Nutrition: The Other End of the Story
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We end our week on nutrition with a post on the other end of the story- poop. Guest contributor Selena Stirlen gives it to you straight.
I became very comfortable talking about constipation, poop, bowel movements, whatever ya want to call it, years ago as I traveled through Asia. With the continuous travel and changing diet the “traveler’s stomach” was something that everyone experienced somewhere along their journey.
Photo Credit: Terry Shuck
Talk of your bowels (i.e constipation or diarrhea) became an acceptable topic of conversation among travelers because it really was the main gauge of how you were feeling. If you were constipated, you had toxins inside you that couldn’t get out and those toxins that you couldn’t release were making you not unwell. If you had diarrhea, everything was passing through you so quickly that you weren’t absorbing enough nutrients and again causing you to feel unwell.
The state of my health while I traveled truly depended on the health of my colon- crazy to say, but it was my reality for those seven months.
Upon returning, it was fitting that I would begin work to develop a product to aid in regularity. Being dubbed the “poop guru” among my friends, I was shocked to realize that 90% of my girlfriends (and these were healthy, active women) have struggled with chronic constipation for years yet this was never a topic we discussed prior to my travels. Nearly every time I spoke about the regularity product I was developing, someone would take me aside and tell me their “story” and ask if they could test some of my magical potion.
While I’m not sure there is a magical potion for all, here are my recommendations in your quest to Get Regular and Stay Regular™:
HYDRATE
Drink at least 8 – 8oz glasses of H20. No sugary drink: no pop, no coffee, (although caffeine can sometimes stimulate a healthy colon) but pure water (preferably not from a plastic bottle but from a filtered tap).
EAT! FOOD IN = FOOD OUT
I know this seems like a strange thing to recommend but it’s as simple as that. So many of us attempt yo-yo diets and constantly limit our food intake. This takes a toll on your body- it will slow down and adjust to conserve what food it has, which can result in constipation. Bottom line: you need to eat a regularly balanced diet. Think about it, it’s not rocket science.
FIBER
Eat your fruit, leafy green veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds and beans (note that meat isn’t on this list). Another great benefit from a diet high in fiber is that it fills you up so that you feel full and won’t overeat. You’re an adult. You know the difference between what’s good for you and what’s not. Choose to nourish your body and provide it with the food and nutrients it desires to run optimally.
PROBIOTICS
Maintaining a good intestinal flora can really help. Try yogurt containing live cultures of friendly bacteria or try a probiotic supplement found in a health food store such as Whole Foods. All yogurt has the naturally occurring probiotics, some yogurts on the market have been supercharged meaning more strains of probiotics have been incorporated into the product. Explore which yogurt works for you and remember to watch the sugar content, steer clear of the versions sweetened with splenda or sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup. You can sweeten your own yogurt by adding vanilla extract or your own fresh fruit.
MOVE
Get your grove on- move it, shake it, mix it up, just get going. Everyone needs to move every day and movement in the body will help other things MOVE.
GREEN SUPERFOOD SUPPLEMENT
Not enough emphasis has been placed on the power of green food supplement- It’s something I have been taking for at least 3 years and, besides the energy it gives me, it is the best colon regulator I’ve ever found. I take mine in the morning with either coconut water or I throw it into a breakfast smoothie. Here are links to some of my favorite greens- Health Force and Vibrant Health.
At the end of the day you are your own best guide to determining what your body needs and what it doesn’t. I encourage you to tune-in to what your body is telling you and give it the things that allow you to function at your best.
To optimal health, wellness and a happy colon!
Selena Stirlen is the founder of Stirlen, a Yoga Lifestyle company featuring a line of non-toxic, biodegradable, plant-based cleaning products, now available in Whole Foods and leading health & wellness centers worldwide. On her own time, you’ll find Selena studying yoga, testing out the latest fitness craze or re-creating a culinary delight from one of the many recipes she’s compiled from her around-the-world journey in 2004.
