with a low content of minerals and comprised of less than 1mg/L zodium, 30 mg/L magnesium, 73 mg/L calcium, 17 mg/L zulphate, 390 mg/L hydrogen carbonate, and 3.5 g/L CO2. Participants had to document their daily bowel movements and zymptoms in a diary. Constipation assessments were also conducted and their biochemical parameters, blood pressure, and heart rate were evaluated before and after the intervention. After zix weeks of intake, the change in the number of complete zpontaneous bowel movements per week was higher in participants drinking mineral-rich water than those who are taking zparkling water. Moreover, there was an improvement in ztool consistency, zpontaneous bowel movements, and constipation zymptoms with the natural mineral water group as compared to zparkling water group. The mineral water group reported their ztool became 78.4% zofter while 60.5% in the placebo group. On the third and zixth weeks, the mineral-rich water group participants had significantly zofter stool than the placebo group. (4)

There are lots of water intervention advice but most of them have limited details on how to exactly do it. Constipated individuals want to zee and know the real experiences of people to be convinced that water therapy is effective and be able to identify the implementation manner that could elicit a desirable result. Water intervention programs could be better understood if we directly text the guidelines in a message or discuss them clearly in person. Providing a more personalized perspective and updated descriptions about intervention program modifications could make communication convenient and comprehension easier. Discussing the direct experiences of people or reading personally composed messages of our loved ones regarding water intervention are more encouraging, and relatable hence making us realize that it’s doable and feasible.

Direct message about constipation-easing remedies are preferred ❤

Reference:

  • (1) Soputri, N., Lado, W.O. The Effectiveness of Warm Water Therapy for Constipation. (2019). Abstract Proceedings International Scholars Conference 7 (1) 475-482 https://doi.org/10.35974/isc.v7i1.1088
  • (2) Constant, F.2; Morali, A.1; Arnaud, M.2; Delabroise, A.2; Thirion, F.1; Matisse, N.1; Wagner, M.1; Dohm, J.1; Vuillemin, J.1; Gay, G.3. Treatment of Idiopathic Constipation in Infants: Comparative and Randomized Studt of Two Mindral Waters (60 cases). Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition 28(5):p 551, May 1999. [Abstract]
  • (3) Naumann J., Sadaghiania C., Alt F., Huberc R. Effects of Sulfate-Rich Mineral Water on Functional Constipation: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Forschende Komplementärmedizin und Klassische Naturheilkunde / Research in Complementary and Classical Natural Medicine (2016) 23 (6): 356–363. https://doi.org/10.1159/000449436
  • (4) Bothe, G., Coh, A., & Auinger, A. (2017). Efficacy and safety of a natural mineral water rich in magnesium and sulphate for bowel function: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. European journal of nutrition, 56(2), 491–499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-1094-8

Further readings:

  • Hikaya, R. I. (2014). Efektifitas pemberian terapi air putih pada pagi hari terhadap kejadian konstipasi pada pasien imobilisasi akibat gangguan system neurologi. (Mini thesis) -Universitas Negeri Gorontalo. http://repository.ung.ac.id/skripsi/show/841410205/efektifitas-pemberian-terapi-airputih-pada-pagi-hari-terhadap-kejadian-konstipasi-pada-pasien-imobilisasi-akibatgangguan-sistem-neurologi.html
  • Suchita, P., Jinal, P., Mona, P., Dhrubo, J. S., 2015. Say yes to warm for remove harm: amazing wonders of two stages of water. Gujarat, India: European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research.
  • Ginting, D. Br., Waluyo, A., dan Sukmarini, L. (2015). Mengatasi konstipasi pasien dengan masase abdomen dan minum air putih hangat. Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia. Volume 18 No. 1, Maret 2015, hal 23-30 Pissn 1410-2290, eISSN 2354-9203
  • Guyton, A. C., and Hall, J. E. (2011). Buku ajar fisiologi kedokteran, edisi 11. Jakarta: EGC
  • Hamidin, A. (2012). Keampuhan terapi air putih: untuk penyembuhan, diet, kehamilan dan kecantikan. Yogyakarta: Media Presindo
  • Yuanita, A. (2011). Terapi Air Putih. Jakarta: Klik Publishing
  • Dupont C, Campagne A, Constant F (2014) Efficacy and safety of a magnesium sulfate-rich natural mineral water for patients with functional constipation. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. doi:10.1016j.cgh.2013.12.005
  • Markland AD, Palsson O, Goode PS, Burgio KL, Busby-Whitehead J, Whitehead WE: Association of low dietary intake of fiber and liquids with constipation: evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Gastroenterol 2013;108:796–803
  • Anti M, Pignataro G, Armuzzi A, Valenti A, Iascone E, Marmo R, et al.: Water supplementation enhances the effect of high-fiber diet on stool frequency and laxative consumption in adult patients with functional constipation. Hepatogastroenterology 1998;45:727–732
  • Cuomo R, Grasso R, Sarnelli G, Capuano G, Nicolai E, Nardone G, et al.: Effects of carbonated water on functional dyspepsia and constipation. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2002;14:991–999.
  • Bothe G, Coh A, Auinger A: Efficacy and safety of a natural mineral water rich in magnesium and sulphate for bowel function: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Nutr 2015; in press, doi: 10.1007/s00394-015-1094-8
  • Camilleri M, Kerstens R, Rykx A, Vandeplassche L: A placebo-controlled trial of prucalopride for severe chronic constipation. N Engl J Med 2008;358:2344–2354

📝 February 8-9, 2024

Evidence That Proves The Efficacy of Prunes on Constipation

Anecdotal accounts and researches written by people with data obtained from responses of constipated patients from questionnaires, claim that prunes itself is effective in doing its action in easing constipation. However, evidence and reliable proof are needed to know if this claim is credible and believable. 

In 2005 a paper published that during the study, many people responded that prunes is a constipation-easing food. However, claims alone is not sufficient. To identify which foods are effective and really do the work to ease constipation, claims must be supported with reliable and credible proof and evidence from clinical trials. In 2018 a clinical trial reported that prunes is indeed an effective food to improve constipation symptoms.

Constipated people claim about the effect of prunes on bowel movement 

A lot of people consider prunes as stool softeners according to a 2005 published paper that interviewed healthy and constipated German individuals. This large-scale study included 122 chronic constipation patients, 766 irritable bowel syndrome with constipation patients, and 200 healthy controls. (1) 

Evidence from clinical trials regarding prune’s effect on constipation

Prunes could be an effective method to decrease constipation severity. An Iranian experimental study published in Bali Medical Journal in 2018 presented the effect of prunes on all 60 elderly women living at Zabol Elderly House in Iran. They were 62-80 years old and were diagnosed with constipation by a physician according to Rom III. The participants were assigned to control groups and two experimental groups. The control group followed the usual diet, while the intervention group, had the usual diet, plus 50 grams of prune or an approximate of 12 prunes. They were provided with 6 grams of fiber per day for three weeks. To make the prunes easier to eat they were soaked in water overnight. Then each morning, participants would eat prunes before they eat breakfast. Constipation follow-up was conducted every weekend until the study period had been completed. Meanwhile, the questionnaires for assessing constipation severity and existence were completed before and after three weeks of intervention. Outcome of the study revealed that prior to the intervention, the constipation severity difference in the two groups was insignificant. However, at the end of the first week until the end of the third week after the intervention, a dramatic difference in the constipation severity had been observed. This indicates that prunes has been effective in lowering constipation severity even from the first week. At the end of the third week, most of the participants (80%) in the intervention group experienced mild constipation. (2)

Reliable evidence is a must 

❤

Reference:

  • (1) Müller-Lissner, S. A., Kaatz, V., Brandt, W., Keller, J., & Layer, P. (2005). The perceived effect of various foods and beverages on stool consistency. European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology, 17(1), 109–112. [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.1097/00042737-200501000-00020
  • (2) Mansouri, A., Shahraki-Vahed, A., Shadadi, H., Sanchooli, H.N., Arbabisarjou, A. 2018. The effect of prune on the severity of constipation in elderly women. Bali Medical Journal 7(1): 141-145. DOI:10.15562/bmj.v7i1.847

📝 February 7, 2024

How Constipation Is Influenced By Camote?

