It’s the little things that one tends to overlook or ignore—a pinched nerve, twitch, passing headache or cramps. But these are signs, messages your body is sending you. Let’s go over them.
Abdominal pain
Pain in the abdomen may oftentimes be caused by gas. And if it occurs once too often, the suspect could be gallstones.
Gastrointestinal disorders could come and go—perhaps you ate something you were not used to— but this indicates an allergy to certain food.
Varying degrees of muscle cramps in the abdomen tell you that you might have biliary colic, a condition commonly caused by the presence of kidney stones or gallstones.
Other conditions include appendicitis (pain which may start on your right side but can be felt most when you press the belly button). When accompanied by diarrhea or bloating, you could have IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Prevention:
- Drink 15 glasses of water daily or 1½ glasses every hour all day. Coconut water is good for kidney cleansing.
- Digestive enzymes—take them to improve digestion. As you get older, the body produces less enzymes.
- Ginger tea—eases abdominal cramps and is a digestive aid. Take it hot without sugar.
- Apple cider vinegar—1 to 2 tablespoons in a cup of warm water in the morning.
- Garlic oil—it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
- Carrot juice—especially effective when one is having a colic attack due to its soothing properties.
- Change your eating lifestyle— avoid spicy food like chili and pepper if you are the gassy type.
- Probiotics—gut health is vital. Along with digestive enzyme (like betaine and pepsin bromelain and pancreatic), you need help from good bacteria.
Bad breath
Even if you brush your teeth and floss regularly, food particles that have imbedded themselves along the gum line can breed and spread to form stubborn plaque. The result: bleeding gums and gingivitis.
When plaque attacks the roots of your teeth, you will develop a serious periodontal disease in which you could lose your teeth.
One important cause to rule out is intestinal parasites. Have a regular dental checkup.
To do:
- Remove/reduce sugar from your diet.
- Drink beverages without sugar.
- Vitamin C improves gum health. Any deficiency in C levels may cause gum bleeding.
Dizziness
It could be caused by hypoglycemia or vertigo. Dizziness is a common experience that most people shrug off. But you should consult your doctor if it happens too often. This is because it could be indicative of rising blood pressure.
Do you know that an antisalt strategy could even be the reason why your blood pressure is high? Shocking, but true. Researchers are now saying that low levels of magnesium (which sea salt contains), potassium and calcium could contribute to high blood pressure. But this is the physical component.
What about the emotional aspect? Emotional lows or mild depression has a dramatic and negative impact on the immune system. Stress causes blood pressure to shoot up without warning. So do cases of extreme activity and physical pain. If not controlled, this could lead to hypertension, stroke, heart attack or kidney failure.
To do:
- Avoid alcohol. In a four-year study by Harvard Medical School, 3,275 nurses ages 34-59 who drank 2 to 3 glasses of alcoholic beverages daily increased their risk of high blood pressure by 40 percent. The recommended dosage for any alcoholic drink is one glass for women, two glasses for men.
- Reduce sugar intake. High sugar diet increases blood pressure.
- Exercise daily (minimum of 20 minutes).
- Drink generous amounts of water; add a pinch of sea salt.
- Good fats like omega 3 oils can bring down blood pressure by a few points. Eat more fatty fish or take supplements.
Leg cramps
The squeezing and tightening of muscles, which can strike when you are in a relaxed state, may mean that you have low electrolytes like calcium, magnesium and sodium.
Sometimes, sudden leg movements, stretching your toes on very tight bed covers or shoes can cause involuntary muscle contractions whether in the legs or toes.
What helps:
- Vitamin E fights free radicals. Take a dosage of 600-1,600 IUs daily.
- Magnesium tells your body to relax; take a dosage of 400 milligrams twice daily.
- Calcium’s natural sources: orange juice, fish bone (when you eat sardines, include the bones), leafy green vegetables
- Water—dehydrated muscles need water in order to be flexible.
This week’s affirmation: “I believe in me.”
Love and light!
E-mail the columnist at coryquirino1@yahoo.com