Colonista: One Woman's Search for the World's Best Colon Cleansing

Prunes More Effective Than Psyllium in Treating Constipation

According to a recent press release, you should pop a few prunes to ease constipation.

 

A clinical trial was published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics that focused on a group of forty constipated individuals. Some in the group were given 50 grams of prunes twice daily (containing six grams of fiber), and some were given one tablespoon of psyllium in water twice each day (containing six grams of fiber).The study participants recorded their symptoms and stools in a diary. The number of complete spontaneous bowel movements per week as well as stool consistency improved significantly with prunes when compared to psyllium. Global constipation symptoms also improved more with prunes versus psyllium.

 

Looks like you should stock up on prunes if you're feeling constipated! What are your favorite ways to treat constipation? Would you be willing to give prunes a try?

 

(Picture Credit: Life123)

Older Women with Bad Diets More Likely to be Anemic

Here's just one more reason to maintain a healthy diet. A recent study that was published in the Journal of the American Diabetic Association shows that women that have gone through menopause and maintain poor diets are more likely to become anemic.

 

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Arizona and involved approximately 73,000 older American women. A link was found between poor nutrition and the blood disorder anemia. Women with poor diets were 21% more likely to develop anemia than those women that ate healthy diets.

 

What do you think? Do these results make you want to follow a healthy diet?

 

(Picture Credit: Adult Stem Cell Awareness)

5 Tips to Save Money on a Vegan Diet

If you're vegan, you know that it's not a cheap diet to follow. However, there are ways that you can save money if you're on a vegan diet. Check out the following five tips and let us know which one is your favorite:

1. Buy in season - Buying in-season produce is a whole lot less expensive than trying to buy out of season.
2. Stay away from pre-packaged - Steer clear of pre-packaged produce. They're more expensive, and a waste of a lot of packaging.
3. Hit your local farmers' markets - Locally-grown produce is the way to go. And if you shop the farmers' markets at the end of the day, you're bound to get the best prices for the produce that's leftover.
4. Don't be afraid of frozen veggies - No, they're not as tasty as their fresh counterparts. However, they're often cheaper and more nutritious than fresh produce.
5. Come up with a meal plan - If you build a menu for your family for the whole week, you'll better be able to budget your groceries.

What other tips do you use to save money on a vegan diet? 

 

(Picture Credit: GamingAngels)

7 Unexpected Causes of Constipation

When you're constipated, you typically attribute your condition on a couple of different things: diet, exercise, and maybe you're not drinking enough water. But did you know that there are many other causes of constipation? Read on for seven unexpected causes of constipation.

1. Hypothyroidism - An underactive thyroid gland slows down the body's metabolism--including digestion.
2. Vitamins - Certain components of multivitamins such as iron or calcium can actually cause constipation. If you're constipated and taking iron or calcium, stop taking them--unless you really need them.
3. Overuse of laxatives - You wouldn't think that laxatives could cause constipation, but if you use them too much, they can. If you have used laxatives for a long period of time, your body can become tolerant, actually causing constipation.
4. Dairy - If you have a high-dairy diet and are constipated, it might be time to cut out some milk or cheese and increase your fiber intake.
5. Depression - Depression can cause your body's metabolism to slow down--even your digestive system.
6. Antacids - While you're fighting heartburn, you might actually be causing constipation. If you find that your antacid causes constipation, experiment until you find an antacid that works for you--and doesn't cause any problems with your poo schedule.
7. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - The two chronic conditions included in IBD can be accompanied by constipation. In ulcerative colitis, constipation could be a sign of inflammation in the rectal area; in Crohn's disease, it could be a sign of an obstruction in the small intestine.

Are there any other unexpected causes of constipation that you can think of or have experience with?

 

(Picture Credit: health information)

Diarrhea While Traveling? No Fun!

If you have a digestive issue such as Crohn's Disease, you may be concerned about having an attack while on vacation or traveling. Following are some tips on how to best prepare and deal with a diarrhea or other digestive health attack while traveling.

 

Before you leave, do the following:

• Secure a list of doctors within a 20-mile radius of your destination
• Ask your doctor for a plan of action just in case your condition worsens while traveling
• Make photocopies of all your prescriptions

 

If you do get struck with a case of traveler's diarrhea (uh oh!), do the following:

• Boil all water before drinking
• Avoid sodas and citrus drinks
• Take anti-diarrheal medications

 

Here are some more tips to keep in mind when traveling:

• Request an aisle seat near a bathroom when making airline reservations
• Bring your own food

 

What other tips do you have to share when it comes to traveling when you have a digestive condition?

 

(Picture Credit: Adventure Sage)

 

Alkaline Versus Acidic Foods--Which Are Which?

It's a general rule that you want your body to be more alkaline versus acidic. But how do you distinguish which foods cause an alkaline state and which cause an acidic state?

