Drinking in moderation, eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, exercising regularly and quitting smoking are four healthy habits that could add up to 14 years to your life according to Scientists at Cambridge University who are the first to look at a combination of healthy habits. The 11 year study published in the journal PLoS Medicine followed the health of 20,000 men and women aged over 45 and revealed that those who followed these four health habits were four times less likely to die than those who did not.

The study revealed that smoking had a bigger impact on health than diet, exercise and alcohol intake. The longest lived did not smoke, had an active job or exercised regularly for at least half an hour, drank one or two glass of alcohol and ate at least five portions of fruit and vegetables. An accompanying editorial in the journal added that if everyone in the UK adopted these four behaviours the public health impact would be substantial.

People who chew large quantities of gum could be at risk of stomach upsets and even severe weight loss according to research published in the British Medical Journal.  Eating large amounts of sweets which also contain the sweetener sorbitol could also have the same effect.

Sorbitol, also known as E420, is widely used in “sugar-free” products like chewing gum, sweets and some cereals as well as in ‘diabetic’ foods.  It can be added to foods in similar quantities to sugar but contains around a third fewer calories. Eating the equivalent of 14 or more sticks of chewing gum a day could cause severe diarrhoea and stomach problems.

Some women find that before and during the menopause they experience reoccurring digestive upsets, in particular constipation. Because oestrogen and progesterone affects the speed at which food moves through your intestines, constipation and or diarrhoea may be common menopause-related symptoms.

Eating while stressed, overeating, eating too fast, or eating too many ‘junk’ foods all contribute to unhealthy digestion. The most effective natural remedy for digestive problems is a healthy, fibre rich diet but the following may also help:

             

Make sure you drink plenty of water. Drinking hot water with lemon juice in the morning will encourage regular bowel movements and ease constipation.

           

Peppermint and fennel teas after a meal can ease digestion and reduce trapped wind. Ginger as tea or in capsule form aids digestion and helps prevent the formation of abdominal gas.

           

If you have diarrhoea avoid alcohol, caffeine, milk and dairy products until the diarrhoea has subsided. Try some potassium rich banana, stewed eating apples (not cooking apples so you don’t need to add sugar), rice and dry toast until you feel better to help restore balance to your body. You can also use organic live yogurt to replace beneficial bacteria in your intestines (or use a probiotic supplement like BioKult, see the Resources page). Don’t take any anti-diarrhoea medications until you have given these recommendations a chance to work.

 

Chew your food slowly and thoroughly to encourage proper digestion. Before you begin a meal start with a few cleansing breaths and breathe fully as you eat. Try to avoid distractions when you eat, like the TV.

           

If you have intestinal cramping and gas in spite of these remedies you may have irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) which is a disorder that can be helped nutritionally but you need to rule out any other digestive problems with your doctor.  If you have already been told you have IBS there is an excellent test preformed on a stool sample which measures

           

If you get nausea along with digestive distress try drinking chamomile tea three times a day. Vitamin B6 can help quell nausea. Increase the amount in your diet or take a supplement.

           

Ginger is also great for easing nausea. Brew a cup of ginger tea and drink daily. If stomach acid is a problem a cup of liquorice root tea has been shown to be effective.

           

Acupressure has been found to be effective for reducing nausea. You can purchase acupressure bands to be worn around your wrists in many chemists (the same ones that are used for travel sickness).

 

Probiotics containing beneficial bacteria can help to relieve chronic constipation and may be used freely. Probiotics can also help relieve digestive and gas pain, as well as restore good levels of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. (see BioKult on the Resources Page). 

 

Psyllium seeds are a healthful way to keep the colon healthy and clean in cases of constipation. The seeds are covered with mucilage that swells into a gummy, gelatinous mass when it absorbs fluid in the intestines, thus lubricating the gut wall. The increased bulk stimulates the gut wall, encouraging peristalsis.   A tablespoon of whole organic linseeds (flaxseeds) soaked overnight in water and then swallowed first thing in the morning also works well like this. 

 

Avoid the use of bran for relief of constipation as it prevents absorption of bone strengthening calcium and can cause more bloating and flatulence.