magnesium

[Proton Soup]

now, as many of you may know, magnesium is a common remedy for constipation. this generally comes in one of two flavors, magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) or magnesium citrate (those little soda-looking bottles you drink that cost about $2). both of these remedies are fairly cheap, if not explosively unpleasant.

however, i have found that, at least for me, it doesn't have to be all or none. i can modulate stool hardness by simply supplementing with either magnesium sulphate or magnesium citrate. sulphate is probably the cheapest, you dissolve a little in a glass of water and drink. citrate can be the more convenient alternative as you can get magnesium citrate pills. i use NOW brand which cost about $9 over-the-counter for 100 200mg pills. as little as 50% of the US RDA makes things smoother for me. YMMV.

[Mark N]

With my continuing problems I have been thinking about using magnesium citrate. It is good to hear of your success with it and I will look into the sulfate.

[BrierRose]

Very nice post. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful information.

[Jim59]

Colyte is an older Rx, now available in generic, that once was very popular for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopies is excellent. I had recent orthopedic surgery requiring both Percocet and morphine for pain relief. Opiates constipate me terribly, but using Colyte every 3 or 4 days kept me clean and moving. Miralax is supposed to be the non-Rx strength of Colyte. The stuff really works and keeps your electrolytes in balance.

[Smithc]

I take magnesium over the counter supplements, in a pill form w/my other vitamins. Works great for me. I take more when I need to and less when I don't, if you get my drift.

Apparently alot of us are magnesium deficient because over the decades, humankind has depleted the mineral from the soil, so it is no longer in our food that grows in the soil.

I did hear that capsules tend to work better than regular pills. Not sure why.