Rhythm and Health

New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 796, 22 October 1954, Page 26

Rhythm and Health

This is the text of a talk on health broadcast recently from ZB, YA and YZ stations of the NZBS by

DR.

H. B.

TURBOTT

Deputy-

Director-General of Health

’M tackling a tough topic today-con-stipation. It’s tough because sufferers think of medicines. Unfortunately, it’s not medicines that are wanted, but education, or re-education. Constipation is treated by medicines. It is prevented by eating plenty of vegetables and other foods with roughage and vitamin Bl, by regular exercise, and regular habits. Medicines will get rid of accumulations, but they'll return unless there is a change in the way of living. If you’ve taught your bowel to rely on medicines, the job of re-education is tough and slow: But there’s no permanent cure in the many patent medicines used by the human race -only disappointment in the long run. Switch to this; swap to that medicine. Even try so-called inner cleanliness through bowel washouts! There’s nothing but frustration these ways, for there’s no cure for habitual constipation in medicines. The daily elimination of waste depends on rhythmical muscular action in the bowel walls. It’s an autonomic action, directed by nerves independent of the consciousness. The action can be guided to regular times by training. Any meal stimulates the bowel muscles to action, and pushes the food along. The last part of the large intestine is expanded as the rectum. As it fills, the nerves tell the brain and a message is sent back to empty. Breakfast increases the urge firstly in the day; there are further urges after the next meals. Beginning early in life it is wise to train ourselves to respond at the morning call, In our complex modern life this is the simplest routine. It doesn’t really matter when, so long as it’s the same time each day. Nor does it really matter if some people last two days or three! For the majority, the need is once daily for getting rid of body wastes. The task is to educate the bowel to respond regularly at the same time, whether it’s a one day or longer periodicity. The earlier this regu- | larity is established, the better. It’s easy | for the adult if trained as a child. If | the training has never been done, go to ‘it! Aim at once a day-or once in two or more for some-at the same time. It’s a rhythm of action that’s needed.

If you've lost this rhythm, or never had it, medicines will neither restore it nor make it. It’s self education and training that’s called for! Now there’s something that helps the muscles of the bowel walls to push the food remnants along rhythmically. That’s having enough roughage and bulkiness in the food, also enough vitamin B1, and enough water. The bowel muscles perform best when there’s something to push against. Relaxing foods are those with roughage-all the leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage and cauliflower, and other vegetables such as tomatoes, asparagus, onions, beans and peas, All the fruits, and dried fruits such as raisins and prunes. Also wholemeal foods, oatmeal and bran foods. The bowel muscles also need food with vitamin Bl. They have a stimulating action on _ intestinal muscles. The richest vitamin Bl foods are wholegrain cereals, wheat germ, bacon and pork, milk, liver and kidney, ordinary meats, potatoes, dried peas, beans and lentils, brewers’ yeast. The vegetables for roughage also have some vitamin B1. As to water, drink more if constipated. A glass before breakfast and at night, and three during the day. Exercise comes into the picture. Have’ you not noticed a tendency to constipation when on a long boat or aeroplane trip, and day and after day the exercise is minimal? The diet is adequate in the respects already described, the daily call is there, but there’s constipation. It’s a fact that general exercise tones up the body, including abdominal muscles. Constipated folk can help themselves by special exercises. One such is to lie flat on the back and pull the tummy muscles in tightly. Hold them as near to flat as a board as you can. Let them go. Hold them in again, If necessary help with your hands. Do it a dozen times first, then fifteen times next day, till you reach twenty-four times twice a day. a . For constipation-pills, purges, laxatives! No! Not pills and potions for bowel laziness, but rhythm, right eating and exercise for regular action, — enema