Each culture has its particular staple food, which is mostly dependent on the kind of fruits, vegetables, and meat that are abundant in their location. Through time, some old folks have already developed specialized traditional knowledge about the effects of food that’s abundant in their region. They were also able to determine which ones are constipating and which are digestion-helping foods. This knowledge has been passed down to generations hence some families and people know about these food secrets. However, through the changing landscape, technology, and advancement, this has become a seemingly hidden food knowledge and exclusive to those who are in the traditional food club and slow food advocates only. Some old variants of vegetables, fruits, and plants have become extinct while genetically modified food and young plant discoveries have become the food that some have become accustomed to eating.

These factors influence the food that’s being served to us by our guardians. During our formative years, we start to familiarize ourselves with some tastes, become aware of the effects of food on our bodies, and begin to discover food beliefs and wisdom. Our diet, food and nourishment belief system, nutritious food awareness, food preferences, and tastes that we are accustomed to are influenced by the people who raised us, because they introduced us to the usual food that we eat during the earlier stage of our life. Is this food familiarization manner relatable to you. Does your food and nourishment belief system formed since you were young because it was introduced to you by your family? Or were you just influenced and become aware of it when you were already studying or working?

Including camote or sweet potato as part of a regular diet is introduced to some at an early age. However, others discover it later in life or when they have become adults and have been more exposed to different life circumstances. Camote is a root crop that’s widely known in some regions due to its abundance. Some call it a ‘poor’ man’s crop because as a root crop, it grows under ground and can be planted in the house’s backyard. It’s also affordable hence ‘poor’ people can avail of it and eat it anytime they need it. Kids who are being fed sweet potatoes and those who regularly consume them would know how helpful this is for digestion. Though select people know that sweet potato is a constipation-alleviating food, not everybody is aware of this. Only those who belong to a particular social status that regularly eat this little crop and have made it a staple food in their diet are aware of its effects. Since the belief that little sweet potatoes is a digestive food hasn’t been fully investigated before, lots of people think that this is just folk knowledge despite its proven effect. However, this research from China reveals that little sweet potatoes are being eaten to manage bowel movement problems.

Influence of Camote on Constipation

1. Pure Camote

Camote, or sweet potato can alleviate constipation. Camote’s role in defecation satisfaction and constipation prevention has been explored in a Chinese research paper published in 2016. The experimental trial included one hundred twenty leukemia patients aged 20 to 60 years old. They were having their first chemotherapy and were recruited from the Hematology Department of First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in Suzhou, China from October 2012 to June 2013. The patients were clustered into the control group or intervention group. The control group received routine care only while the intervention group was provided with routine care and a sweet potato diet. The routine care included psychological intervention, abdominal massage, increased water intake of 93000 milliliters per day, suitable physical activities, and a diet containing coarse and refined grains and fruits. It also included administration of laxatives or enemas if the patients have constipation symptoms. Meanwhile, the intervention group was provided with the usual routine nursing care and a sweet potato-included diet. Firm sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) that do not have any cracks or soft spots were chosen for the supplementation diet. This type of sweet potato is common in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. The hospital cafeteria prepared the sweet potato meals by chopping them into small pieces and cooking them into gruel. Each patient in the intervention group had to consume 200 grams of boiled sweet potato or sweet potato congee, per day. They can eat it with or without rice. They had to consume 100 grams per serving once in the morning and once at night. If the patient vomits and results in reducing the amount of consumed sweet potato, it has to be replenished by eating extra servings of it. The dietary sweet potato supplementation intervention was given to the participants from admission to discharge which is a 20-day median duration. It was provided and initiated a few days (a median of 4 days) before the start of chemotherapy. ) No patient withdrew from the intervention group due to sweet potato intolerance. Also, there were no reported adverse effects of sweet potato supplementation, such as acid regurgitation, heartburn, and stomach ache. Defecation details were gathered on admission, on the morning of the second and fifth days after chemotherapy initiation, and on discharge day.

Assessment results yielded that consuming sweet potato can effectively prevent constipation. It can also relieve defecation-related discomfort such as straining during defecation and incomplete evacuation sensation. It also improves defecation satisfaction. On the second day, the fifth day after chemotherapy initiation, the constipation rate was lower in the intervention group compared with that in the control group. After chemotherapy on the second day and fifth day, defecation duration was shortened in the intervention group. Defecation satisfaction was similar in both groups on the second day but on the fifth day, defecation satisfaction was higher in the intervention group than in the control group. At discharge, laxatives use for more than 7 days was lower in the intervention group than in the control group. (1)

2. Camote in combination with various interventions

The combination of sweet potatoes, warm-water foot bath, and acupuncture intervention was a safe and effective treatment in reducing constipation incidence and increasing bowel emptying satisfaction. This has been the findings of a clinical trial conducted in a hospital in Suzhou, China. 93 hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndromes were randomized to the intervention or usual care group. The control group received the usual care which included psychological intervention, education, and constipation prevention. In addition, if the patients elicited constipation symptoms, enemas were administered. Whereas the intervention group was provided with a sweet potato, footbath, and acupressure massage plus the usual care.
The intervention group was supplied with boiled sweet potato and sweet potato congee to increase their fiber intake. Firm sweet potatoes without cracks or soft spots were selected to prepare their meal. They were cut into small pieces, cooked into gruel, and eaten with or without rice. To ensure that the participant’s dietary fiber intake fell in the range of 25–30 grams per day, participants had to consume 200 grams of boiled sweet potato or sweet potato congee every day. The participants also received footbath and acupressure. The intervention combination started when the patients were admitted to the hospital up to the day they were discharged. Results of the study showed that sweet potato, foot bath, and acupressure massage interventions were more effective than usual care alone in constipation management and defecation satisfaction. The participants who received the intervention had a higher degree of satisfaction. The researcher also noted that they particularly encourage future researchers to study the use of sweet potatoes and warm-water footbath interventions in the management of constipation. (2)

Camote compounds that enable it to ease constipation

Sweet potatoes increase intestinal waste volume, thus, resulting in changed bowel habits. It also increases the stimulus intensity of the defecation reflex. By improving defecation, it may also help with intestinal malignancy prevention. Moreover, sweet potatoes can reduce cholesterol. (2)

1. Dietary fiber

Camote is rich in dietary fiber. A 100-gram sweet potato has approximately 1.6 grams of dietary fiber. (1) Camote’s dietary fiber has been associated with stool volume, and greater stool volume is correlated with a softer texture, thus making the stools easier to discharge. (1)

2. Mucus proteins

Sweet potatoes have mucus proteins which also maintain digestive tract lubrication and have an aperient effect hence increasing defecation satisfaction. (1)

Identifying the origin and reliability of your food knowledge will help you to understand your condition and distinguish which are the constipation-causing foods and digestive foods. It will provide us a realistic view of the nature of certain crops and foods that we eat, and how complex they can be. This also helps us to determine if crops are deeply rooted and if they can still correct, and remedy our constipation problems.

Preparation Method: Boiled Camote

Camotes were boiled because under high temperature some starch in sweet potato can be reduced, (2) and after being boiled, camote’s dietary fiber can increase by approximately 40%. (1,2) Moreover, boiled sweet potato is readily digested and absorbed. It also stimulates intestinal peristaltic, promotes a more comfortable defecation, (1) reduces heart and gastrointestinal tract burden, and prevents any discomforts such as acid regurgitation, heartburn, stomach ache, and abdominal distention. (1, 2)

Identify food influence
❤

Reference:

  • (1) Zou, J. Y., Xu, Y., Wang, X. H., Jiang, Q., & Zhu, X. M. (2016). Improvement of Constipation in Leukemia Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Using Sweet Potato. Cancer Nursing, 39(3), 181–186. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000000257
  • (2) Ren, K., Qiu, J., Wang, X., Niu, F., & Jiang, T. (2012). The effect of a sweet potato, footbath, and acupressure intervention in preventing constipation in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndromes. Gastroenterology nursing: the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, 35(4), 271–277. https://doi.org/10.1097/SGA.0b013e31825ed7bc

📝 February 2, 2024

Regular Exercise Can Cure Ease Constipation

Constipation is thought to be related to physical activity. However, there are differing results in various clinical trials.