 

The Best of Raw Food owners have compiled a list of alkaline and acidic foods--follow the link on this webpage to download it. But in the meantime, follow these guidelines:

 

Alkaline Foods:

• Green, leafy veggies
• Fresh herbs
• Sprouts
• Grasses
• Medicinal mushrooms

 

Check out the list on The Best of Raw Food's website and then let me know--which acidic/alkaline foods shocked you the most?

 

(Picture Credit: Hot Body Training)

8 Kitchen Tools All Raw Food Dieters Should Have

Following a raw food diet means that your kitchen is differently equipped than other kitchens. Following are eight kitchen tools that you absolutely must invest in if you plan to follow a raw food lifestyle.

 

1. Juicer

You'll use your juicer practically daily if you're a raw foodie, so shell out a couple hundred bucks for a good one. 

 

2. Blender

That blender will come in handy every day or two, especially when you want to make sauces, smoothies, or soups. This is another item you should invest in, so expect to spend anywhere from $200 to $400 for a high quality blender. 

 

3. Dehydrator

Get a large dehydrator so that you can stock up on items such as crackers, cookies, and bars. Plan on spending $150-200 on a dehydrator.

 

4. Water Purifier

Again, this is one of those items that you'll be using daily, so save up! Drinking pure water is a big part of a raw food diet follower's lifestyle.

 

5. Food Processor

You'll end up using a food processor to slice up veggies easily and quickly. Don't spend more than $150 on one.

 

6. Coffee Grinder

...but not for coffee! Your coffee grinder helps you to grind up seeds and nuts for your interesting diet. Less of an investment, a good coffee grinder will run you $25-35.

 

7. Sprouter

This is one of those odd kitchen appliances that you may not have--or have even heard of. A sprouter will help you to grow sprouts to supplement your diet.

 

8. Hand Blender

This is another appliance that you'll most likely use daily for spreads, smoothies, and more. Get one that's easy to clean.

 

What other tools would you recommend followers of the raw food diet invest in?

 

(Picture Credit: Cuisinart Webstore)

Could a Vibrating Pill Soothe Constipation?

It sounds almost science-fiction, but it's true. A recent press release states that a new, vibrating capsule has been developed to soothe constipation.

 

Once the pill is swallowed, it is programmed to vibrate all the way through the digestive tract, with the goal of stimulating the muscles, easing constipation, while also breaking up hard stools.

 

Next month, the vibrating pill will be testing in human trials. Thirty patients will be given the 15.5 mm-long capsule to swallow. The pill will be set to begin vibrating six hours after it is swallowed. The patients will be observed for a week following treatment.

 

So far, the most promising aspect of this treatment is its total lack of side effects. What do you think? Would you be willing to swallow a vibrating pill if it could treat your constipation?

 

(Picture Credit: Constipation Info)

The Tale of an Anal Abscess

If you remember, about a month ago, I underwent a lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS). Well, last week (Thursday, to be exact), I went in for my follow-up appointment.

 

What promised to be a fifteen-minute appointment turned into something far more complicated. After telling my doctor's nurse that I was experiencing pain (not fun), I knew something was up by the expression on her face. My doctor's outward concern also made me freak a little.

 

And then she pulled those plastic gloves on and did a rectal exam, which was probably the most painful thing I've experienced in my life.

 

Turns out I had an infection--an anal abscess that needed to be drained immediately. And I was only the third patient that my doctor had ever had dealing with this problem.

 

An hour later, I sat in the chair, waiting for numbing gel to do its work below the belt. I was ready to get it all over with, but dreading it immensely at the same time.

 

Dreading it was the right thing to do.

 

Several needle-pokes and an uncomfortable draining process later, I was sent on my way with a prescription for antibiotics.

 

It's several days later, and my bum still doesn't feel back to normal. Let this be a lesson to all of you: If anything can happen to the Colonista, especially regarding the bum region...it probably will.

 

(Picture Credit: 123RF)

Colon Cancer Not Treated Agressively Enough in Elderly

Through my research and reading of the news, I came across an article on the LA Times blog that piqued my interest--and concern.

 

According to the article, elderly people are not being treated for colon cancer as aggressively as their younger counterparts--although the treatments would be just as successful for them. While the less-aggressive treatment may be because doctors don't want to subject the elderly patients to the side effects that go along with the more aggressive treatments. Researchers from UCLA and Rand Corp. took on this touchy subject in a report earlier this month.

 

The most common treatment of colorectal cancer is surgical removal of the cancer, which is then followed with chemotherapy with a combination of fluorouracil and levamisole or leucovorin. The more powerful drug oxaliplatin is sometimes added, as it increases chances with survival--although along with more severe side effects. However, the clinical trial of these types of drugs have been typically conducted in groups of younger patients.

 

Dr. Katherine L. Kahn of Rand and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center approached this subject, wanting to answer two questions: if the elderly could tolerate the therapy and if the therapy is, in fact, beneficial. After she concluded her study, the first question was answered with a resounding yes.

 

Interested in finding out more specifics about Dr. Kahn's report? Read the full LA Times blog post here.

 

(Picture Credit: Science Photo Library)