Constipation Archives - Cilantro News

3 Reasons To Use Baking Soda For Constipation

Pamela Nylander PhD — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 12:01:06 +0000

You will find 3 reasons to use baking soda for constipation in this article.

What is constipation?

Constipation is a condition characterized by the infrequent passage of stools or difficulty with the evacuation of stools^1,2.

Symptoms of constipation include^1,2:

Hard stools
Straining
Sensation of blockage
Incomplete evacuation
Bloating

The normal frequency of bowel movements is between three per day and three per week.

By contrast, a person experiencing chronic constipation has fewer than three bowel movements a week.

What causes constipation?

Common causes of constipation include^3,4,5,6:

Low consumption of fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables
Insufficient fluid intake
Medications
A lack of mobility
An overload of heavy metals
Candida overgrowth

What is baking soda?

Baking soda (chemically known as sodium bicarbonate) is a white, crystalline, and alkaline salt.

It consists of a sodium cation (Na⁺) and a bicarbonate anion (HCO₃^–).

Bicarbonate is naturally present and dissolved in many mineral springs.

3 Reasons to use baking soda for constipation

Sodium bicarbonate is a well-known natural remedy for inducing bowel movement.

Here are 3 reasons to use baking soda for constipation:

1. Baking soda eliminates toxic compounds

One of the causes of constipation is an overload of toxic compounds in the body.

A buildup of medications, alcohol, and heavy metals obstruct the colon.

Sodium bicarbonate eliminates a wide range of toxic substances from your body, relieving constipation.

Baking soda gets rid of poisons

A study revealed that sodium bicarbonate helps your body to eliminate prescribed medications and substances of abuse, such as⁷

Sodium channel blockers
Salicylate
Toxic alcohols
Miscellaneous other drugs

Baking soda removes heavy metals

Studies have shown that sodium bicarbonate neutralizes cadmium, lead, copper, and nickel^8,9,10.

It also eliminates uranium, a radioactive heavy metal, from your body^11,12.

2. Baking soda has antifungal properties

Candida albicans is a yeast (a type of single-celled fungus) that lives on the skin and in the mucous membranes of humans.

It can infect the digestive system and form a biofilm that protects it from external factors such as the host immune system and antifungal drugs¹³.

This biofilm can make stools as hard as cement and therefore hard to pass.

Studies have revealed that sodium bicarbonate has antifungal activity against Candida albicans, helping relieve constipation^14,15,16.

3. Baking soda alkalizes your body

Bicarbonate is an essential chemical in the human body. It regulates the acid-base balance by acting as a buffer⁷.

Studies have shown that supplementation with sodium bicarbonate alkalizes the body, preventing metabolic acidosis^17,18,19.

By alkalizing your body, baking soda maintains homeostasis, a steady condition of optimal cell functioning.

This, in turn, stimulates bowel movement by optimizing digestive functions, such as:

Digestive enzyme production
Peristalsis
Intestinal fluid absorption regulation

How to use baking soda for constipation

Here are 3 different ways to use baking soda for constipation:

1. Drink bicarbonate-rich mineral water

Some mineral springs are naturally rich in bicarbonate.

Studies have shown that bicarbonate-alkaline mineral water enhances gastric emptying in the case of constipation^20,21.

Mineral water high in bicarbonate contains at least 600 mg of natural sodium bicarbonate per liter²².

The following brands are, for example, rich in bicarbonate:

Brand	Bicarbonate [mg/l]
St-Yorre	4368
Vichy Celestins	2989
Gerolsteiner	1816
Badoit	1250
Uliveto	683

The bicarbonate content of bottled mineral water is usually mentioned on the bottle label.

Dosage

Drink a glass of mineral water high in bicarbonate first thing in the morning, at least an hour before breakfast.

2. Use baking soda powder

Another way to take baking soda for constipation is to drink a glass of water mixed with sodium bicarbonate powder.

It is noteworthy that too much baking soda powder will not relieve constipation. On the contrary, it will have the opposite effect.

Dosage

Drink a glass of warm water mixed with 250 mg of baking soda first thing in the morning, at least an hour before breakfast.

3. Take a baking soda detox bath

You can also relieve constipation by soaking in a warm bath to which you have added sodium bicarbonate.

