Natural Ways To Help With Stomach Problems

Dailymeal.com has a great list of things you can do to help with tummy issues, and they're all natural. From gas, to diarrhea, to heartburn, to the other myriad of digestive troubles people can get, including those of us with Ulcerative Colitis, there are natural, preferably food derived ways, to deal with them. So before you pick up that Tums or Prilosec, why not try one of these things.

1. ALOE VERA:

Aloe vera juice is a wonderful product to use with stomach issues, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Though you need to make sure it's pure, and try and stay away from ones that have preservatives.  I used to use George's Roadrunner during some past Ulcerative colitis flares, it was expensive, but it was distilled, pure and tasted like water.


2. The BRAT Diet:  

Short for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast- so it's easy to remember- this diet is great for those who are having problems with indigestion, stomach upset, and diarrhea.

3. CHAMOMILE:

A nice cup of  Chamomile tea can help with nausea, GERD/Acid reflux, sometimes gas, and definitely helps calm your nerves.

4. DANDELION GREENS:

This I had never heard of, but according to Daily Meal, Dandelion greens are great for heartburn and upset stomach. They have recipes for great side dishes. Who would have thought.

5. GINGER:

Ginger is an amazing herb. Not only is it wonderful to cook with, it's a powerful anti-inflammatory (for arthritic conditions), but is also wonderful to combat gas, indigestion and nausea. You can use it fresh to make a tea, just peel, chop and boil, or you can eat some candied ginger or buy some ginger tea. People on blood thinners, like Coumadin, should stay away from it.

6. MINT:

Any kind of mint will do. Peppermint, spearmint will both help with digestion, nausea and gas. It relaxes the muscles.  It is also said to help curb one's appetite. Steep fresh cut leaves or dried peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong you want your tea.  Although some say it is good for Acid Reflux, and heartburn.

7. PAPAYA:

Papaya is a great fruit, not only is it yummy in smoothies in salads, it's wonderful for digestion, upset stomachs and gas. The papain in papaya, can also be taken as a supplement as a digestive enzyme.

8. PROBIOTICS:

Probiotics aka good bacteria are a must for stomach health, especially after a dose of antibiotics. The best are the refrigerated ones. You can try yogurt or kefir, but I doubt they are that helpful. Do your research, though, because every probiotic strain is different, and depending on your tummy issue some will be better than others.

9. PREBIOTICS

Prebiotics help the good bacteria grow. Try asparagus, garlic, onions and Jerusalem artichokes, though those foods will cause gas.

Besides these, I'd like to add another one of my own:

FENNEL SEED:

Fennel seed is great for digestion and bad breath. If you've ever been to an Indian restaurant, you might have noticed a bowl of fennel seed, sometimes candied. The candy part is probably not so great, considering they're usually brightly colored, which means they are chockfull of food dyes, but they make them tastier.  Grab a very small teaspoon of these little seeds and chew on them after a meal. IMPORTANT NOTE. Do not eat these by the handful, like candy. My sister ate almost a whole bag and became very dehydrated. Just a tiny spoonful is enough to help with digesting your meal.

In case you decide to buy George's Road Runner juice, I get a pittance from Amazon.

Video: Treating Common Ailments With Food With Dr. Nieca Goldberg

It's always better to get your vitamins and minerals from foods, if you can. It's also preferable to treat common ailments with food.   Dr. Nieca Goldberg shares some great tips in this short video, including how to deal with cracks in the side of your mouth, eat milk or spinach, and puffy ankles, eat bananas, apricots or oranges.  She explains why, and has some tips for some other common health troubles.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Figs For Good Health

When thinking of figs, the first thing that comes to mind are fig newtons, those little cakey cookies with some mashed up, sugary fig stuff inside. But unless you buy the healthy kind, they are full of sugar and fat, and since they are processed you aren't getting the full benefit of eating them fresh or dried.  And who knew there were so  many benefits of eating figs.

Figs are the fruit of the Ficus carica tree, which is part of the mulberry family. You can eat them dried year-round, or fresh during the season- approximately June through September. The healthful benefits come from the fact that they are high in alkaline (which can help lower acid levels in the body), magnesium, manganese, calcium, potassium, phenol antioxidants, iron, pectin, Vitamin B-6, omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Aside from the  benefits in the chart above, the alkaline can help lower acid levels, and figs can help lower triglycerides, boost energy and brain power, and help with inflammation. They're also beneficial in protecting against postmenopausal breast cancer, and protecting against macular degeneration. They are also good for the skin.  Apparently, if you want help with acne, mash two ripe figs, and slather on your face. Leave on for 15 minutes.

For more info on figs, check out whfoods.com

Whiten Teeth With Banana Peel

I love finding natural, alternative ways to deal with certain issues, and although I haven't tried this particular method of whitening teeth, it certainly can't do much harm. And the best part, it only costs the price of a banana.

People love having bright pearly whites, but many things can cause stains including certain foods, smoking and caffeine. There are a myriad of ways to whiten yellowing teeth- from expensive treatments at your dentist, to cheaper over-the-counter DIY processes. But those can cause problems from stripping the enamel on your bicuspids to sensitivity. One woman even comments about its addictive nature, and the potential for chemical burns and leaving your teeth even yellower.  When you think about it, the idea of putting chemicals in your mouth that  you could easily swallow isn't such a good idea. 

So, here's the banana treatment.  Again, I have not tried it so I can't vouch for its efficacy, but it might be worth a try.

