Five Natural Remedies for IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome encompasses many symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal tract and is much more disruptive than pain and discomfort when attempting bowel movement. For some it is pain every day and can be all day. Moreover, abdominal pain, or alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea may accompany this syndrome. Here are 5 natural remedies to try for IBS.

1. Avoid emotional stress and pressures as this can bring on severe bouts.
2. A high-fiber diet can help alleviate the symptoms.
3. Keep a diary of what you eat and drink to determine the cause of pain. This is your number one plan of attack for future comfort.
4. Peppermint capsules can reduce the pain and bloating.
5. Probiotics have been shown to reduce not only abdominal pain and bloating, but allow for easy bowel movement as well.

Saucy Watermelon Quarters

This is perfect for the hot, summer day dessert. Fresh and sweet, but not heavy. Plus, we all love a make-ahead recipe!

Ingredients:

4 slices watermelon (3/4 inch thick)
3 medium pears, peeled
1/3 cup sugar free apple juice
2 cups blackberries

Instructions:

Chill the watermelon slices. While watermelon is chilling, peel and slice pears into 4 pieces each. Be sure to remove the cores. Pour the apple juice into blender and add pears. Blend until pureed. Remove watermelon slices and cut each slice into quarters. Remove the seeds and rind. Place watermelon quarters on large plate. Pour pear sauce over the watermelon slices. Arrange the blackberries decoratively on top. Serve cold.

Lighter Guac

Guacamole a Little on the Lite Side

Ingredients:

1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
1 ripe avocado, peeled and cut in chunks
1 tomato, peeled and chopped

Instructions:

In a food processor add onion, salt, lemon or lime juice, cottage cheese, garlic, cayenne pepper, and avocado. Blend until smooth. Pour into a bowl and gently stir in the chopped tomato. Cover with plastic wrap allowing the plastic to actually touch the entire surface of the guacamole.

Potluck Bean Salad

I love this salad because I can fix it so far ahead and in the mornings when it’s too warm to cook.

Ingredients:
2 cups canned butter beans
2 cups canned kidney beans
2 cups canned green beans
2 cups yellow beans
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup red onions, chopped
1/4 cup red pepper, chopped
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp celery seeds

Method:
Add all drained cans of beans to a large serving bowl. Add chopped celery, pepper and onion and gently stir.

Pasta with Summer Veggies

Ingredients:

1/3 cup chopped green onion
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 teaspoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules
1 cup uncooked semolina pasta
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 medium yellow summer squash, chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Saute stirring often, until onions are translucent.

2. Add water and bring to a boil. Once boiling add chicken bouillon. Be sure to stir often so that the bouillon will completely dissolve.

Calling All Weight Loss/Fitness Bloggers

It’s safe to say that I’m working on the growth of Busy Momma Wellness and this means visiting others. Do you have a blog about your personal weight loss and fitness? I’d love to add you to my feedreader. Just make a quick comment here with your biggest challenge and include your blog in your profile. Only personal weight loss and fitness blogs will be approved so don’t bother spamming me with your weight loss product links please

Also, if you are looking for a guest blogger I’d be happy to talk about a topic your readers would enjoy reading more about.

Having to Modify Training

I’d like to have everyone say hello to my friend Murphy. You know, the one that created Murphy’s Law!

I’ve been excited this week, got a jump start on training, wrote out my training schedule for the next 14 weeks and then was dealt a blow…walking pneumonia. I only got 12.3 miles out of my 20 planned. It was difficult, but I just figured that was because of my allergies that have been horrible for weeks due to our horrible weather and mild winter. Alas, it is partly from it. All the drainage from my allergies helped cause it.

Day 3 of Half Marathon Training

I posted last night that this week is a minimum of 20 miles. On Monday I ran 5 and Tuesday I ran 2.8. Today is a rest day. I’m going to run my 10k route tomorrow so I want to let my knees rest a little. Plus today has been very busy with work and errands.

Half Marathon Training

Well it’s just under 15 weeks until my first half marathon. 13 miles is going to be a long way and my goal is NOT to just finish it. I want to do it in a decent time. Decent time to me would be a 10 minute or under mile for that far of a distance. Hubby, friends and I did the Sound to Narrows a week ago and with all the hills (was unprepared for how hilly) I finished the 12k with an 11:38 mile. Wasn’t impressed with my run and it’s given me motivation for this half marathon.

Nutrition is Essential for Fitness

Nutrition is essential in order for you to stay fit, healthy and well balanced internally. Your body uses over 45 different types of nutrients, each nutrient is used in a separate way; from creation of new cells and tissues to helping create energy. In order to optimize your muscle and fitness levels it is important to understand how nutrients work and affect your body as well as your everyday life.

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