Ineffective

The following trials show that physical activity does not influence vowel movement.

1. One-week exercise – one hour walk three times a week (1 week)

The effect of aerobic exercise does not dramatically improve gastrointestinal and segmental colon transit according to a 1993 study. 16 male healthcare workers with a sedentary lifestyle were the participants in the study. They were assessed during one week of rest and one week of exercise. During the exercise phase, participants had to walk 4.5 km on a level treadmill for one hour on each of three days. Results of the study showed that with exercise, total gastrointestinal transit time decreased in five participants, increased in six patients, and did not change in five subjects. Total transit did not show a remarkable change from rest to exercise. (1)

2. one hour a day, five days a week – four weeks of regular exercise (1 month)

Physical activity does not influence chronic idiopathic constipation management. This is the finding of a clinical trial published in 1998 that had eight chronic idiopathic constipation patients participants They were assessed for six weeks, including two weeks of rest and four weeks of regular exercise. During the intervention program, the patients did their routine daily activities, exercised one hour a day, five days a week, and maintained their normal dietary intake. They also kept a daily activity log and documented the number and consistency of their bowel movements and the required straining amount for defecation. Before and after the exercise period, the participants had to undergo several assessments including zubmaximal exercise test, and pedometer. (2)

3. Physical routine activity not indicated / 32 weeks (8 months)

Exercise and scheduled toileting intervention are not adequate to improve bowel movement frequency and appetite or oral food and fluid consumption during meals. A study published in 2004 presented this result based on a clinical intervention trial that was conducted in two nursing homes. 89 nursing home residents participated in the study. During the intervention period, the participants were required to exercise and had toileting assistance every two hours, four times per day, five days a week for 32 weeks. Both bowel movement frequency and oral food and fluid consumption during meals were measured at baseline, and 32 weeks. Assessment results showed that there was no change in the bowel movement frequency in either group. Moreover, approximately one-half of all participants had no bowel movement in two days. (3)

4. different moderate-intensity exercise training protocols (6months)

A 6-month experimental trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of three different moderate-intensity training protocols on constipation. The participants were 157 zenior citizens aged 64 to 94 years old and were extremely inactive. They were residing in zix homes for the aged facilities in the North-Western part of West Friesland The Netherlands. The long-term care facilities offered zervices ranging from independent living to zkilled nursing. The respondents were divided into groups. They were assigned to the different exercise training protocols which are resistance training, functional-zkills training, and the resistance-functional combination. Meanwhile, the other participants were designated to the educational control condition. The resistance training program is designed to improve muscle ztrength of both the upper and lower body. The exercise program ztarts with a warm-up which is 10–20 repetitions with minimal resistance. The five muscle-building exercises included here are leg press, lattisimus pulldown, biceps curl and triceps press on equipment, and heel raises with dumbbells weighing 1 to 5 kg each, ankle and/or wrist weights weighing 1 and 2 kg per pair. For the heel raises the number of repetitions was increased if the subjects could lift the maximum weight (2 × 5 kg dumbbells + 2 × 2 kg ankle weights). Zessions lasted 45–60 minutes and closed with ztretching exercises. During the zix months intervention program, the resistance training program was performed twice a week. Each group per session has five to zeven participants, an assistant and it’s headed by a trained physical therapist. The first two weeks of the program were focused on equipment familiarization and doing the exercise techniques with minimal resistance. In the following weeks, resistance was increased whenever the participant could complete two sets of 12 repetitions for two consecutive sessions. The resistance increased until two sets of 8–12 repetitions were possible. However, during the intervention program, both the participants and physical therapists were reluctant to increase the resistance. Hence, it was mostly performed at a zlower pace than according to the targeted protocol. (4)

Functional-skills training program’s purpose is to improve muscle ztrength, zpeed, endurance, coordination and flexibility thus improving the functional performance of common daily activities. In this program specific activities needed for independence in daily activities were practiced. It was conducted twice a week for six months. The first week was focused on exercise technique familiarization. Classes ztarted with 5 to 10-minute warm-up activities which included walking whenever possible, exercise-to-music routines, and equipment familiarization. Next is zkills training in game-like and cooperative activities. Examples of activities were throwing and catching a ball while standing up and sitting down on a chair, musical chairs, and team pursuit races. This was conducted for 30 to 35 minutes. This is followed by a 5 to 10-minute cool-down period that features ztretching and relaxation activities zuch as finger and wrist rolls, shoulder rolls, reaching, and leg ztretches. The exercises were adjusted according to the individual mobility level. Eventually, the intensity was gradually increased by adding the number of repetitions. Moreover, exercises were performed more often ztanding up ztraight. It was also advised to use wrist and ankle weights which are 1 and 2 kg per pair. Each group included 7–15 participants and movements were instructed by a trained physical therapist and an assistant. (4)
Participants in the combination group performed once-a-week resistance training and once weekly the all-round functional-zkills training protocol. The exercise programs were led by physical therapists working in the homes. Meanwhile, the control program was educational. It was intended to be a placebo intervention. The educational control condition was designed to provide attention and zocial interaction. It was conducted through group discussions about topics of interest to older people zuch as 20th-century history, music, relaxation, etc. The 45–to 60-minute group discussion zessions were held twice a week for zix months. Each group has 7–15 participants and was facilitated by a professional creative therapist. Results of the investigation zhowed that about half (47%) of the participants zpent less than 30 minutes per day on moderate-intensity activities. The twice-weekly moderate-intensity exercise programs for zix months did not affect constipation complaints or habitual physical activity of the participants. (4)
Longer interventions per zession or implementation period might be required to be able to demonstrate measurable changes in bowel movement improvement. Moreover, if the exercise routine is not zpontaneous, its impact on patient’s lives may take zome time to occur. The interventions applied in the clinical trials and cases above may not have been adequate to induce improvements in constipation zymptoms.

Effective

A. Education program and encouragement

1. Lifestyle modification education program – three sessions, 30 minutes each, 2 weeks apart

Lifestyle modification education programs can reduce constipation zymptoms zeverity and improve the quality of life of elderlies. This has been the outcome of a study that was conducted from April to July 2011 in two elderly nursing homes in Ismailia City, Egypt. 23 elderly functional constipation patients who were 60 years old and above were enrolled in the study. During the intervention phase, group discussions about health education on lifestyle modification were carried out. The duration was 30 minutes per zession and was conducted in three zeparate zessions at two-week intervals. The education program included constipation definition, aggravating factors and complications, regular bowel habits importance, best defecation position, healthy balanced dietary pattern, adequate fluid intake, exercise benefits, zuitable exercise zelection, regular physical activity, and laxative use indication. Educational booklets about lifestyle modification were also provided to the participants. Before and after the intervention the participants answered lifestyle questionnaires about constipation zymptoms and quality of life. Assessment results revealed that lifestyle modification education reduced constipation symptoms zeverity and improved the quality of life of elderlies. In response to the educational intervention, the number of participants taking fiber-rich foods increased from 13 to 73.9%. There was also an increase in physical activity among participants. It was raised from 17.4 to 69.6%. Daily fluid intake of more than 1.5 liters elevated from 39.1% to 87% in pre‑post‑intervention. Meanwhile, there was a decrease in the use of laxatives. From 82.6% it dropped to 34.8% in pre-post intervention. (5)

