Home Remedies

Simple tips to prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can be defined as an infection involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. While not all urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be prevented, experts suggest one can still reduce the risk by taking certain steps and precautions.

Fluids intake: Drink plenty of water and other liquids, but cut back on caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder. This will make you urinate frequently, which flushes bacteria from your urinary tract. If the urine appears darker than the usual very pale yellow colour, you should increase the fluid intake.

Cranberry juice has been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections.

Toilet hygiene: Do not hold your urine for a long time, urinate when you have the urge. When you’re done, always wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from the anus entering the urethra.

Constipation: Try to avoid constipation as it has been linked to increase the chances of getting a UTI. Steps like increasing the amount of fibre in your diets, drinking plenty of water and other natural fluids can help relieve constipation.

Sexual intercourse: Take special precaution when you engage in sexual activity since it may also increase the risk as it can bring bacteria into the bladder area. Practice good hygiene by washing your genitals every day using a mild detergent and before having sex. Make sure that the bladder is emptied after intercourse by drinking plenty of water and other fluids.

Clothing: Avoid wearing tight-fitting undergarments, which is made of non-breathing materials. Instead opt for loose-fitting and cotton materials, which allows a woman’s private part to remain dry preventing from bacteria growth.

Source: Zee news

Natural home remedies: Head lice

Head lice aren’t fun—which is why it’s so important to deal with them fast. Try these tips on banning lice from your home, plus some home remedies to try

Something is definitely moving in your hair, and the itching is driving you buggy. And that’s precisely the problem: Your tresses are now a cozy domicile for the common head louse, otherwise known as Pediculus humanus capitis. Just 1.6 millimeters long, these wingless insects live close to the scalp, laying their eggs (nits) and feeding on your blood. When lice appear in school-age children, word usually gets around quickly, and parents are warned to be on the lookout. Lice spread via contact with contaminated hair, hairbrushes, combs, clothing, or bedding.

What to do about head lice
Once lice are in the hair, even a burr cut won’t help. You need to get rid of the louse eggs that are attached to the hair shafts about five millimeters from the scalp. Start by using a delousing shampoo. Choose one that contains permethrin, not lindane. Lindane is a chemical cousin of the pesticide DDT and has been linked to nervous system problems (including convulsions) and brain cancer. Once you’ve found a killer shampoo, the remaining challenge is to use it effectively and become very nitpicky about preventing contamination. Otherwise, your whole household could get lousy.

Start with shampoo
• Use a delousing shampoo, and leave it in your hair for 10 minutes. That’s a long time to spend in the shower, so you may prefer to do your shampooing in the bathtub, where you can read or listen to music while the shampoo does its job.

• After you rinse out the shampoo, rinse it again using 50% water and 50% white kitchen vinegar. The vinegar helps dissolve the bodies of dead nits. Rub it in vigorously, then rinse your hair a few times to dispel the odour.

• Use the louse-killing shampoo again 10 days later. If you’re still not getting results, mix a half-cup vinegar with a half-cup olive oil. About an hour before you take your bath or shower, apply this mixture to your hair, working it in close to the scalp. Put a shower cap over your hair. After an hour, remove the cap and take your shower, washing your hair with regular shampoo.

The natural approach

• If you’re wary of synthetic pesticides, you may be able to smother lice while you sleep. First, saturate the hair and scalp with mayonnaise, then put on a shower cap. The next morning, lice should be dead. Unfortunately, you can’t smother the louse eggs—you’ll still have to remove them by hand.

• Petroleum jelly can have a stifling influence on roaming lice. Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly to the scalp, then cover with a shower cap. Leave it on overnight. In the morning, use baby oil or mineral oil to remove the petroleum jelly—and the lice along with it. Repeat several nights in a row. (One warning, though: it may take a lot of shampooing before you get all the petroleum jelly out of your hair!)

• Essential oils can kill lice and help soothe the itching. There are many different “recipes.” One effective combination is 20 drops tea-tree oil, 10 drops rosemary oil, and 15 drops each of lemon (or thyme) and lavender oil mixed into 4 tablespoons vegetable oil. Rub the mixture into your dry hair, cover your head with a plastic shower cap, then wrap that with a towel. After an hour, unwrap your head, shampoo well, and rinse.

