Why is it, that as a society, we openly discuss some common health issues, but not others? We meet for coffee and tell anyone who will listen about our hypertension, gallbladder disease, insomnia, arthritis, bladder infections and kidney stones, but we rarely discuss bowel issues?
We all have bowel movements and sometimes we have bowel problems, such as diarrhea or constipation. But, we don’t usually talk about them, why is that?
Look, I’m guilty too. I’m a nurse, and I definitely know better. But even for me, there is still a bit of an embarrassment factor. After spending 30 minutes, holed up in the bathroom, upon emerging, I may smile and jokingly say to my husband or sisters, something like, “I need to eat more bran”, but that’s usually as far as it goes. Again, why is that?
It’s time to put all of that “behind us”. (Get it…”behind us”) It is time for women to band together, and “Take Control and Own the Throne”.
Having a bowel movement is a totally natural part of life, but the reality is, things don’t always work the way they should and constipation is a real issue for many.
In case you have, or think you may have constipation and have never discussed it with anyone, here are a few constipation facts:
- Constipation means infrequent or difficult bowel movements, and affects everyone from the young to the elderly.
- People are more susceptible to constipation if they don’t have enough fibre or liquid in their diets, ignore urges to have bowel movements, or are travelling.
- There may be other lifestyle factors outside of these conditions that could also lead to less frequent stools – every individual is different.
- One in four Canadians has symptoms of constipation.
- Prevalence rates for women in all age groups are almost twice as high as for men in Canada and North America.
I’m not sure about you, but after a long winter cooped up in the house, I am keen to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather. I want to feel great and take part in all kinds of fun summer activities. Activities like swimming, hiking, camping, barbecuing, boating and trips to the beach.
What I don’t want to do is worry about constipation and how yucky it makes me feel.
As well as the many common physical symptoms of constipation, such as:
- Painful, difficult bowel movements
- Feeling gassy or bloated
- Having hard, dry stools
- Excessive straining while going
- Having fewer than 3 bowel movements per week
Studies have shown that poor digestive health can affect your mood, energy, and concentration.
So, it’s key to keep our bodies in prime health so we can take advantage of everything the summer has to offer! We can do this by making our tummy’s health a priority.
If you are experiencing constipation, consider the following tips to help achieve a more balanced lifestyle, (which can lead to a happier tummy), as recommended by the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation.
- Include foods rich in fibre. Eat a mix of fruits, veggies, legumes and grains – aim to consume about 20 to 30 grams of fibre daily.
- Choose fruits rich in pectin. Eat apples, strawberries, lychees or pears to help keep water in the digestive system.
- Consume products that contain pre and probiotics such as yogurt, kefir, bananas, whole grain breads and honey.
- Drink plenty of water each day while decreasing your intake of caffeinated, alcoholic, and sugar-rich or artificially sweetened beverages such as pop and fruit juice.
- Avoid foods that are greasy, high in animal fat, and fried.
- Limit intake of refined sugar (sweets and rich desserts).
- Eat at regular times.
- Commit to a healthy lifestyle: exercise regularly, do not smoke, avoid stress, establish regular sleeping patterns and adopt good time management techniques.
But, if you are eating healthy and staying active and your constipation persists, there is help available. Did you know?
- The Dulcolax® Bowel Health Poll indicates that half of Canadians say that having control and predictability with their bowel movements is important to them.
- Canadians who do experience difficulty when it comes to bowel movements are looking for fast relief.
Here are two simple steps that Canadians can take to prevent constipation:
-
Eat Smarter and Exercise
- Try to limit low-fibre foods i.e. cheese, processed foods, ice cream (sugar and fat!); drink lots of water and aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day.
-
Get Relief
- If changing your lifestyle habits aren’t enough, try Dulcolax® Laxative tablets for gentle, predictable overnight relief; or speak to your doctor/pharmacist for additional information.
Always read and follow the label when it comes to over the counter products or speak to your doctor/pharmacist for more information.
For more information visit dulcolax.ca or http://www.myconstipationrelief.com/ca_en/ to be sure Dulcolax is right for you.
Look, the bottom line is this; we need to take a stand. Number two shouldn’t be so taboo. We all have bowel movements but what makes constipation a particularly difficult condition is that many people are too embarrassed to talk about it.
It’s time to forget the embarrassment factor, talk openly about our bowel health, band together, and “Take Control and Own the Throne”. Who’s with me?
One Canadian reader is going to win a Dulcolax Summer-Ready Kit to help make this summer as stress-free as possible! {Entry form below}
Plus, this is an opportunity to celebrate your freedom from discomfort (with treatment options such as Dulcolax®), so before you head to the throne, be sure to enter the Dulcolax® Contest for your chance to win a makeover valued at $5,000 (either spa/shopping/home renovation) – no purchase necessary.
“To be sure this product is right for you, always read and follow the label.”
Win a Dulcolax Summer-Ready Kit ~ The kit has: PooPourri, an automatic soap dispenser, Toilet Paper Origami book, hand towel and a squatty potty.