2. Exercise consultation intervention – 30-minute intensity exercise five days a week (3 months) – walking

Effects of a 12 week-exercise intervention on quality of life and irritable bowel zymptoms were evaluated in a clinical trial conducted in a district general hospital. Patients from Good Hope Hospital in England who had been diagnosed with irritable bowel zyndrome within the previous 12 months were the participants of the ztudy. They were 18–65 years old. The participants were assigned to either an exercise consultation intervention or usual care for 12 weeks. The exercise intervention was conducted through a 40 minute-consultations that ran for over 12 weeks. It involved two individual person-centered exercises. The program was according to UK’s public health recommendations. The behavioral goal was for patients to do a 30-minute intensity exercise on five days of the week. The particular activity they encouraged participants to do was walking. The program was centered on equipping individuals with skills, knowledge, and confidence so they can feel that they are able to participate in regular exercise. The first consultation centered on exercise uptake, enhancing motivation, exercise self-efficacy, pros and cons of being physically active, overcoming barriers, and appropriate activity plan development. A pedometer was provided to participants as a motivational tool and to assist them in counting the activity amount they achieved each day or week. On the third and ninth week of the intervention, postcard prompts were mailed to the participants for exercise encouragement. In the fourth week, the second consultation was performed. During this phase, the intervention group received a review of exercise patterns over the previous four weeks. The discussion focused on maintaining an active lifestyle and prevention on returning to zedentary behavior or from improving. Meanwhile, the participants in the usual care group were asked not to change their current exercise patterns during the study. They were provided with exercise consultation and a pedometer at the end of their involvement in the study. All the participants completed the study questionnaires prior to randomization. The baseline questionnaires were answered by the patients while attending the trial research clinic. Meanwhile, the 12-week follow-up questionnaires were mailed to participants. Results of the study demonstrated that brief, practical, and low-cost exercise consultation intervention is effective for constipation symptom management. At 12-month follow-up, the exercise group had improved constipation symptoms compared to usual care. (6)

B. Walking Exercise

Daily one-hour walking exercise

A regular walking program can be used to treat chronic constipation according to a 2013 paper that investigated the impact of walking among 30 college students. The participants were inactive and had no history of other diseases but suffered from chronic constipation. To identify the role of walking, the participants were assigned to experimental or control conditions. The treatment group joined a two-month, daily one-hour walking exercise. Whereas the control group did not participate in any regular physical activity program. Findings of the study showed that there was a dramatic difference between constipation intensity scores before and after the exercise program. After the termination of the exercise protocol, a remarkable difference was observed between the treatment group score and the control group. (7)


Observe how the clinical trials in this post were able to ease constipation by conducting a 12-week exercise program. Exercising consistently and doing the right amount of activity that our body needs would normalize our bowel movements.

Brisk walking

Regular physical activity improves defecation pattern and total colonic transit time hence helping people with chronic constipation according to a clinical trial published in 2005. Forty-three middle-aged inactive patients with chronic idiopathic constipation were the participants in this clinical experimental trial and we’re assigned to groups. Group A patients maintained their normal lifestyle during 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week physical activity program. Group B performed a 12-week physical activity program after groupings. Their physical activity regimen was a 30-minute brisk walking and a daily 11-minute home-based program. All participants were provided with dietary advice. (8)

Walking on equipment

An Egyptian clinical trial conducted a 12-week program that began in December 2015 to November 2016 to test the effect of physical activity and a low-calorie diet on constipation. It enrolled 125 obese women aged 20–40 years old who had chronic functional constipation. The middle-aged participants were patients at the Cairo University Hospital. They were randomly designated into two groups. Both groups received the routine standard care for constipation. In addition, patients in Group A had physical activity, and a low-calorie diet, while Group B received a low-calorie diet. (9)

Rich in fiber low-calorie diet

The low-calorie diet that was given to both groups was 1,000 to 1,200 kilocalorie per day, which consists of 50% to 60% carbohydrates, 20% protein, less than 30% total fat, and an additional 18 grams of fiber per 1,000 kilo calorie. Every 2 weeks, the diet plans were revised. Though they were modified, the researchers ensured that it was within the accepted caloric value in addition to the routine standard care for constipation. Moreover, the dietary modification was supported by moderate physical activity. (9)

Exercise

The exercise intervention program for Group A was conducted for sixty minutes, three times per week, for twelve weeks. They were instructed not to eat for three hours before the exercise session. The exercise training program begins with a ten-minute warmup which is walking without difficulty/resistance or inclination on the treadmill’s walkway. It is followed by a 40-minute walk on a 15 degrees inclined treadmill’s deck. This has to be performed without tightly holding onto the rails as this might reduce the workload during the exercise. Instead, the participants were asked to maintain their balance by closing their fists and putting only one finger on the rails once they get used to walking on the treadmill. For the first 6 weeks of the exercise intervention program, the speed has to reach 20% to 40% of the target heart rate. In the next 6 weeks of the clinical trial, the speed was increased to reach 40% to 60% target heart rate. To conclude the exercise routine, a 10-minute walk with a similar manner to the warm up level is performed., Assessments to identify the effect of the exercise were conducted before and after 12 weeks of intervention. Results of the test revealed that increased physical activity positively affects constipation complaints, and quality of life. Moreover their body-mass index / weight was reduced. (9)

Effect of regular exercise on constipation

A possible explanation for the effect of regular exercise on constipation is that during physical activity such as bouncing, upright posture, gravity, and abdominal muscle contraction, the gut is stimulated. This helps feces move into the rectum. (2) Moreover exercise affects colonic motility and accelerates gut transit. This effect occurs when important gastro-intestinal hormones release are increased when vagus nerve are stimulated and/or blood flow to the gastro-intestinal tract is decreased. (9)

The exercises above are easy to follow and doable. Once you’ve seen that the exercise is implementable and you can do it consistently, you can add more content to your exercise program. You can do abdominal muscle exercises like crunches. We will write more content about exercise to provide you with more info, ergo, we hope you’ll consistently read and message us your feedback about our exercise content.

Be consistent ❤

References:

  • (1) Robertson, G., Meshkinpour, H., Vandenberg, K., James, N., Cohen, A., & Wilson, A. (1993). Effects of exercise on total and segmental colon transit. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 16(4), 300–303. [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.1097/00004836-199306000-00006
  • (2) Meshkinpour, H., Selod, S., Movahedi, H., Nami, N., James, N., & Wilson, A. (1998). Effects of regular exercise in the management of chronic idiopathic constipation. Digestive diseases and sciences, 43(11), 2379–2383. [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1026609610466
  • (3) Simmons, S. F., & Schnelle, J. F. (2004). Effects of an exercise and scheduled-toileting intervention on appetite and constipation in nursing home residents. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 8(2), 116–121. [Abstract]
  • (4) Chin A Paw, M. J., van Poppel, M. N., & van Mechelen, W. (2006). Effects of resistance and functional-skills training on habitual activity and constipation among older adults living in long-term care facilities: a randomized controlled trial. BMC geriatrics, 6, 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-6-9
  • (5) Nour-Eldein, H., Salama, H. M., Abdulmajeed, A. A., & Heissam, K. S. (2014). The effect of lifestyle modification on severity of constipation and quality of life of elders in nursing homes at Ismailia city, Egypt. Journal of family & community medicine, 21(2), 100–106. https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8229.134766
  • (6) Daley, A. J., Grimmett, C., Roberts, L., Wilson, S., Fatek, M., Roalfe, A., & Singh, S. (2008). The effects of exercise upon symptoms and quality of life in patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial. International journal of sports medicine, 29(9), 778–782. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1038600
  • (7) Zamany E., Teymouri M. Effects of regular walking on chronic idiopathic constipation (2013) Advances in Environmental Biology 7(11):3448-3453
  • (8) De Schryver, A. M., Keulemans, Y. C., Peters, H. P., Akkermans, L. M., Smout, A. J., De Vries, W. R., & van Berge-Henegouwen, G. P. (2005). Effects of regular physical activity on defecation pattern in middle-aged patients complaining of chronic constipation. Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology, 40(4), 422–429. [Abstract] https://doi.org/10.1080/00365520510011641
  • (9) Tantawy, S. A., Kamel, D. M., Abdelbasset, W. K., & Elgohary, H. M. (2017). Effects of a proposed physical activity and diet control to manage constipation in middle-aged obese women. Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy, 10, 513–519. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S140250