Be picky
• No matter what you do to get rid of lice, careful inspection is also essential. If you have lice, ask your partner to go through your hair slowly with a metal lice comb (available at drugstores) and look for nits or lice. If your child’s head is infested, you may have to use TV to get the child to sit still through this process. Nits are yellowish-white, oval-shaped, and adhere to the hair shaft at an angle. They look a bit like dandruff, but they don’t drift out of your hair the way dandruff does. Mature lice grow to about the size of sesame seeds. Freshly hatched lice are clear; those approaching midlife (about a week old) are reddish-brown. If you see lice, remove them with an emery board or Popsicle stick. If you use your fingers, still-living nits might get under your nails.

Stop the spread
• When someone in the family has lice, keep all combs and brushes separate. And make sure no one comes into contact with hats, scarves, hair ribbons, etc., that have been worn by the affected person.

• After treating the lice, wash clothing, bedding and other washables that have been used by the affected person in hot, sudsy water. Seal nonwashable items in plastic bags for a week (or three days in the refrigerator).

• After a coat has been worn by someone who has lice, put it in the dryer to make certain all lice and eggs are killed.

When to see your doctor
These remedies will usually take care of a run-of-the-mill case of head lice. But you’ll need a doctor’s help if self-treatment fails, or if the skin on the scalp becomes cracked or inflamed.

Source: Best health

Neck pain after sleep? Here is a home remedy that actually works!

If it is one of those mornings when you have woken up with a sprain in your neck, then this article is just right for you. Usually caused due to sleeping in an awkward position or on a pillow that is just not right for you, a sudden stiff neck can be quite painful and uncomfortable. But now there is no need to simply grin and bear the pain, here is an easy home remedy that can make the pain vanish in a jiffy.

Take care of the pain as soon as possible!

When you wake up with a stiff neck, avoid moving your neck immediately – make sure you hold it in a position that you feel the least pain. Moving it as soon as you wake up can make matters worse.

A better solution is to take a hot shower. While showering, make sure you direct the hot or warm water onto the part of your neck that hurts. As the heat permeates your skin, slowly try to move your neck in a circular motion. Start with bending your neck downwards and then slowly rotating it to the left and right – make sure you don’t jerk your neck around. The warm water soothes your aching muscles giving you some relief and moving your head around helps stretch out the muscles beating some of the pain.

Get rid of the pain:

This part of the tip is best done when you can get some shut eye. Roll up a thick towel into a tubular structure. It should ideally be high enough to support your neck and long enough so that the entire width of your neck is supported. Now, lay down on your bed and use the towel roll as your pillow. Place it under your neck, such that neither your head nor body is touching the towel. Using this as your pillow, drift off into slumber. The rolled up towel acts as a very effective and gentle massaging tool that helps relieve the pain in your neck. The best part about this remedy is that you can sleep in any position you like, except on your tummy. Do this for one night and watch the pain vanish.

Source: Health India

 

Causes of Fatigue and Sleepiness and How to Fight Them

1: Not Enough Sleep
It may seem obvious but you could be getting too little sleep. That can negatively affect your concentration and health. Adults should get seven to eight hours every night.
Fix: Make sleep a priority and keep a regular schedule. Ban laptops, cell phones, and televisions from your bedroom. Still having trouble? Seek help from a doctor. You may have a sleep disorder.

2: Sleep Apnea
Some people think they’re sleeping enough, but sleep apnea gets in the way. It briefly stops your breathing throughout the night. Each interruption wakes you for a moment, but you may not be aware of it. The result: you’re sleep-deprived despite spending eight hours in bed. Your doctor may order a sleep study to check for this.
Fix: Lose weight if you’re overweight, quit smoking, and you may need a CPAP device to help keep your airway passages open while you sleep.

3. Not Enough Fuel
Eating too little causes fatigue, but eating the wrong foods can also be a problem. Eating a balanced diet helps keep your blood sugar in a normal range and prevents that sluggish feeling when your blood sugar drops.
Fix: Always eat breakfast and try to include protein and complex carbs in every meal. For example, eat eggs with whole-grain toast. Also eat small meals and snacks throughout the day for sustained energy.

