A nutritionist has revealed an easy breakfast hack to combat constipation and boost energy levels. Constipation, a common digestive problem, is especially prevalent in women, occurring up to three times more often than in men.
It is often exacerbated during pregnancy due to hormonal shifts. The condition is also more common in people over 60 and can become chronic for some, often worsening with travel or changes in routine.
Fortunately, there are home remedies and specific foods that can help relieve these uncomfortable symptoms, The Mirror reports. In the podcast With Ginger and Lemon, nutritionist Sandra Moñino (@nutricionat_) and journalist María Pérez Espín (@mariapespin) offer practical food and nutrition advice, including tips to tackle constipation naturally.
In one episode, Moñino offers a quick trick to prevent constipation: add a spoonful of coconut oil to your coffee or take it on an empty stomach in the morning.
For people who prefer to work out before meals, this can not only aid in digestion but also provide them more energy. “And if you mix it with salt or bicarbonate, it also serves as an exfoliant in the shower to remove impurities,” adds Espín.
In another video, they offer more tips and uses for this product, such as strengthening or moisturising our hair. “When we need to wash our hair, we take the ends and hydrate them as if it were a mask; just like we do with hair masks, we do with our coconut oil,” explains Moñino.
It’s as easy as putting your hair in a bun and washing it again in two or three hours. Moñino adds: “It looks wonderful, hydrated, shiny and with that vitality we often seek.”
Moñino also says that coconut oil is useful for moisturising “elbows, knees or feet”, areas that tend “to dehydrate and become rough.” And she revealed that she uses it for mouthwash, which can help with halitosis.
She says: “For example, mouthwash contains ingredients that are not beneficial for our oral microbiota because it kills all the good and bad bacteria in our mouth. So coconut oil helps us eliminate those bad bacteria.”
However, it’s important to remember to dispose of coconut oil in the bin. “We know that it’s liquid when it’s warm, but in winter, it starts to solidify. When it solidifies, it clogs pipes,” Moñino warns.
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