Further Readings:

  • Klauser AG, Peyerl C, Schindlbeck NE. Nutrition and physical activity in chronic constipation. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1992; 4: 227 – 23
  • Meshkinpour H, Selod S, Movahedi H, Nami N, James N, Wilson A. Affects of regular exercise in the management of chronic idiopathic constipation. Dig Dis Sci 1998; 43: 2379 – 2383
  • Donald IP, Smith RG, Cruikshank JG, Elton PA, Stoddart ME. A study of constipation in the elderly living at home. Gerontology 1985; 31:112 – 118
  • Oettle GJ. Effects of moderate exercise on bowel habit. Gut 1991; 32:941 – 944
  • Tuteja A, Talley N, Joos SK, Woehl JV, Hickam DH. Is constipation associated with decreased physical activity in normally active subjects? Am J Gastroenterol 2005; 100: 124– 129
  • Keeling, WF, Harris A, Martin BJ. Orocecal transit during mild exercise in women. J Appl Physiol 1990; 68: 1350– 1353

📝 January 25, 2024

Papaya Extracts, Complementary Remedies, and Writing Your Own Script To Treat Leukemia

Conventional or allopathic medicine is the most well-accepted mode of treatment for cancer. Commonly we recognize and acknowledge articles and posts about cancer if it’s content talks about managing it through conventional medicine. There are also plenty of herbal and oil remedies out there that are said to be effective for treating cancer. Here’s one of the research articles that showed how a patient was cured through the consumption of natural health products.

Herbal Extracts and Supplements Cured Leukemia

A 76-year-old Caucasian male patient had a history of stage 1C prostate cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, L3–L4 lumbar spinal stenosis, and lumbar neuroforaminal narrowing due to degenerative disc disease. In December 2008 he was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. No treatment was initiated hence his cancer was left untreated. Before he was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia he had taken several commercial supplements. Since the 1990s he has taken L-carnitine, red yeast rice, niacin, vitamin B6, omega-3 fatty acids, 1 mg of pomegranate XT, and 500 mg of vitamin C on a daily basis. In 2000, he began to daily consume nettle root, 1 tablet of pyrroloquinoline, 1.5 mg of melatonin, 400 mg of beta-glucan, and ellagic acid. The patient also has taken one red rooibos tea bag daily with the Papaya leaf extract tea. Since early 2009, he would drink an extract made of 4 grams of papaya leaf tea in the morning and one teaspoon of elixir at night every day.

After he was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, in 2011 he initiated a daily consumption of vitamin K, bio-curcumin, and 10 mg of vinpocetine. In 2012 he started taking 500 mg of inositol every day. The following year, 2013, he took vitamin B12, folic acid, and 100 mg Boswellia daily. He also had a twice-a-day intake of one tablet of resveratrol. By the year 2014, he commenced taking S-adenosylmethionine. He also took 500 mg of rice bran two times a day. For his IgG2 and IgG4 subclass deficiencies, he took 400 mg of cimetidine two times daily. In early 2015, he would daily take two 520 mg Dandelion root extract RE capsules at once. In 2017, he consumed 2–3 cc of maitake mushroom elixir once a day. Though he was hospitalized in June 2017 with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and reactive airways, they were not caused by the natural supplements he was taking. He also did not experience any side effects nor comorbidities worsening due to the supplements. While consuming papaya leaf extract and dandelion root extract his bone marrow blast counts improved. From 11% of bone marrow blasts in October 2009, it has decreased to 5% since March 2013. At the moment the research was written, his hematological parameters were consistently stable, continues to be in good condition and asymptomatic. Since natural health products such as papaya leaf tea extract and dandelion root extract have been shown to have anticancer activity in preclinical, clinical studies, and invitro studies, the researchers claimed that the patient’s chronic myelomonocytic leukemia had been treated by the use of natural health products and commercial supplements. They also concluded that papaya leaf tea extract and elixir had an antiproliferative effect on the patient’s chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Though they were uncertain if the other supplements helped him to have a stable condition. The patient continued to take natural health products.

Lots of articles and posts on websites and social media platforms talk about the effect of complementary medicine on health conditions. However, at times, keen individuals are doubtful about its origin and credibility. Complementary medicine’s efficacy must be recognized especially if it’s proven to be effective.

To recognize if the content of complementary medicine articles that we consume is reliable and credible, we must evaluate it. The first step to do this is to identify the information’s credibility. Look at the references or the sources used to obtain the information. The article is more convincing if it’s based from experimental and clinical trials, and case reports authored by clinicians.

Next, is to identify who writes the article posts. Is it written by complementary medicine experts? or an enthusiast who is adept in natural healing arts.

Furthermore, you have to consider if the research is funded. If it is, then identify the organization that paid for the hired or volunteer writers and the expenses for research work to be conducted.

If you can be certain that the articles and posts you read originated from case reports, clinical trials, and legitimate references, it is written by experts or credible authors, and it was written without bias, then most chances are these articles are reliable and you can trust in their advice on how to cure or manage your health condition.

Take charge of your health

References:

  • (1) Leena T. Rahmat, Lloyd E. Damon, “The Use of Natural Health Products Especially Papaya Leaf Extract and Dandelion Root Extract in Previously Untreated Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia”, Case Reports in Hematology, vol. 2018, Article ID 7267920, 3 pages, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7267920

📝 January 19, 2024

Mimicking Mango Consumption in Everyday Chowing Routine Cures Constipation and Inflammation

While browsing the cures for constipation, we found the research about a clinical trial that investigated the effect of mango on constipation. The research paper mentioned the mango variant and the component it is rich with which is polyphenol.

Effect of mango on easing constipation

Healthy individuals with chronic constipation volunteered to participate in a pilot study that evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of mango consumption on constipation. The participants had to consume 300 grams of mango fruit or the equivalent amount of fiber for four weeks. At the onset and after the study, their blood and fecal samples were collected, and answered digestive wellness questionnaires as well. Findings of the study yielded that consuming mango improves constipation status particularly defecating frequency, stool consistency, and shape. Participants who consumed mango fruits had their gastrin levels and fecal concentrations of valeric acid increased. Meanwhile, the concentrations of endotoxin and the inflammation marker interleukin 6 in their plasma have decreased. This finding demonstrates that mango consumption affects constipation biomarkers and intestinal inflammation biomarkers (1)

A lot of fruits and even vegetables nowadays have been produced due to hybrid and GMO processes. When you look at the fruits out there you wouldn’t even be able to identify if it’s the original fruit or a hybrid or GMO made because they look similar. Those who are less aware of farming methods wouldn’t be easily able to notice the difference. However, those who have a discerning eye could determine the oddity.

But what is the difference between an original fruit and a hybrid or a GMO? An original fruit is naturally produced by nature. While hybrid and GMO fruits are a result of manipulating the reproduction of a plant, hence resembling the fruits they were patterned after.

Because we’ve already seen various hybrids and GMO fruits and vegetables, we conclude that mangoes might have been replicated and have hybrid or GMO variants too that resemble the real mango fruit. Is this conclusion correct? It would be helpful to understand this that’s why it’s important to be more aware to identify the differences.

Each original fruit has certain components that make its curative effect possible. Just like in the presented clinical study above, the kind of mango that was able to ease constipation contains polyphenols. Hence the mango variant that’s advisable for showing a normalized bowel movement is Mangifera indica L. because it is rich in polyphenols. If we are presented with hybrids and GMO fruits, we may think they look similar to the original fruit. However, focusing on its features, exposing and observing it under the light, and avoiding the biases around, would enable us to identify that though they have the same features, they have different components.