Eligibility – Open to residents of Canada
End Date – July 29, 2016
My son graduated from gr 12 in June !
on Father’s day we went out for Brunch and got him a card and present!
Squatty potty looks great. The previous owners put really high toilets in our house and we need some extra help.
I would love to win this kit as I often have tummy troubles, and that toilet paper origami kit looks awesome! :)
My hubby often has issues and i think that the kit will be handy to have around the house. We also do alot of camping and hiking so, the items will be a great essential.
I’d love to have this kit as I’m really interested in trying the Squatty Potty.
who could say no to some poopouri! love it.
It looks like an interesting kit that I could use.
I would like to win because all the goodies are super handy!
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I would love to win this because I could use everything that is in it.
Would love to win because this would definitely be a benefit to me. I have been looking at that particular stool. I love it.
I’d love to win the spa makeover please. Is this where I enter? My neck is a wreck
I would like to win this kit because I have always struggled with being occasionally constipated. I think this would help me out!
I would love to win this kit because I’ve heard great things about the Squatty Potty and TP origami sounds like fun!
I would love to win this kit as have been seeing this squatty potty and would love to try it
I’d love to have this kit as I’m interested in trying the Squatty Potty, I also have tummy problem.
Heard about the Squatty potty…..definitely curious!! lol. Some great items to have, I’d love to win!
I love to win the kit and try the Squatty Potty and all the other items.
I would love to win this kit as I have tummy problems and have heard such good things about the squatty potty
I’d love to win this kit, if you’ve ever had an operation, you know how this would help and the TP oragami sounds like fun.
I would love to give my mom the Squatty Potty, inside joke!!
Well, first of all would love to win as it is a very useful and interesting prize.. who would not want a Toilet Paper Origami book! Love it!
It’s very useful!
I would love to try the squatty potty, I have been having problems lately going and anything that will help, I will try!! great basket of goodies for the bathroom also is nice!!
who wouldn’t love to try that origami? thanks
It has a squatty potty- which is so great for proper alignment! It sounds neat.
I would love to win this handy prize, it’s all very useful
i would like to win, as all these items would be great to have on hand
I would like to win for the toilet Paper Origami book!! Looks like a hoot!! :)
These products would be great to have for those challenging moments. I’ve not yet tried this brand.
Useful kit
This is something people don’t talk about but it’s an interesting kit Handy & useful !
I would love to win because having these items around would come in very handy
I want to win mostly because my daughter would love the Toilet Paper Origami book, and I’ve heard great things about that Poo-Pourri!
I would love to win because I have tummy problems and everything would come in real handy
I’d like to try the squatty potty for sure…interesting….
I’d like to try the squatty potty for sure…interesting….
I would love to win this as my family and I have all different types of tummy issues.
When i travel i have all kinds of tummy issues . this would be great
It would be nice to have some new and interesting things to freshen up the bathroom.
I really would love to win this because I think it’s a lot of fun and I really can use a hand soap dispenser.
would love to win because the squatty potty looks interesting
I would love to win because this kit would be very handy to have.
this would come in handy
Would be great for when we travel and there are no washrooms around for an emergency stop!!
I’d love to have the toilet paper origami book to read when I’m going potty
The gift prize is super handy products.
I’d like to win this package because I have suffered with bowel issues and I know that it can play a factor in losing weight.
Would love to win because I think all of the products would come in handy in the bathroom!
I would love to win this treat prize package because it contains a wide variety of terrific products. The automatic soap dispenser and squatty potty are perfect for my grandson.
Love the items included in this prize pack, especially the origami!
i really want to try the squatty potty, heard that it really helps!
I recently had to have surgery for a hernia on my small intestine so I do have potty troubles (And in just two days time, I am back to surgery to remove both ovaries)
I am not able to be as active as I used to be when i was young, so a lack of exercise means I do sometimes have trouble with regularity. It would be nice to have these things on hand for those times rather than having to go out to the drug store or suffer through.
I want the origami toilet paper book
Camping and outhouses give me the urge to wait until I get home! I would really love to try the Dulcolax to help things out!
My friend highly recommends the squatty potty but I haven’t tried it yet
I want to win because I need the Squatty Potty and I want the origami book. :-)
I have IBS and I have never tired this before
Would love to win as I’ve heard about the Squatty Potty and would like to try
I would love the PooPourri & the Toilet Paper Origami book just for fun but I’m really interested in the squatty poty!
I would really lovexx to win this kit because I’ve heard great things about the Squatty Potty
and TP origami sounds like great fun to me!!
I would like to try the Squatty Potty.
We drive over 10,000 kms a year on our annual roadtrip to Mexico and after 12 years and 20 trips, I still don’t have an adult potty! It’s on my wish list but this will definitely do.
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
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We do a lot of hiking and camping and these things are so essential to have.
The squatty potty would be fab!!
I first saw the squatty potty on television. The kit looks interesting, especially the Origami toilet paper.