4: Anemia
Anemia is one of the leading causes of fatigue in women. Menstrual blood loss can cause an iron deficiency, putting women at risk. Red blood cells (shown here) are needed because they carry oxygen to your tissues and organs.
Fix: For anemia caused by an iron deficiency, taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, liver, shellfish, beans, and enriched cereal, can help.

5: Depression
You may think of depression as an emotional disorder, but it contributes to many physical symptoms as well. Fatigue, headaches, and loss of appetite are among the most common symptoms. If you feel tired and “down” for more than a few of weeks, see your doctor.
Fix: Depression responds well to talk therapy and/or medication.

6: Hypothyroidism
The thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. It controls your metabolism, the speed at which your body converts fuel into energy. When the gland is underactive and the metabolism functions too slowly, you may feel sluggish and put on weight.
Fix: If a blood test confirms your thyroid hormones are low, synthetic hormones can bring you up to speed.

7: Caffeine Overload
Caffeine can improve alertness and concentration in moderate doses. But too much can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and jitteriness. And research indicates too much actually causes fatigue in some people.
Fix: Gradually cut back on coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and any medications that contain caffeine. Stopping suddenly can cause caffeine withdrawal and more fatigue.

8: Hidden UTI
If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you’re probably familiar with the burning pain and sense of urgency. But the infection does not always announce itself with such obvious symptoms. In some cases, fatigue may be the only sign. A urine test can quickly confirm a UTI.
Fix: Antibiotics are the cure for UTIs, and the fatigue will usually vanish within a week.

9: Diabetes
In people with diabetes, abnormally high levels of sugar remain in the bloodstream instead of entering the body’s cells, where it would be converted into energy. The result is a body that runs out of steam despite having enough to eat. If you have persistent, unexplained fatigue, ask your doctor about being tested for diabetes.
Fix: Treatments for diabetes may include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, insulin therapy, and medications to help the body process sugar.

10: Dehydration
Your fatigue can be a sign of dehydration. Whether you’re working out or working a desk job, your body needs water to work well and keep cool. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
Fix: Drink water throughout the day so your urine is light colored. Have at least two cups of water an hour or more before a planned physical activity. Then, sip throughout your workout and afterwards drink another two cups.

Source: Health India

Pamper Yourself! 8 Natural Stress Relievers

 

Treat yourself to less stress
by Susan RinkunasStress making you crazy? We hear you. You probably know that some of the best ways to relieve stress include exercising, talking to friends, or simply getting outside. But what if you can’t make it to the gym for your one-hour workout?

It might be time for a little pampering. These eight strategies will not only help calm you down, but you’ll also feel legitimately spoiled in the process.

Decorate with lavender
This herb has a soothing scent that can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, both of which can help you relax and even drift off to sleep. Put dried lavender in a vase near your bed or slather on moisturizer infused with lavender

Have a chocolate-covered strawberry
When you’re stressed, you may be tempted to house every sweet treat in sight. But foods high in added sugar can increase your blood sugar levels and make you feel even more on edge. Instead, munch on strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. The vitamin C in the berries can fight body-damaging free radicals and the dark chocolate may help reduce stress hormones like cortisol.

Take a bath
Soaking in water has a soothing effect, experts say, since it connects us to our time in the womb. Add lavender bath oils or aromatherapy candles and you’re well on your way to complete Zen.

Give yourself a scalp massage
You know how good it feels when you get your hair shampooed at the salon? You can (and should) recreate that experience at home. To melt away tension, massage your scalp with your fingertips, moving from your hairline to the back of your head several times. Bonus: Scalp massages also help release natural conditioning oils so your hair will look even more gorgeous.

Get a Swedish massage
Not all rubdowns are created equal. This type of massage involves gentle, soothing strokes, which can improve circulation and help you chill out. You could also try an aromatherapy massage, where a therapist uses essential oils during the treatment.

Sip chamomile tea
Research shows that one of the compounds in this herbal brew binds to the same brain receptors as drugs like Valium, which means the tea acts as a mild tranquillizer. Not a tea person? Chamomile supplements may also help reduce anxiety, according to at least one study.

Step in the sauna
If your gym has a sauna or steam room, use it after your next workout. When your body heats up, both muscle tension and anxiety subside, according to research. Plus, feelings of warmth can alter neural circuits that improve our mood. (This might be one of the reasons why exercise can make us feel amazing.)