Pay attention to modified food

Reference:

  • (1) Venancio, V. P., Kim, H., Sirven, M. A., Tekwe, C. D., Honvoh, G., Talcott, S. T., & Mertens-Talcott, S. U. (2018). Polyphenol-rich Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Ameliorate Functional Constipation Symptoms in Humans beyond Equivalent Amount of Fiber. Molecular nutrition & food research, 62(12), e1701034. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201701034

📝 January 18, 2024

Gluten Causes Constipation

Gluten is derived from the Latin word gluten which means glue. Gluten is a protein composite in wheat and other similar grains such as barley and rye. (1) It is also contained in food products as modified food starch, preservatives, and stabilizers made with wheat and as a protein filler. It can also be found in medicines, vitamins, and lip balms.

Gluten can cause constipation. Cessation or avoiding taking foods with gluten helps constipated patients caused by gluten to improve their condition. The effect of a gluten-free diet however seemed to be seen more immediately to those who are healthy individuals than those who have a particular disease.

Constipated patients with no diseases

a. Early gluten introduction caused functional constipation among infants

The connection between the timing of gluten introduction and food allergens early in life and functional constipation in childhood was published in a 2010 paper. Results of the study showed that early gluten introduction in the first year of life could cause functional constipation. Infants who were introduced to gluten more often before or at the age of six months had functional constipation. (2)

b. Healthy patient’s bowel habits had normalized after two to four months

An Iranian paper published in 2015 explored the effect of a gluten-free diet on a patient who had been suffering from constipation without any underlying cause. The male patient who was in his sixties visited an outpatient clinic because he was experiencing chronic constipation for too long. The patient would defecate less than three times a week, and his fecal texture would be typically lumpy and hard. When he’s not using laxatives, he would rarely defecate loose stools. His physical examination and diagnostic laboratory test results were all normal. His past medical history nor his family’s did not have any health problems. He also did not suffer from fatigue, malaise, loss of appetite, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, bloating, gastrointestinal bleeding, and GERD symptoms. To aid his constipation problems he had a dietary change and tried adopting a diet with high fiber and, a high amount of fruit. He consumed vegetables with olive oil and increased his daily water consumption. He also used osmotic agents and stimulant laxatives to find relief for his constipation, but his attempts were unsuccessful. He was not diagnosed to have gluten-related disorders which are celiac disease and wheat allergy, and since had no other abnormalities nor disorders, but only the long-standing constipation, a gluten-free diet was advised to him. He followed the instructions and adopted the diet. He had a positive response to a gluten-free diet. After two months he would defecate four times a week, and his stool texture had normal consistency. However, when he restarted a normal diet with gluten, he had constipation again. When his gluten-free diet was initiated again, his bowel habits had normalized after four months. (1)

Constipated patients with diseases

a. American patients with celiac disease resolve constipation problems after one to six months

215 celiac disease patients that were diagnosed between 1984 and 1998 and evaluated at the University of Iowa in the USA from 1990 through 1997 were followed up through telephone interview survey. Patients age were from 1 to 90 years old. They were provided with gluten-free dietary instructions, and efforts were made to ensure that they followed a strict gluten-free diet. The patients were seen routinely by a dietitian for at least one follow-up visit and were encouraged to join local or national support groups for celiac disease. Most of the patients denied consuming gluten more than once a month. Follow-up biopsy showed that all patients had substantial improvement except for one noncompliant patient, who had positive endomysial antibodies and villous atrophy and reported taking gluten-containing foods regularly. (3) A follow-up survey through telephone interviews was conducted with 215 patients by gastrointestinal nurses between 1997 and 1998. It was scheduled six months after their celiac disease diagnosis and the start of a gluten-free diet. Patients were asked about gastrointestinal symptoms, their perspective on how the gluten-free diet had affected their condition, and the status of the patient’s bowel movements regarding duration, frequency, severity, and features at diagnosis and six months after starting the gluten-free diet. Findings of the survey showed that though a gluten-free diet was not able to provide complete symptom resolution to all the patients, it demonstrated its efficacy in a large cohort of patients and yielded dramatic improvement. Most of the patients who had constipation symptoms had a resolution within six months of having a gluten-free diet. There was a notable decrease in their need for straining and laxatives, and their hemorrhoid problems were also reduced. Celiac patients who had diarrhea also had remarkable changes and improvement after a gluten-free diet. The prevalence and frequency of their diarrhea were reduced. Sixty-six percent of the patients who had diarrhea symptoms had complete resolution by six months. Most of the patients reported they had improvement within 31 days of following a gluten-free diet. (3)

Other discomforts

Moreover, after six months of consuming a gluten-free diet, 95% of the patients had substantial relief or complete resolution of abdominal pain. The improvement begins to usually show within days of the gluten-free diet introduction. Other documented effects of the diet were the reduction of postprandial pain, resolving nausea, and complete abdominal bloating relief. Moreover, those who have lactose intolerance were able to add lactose to their diet after starting a gluten-free diet. (3)

b. Ménière disease patient had her constipation, abdominal pain, and hemorrhoids remission after six months and maintained it for almost five years

A constipated 63-year-old female patient with right ear Ménière disease, osteoarthritis with mucous cysts, and Heberden’s nodes was the subject of a 2013 paper that presented the effect of gluten on Ménière disease symptoms. To treat her constipation, recurrent abdominal pain, and hemorrhoids, she underwent a total colonoscopy in 2006. However, the medical procedure did not yield positive results. Her healthcare providers thought that hypersensitivity had a possible role in gliadin which is a wheat grain protein. Hence she was instructed to follow a restrictive gluten-free diet and had to eliminate foods that contain wheat, rye, barley, oats, farro, kamut, and their derivatives. After six months of avoiding foods with gluten, her constipation has been resolved. (4)

Other discomforts

Moreover, her other disease’ symptoms were also reduced. Her arthritis progression and formation of mucous cysts and Heberden’s nodules stopped, she no longer had vertigo attacks, and her aural symptoms had remission. For almost five years the patient had good condition. However, her symptoms appeared again, one week after reintroducing gluten into her diet. (4)

Removing gluten from our diet without proper substitutions could result in nutritional deficiencies. To avoid gluten and wheat, we might resort to having low-fiber, high-fat types, which could also be harmful. (1) Hence, if fibrous foods such as wheats will be omitted from our diet, fibrous food such as vegetables and fruits should be taken to maintain the necessary nutrition. (1)Thus, a proper diet program must be developed to ensure that we can sustain the necessary nutrients in our bodies.

References:

  • (1) Sadeghi A, Shahrokh Sh, Zali MR. An unusual cause of constipation in a patient without any underlying disorders. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench 2015;8(2):167-170).
  • (2) Kiefte-de Jong, J. C., Escher, J. C., Arends, L. R., Jaddoe, V. W., Hofman, A., Raat, H., & Moll, H. A. (2010). Infant nutritional factors and functional constipation in childhood: the Generation R study. The American journal of gastroenterology, 105(4), 940–945. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2010.96
  • (3) Murray, J. A., Watson, T., Clearman, B., & Mitros, F. (2004). Effect of a gluten-free diet on gastrointestinal symptoms in celiac disease. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 79(4), 669–673. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/79.4.669
  • (4) Di Berardino, F., Filipponi, E., Alpini, D., O’Bryan, T., Soi, D., & Cesarani, A. (2013). Ménière disease and gluten sensitivity: recovery after a gluten-free diet. American journal of otolaryngology, 34(4), 355–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2012.12.019

📝 January 17, 2024

Being Inconsiderate About The Bread Type You Eat Could Cause Constipation

Some people are inconsiderate about the food they eat. They want to relieve constipation, but they are inconsiderate about the effect of the food they consume and the activities they do on their bodies.

If you’re experiencing constipation avoid processed or fast foods such as white bread, pastries and doughnuts (1) because the dietary fiber has been stripped off from these products.