When you are soaking in the tub, it is almost the whole surface of your skin that is in contact with the baking soda-water mixture.

Your skin will absorb the alkaline salt and release the toxins through your pores when you sweat, relieving constipation.

Dosage

Take a bath to which you have added a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate.

Soak for at least 20 minutes in the tub.

How long does it take for baking soda to relieve constipation?

If you drink baking soda according to the dosage mentioned above, it should relieve constipation within 2-3 hours.

Does baking soda contain aluminum?

“Baking soda” is pure sodium bicarbonate and does not contain aluminum.

By contrast, “baking powder,” which contains some sodium carbonate and acidifying agents, may contain sodium aluminum sulfate. Avoid it at all costs.

Summary: 3 Reasons to use baking soda for constipation

Constipation is a condition characterized by infrequent bowel movements or difficulty with the evacuation of stools.

Common causes of constipation include a diet poor in fruits and vegetables, an overload of toxic compounds, and candida overgrowth.

The 3 reasons to use baking soda for constipation are the following:

Removal of poisons and heavy metals from your body
Elimination of candida
Alkalization of your body

The post 3 Reasons To Use Baking Soda For Constipation appeared first on Cilantro News.

5 Immediate Constipation Relief Remedies

Pamela Nylander PhD — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 06:26:46 +0000

In this article, you will find 5 immediate constipation relief remedies for adults and kids at home.

What is constipation?

Constipation is a digestive dysfunction characterized by infrequent bowel movements or stools that are hard to pass.

Although occasional constipation is normal for most people, some people experience chronic constipation that can be extremely debilitating.

The normal frequency of bowel movements is between three per day and three per week.

Constipation in an adult as seen on X-Ray.

On the other hand, a person experiencing chronic constipation has fewer than three bowel movements a week.

Chronic constipation affects up to 20% of the population.

It has a large negative impact on quality of life and causes significant psychological distress.

Symptoms of constipation

Symptoms of constipation include:

Few bowel movements
Hard or lumpy stools
Straining to have a bowel movement on the toilet
A sense that everything didn’t come out
Stomach bloating
Upper or lower abdominal pain

Complications from chronic constipation may include heart and cardiovascular diseases¹^,², fecaloma³, and colon cancer⁴.

What are the causes of constipation?

The main causes of constipation are:

A diet rich in meat, refined sugar, dairy products, gluten, and processed foods
A diet poor in vegetables, fruits, and fiber
A high alcohol intake
A lack of exercise
Medications such as antibiotics, oral contraceptives, sleeping pills, antidepressants, and NSAIDs
An overload of toxins, including heavy metals, benzene, PCB, fluoride, and dioxin

5 Immediate Constipation Relief Home Remedies

There are numerous well-known remedies for constipation relief.

While some of them are not effective, some others contain substances with side effects.

Here are 5 immediate constipation relief natural remedies for adults and kids at home. They will help induce a bowel movement rapidly.

1. Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate)

An osmotic laxative

Magnesium is an essential mineral for health and a cofactor for more than 300 enzymes⁵.

Furthermore, magnesium is an osmotic laxative.

To wit, it attracts water through your tissues into your intestine by a process known as osmosis.

The water, in turn, helps soften your stool and makes it easier to pass⁶.

Magnesium is the fourth most common mineral in the human body⁷.

However, it must be continuously replenished because it is not synthesizable⁷.

Which form of magnesium is best?

There are different types of magnesium compounds, including⁸:

Magnesium carbonate
Magnesium chloride
Magnesium citrate
Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia)
Magnesium sulfate
Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (Epsom salts)

All these forms of magnesium have laxative properties.

Nonetheless, Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is the most effective remedy for immediate constipation relief.

It is because magnesium and sulfate ions are both osmotic laxatives⁶.

Therefore, in case of severe constipation, we recommend taking Epsom salt.

How to use

Take two teaspoons of magnesium sulfate in a glass of water three times daily.

Alternatively, you can take a warm bath to which you have added a handful of Epsom salt every 3-4 days.

2. Diatomaceous earth (food grade)

Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock⁹.

It consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a group of hard-shelled microalgae⁹.

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is mainly available in the form of a grayish powder.

This powder has amazing laxative properties.

The skeletal remains of diatoms have tiny, sharp, and pointy edges, allowing them to break hard masses blocked in your digestive system.

