Throughout our lives, our weight fluctuates. For those wanting to lose weight, seeing that number on the scales up from the week before can be disheartening, but it’s important to remember that that number measures more than just muscle and fat. So, what else could be contributing to our weight?

Our weight oscillates month by month, day by day, and even hour by hour, and changes in fat are rarely the cause. In fact, our weight is also a measure of our bones, organs, bodily fluids, and waste. So, if you’re constipated, your weight is likely to go up until your body releases everything that’s causing you to be ‘backed up’.

Does constipation cause weight gain?

In short, yes and no. Constipation and weight gain are linked, as factors contributing to constipation, bloating and fullness can cause weight gain, but constipation itself is only likely to cause an increase in weight in the short term (a matter of a few hundred grams per day) until your constipation eases.

Culprits causing constipation, such as a lack of hydration, poor diet, and lack of exercise can contribute to your weight. These can cause your metabolism to slow, meaning you could gain weight quicker.

How can we prevent constipation?

Keep hydrated

Make sure to drink plenty of water each day. Water increases the softness of stool, so the less hydrated you are, the harder your stools can be, resulting in constipation. If you’re not a fan of water, try adding some fruit, and if keeping tabs on how much you’re drinking is a problem, try pre-measured bottles. It’s also recommended to stay clear of soft drinks.

Increase fiber

Increasing your fiber intake is a natural way to ease constipation, gas, and bloating. Fibre works by cleansing the colon and moving waste through your digestive system. A lack of fiber can slow your digestion down, leaving you ‘backed up’ for longer. Aim to get around 30 grams of fiber into your body per day.

Here are some foods that increase fiber:

• wholewheat cereal (such as Weetabix)
• wholegrain cereal (such as Shredded wheat)
• porridge oats
• wholemeal and granary bread
• wholewheat pasta
• bulgar grains
• pulses, such as beans and lentils
• fresh fruit and vegetables
• unsalted nuts and seeds

Stay active

Muscle tone, particularly those in the diaphragm and abdomen, is crucial in the process of going to the toilet. Spending long periods of time sitting can slow digestion and cause constipation, so in order to ease bloating, try to keep things moving. As guidance, adults should aim to do around 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, such as walking or cycling.

When does constipation become a concern?

If you’re noticing that you are frequently constipated, bloated or full, there could be an underlying issue that might be contributing to weight gain. If you have tried to self-remedy your constipation with limited success, it’s important to speak to your doctor or another medical professional to determine if it’s being caused by something else.

Some possible causes

When temperatures peak, our wellbeing can suffer. Here are five tips for taking care of your mental health during heatwaves

There are a lot of pros when it comes to hot, sunny weather. It’s a chance to get our vitamin D levels (a really good mood booster), to slow down, and to get outside. But, when the thermometer tips over a comfortable point, and we don’t have an easy way to cool off, we can find ourselves feeling flustered, sluggish, and irritable.

So, what can we do to make sure that we take care of our mental health during heat waves and hot weather? Try following these tips:

1. Consider your medication

Certain types of mental health medications – tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotics, including amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, mianserin, and trazodone – can impair the part of the brain responsible for temperature regulation. This can mean that you’re more at risk of overheating, and so should take extra precautions in hot weather. If this applies to you, it’s always worth checking in with your GP or mental health team.

In the same vein, medication generally needs to be stored at room temperature – which is about 25°C – and can start to lose potency if the temperature drastically exceeds that. Generally, most medications will make it through heat waves without a problem, But watch out for changes in colour, taste, or structure, and if you’re in any doubt reach out to your pharmacist.

2. Stay hydrated

You probably didn’t need us to tell you that you need to drink more water when it’s hot, but did you know just how important staying hydrated is for our brain function? Drinking enough water has been linked to lower rates of anxiety and depression, but it can also help you stave off brain fog, and help you stay more alert – with studies showing that just being dehydrated by 2% impairs things like memory and focusing on your daily tasks.

3. Understand your feelings

You’ve probably experienced it yourself, but studies have shown a link between hot weather and heightened emotions, particularly anger and hostility. The heat can interfere with the processes that regulate our mood, and we may find that we respond to things in ways we wouldn’t do normally – such as snapping at loved ones, road rage, and quickly escalating disagreements.

If you’ve noticed this is happening, you’re well on your way to taking control. By identifying that we’re not behaving in a way we would normally do, we’re able to take a step back and really assess the situation and put it in perspective. Try to communicate with those around you, let them know that you might be more prickly than normal, and try to keep your cool if you notice others going through the same thing. This could be a good time to amp up your self-care practices or to vent in a journal.