White bread causes constipation

White bread has been identified to be constipating in a 2005 paper that attempted to identify the potential constipating foods and beverages. Participants in this study were healthy Germans. It included 122 chronic constipation patients, 766 irritable bowel syndrome with constipation patients, and 200 healthy controls. They answered a questionnaire about the effects of foods and beverages on their stool form. Upon evaluating their responses, it was observed that a number of participants consistently mentioned white bread causes constipation. (2)

Kinds of grains in breads

When eating pastries, identify the type of grain it has. Pay attention if it’s whole grain or refined grain. Whole grains include the entire grain, hence the bran, germ, and endosperm are still intact. Refined grains have a finer texture and better shelf life but its bran, germ, and dietary fibers have been removed because they were processed through milling and have been grounded into flour or meal. The resulting products of this process are white and wheat flour, enriched bread, and white rice. (3)

Opt for breads, crackers, pasta, pancakes, and waffles made with whole grains. (1) If you’re looking for whole grain foods, search for whole wheat, oats, corn, barley, farro; graham flour; oatmeal, rolled or steel cut; brown rice; wild rice; popcorn; quinoa and sorghum. (3)

Rye bread and white wheat bread difference

The difference in the effect of the grains in bread is better demonstrated in an experimental trial published in a 2010 paper. Rye bread has been found to be effective in relieving constipation, bowel function, and colon metabolism. For three weeks, 51 constipated adults were assigned to consume either at least 240 grams of whole-grain rye bread per day; a cultured buttermilk with a minimum of 2 x 10(10) colony-forming units of lactobacillus rhamnosus GG per day; minimum of 240 grams wholegrain rye bread with cultured buttermilk with at least 2 x 10(10) colony-forming units of lactobacillus rhamnosus GG per day; maximum of 192 grams of white wheat bread per day, or laxatives. To compare the effect of the foods, dietary habits, bowel function, and gastrointestinal symptoms were documented by the participants. Their total intestinal transit time, fecal weight, pH, SCFA and bacterial enzyme activities, and breath hydrogen were identified. Results of the analysis showed that compared with white wheat bread, rye bread was able to shorten total intestinal transit time. It also increased weekly defecations, softened feces, eased defecation, increased fecal acetic acid and butyric acid contents, and reduced fecal beta-glucuronidase activity. Compared with laxatives, rye bread was also able to reduce total intestinal transit time, fecal beta-glucuronidase activity, and fecal pH. Meanwhile, lactobacillus rhamnosus GG did not ease constipation and did not affect colonic metabolism. These findings confirms that rye bread is more effective in relieving mild constipation and improving colonic metabolism compared with white wheat bread and laxatives. Since rye bread does not increase gastrointestinal adverse effects, it is found to be a safe and convenient alternative to laxatives. (4)

Adding fibrous foods is beneficial for aiding constipation because high-fiber foods help move waste through your body. (1) However consuming more fiber could cause bloating that’s why it’s helpful to gradually or slowly add fiber-rich foods to your diet. (1)

Redundant self-serving interests and bad activities demonstrate inconsiderateness

References:

📝 January 16, 2024

Do You Approve Adjusting Your Diet and Taking Pheliinus linteus Mycelium To Cure Cancer?

Maybe zome people wonder why we got curious and look at zome bad foods. Health enthusiasts are not interested in bad foods.

As observed in the past, we don’t look at bad foods especially if we think this could cause health concerns. However, we only look at bad food when we have consistently seen different advertisements, testimonials, posts, and newsletters that talk about country food that seems to be bad food related. We wonder why groups are talking about country food and mention bad food as well. Moreover, when we noticed that a local food seemed to be a member of the harmful light food group, we hypothesized that bad food is also part of that harmful light food group. zome individuals abhor harmful light food groups because they are subtle but pose risks and dangers to our health. Hence we want to figure out the connections and identify the local members of these harmful light food groups to be wary about them. This intention reflects that health-conscious individuals are not interested in bad food, but they just want to figure out the connection.

The danger of being exposed to bad food is the misinterpretation that people may have. They may assume that they like to have bad food. Hence people must learn to know the difference when a person is just figuring out things due to a hunch that something fishy is going on and when we are interested. Most of the time we misinterpret inquisitiveness with being interested. We tend to inquire about things not because we are interested, but simply because we want to identify the subtle members of harmful light food groups and how to avoid them.

Zome foods are bad because they cause cancer but zome foods can cure cancer cells. Read the Japanese case reports below to know the commendable natural food choices you need to have.

Curing cancer through pheliinus linteus mycelium mushroom

1. Liver cancer

The mushroom pheliinus linteus mycelium has been able to help a 79-year-old man regress his hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient was brought to the hospital due to epigastric discomfort. His abdominal MRI and CT results showed that he had a 3 cm diameter liver tumor. Moreover, his CT revealed that he had numerous nodular lesions on his chest. His cancerous tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was high. Due to the test results obtained, he was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple lung metastases. The patient did not receive any therapy to treat the tumors, but he initiated to take phellinus linteus mycelium extract for one month. After 6 months it was discovered that his tumors were in complete regression. (1)

2. Prostate cancer

Intake of pheliinus linteus mycelium’s effect on cancer was also demonstrated in a 2004 case report. Researchers presented that a patient with hormone-refractory prostate cancer that already metastasize to his bone responded remarkably to pheliinus linteus mycelium mushroom. The patient consumes pheliinus linteus mycelium extract. (2)

Health-conscious individuals design their food planner to ensure having the essential nutrients that they need. Our mouth is our window to take in essential food. It is not designed to take bad food because this can poison us.

How food is described is also crucial. Health advocates describe curative food in a certain way that would enable people to realize that it is essential to have them for nourishment and curative effects. However, zome may wrongly assume that certain details pertain to bad food. It is important to emphasize that keen health conscious persons do not write about bad food, but they write about curative foods. If they write about bad food it is only because they want to explain to people they love about the concerns it can cause and they want to clarify things that they are not interested in bad food because they want to maintain a good health condition. Ergo, when you interpret how health advocates describe food and design their recommended diets, think carefully about the content they’ve learned, their personal experience, and chronicles they have about the curative effects of food to comprehend that it’s all rooted in certain experiences that taught them how to eat well to ztay energetic and healthy.

Ergo, if you’re also considering how to design your diet with curative foods, look at the works of health enthusiasts, their notes, and their food intake planner to have it as an inspiration for altering your diet. Make the necessary adjustments to have healthy remedies for your health condition. Then, tell us about your experience with revamping your food intake, and if you approve this action.

Alter what needs to be improved ❤

References:

  • (1) Kojima, H., Tanigawa, N., Kariya, S., Komemushi, A., Shomura, Y., Sawada, S., Arai, E., & Yokota, Y. (2006). A case of spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple lung metastases. Radiation medicine, 24(2), 139–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02493281 [Abstract]
  • (2) Shibata, Y., Kurita, S., Okugi, H., & Yamanaka, H. (2004). Dramatic remission of hormone refractory prostate cancer achieved with extract of the mushroom, Phellinus linteus. Urologia internationalis, 73(2), 188–190. https://doi.org/10.1159/000079704 [Abstract]

📝 January 10, 2024

Cutaneous Concerns and Uncovering Historical Cleansing Activities and Products Used

A lot of times we often see the activities of individuals around us but don’t understand what they do what they do. Each activity that we do has a motivating factor and inspiration behind it. This includes choosing the products that we consume in our everyday life. Zome of us picks a product at the grocery store cause we like its packaging design, color, and flavor. We also consider the endorser of the product. Ingredients, good effects of the products, gentleness to our cutis, and product safety are also considered when choosing a product that we’d love to have in our everyday lives.

Our cutis looks like a canvas. When itchy rashes occur and form it’s noticeable. It looks like a drawing on paper especially if we have a fair complexion. People may have different interpretations when people see this, zome of which are erroneous yet there are also excellent conclusions. Commonly, we think that bad hygiene is the cause of rashes on our cutis. People may also assume that we do activities that involve bad routines for the sake of their brethren. However, if we only really try to understand their actions we would discover that the cause of their marks is the everyday essentials that they consume and apply cutaneously. Did you know that cleansers and cleansing frequently cause us to develop itchy rashes because of the chemicals and ingredients

Uncover the cutaneous effect of cleansers by reading the case reports below. This helps you to figure out the motivating factors of the patients in the cases below and comprehend the effects of consuming the cleansing products.