Give yourself a foot rub
Reflexology is an alternative medicine therapy that involves applying pressure to different parts of the body. It may help ease stress, and possibly even help migraines. Do it yourself by running under the base of your toes to calm your head and massaging the ball of your foot to relax your chest, says reflexologist Mara Nicandro, director of Therapeutic Massage of Texas. Rubbing your big toes releases soothing endorphins, which can help you relax.

Source; Health

Homegrown Herbal Remedies

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula—also known as pot marigold—is a centuries-old antifungal, antiseptic, wound-healing ally according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It’s the petals of these cheerful yellow and orange daisy-like flowers that lend skin-soothing properties to many natural cosmetics and diaper creams.

A freely reseeding annual that blooms all season long, Calendula makes a lovely addition to gardens with full sun. Harvest the petals fresh, or dry entire blooms—which close in the evening—before they’ve formed seeds.

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
Cilantro boasts a unique flavor you either love or hate. The leaves often garnish Mexican and Thai dishes, and the seeds—known as coriander—are a prime ingredient in Indian curries. Few think of this plant as a medicinal herb, but as noted in Phytotherapy Research, it’s a powerful digestive aid and cleansing agent capable of removing heavy metals and other toxic agents from the body.

Cilantro grows best in a cool, moist garden and will quickly bolt in hot weather. Look for slow bolt varieties from seed companies.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
This calming and uplifting perennial makes a pretty patch of bright green in the garden. The oils, tannins, and bitters in lemon balm’s fragrant leaves and flowers have a relaxing antispasmodic effect on the stomach and nervous system. When used topically, they help fight off viruses like herpes simplex according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Lemon balm is tasty and gentle enough for children when prepared in teas or tinctures with a glycerin base.

It’s a great plant to grow and use fresh, as the dried herb loses some potency after six months.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Familiar flavors in toothpaste and chewing gum, both spearmint and peppermint pack a powerfully refreshing zing. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reports that peppermint makes stronger medicine than its more culinary cousin. It readily relieves digestive discomforts like indigestion and vomiting when brewed as tea and soothes sore muscles in liniment recipes applied topically.

All mints spread rampantly in a moist garden, so consider growing each plant in its own large pot. Harvest leaves just before flowering. After that, they begin to taste bitter.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rosemary is the great reviver. This perennial woody herb stimulates energy and optimism and sharpens memory and concentration by bringing more oxygen to your brain, according to UMMC. It’s a wonderfully stimulating alternative to caffeine when you need that second wind!

A row of these long-lived and drought-tolerant plants makes a beautiful, bee-friendly, evergreen hedge. You may only need one plant in your garden, as a little bit goes a long way.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Give this handsome and stately biennial plenty of space, and stand back in wonder—the sturdy, yellow-flowered stem will emerge from within a rosette of thick, hairy leaves, reaching skyward nearly six feet! The leaves are commonly added to cough formulas, as mullein’s emollient and expectorant properties help heal bronchial respiratory infections. According to UMMC, a well-strained infusion of leaves alone will ease and loosen a stubborn cough.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
This groundcover’s delicate stems and tiny leaves belie the tremendous power attributed to it by Europeans in the Middle Ages. Many believed in the herb’s ability to heighten bravery and ward off nightmares and other detriments. Modern herbalists rely on the antibacterial and antiseptic properties of thyme’s oils to prevent winter colds and flu. Tannins in the plant also help relieve mild diarrhea according to Steven Foster and Rebecca L. Johnson, authors of Desk Reference for Nature’s Medicine. Many cultivars exist beyond the straight species, including sweet-tasting citrus varieties that are perfect tummy remedies for children.

Lavender (Lavandula)
Long recognized for its sweet perfume, lavender also boasts medical benefits as a nervine and mild antidepressant. UMMC suggests adding it to your bath to alleviate stress, tension, and insomnia. It’s also used in creams to treat sunburns and acne.

Woody lavender plants prefer hot, sunny, and dry environments. The fresh flowers are tasty in small doses when added to salads, honey, butter, lemonade, and even shortbread cookies. If you’re crafty, try sewing up an herbal heating pad or eye pillow with the fragrant dried flowers.

