Health truly starts in the gut, As Hippocrates stated: “all disease begins in the gut” and research has increasingly supported this claim.

What happens in the gut doesn’t stay in the gut, it affects the entire body. Our digestive system houses nearly 70% of our immune system as well as microbes that are determinant for overall health.

Symptoms of digestive distress are never fun to deal with but also indicate that the gut needs some TLC. What’s more, digestive distress is not a rare occurrence, digestive diseases affect 60 to 70 million people in the United States alone.

Our gut is extremely sensitive to external conditions such as diet, environmental toxins, and stress and can easily become overburdened by lifestyle factors. This is why nutrition and lifestyle are foundational when it comes to maintaining a healthy gut.

When the gut lining is compromised many body systems are negatively affected. Constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, discomfort, are all common symptoms of a malfunctioning gut.

Regular bowel movements are crucial for optimal health and proper functioning of the body. Many people think they have a regular poop schedule by going once to twice a week but this is far from the truth. Everyone has different schedules but optimal elimination is having one bowel movement per meal, which means up to 3 per day. This is of course a properly formed shape with no straining.

Constipation means that you are experiencing a slower transit time than usual resulting in increased storage of toxins. Three bowels or less per week is what is considered to be called “constipation” however less than one bowel movement per day is considered a problem.

So what are possible causes and contributors of constipation?

• Low stomach acid and bile output
• Reduced thyroid function
• Low fibre intake
• Stress
• Candidiasis
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Gut dysbiosis
• To little sleep
• Too much protein, fats, salt, or white flour
• Eating a Western diet of processed and refined foods

As mentioned, diet plays a big role when it comes to gut health and overcoming symptoms like constipation. Fortunately there are many ways that you can support your digestive health and get the bowels moving along by simply changing the way that you eat.

Nutritional strategies for constipation:

• Reduce/eliminate refined and processed foods
• Increase sources of fibre such as whole grains, leafy greens, oats, berries, apples, chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, lentils, beans, asparagus, celery, sweet potato, avocado
• Eat herbal bitters before your meals such as endives, radish, arugula, dandelion
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol
• Eat probiotic rich foods such as kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut
• Reduce stress levels
• Drink plenty of water

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common condition that affects the large intestine and is characterized by abdominal discomfort including cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel movements such as diarrhea or constipation, or both.

IBS represents one of the most common functional bowel disorders affecting people worldwide, and seems to impact women more than men.
Possible contributors and causes of IBS may include:

• Low stomach acid, bile, enzymes
• Dysbiosis
• Excess sugar
• Lactose and fructose intolerance
• Food allergies
• Dehydration
• Lack of fibre
• Excess fat in the diet
• Preservatives
• FODMAPS
• Stress
• Laxatives
• Aspirin like drugs (salicylic acid, ibuprofen, nsaids)
• Opiate painkillers
• Medications such as antacids, beta blockers, sleeping pills, and antidepressants
• Iron preparations
• Steroids
• Birth control pill
• Drugs
• Lack of exercise
• Abdominal operations

The good news is that IBS responds well to dietary and lifestyle changes that can help to ease symptoms and improve digestive wellness.

Natural remedies for IBS:

• Increase fibre intake slowly and gradually with foods like psyllium husks, chia seeds, flax seeds, oat fibre
• Eliminate allergens, especially dairy, wheat, and gluten
• Eliminate refined carbohydrates
• Reduce or avoid stimulants like alcohol and caffeine
• Aim for a minimum of 8-10 glasses of water/day
• Follow a low FODMAP diet
• Include probiotics in your diet
• Reduce stress
• Include herbs and spices such as fennel, peppermint, ginger, cayenne, and turmeric
• Move your body daily
• Get enough sleep

Certain foods and drinks on the other hand, can make IBS worse by increasing colonic contractions, such as alcohol, caffeine, and fatty foods.

In addition, eating foods that contain large quantities of lactose, fructose and sorbitol that are often times not well digested can increase bloating, abdominal discomfort, and gas production in those with IBS.

Certain foods can be more trigging than others for those experiencing IBS and these may include beans, legumes, dairy, cabbage, onions, wheat, and broccoli.

Move It was designed to provide a little more support for your bowels to treat occasional constipation by gently stimulating normal peristaltic action in the large intestine.

Did you know studies show that women suffer with significantly more abnormal bowel habits and constipation than men?

This is why we created Move it Intestinal Support.

This all natural, health Canada approved formula contains a 6:1 extract of Chinese rhubarb, aloe vera, marshmellow, 4:1 extract boswellia and slippery elm plus magnesium and the three extracts that make up the ayurvedic medicine known as Triphala. All these ingredients are clinically proven to alleviate constipation, and are the cornerstone of gastrointestinal and rejuvenative treatment.

Simply take 1-2 vege capsules before bed and things will get moving in no time.

Möve it is made with a 6:1 extract of Chinese rhubarb, Aloe Vera, Marshmallow, 4:1 extract, Boswellia and Slippery Elm 125 mg of Magnesium and the three extracts that make up the Ayurvedic medicine known as Triphala. All these ingredients have been scientifically formulated to alleviate intestinal discomfort.

Chinese Rhubarb: Rhubarb (also named Rhei or Dahuang), one of the most ancient and important herbs in traditional Chinese medicine and is used primarily for digestive complaints including constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, stomach pain, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, and preparation for certain GI diagnostic procedures.

Aloe Vera: Has been shown to have anti-ulcerative and anti-inflammatory benefits and is commonly used to improve gastrointestinal motility.

Marshmallow: Studies show that Marshmallow can help restore the integrity of the gut and is beneficial for other forms of inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Additionally, Marshmallow can assist in acid reflux, diarrhea and constipation.

Boswellia: Boswellia has anti-inflammatory effects and may be beneficial for people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and colitis.

Slippery Elm: Slippery elm bark is a demulcent. This means that it can soothe the lining of the stomach and intestines and reducing irritation. Recent studies have shown that slippery elm bark can possibly help treat the symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Magnesium Hydroxide: Magnesium hydroxide is in a class of medications called saline laxatives and is used to treat occasional constipation on a short-term basis.. It works by causing water to be retained with the stool which softens the stool and can increase the number of bowel movements.

Triphala: Triphala (“three fruits”) is an Ayurvedic medicine consisting of equal parts of three myrobalans. Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki, (Terminalia belerica) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula.) In Ayurveda practice, Triphala is used for indigestion, poor food assimilation, cleansing of colon, constipation.

Start by applying a small amount of a natural oil like castor oil (avoid if pregnant) or a natural lotion to your abdomen. Then start to massage your way around the belly button first working from the top left side of your belly to the bottom left, back and forth, which corresponds with the descending colon. Then massage the upper right to the upper left to lower left area of your belly from the transverse to the descending colon. Complete the massage by moving in a circular movement around your belly button and moving through the 4 different corners.

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• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32702295/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32296140/
• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome/treatment
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2002.01157.x
• https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2009.0090
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4928727/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204705/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4586556/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3902605/
• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/digestive-diseases