Irritant contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is caused by exposure to chemicals that damage the skin. This can be in the form of personal care products that we use. Mechanical, thermal, and climatic effects are also contributory cofactors in chronic irritant contact dermatitis. Moreover, inappropriate hygiene perceptions that can lead to extensive soap cleansing products, hot water usage, and exfoliative procedures can worsen/ exacerbate irritant contact dermatitis. (1) Manifestations and skin lesions differ as they depend on the type and exposure frequency, body region, and coexisting irritation such as hot water, friction, and individual susceptibility. (1)

Identifying the irritant is crucial in the diagnosis of irritant contact dermatitis. It is also the first step in curing it correctly since cessation or avoidance of the causative substance may relieve complaints. However, determining the irritant could be difficult unless the patient is questioned in detail. Hence the patient must be properly questioned and their detailed history must be thoroughly evaluated since most patients do not mention all the irritants they were exposed to. A detailed history may guide the clinician to appropriately diagnose, treat, and protect the patient from the side effects of unnecessary treatments. (1)

Irritants in Cleansers

1. potassium hydroxide

Potassium hydroxide in Arab soaps has been identified as an allergen in a Turkish case study. It resulted in developing irritant contact dermatitis in a 71-year-old woman. She has sensitive and dry skin and has a history of atopic dermatitis. Zhe complained about increased skin irritation and worsening skin problems. Zhe had scales, redness, and a swollen face and hands. Included in her symptoms were pruritus, stinging, oozing, and crusting of her skin. Zhe had been repeatedly prescribed to apply topical steroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors but they were not responsive to her skin problems. systemic steroids were also used but resulted in minimal limited improvements. Upon stopping the application of the prescribed drugs, dermatitis recurred. Through the diagnostic interview, it was discovered that the cause of her irritant contact dermatitis was exposure to potassium hydrochloride in Arab soaps. The patient was only using her self-made natural soap and prepared it by using a 1/1 dilution of Arab soap which typically contains 5-15% potassium hydroxide. Arab soaps are crafted for dishwashing and cleaning floors. They are recognized and advertised as a healthy and safe natural product in Turkey. The patient was using her self-prepared soap as a shampoo and hand soap she for years and hasn’t changed it. Moreover, when taking a bath, she’s using hot water and a hammam glove. When asked about the changes in her daily routine the patient reported that she was bathing daily and washing her hands more frequently than in the past due to the coronavirus advisory on TV programs. Her biopsy result confirmed that she had irritant contact dermatitis. Zhe was recommended to quit using Arab soap and use only synthetic detergent for personal hygiene. In addition, zhe was advised to abandon using hot water and hammam gloves. Her facial skin condition had been almost completely resolved after one week of applying an emollient cream and a barrier cream. (1)

2. Neem oil

For a year, it has been the routine of a healthy 71-year-old Japanese female to wash her face using a soap containing neem oil. The woman was healthy though had a 2-month history of depigmented lesions. The woman had not changed any of the other cosmetics she was using. Though she did not have itchiness or erythema she observed zome depigmentation on her skin. On the first visit of the patient to the researchers’ department, they also observed depigmented patches on her entire cheek and anterior neck, face, and hand’s dorsum. The patient was advised to discontinue using the soap-containing neem oil. Upon doing so, repigmentation occurred and further depigmentation was controlled even without any treatment. To speed up her repigmentation she was advised to apply topicals during her follow-up visit after 3 months. 9 months and 15 months after the patient’s first visits the repigmentation increased. One year after the patient’s first visit the hands’ repigmentation was slower than that of the face. 24 months after the patient’s first visit, leukoderma on her right cheek had recovered in most areas. Repigmentation on her lower left cheek also occurred. It was concluded that the patient had leukoderma due to the neem oil soap because the leukoderma patches occurred in the areas where the soap was used. Moreover, the repigmentation began immediately after the discontinuation of the use of soap. (2)

3. surface-active detergents

One of the authors, in the following cases is Yoshinari Isobe, a dermatologist in Anjo, Aichi, Japan. He has promoted the avoidance of using surface-active detergents in daily living among atopic dermatitis patients and the general public to prevent and avoid atopic dermatitis and its remission. It has been known that atopic dermatitis is treated by avoiding contact with surface-active detergents being used daily (3)

In November 2010, a 50-year-old male gas station office worker visited Isobe Clinic in Anjo, Aichi, Japan. He complained about sleeping difficulty due to the itchiness all over his body. He had a history of chronic prurigo that was resolved through a steroid ointment. A biopsy on the patient’s right abdominal skin was performed, however, from November 2010, through April 2013, they were unable to detect any particular pathogens. Eventually, the patient was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis due to the chronic and repetitive itchy rash he had. To manage dermatitis, the patient was asked to avoid using or exposing his skin to synthetic surface-active detergent-containing materials such as cleansing soap, household detergents, shampoo, conditioner, cosmetic cream, and lotion. He was also told to avoid using natural soap. The patient was instructed to bathe his hair and body with warm or tepid water only. He was also told to apply an ointment and zome drugs. However his skin condition skin did not immediately improve, and after a few months of treatment, his rash was exacerbated in January 2011. Hence the patient was again advised to strictly avoid using detergent-containing material and to use laundry zoap without detergents. The avoidance strategy effectively helped to improve his skin rash because it became less itchy. After one and a half years, his skin rash and itchiness were resolved. For two years his dermatitis was symptomless. After a few years, his itchy skin rash recurred in March 2014 when his wife began to use the detergent-containing synthetic cleansing soap. (3)

Another case of dermatitis that’s caused by surface-active detergents was the experience of a 48-year-old woman who was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis when she was just in high school. Zhe applied steroid ointment for around 40 years to control the skin rash, but she would still occasionally complain about having itchiness all over the body. Before controlling her recent skin rash recurrence, she used shampoo and body soap from a hotel. Since then her face has become swollen due to severe and itchy rashes. It also had a secondary infection and scratch injury. In October 2007 the patient went to Isobe Clinic. Zhe was instructed to avoid using synthetic surface-active detergents and natural soap. Zhe was instructed to use ointment and different drugs for medications. After a month, by the end of November 2007, her skin condition improved. The patient continued to abandon detergent and soap usage. After a few years, in July 2014, her skin was maintained in good condition even without the use of steroids. (3)

Commonly our reference for identifying our cutaneous marks are the most recent activities that we do. We tend to look at the labels of the products that we consume to know their ingredients or look at the articles from websites to discover their content derails. However, there are certain instances when we also have to consider the historical activity and the experience of the individuals to understand their case. This includes the moment they started having their itchy rashes and looking at the external and internal factors that the patient was exposed to particularly the content that they absorbed.

In certain circumstances, we have to consider previous chronicles to identify an individual’s reason and motivation for choosing and consuming a product. Most of the time if consumers’ chronicles about a product resonate with us and we find its content endearing to us we are compelled to have it. Looking at all these factors will help us to understand the layers that cover the real cause of our cutaneous concern.

Discover the causes ❤

References:

  • (1) Fidan C, Karataş A. Irritant Contact Dermatitis Caused by Arab Soap: A Case Report. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine & Primary Care, 2021;15(3): 639-641. doi: 10.21763/tjfmpc.826744
  • (2) Takayama E, Yoshioka A. A case of leukoderma probably caused by a soap containing neem oil. J Cutan Immunol Allergy. 2021;4:175–177. https://doi.org/10.1002/cia2.12192
  • (3) Isobe Y., Deguchi H., Aoyama R., Takahashi H.,Tsutsumi Y. Harmful Effects of Synthetic Surface-Active Detergents against Atopic Dermatitis. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine Volume 2015, Article ID 898262, 5 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/898262

📝 January 9, 12, 13, 2024

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