Modern Organic Blog

A common problem affecting people in the present day sedentary lifestyle is Constipation. It is not therefore surprising to see how hugely popular laxatives are. Laxatives are drugs, food items, or any other lubricant substance, used to stimulate bowel movements, mostly to treat constipation. While Laxatives help remove the undigested food material present in the colon and large intestine, their high dosage can result in diarrhea.

The link between the use of laxatives and birth control pill effectiveness

There is not enough medical evidence on the direct link between the use of laxatives and the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, as a general understanding, if laxatives cause diarrhea, they may hamper the effectiveness of the birth control pill on the body. There is a possibility of getting pregnant then, as the pill may not be absorbed the way it would have, if one did not have laxatives induced diarrhea and vomiting. It has been observed that if there is vomiting within two hours of taking the pill, one should consider it as a missed pill. In addition, if one has three or more loose bowel motions for a couple of days, the efficacy of the pills may decline.

The Castor example: A laxative and birth control measure

Castor seeds are used to produce Castor oil, which while being a strong laxative, also has the ability to induce labor in pregnant women. Given this potential ability of stimulating the uterus, it may also give the effects of a birth control mechanism. Although the effects are not proven, there is a possibility of research in its effectiveness both, as a birth control method and a laxative.

Healthier alternatives

While the exact link between birth control pills and laxatives is not yet proven, it is important to understand that taking laxatives for a long period is not a great idea, and is certainly not good for your intestines. What may start as a cure for mild constipation can turn out to be a vicious cycle of over dependence on laxatives! If constipation is troubling you and you take birth control pills, it may be a better idea to improve your overall lifestyle than relying on laxatives. One can switch to better healthier alternatives. Try out the following:

Exercise: Regular exercise and workout will keep your whole body functioning well and in shape too.

Eat a healthy diet: Eating a fiber rich diet with lots of salads and legumes is a great idea to stimulate your intestines and ensure the removal of waste matter.

Drink plenty of water: The ultimate natural body cleanser is and always will be water. It helps flush out toxins from your colon and intestines.

Finally, in case you still have problems with constipation and are on birth control pills, a visit to the doctor would be the best bet!

Thanks to the 'Organic' labels -the consumers can now spare themselves the trouble of going through the list of ingredients on a product's packet in order to decide whether it is organic or not. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced a few national standards that need to be met before companies can use the term "organic" for their food items. Any product labeled 'Organic' assures that it is created without the use of artificial hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, bio energy, or irradiation. The farmers involved in the agriculture of organic foods are not only required to abide by certain water and soil conservation mechanisms, but also need to give a benign treatment to animals.

The Definition of Organic

It may be strange yet interesting to note that marking a food item as organic does not necessarily indicate that the food is healthful and nutritive. The USDA does not claim that food produced organically has more salubrious benefits than conventional food, but it does assure that such foods do not contain any pesticides or harmful chemicals. Therefore, the picky consumers, who pay a lot of heed to nutritional values of everything they eat, are still required to read labels attentively in order to decide how nutritious their diet is going to be. Another interpretation conveys that the term 'organic' does not mean 'natural.' All it means is that USDA has approved the food.

USDA's Steps towards Creating Organic Foods

These days, the USDA makes the use of state and private agencies in order to carry out inspections on food companies to certify them to market organic foods. However, all the farmers making less than $5000 through organic sales are exempted from the process of certification. They do however, have to comply with the latest standards of the government and be veracious about their claims for organic label. A fine, as large as $10,000, can be issued upon the companies and individuals, who try to label or sell a product, which does not meet the USDA standards.

The Benefits of Organic Foods over Conventional Foods

The best thing about organic foods is that they comprise of less amounts of minerals. Most of the other foods contain heavy metals, detrimental to our health in the end. These metals include aluminum, which is responsible for Alzheimer's disease; Mercury, which causes neurological damage; and lead, the mental implications of which are known to affect children's IQ adversely.

Therefore, in a world where nothing can be trusted for complete purity, the consumption of foods, certified as organic can certainly define your path towards a healthier lifestyle.