Diatomaceous earth under the microscope

Indeed, constipation results from fecal matter, sometimes hard as cement, obstructing your digestive system.

Diatomaceous earth will, little by little, crack this mass without harming you.

How to use

Take a teaspoon of food-grade diatomaceous earth mixed with water daily.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day as it has a dehydrating effect.

3. Mineral water rich in baking soda

Mineral water for constipation

Another home medicine for inducing immediate constipation relief in adults and kids is mineral water high in sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

Drinking a ,glass of mineral water naturally rich in bicarbonate first thing in the morning will stimulate a bowel movement.

Mineral water is considered high in bicarbonate if it contains at least 600 mg of natural bicarbonate per liter.

For instance, the following brands are considered high in bicarbonate:

Brand	Bicarbonate [mg/l]
St-Yorre	4368
Vichy Celestins	2989
Gerolsteiner	1816
Badoit	1250
Uliveto	683

The bicarbonate content of bottled mineral water is mentioned on the bottle label.

You can also drink a glass of regular water, to which you have added 250 mg of baking soda.

Benefits of bicarbonate

Studies have shown that bicarbonate-alkaline mineral water enhances gastric emptying^10,11.

Baking soda has, namely, a deeply purifying effect. To wit, it removes uranium and protects you from uranium toxicity¹².

Baking soda

How to use

You can either drink first thing in the morning, at least an hour before breakfast:

A glass of mineral water naturally rich in bicarbonate or
A glass of water to which you have added 250 mg of baking soda

Alternatively, you can take a warm bath to which you have added a teaspoon of baking soda.

4. Prunes for constipation

Dried plums (prunes) are among the most cited home remedies for immediate constipation relief.

It is due to their high content of sorbitol as well as soluble and insoluble fiber.

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol with laxative effects¹³.

It works as a laxative by drawing water into the large intestine, stimulating bowel movement¹³.

Moreover, prunes are also rich in soluble and insoluble fibers.

Studies report that prunes significantly increased stool weight and frequency in individuals with infrequent stool habits and low fiber intake¹⁴.

Furthermore, research revealed that dried plums are more effective than psyllium for mild to moderate constipation¹⁵.

Immediate constipation relief secret trick

Frozen plums that are being heated up.

If you heat prune juice or fresh or frozen plums, it makes the remedy even more effective.

It is because it will save your digestive system the energy necessary to maintain your body temperature.

How to use

Put two halves of fresh or frozen plums or dried prunes in a small saucepan.

Add 2 oz of water and heat to body temperature. Eat the warm plums and drink the delicious juice.

5. Beet juice

Fiber for constipation

Beet (beetroot) juice has been used as a natural laxative in traditional medicine for hundreds of years¹⁶.

Namely, beet juice pulp contains both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Soluble fiber absorbs water and forms mucilage. It makes your stool softer and easier to pass through your bowels.

On the other hand, insoluble fiber bulks up your stool and sweeps it out.

For these reasons, don’t remove the pulp once you have pressed your juice.

Betaine has laxative effects

Furthermore, beet juice is also rich in betaine. It increases stomach acid levels, improving your digestion.

Betaine found in beets (trimethylglycine) also stimulates the liver owing to its cleansing attributes.

To wit, trimethylglycine is a cofactor in methylation¹⁷.

Methylation enables your body to neutralize heavy metals and get rid of them¹⁸.

How to use

Drink a shot of beet juice daily.

On the first days, try not to make any plans right after drinking the juice. Also, try not to stay too far away from the restroom.

Summary: 5 immediate constipation relief remedies

Constipation can be relieved by drawing water into the intestines to soften stool using an osmotic laxative, such as Epsom salt.

Furthermore, diatomaceous earth is a siliceous sedimentary rock that detaches hard fecal matter stuck in your digestive system.

Besides, removing toxins, such as radiation and heavy metals, from your body with bicarbonate also has a laxative effect.

Finally, soluble and insoluble fiber in plums and beet juice will make your stool softer and bulk it up, making it easier to pass through your bowels.

Here are 5 immediate constipation relief natural remedies for adults and kids:

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate)
Diatomaceous earth (food grade)
Mineral water rich in bicarbonate
Heated prunes
Beet juice

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