Have you ever had constipation? A urinary tract infection? Or suffered from some odd virus or infection?
There are three supplements that I keep in my medicine chest, consisting of fruit and berries that have been life savers for me. Warning this conversation is not for the delicate. Believe it or not, bowel movements change consistency not just because of what you eat but because of hormone fluctuations. Don’t believe me? Ask a menstruating woman if her bowel movements change with her period! Anyway, I have suffered from constipation from time to time. As you age you become less embarrassed discussing bowel movements! A plant that has helped me more than prunes or Metamucil is Triphala. It is a medicinal supplement from India, a staple in Ayurvedic medicine. It is made of three fruits Amalaki, Bibhitaki, and Haritaki. It is also a powerful antioxidant and is supposed to lower cholesterol. But most importantly it is a gentle laxative, great to take on vacation! Because I don’t know about you, but as soon as I have to get up super early for a flight, it throws off my whole elimination system and I am so grateful for my Triphala. As usual, follow dosage instructions on the bottle.
I wish I had never had a urinary tract infection, but alas I have. Not soon enough, my mother one day said, “Have you tried peeing after having sex?” Angels sang from above and my life was changed forever! But sometimes you get an infection anyway. And so I always keep a bottle of unsweetened cranberry juice around. And the capsules as well, because you can be sure your child or husband will open up that unsweetened cranberry juice, taste it, make a sour face and refuse to drink anymore. You will then have to throw the rest out.
Trust me, it does not taste good, but it wipes out a urinary tract infection overnight. And sometimes I’ll drink two bottles, just to be sure as UTI’s can be so painful.
There is an antioxidant in the cranberry that prevents bacteria from adhering to the bladder walls. Thank goodness for cranberries because many of you are too young to remember, but I grew up in the dark ages. And back then, in the eighties, when you got a UTI you had to wait days to see the doctor, cry all the way to the drug store to get a prescription, and spend $40 to make it go away. It meant days of painful urination and relying on someone else to fix you. You could have taken care of it yourself right away by keeping unsweetened cranberry juice at home or the capsules, immediately curing what ails you. And teach your daughters earlier rather than later, to pee after sex, saving her/them so much pain and suffering. Maybe boys too, although I don’t have a boy, so I am not quite sure about that. But peeing clears the urinary tract of bacteria no matter what sex you are, so I would say, have at it! UTI’s are caused by bacteria getting in the urethra. So one more valuable tip, it is so important to wipe from front to back!
The last supplement is Grapefruit Seed Extract, also known as GSE. When my daughter had a boil, when my mother got dizzy from a virus, when I was tired all time: Grapefruit Seed Extract is powerful at addressing all of them. It is antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial. It can help with colds, cold sores, gingivitis, vaginal infections, helps wipe out candida, and so much more. It is a natural antibiotic. Just make sure you buy a high-quality brand like Jarrow made of all natural ingredients. It helps support the immune system and is the number one go-to supplement when illness or infection strikes. And not only that, it can be used in laundry, on surfaces to kill bacteria, in animal feed to reduce infectious diseases, and in hot tubs to reduce the amount of chlorine needed. Keep in mind, it should not be used for long periods of time as it can reduce the amounts of good bacteria in the gut. It can cause drug reactions when taken with certain drugs and should definitely not be taken with blood thinners. Also never put it in your eyes, ears, nose, or other orifices as it can irritate the sensitive areas. But I take it with me when traveling because it is a super powerful cure-all, the capsule or the liquid concentrate.
Cranberry capsules: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/nature-way-cranberry-extract-120-veggie-caps/nw-7159
Cranberry unsweetened, pure juice: https://primenow.amazon.com/dp/B000REGHME?qid=1549770560&m=A3B16BXEYQLEWZ&sr=1-3&ref_=pn_sr_sg_3_img_A3B16BXEYQLEWZ
Grapefruit Seed Extract Tablets: https://www.iherb.com/pr/NutriBiotic-Grapefruit-Seed-Extract-125-mg-100-Tablets/4214?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1sriBRD-ARIsABYdwwE-0KydSknfFPy8i3pvtREm1Z78dyQegjWA_HGVFpta-PHcQhjDGpQaAiG7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Grapefruit Seed Extract Liquid: https://www.iherb.com/pr/NutriBiotic-GSE-Grapefruit-Seed-Extract-Liquid-Concentrate-4-fl-oz-118-ml/4215
