(NC) Everybody wants to have a healthy stomach, yet when it comes to understanding our digestive systems, many Canadians are wet behind the ears.
A recent study by the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation revealed that common problems like heartburn and constipation affect millions of people, yet many of those who suffer are not receiving effective treatment.
If you too, are looking to take control of your digestive health, the first step is simple: just add water.
Water is the essential fluid on which all life depends. It makes up 60% of the average person’s weight and it carries out such essential tasks as flushing toxins, transporting nutrients and regulating body temperature. Water also propels the digestive system by lubricating the two main pathways through which food is processed, the large and small intestine.
Drinking sufficient water is the first step towards giving the digestive system what it needs to function. Health Canada advises drinking water ‘regularly,’ and you can try such easy tricks as always having a full glass on your desk, or carrying a bottle during physical activity and spicing it up with fruits, herbs and other infusions.
Water sometimes needs a bit of help, however, in order to do the most for the digestive system.
Regular exercise and a diet that is high in “healthy fibre” work as a team with water to keep the digestive system humming. Adults should consume between 21 and 38 grams of fibre each day, ideally from fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
For most people, occasional digestive problems can occur despite a healthy lifestyle. For example, constipation – a condition that affects the body’s ability to comfortably eliminate waste – affects approximately 25% of Canadians. When occasional constipation occurs, some healthcare experts recommend reaching for what they call a PEG 3350 laxative, such as RestoraLAX , which softens stools by gently bringing water into the bowel. Working with the body’s natural functions, this type of laxative increases the frequency of bowel movements and improves the ability of a stool to pass through more easily.
Available over the counter at pharmacies and drugstores, PEG 3350 laxatives are generally recognized as being gentle and having relatively few side effects. They are different from stimulant laxatives, which trigger contractions of intestinal muscles and may lead to such side effects as gas, cramps and bloating.
What’s more, PEG 3350 laxatives like RestoraLAX are easy to consume – simply mix a powder into water, tea or any non-alcoholic beverage.
More information is available from your health care professional or online at RestoraLax.ca.
