06 Mar 2 natural (and delicious) study-proven remedies for constipation
You may not be aware of this, but in addition to being the founder of Hormonology and creator of the Hormone Horoscope, I’m also a full-time health journalist. You can see my articles every week in Woman’s World magazine, which is a weekly print publication you can find on any newsstand and at supermarkets in the U.S. and Canada.
While I love to write about hormones (obviously), I’m also passionate about study-proven natural remedies. In an article I’m writing today for Woman’s World, I’m exploring natural treatments that have been shown to work as well as prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications–and sometimes even better.
This got me to thinking about a great natural remedy to overcome constipation in the second half of your cycle when progesterone can trigger irregularity by slowing down movement in the digestive tract: Eat a slice of rye bread!
A 2010 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that rye bread works more effectively than laxatives and probiotics at relieving constipation thanks to a type of fiber that ferments in the intestine and triggers contractions that move contents along. What’s more, it does the job without cramping or other uncomfortable side effects.
Not a rye bread fan? A 2011 study from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine shows that Grandma’s tried-and-true constipation remedy–prunes (now known as “dried plums”)–was shown to work more effectively than psyillium-containing fiber additives (like Metamucil and Fiberall) at making you regular again thanks to their sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that has a mild laxative effect.
So, next time you feel blocked up due to progesterone or any other reason, you’ve got two effective (and delicious) natural remedies to try!
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