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Delicate, apple-scented chamomile demonstrates that mildness does not mean ineffectiveness. Primarily grown for its small, yellow-bellied flowers, NCCAM reports that chamomile is one of the best children’s herbs for treating colic, nervous stress, infections, and stomach disorders. In fact, it was chamomile tea that Peter Rabbit’s mother fixed for him after his stressful chase in Mr. McGregor’s garden!

Herbal Garden Allies
These easy-to-grow herbs bring health benefits to your garden as well as your family. Many attract beneficial insects, including bees, and help repel harmful pests from more sensitive plants nearby. Be sure to locate plants with their preferred conditions for light, water, and temperature in mind. For example, rosemary, lavender, and mullein thrive in warm, dry spots in full sun, while cilantro and mint prefer rich, moist areas with shade.

Source: health line

5 Natural Back Pain Remedies That Work

Lower-back problems are the number two reason people visit a doctor, second only to the common cold and flu. If you’re prone to pain, you may already be treating it with OTC medications or trying to prevent it by strengthening your core and back. Consider these pill-free treatments another weapon in your arsenal.

Yoga
People who took a weekly 75-minute class for 12 weeks found that they had diminished lower-back pain symptoms and less need for pain meds than those who didn’t, according to a 2011 study in Archives of Internal Medicine. Can’t stomach downward dog? Researchers found similar results among those who took a 50-minute weekly intensive stretching class instead.

Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT)
Six sessions of OMT—during which a doctor of osteopathy stretches and uses gentle pressure on muscles and joints—led to substantial improvement in about half of people with lower-back pain after 12 weeks, according to a University of North Texas Health Sciences Center study published last March. Nearly two-thirds reported moderate improvement.

Comfrey Root
Using an ointment that contains this plant-based extract reduced lower-back pain by 95%, according to a 2009 study conducted by Merck and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Look for comfrey-root ointment in health food stores or online. Just don’t use it for more than 10 days at a time—it can be toxic.

Acupuncture
It may relieve lower-back pain more effectively than meds or physical therapy, according to a 2009 study done at Group Health Cooperative for Health Studies in Seattle and Northern California Kaiser Permanente in Oakland.

Massage
A third of people who got one weekly for 10 weeks reported significant relief from their lower-back pain, compared with 4% who didn’t go for rubdowns, according to a 2011 study in The Annals of Internal Medicine.

Source: health news

 

How to give yourself a neck and shoulder massage

Most people suffer from tension in their necks and shoulders at some time in their lives, which is hardly surprising if you consider the job the neck has to do! Poor posture, bad working positions, and carrying heavy bags all conspire to make the problem worse. However, you can ease the pain with a remedy literally at your fingertips.

This simple self-massage exercise gets right to the core of the tension and eases it gently and effortlessly; you can try it almost anywhere and at any time. Try to focus on the areas that feel most tense, and work slowly, deeply, and methodically.

Use the photos provided to help you learn how to perform self massage. Click on the photos to enlarge them.

1: Tilt your head back, and with the palms and fingers of each hand, squeeze the flesh at the base of your neck on either side of {1}your spine. Then, slowly roll your head forwards, still squeezing your skin. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds, then return your head to an upright position. The amount of flesh you can squeeze depends on your state of relaxation.

2: Stroke your hands up and down the back of your neck to warm the area. Then use the fingers of both your hands to make deep, circular pressures all around the neck area, making sure that you do not apply pressure to the spine itself.

3: Place your left hand on your right shoulder and squeeze the muscle. Hold the squeeze and slowly rotate your shoulder backwards. A grinding noise indicates that muscles are tense and should be freed up. Repeat with the right hand on the left shoulder.

4: Pummel {2} your right shoulder with your left hand to bring fresh blood to the area. Support your left elbow with your right hand for comfort, and keep your wrist loose and floppy as you swiftly strike the flesh. Repeat on your left shoulder.

5: With your fingers, stroke firmly from the centre of your chest outwards, applying deep pressure between your ribs. {3}When your fingers reach the outer edges of your ribcage, return to the centre and repeat the movement. Feel for tense spot and concentrate on these as you work over the chest.