4. Try to get some sleep

Trust us, we know it’s easier said than done, but when we’re not getting enough

We’ve all heard of the baby blues. But do you know the warning signs of the baby pinks?

Welcoming a new baby into the world is a life-changing time. Emotions running high, excitement abounds, anticipation at the new, tiny person who will be joining your family. Yet for many of us, the journey isn’t without its challenges.

Most of us who have given birth will have been warned about the baby blues. According to the UK National Screening Committee, as many as eight in 10 women experience the baby blues following the birth of their child, while it’s thought around 30% of new parents will experience postpartum depression.

What are the baby blues? Everything you need to know

Typically lasting up to two weeks, most of us will experience a mild case of the baby blues. We may feel emotional, irrational or overwhelmed. We may get tearful, irritable, or moody, or feel down or anxious without knowing why. While the exact cause of the baby blues isn’t known, it’s thought that the rapidly changing hormone levels following birth, combined with the lack of sleep and increased pressure at looking after a newborn baby may be significant contributing factors.

For most people who give birth, symptoms will pass within a few days. Having the support of friends and family can help some people, giving them the chance to talk over how they are feeling. For others, putting a temporary ban on new visitors can be more helpful, so they can feel like they have breathing space to bond with their baby without feeling overwhelmed.

If your symptoms begin to get worse, you start to have thoughts about harming yourself or your baby, or your symptoms don’t begin to ease after two weeks, it could be a sign of postpartum depression. Speaking with your midwife if you haven’t yet been discharged, your health visitor, or GP should be the next step towards finding the right kind of help for you. If you’re worried about your or your baby’s safety, seek help immediately.

But what about the baby pinks? What are they, how do they affect those who have given birth, and do you need to seek help if you’re showing signs?

What are the baby pinks?

Also known as postpartum euphoria and postpartum hypomania, around one in 10 women and people who give birth will experience the baby pinks. When people talk about the baby pinks, they are referring to feelings of extreme euphoria or mild mania experienced by some people who have given birth. You may feel like you are overly full of energy, or like you don’t need to sleep. Others may notice that you are talking too fast, aren’t able to consentrate, or your behaviour seems impulsive or otherwise unusual.

While the effects of the baby pinks can last for around six to eight weeks, some may experience it for a week or two. Counsellor and midwife Samantha Phillis explains more about the baby blues and baby pinks.

Whether it’s dealing with another yeast infection, feeling like you constantly have UTIs, or trying to figure out what your discharge means, understanding vaginal health is really important. Here, Jenna Farmer chats to the experts to help you get the lowdown ‘down there’

Whatever you might have read online about vaginal steaming or douching (seriously, don’t do it!), your vagina is pretty clever at keeping itself healthy and clean all by itself. However, many of us find ourselves dealing with common health issues, which, while not usually serious, can be really uncomfortable. About 75% of us are thought to have had thrush – also called a yeast infection – at least once in our lifetime, and, by the age of 24, nearly one third of females will have had at least one episode of cystitis, which affects our bladder, but can also be linked to our vaginal bacteria – more on that in a moment.

These don’t just impact our physical health, but our mental health too. One study in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology found psychological stress was significantly related to the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, a common condition that causes unusual discharge. Topics like vaginal discharge and needing to urinate can also increase our anxiety, worry, and embarrassment about seeking help or speaking about these issues, meaning we might try to self-treat without talking to a professional. Another study from Saint Louis University, in Missouri, found that this can cause real problems, with up to three out of four women being found to treat themselves for a yeast infection that they didn’t actually have.

It’s important to remember that these are common, normal complaints. Here, we’re chatting to the experts to get their tips.

Vaginal discharge: what’s normal?

Everybody gets vaginal discharge, and it’s actually a really good sign that your body is working as it should. This discharge is your vagina’s way of naturally self-cleaning, and the type and quantity of discharge varies from person to person; some people notice it more at certain times of their menstrual cycle, while others may need to use pantyliners on a daily basis.

Nearly all types of discharge are perfectly normal, but if your discharge is accompanied by an unpleasant smell or a change in its colour and texture, it could be a sign of a yeast or bacterial infection. The main thing to watch out for is a ‘change’ – a sign that something is out of the ordinary for you personally.

How can you tackle yeast and bacterial infections?

Yeast infections, or thrush as we often call them, are really common – in fact, some of us may have the Candida bacteria which causes yeast infections, without any symptoms at all. If you notice your discharge is of a white, cottage-cheese like texture, along with vaginal itching or burning, chances are you’ll have a yeast infection, which can be caused by anything from being run down to your contraceptive.

“Fungal yeast