I am touching on a topic most people don't typically choose to talk about. Yes, that’s right: pooping! For me it's the opposite-I hear about it all the time! As a mom of two young boys poop is a frequent topic of conversation in my home. I am sure you other boy moms know exactly what I'm talking about.
Just as important as it is to put the right things into your body, it’s equally important to focus on what comes out! Constipation can make you sluggish, tired, bloated, cranky and irritable, and can cause headaches. If you want to feel your best, you should be pooping EVERY DAY, at least once a day, and preferably more. If you go to the bathroom every other day, you are constipated.
Here are some tips to help make it easier:
Drink plenty of water. Hydrating will clean out your bowels and flush your kidneys. Shoot for half of your body weight in ounces per day. Read my blog “Sip on This” for tips on how to hydrate HERE.
Add Fiber-Rich Foods into Diet. You need around 25 g-30g of fiber every day to prevent constipation. You can get fiber by consuming veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds and flax (add 1-2 TBS of ground flaxseeds per day to your smoothies, salads, and soups).
Increase your magnesium. Magnesium is nature’s natural muscle relaxant. It helps relax skeletal muscles as well as the smooth muscles of blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract by keeping peristalsis – the natural muscle relaxation and contraction of the colon – working properly.
Exercise. Get moving. Sweat it out. (30 minutes a day)
Keep it Regular. Your body will respond better when you select a time to have a bowel movement and stick to the same time every day.
Try Olive Oil. Consume a tablespoon of olive oil on an empty stomach in the morning – you can also mix it with a bit of lemon juice for better effects.
Do you struggle with constipation? Which of the above tips will you try? Comment below! I would love to hear from you.