Source: mail Online

 

5 Facial scrubs you can make in your kitchen!

Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder but it weighs heavy on the pocket! Given that cosmetic store shelves are lined with pricey products, one often wonders if basic skincare is on its way to becoming a privilege of the elite. Apart from the hefty price tag, one can never really be sure if the ingredients in the products won’t react on your skin.

The solution is simple, opt for homemade beauty products! Why bother buying when you can whip up everything from scrubs, creams to packs using stuff readily available in your kitchen cabinet.

Before we begin, it’s important to remember that exfoliation is a must-do in your beauty regime. Scrubbing helps achieve a smoother, even-toned complexion, making it radiant because we are sloughing off dead skin from our faces and making way for the production of new live, tissue. Use these homemade scrubs according to your skin type on a weekly basis to put your fresh face forward!

Chickpea and Rice

Yeah! You heard right, our humble dal and chawal can make for some awesome homemade scrubs. Rice is rich in Vitamin B complex so capitalize on the benefits by making a scrub of rice flour mixed with curd. The fine granules of rice flour remove dead skin with ease and curd enriches the skin with Vitamin C. Chickpea powder mixed with half a tablespoon of turmeric powder, a couple of rose water drops and milk is another nourishing scrub.

Oatmeal

Scrub made from oatmeal is perfect to give sensitive skin a stunning glow. You can use it with a teaspoon of water, or add it to a little warm milk for dry skin. If you are game for something a little more complex, mix 1 cup oatmeal with 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil, 2 tbsp regular milk and the whites of one egg till it’s of spreadable consistency. Scrub in circular motions and rinse with lukewarm water for a gorgeous moisturized complexion.

Strawberry

This is one yummy scrub you will be tempted to put in your mouth rather than on your face! The mashed granules of strawberries are great for exfoliation. Start by de-stemming the strawberries and chopping them into small pieces and then mashing up the fruit to a pulp. Mix this with 1 tablespoon of milk and some oatmeal powder to get a thick consistency. You can also swap milk with honey, lemon juice or your favourite essential oil to get a healthy glow.

Salt & Lime

These two ingredients create an excellent homemade exfoliator for oily skin! This is a wonderful combination for an incredibly soft smooth skin. The lemon juice will get rid of the oil while the salt will slough off any unwanted dead skin. Try it, ladies, it really works wonders!

Coffee

A coffee scrub works as an excellent defense against facial cellulite, thanks to the overabundance of antioxidents it contains. Mix the coffee with 1/2 cup baking cocoa, 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/4 cup honey to create a paste and apply to the face. Ground the beans or opt for the lot used to make filter coffee for maximum effect.
Remember, exfoliation should be done gently with a light touch to avoid injury to your skin!

Source: the med guru

7 easy tips to get rid of constipation

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Constipation is an ailment that almost all of us have come across at some point or the other. ‘Pooping problem’ is a topic that one hardly likes to discuss.

Constipation basically refers to irritable bowel movements and is a common cause of painful defecation and can aggravate if not taken seriously.

However, there is nothing to feel embarrassed about. Here are a few simple homes remedies to ameliorate the irritation:

Lemon: Lemon is one remedy which most of the doctors recommend. Drinking a glass of warm water with lemon and a pinch of salt in it in the morning not only acts as a cleansing agent for the intestines, but also helps in smooth passage of stool.

Fiber: Consuming food rich in fiber can actually work wonders. So, it is advisable to start one’s day with food that has high quantity of fiber like dried beans, prunes, figs etc. as fiber rich food acts like a sponge thereby preventing crams and stomach bloating.

Raisins: Raisins are also high in fibre and help a lot in aiding digestion and relieving constipation.

Triphala powder: It acts as a great laxative. Just add one teaspoon of triphala powder in lukewarm water and a little honey and drink it just after you wake up empty stomach in the morning. It will work wonders.

Oranges: They are packed with Vitamin C and just one orange can supply 116.2% of the daily value of Vitamin C which provides instant relief from constipation.

Water: It flushes out all the toxins from the body and also provides fluidity for the flow of blood. It is advisable to to have at least 8 glasses of water for a smooth bowel movement.

Never ignore nature’s call: Yes, last but certainly not the least, one should never ignore a nature’s call as it is like inviting trouble for future.

Source: Zee news