The instructions on E-How suggest that you can either brush your teeth first (preferably with a natural toothpaste) or after, but I would recommend brushing after to prevent plaque build-up from food deposits.  In fact, I would also floss after the banana peel treatment, and then brush your teeth. They suggest using a ripe banana since ripe ones have more potassium. Apparently its all the minerals including the potassium, manganese, and magnesium that help with the whitening.

HOW TO:

1. Peel a banana as you normally would. Save the fruit to eat later or freeze in chunks to use in  smoothies.

2. Cut a piece of banana peel and start to gently rub the soft inside part (where the peel meets the fruit) against your teeth for about 2 to 3 minutes.

They also recommend doing this twice a day, morning and night.

If anyone has tried this, I would love to know what the results were. If I decide to try this, I will update you, as well.

Watermelon Good For The Summer and Your Health

It's summer, and hotter than heck most everywhere in this country, so what better time to bring out some luscious, juicy watermelon. Most people think of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) as a wonderful and refreshing fruit to add to picnics and bbqs, but guess what, it's actually considered a vegetable, akin to cucumbers, squash and pumpkins. 

You know what else? It has some amazing health benefits.

Chock-full of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, lycopene, beta-carotene (and a myriad of other minerals and nutrients) it can help protect the body from viruses, bacteria and parasites. Because of the potassium component, it has been known to help control blood pressure, and possibly prevent kidney stones. The vitamin C and beta-carotene are helpful in preventing cancer and heart disease.
The lycopene is good for prostate, breast, colon and lung health, reducing the risk of cancer. And all the antioxidants are also helpful with asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation and prevention of macular degeneration.
This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how good watermelon is for the human body, and why most anyone would benefit from enjoying a slice or two.

Although it is high in sugar, it's mostly water and fiber and is still considered a low-calorie, fat free, great-for-dieting kind of food.

So cut some up and enjoy!  I know I will.

This article on Care2 has a slew of interesting information on watermelon, including how to pick a good one.

And though it has nothing to do with eating watermelons, per se, read what I wrote about Wally Amos' inspiring "Watermelon Credo".
Sources: Healthmad, Organic Facts,

Constipation - Dealing With The Other 'C' Word Naturally

No-one likes to talk about a dysfunctional bowel especially constipation, the other 'C' word. In fact anything dealing with our internal plumbing is usually very embarrassing, after all, who wants to talk about poop. Although I have had short bouts of constipation during UC flareups, my problem has always been the opposite. Most people will have episodes of constipation during their lifetime, but I know many who have a chronic problem, and it's not fun. In fact it can be downright painful, especially if you get hemorrhoids from the straining.

SYMPTOMS:

If you have elimination problems for more than 3 months- hard stools, straining when you go, inability to completely evacuate, pain, bloating, swollen abdomen, and have less than two to three bowel movements per week, or any combination of those symptoms, you're constipated.

CAUSES:

There are many things that can cause constipation including:

-not drinking enough water
-not including enough high fiber in your diet
-vegging out in front of the TV instead of exercising
-traveling or some disruption in your routine
-aging
-too much dairy (which can also cause the runs for those who are lactose intolerant)
-certain medications (iron supplements, diuretics, pain and blood pressure meds, antacids among others)
-Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
-Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) like Ulcerative Colitis
-colon and rectum obstructions
-other disorders and diseases including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Stroke, Lupus, Diabetes
-pregnancy
-using too many stool softeners (laxatives)
-not going when you have the urge
-depression
-eating disorders

and the list goes on.

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT:

There are many natural ways to treat constipation that attack the root problem, not just the symptom, and the main one is prevention.

A. Diet: 

Eat more fiber- whole grains, beans, lightly cooked veggies, wheat bran, ground or whole flax seeds.

But when searching for what foods to eat to prevent or help with constipation you're going to find differing opinions. Bananas, for example, can help with constipation or cause it in others. In some cases it can cause diarrhea.  Some swear by prunes, others, not so much. Oriental Medicine explains why certain foods can cause constipation for some but not for others. It all depends on what 'type' you are: 'hot' or 'cold'.  This website briefly details that, and also includes some interesting home remedies that might be helpful, including the following.

Drink 2 cups of warm water, followed by a 10-minute walk, about 20 - 30 minutes before breakfast everyday. [I drink a full glass of water first thing in the a.m. with my morning supplements, and off I go]

Maintain the same bathroom schedule everyday, 20 minutes before breakfast (even if you can't have a bowel movement, still go through the actions).

Eat an ounce of walnuts before bedtime every night.

Use a juicer to juice a large potato. Mix the potato juice with 1 teaspoon of honey and drink 20 minutes before breakfast.

Lubricate your intestines by eating walnuts, sesame seeds and/or peanuts.

He also includes instructions on an abdominal massage that seems to relieve constipation.

Stay away from high fats in your diet including dairy and meat.

Remember add those high fiber foods slowly, since it can also cause gas and bloating.  And drink plenty of water. Stay away from too much caffeine, it can dehydrate the body, and thus harden your stool.

B. Exercise: 

Make sure you get enough exercise. Walk, swim, whatever gets your body moving will help with digestion and ultimately how you move your bowels.

C. Go, When You Gotta Go:

If you have the urge to go, make sure you head to the bathroom. Isn't it better to get that icky ca ca out of your system, than letting it just sit inside your body? 

OTHER NATURAL REMEDIES:

- magnesium - a deficiency can cause constipation, on the other hand, too much can cause the runs.
- Probiotics, they're great for most digestive disorders, but start off with a lower billion count, because it can cause gas and bloating if you don't start slowly.
-herbs and herbal teas, like 'smooth move', rhubarb, senna and aloe are also beneficial. Here's a list of other helpful herbs.
-ripe kiwi fruits-  some people swear by this.


Other sources: About.com/altmed