What’s Your Gut Feeling? The Scoop on Digestion

 

by Becki Baumgartner

Symptoms and Factors that Contribute to Poor Digestion 

In today’s fast paced world automatic processes like digestion are often overlooked, if not forgotten.  But think about it…if a body could not digest, how would it survive?  Now think a little more.  If digestion is limited, does it not make sense that quality of life might be limited as well?  Believe it or not, digestive health is the foundation of overall physical health. 

Most people are aware that the following symptoms are caused by poor digestion. 

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Poor Appetite
• Gas, Bloating and Cramping
• Foul Breath 

But many are not aware that the following can also be signs of digestive distress. 

• Irritability, Depression and Anxiety
• Sluggishness and Fatigue
• Frequent Skin Infections and Acne
• Stiff Shoulders or Low Backache
• Chronic Aches and Pains
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Poor Hair, Nail and Skin Quality
• Weakened Immunity
• Weight Gain 

These symptoms can indicate deteriorated intestinal conditions and may be a warning signal of failing health. Poor digestion affects overall health and well being.  Well being is closely tied to digestion and elimination.  Digestion is needed to provide the body with energy and nutrients, and elimination is needed to remove toxins.  If either of these processes is slowed for any reason, the body will either be shortchanged on nutrients, overloaded with toxic waste, or possibly both. 

Some contributing factors to digestive complaints are: 

• Poor Diet
• Overuse of Antibiotics
• Chronic Infections
• Food Intolerances
• Stress
• Heavy Metal Toxicity
• Lack of Proper Enzymes
• Low Hydrochloric Acid 

Poor Digestion Cheats Your Body of the Basic Necessities 

Carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vitamins are necessary to maintain health.  When digestion is not working properly,  important nutrients may not be properly processed and used for basic body functions. 

Carbohydrates provide energy, and is necessary for protein to be digested.  When present in the system, carbohydrates also enable the use of protein for regeneration and repair. Carbohydrates also provide the blood with glucose via digestion to provide energy for the muscles, organs and tissues. 

Protein has many functions, the many being that it provides a secondary energy source.  In order to grow, repair injuries, create new tissues, and regulate water balance, protein must be present in the body. Protein is the building block for major organs, blood and clotting, skin, muscles, hair, nails, hormones, enzymes and antibodies.  The acid/alkaline balance of the blood is also maintained with protein. 

Fats are yet another energy source which is vital for health but needed only in small amounts.  Fats supply essential fatty acids help maintain healthy skin, regulate cholesterol metabolism, are the precursors to prostaglandins, carry and aid in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins.  Fasts supply more energy than protein and carbohydrates, since it has nine calories per gram and the others only four. 

Vitamins are necessary for life, but cannot be use as a food source because they have no calories.  Growth, development, metabolic processes, digestion and assimilation and other body functions depend on vitamins.  Vitamins act as catalysts for various chemical processes within the body. 

Kitchen Spices Aid Digestion 

Simply adding the following to foods while cooking can help aid digestion and absorption of nutrients. 

• Fenugreek helps maintain a good metabolism and prevents constipation.
• Ginger stimulates blood flow to the digestive organs and helps relieve nausea and bloating.
• Coriander strengthens the stomach and helps relieve flatulence.
• Chilies increase the absorption of non-heme iron from other ingredients in a meal.
• Turmeric aids in reducing hyper-acidity and indigestion.
• Cloves help relieve gastric irritability and dyspepsia by promoting enzymatic flow and boosting digestive functioning.
• Cinnamon relieves nausea and stimulates gastric and digestive juices.
• Black Pepper has a stimulating effect on digestive organs and causes and increased flow of saliva.
• Cardamom relieves flatulence and strengthens digestive activities. 

Supplements Help Support the Digestive System When the Body Needs A Little Extra Help 

Many times the body is weakened by poor diet, stress, illness, environment, and other situations that one experiences from day to day.  When the body can’t produce on its own or obtain from the diet what it necessary for well being, supplements can be of great assistance.  Supplements are available to aid digestion and can be found at most health food stores and many drugstores.  They are usually administered in capsule form, liquid form, or teas.  These supplements are labeled with instructions that should be carefully followed, and professional assistance requested if recommended. The following supplements are excellent in aiding the digestive system. 

• Food Enzymes help break down food components for absorption into the bloodstream. Some enzymes are produced by the body and some are found in foods.  If the body is under stress or if a great deal of processed food is eaten, the body may be lacking in the enzymes needed to properly to digest food.
• Probiotics are the “healthy bacteria” in the intestinal tract. These perform essential functions in the body and are adversely affected by aging, intestinal pH, antibiotics, stress, immune response, physiological factors, and acids in the body.
• Psyllium Hulls or Husks add essential fiber to the diet and help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
• Aloe Vera Gel soothes the tissues lining the digestive tract and contains many biologically active compounds that support the digestion and absorption of food and nourish the intestinal system, and can help soothe IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
• Triphala cleanses and tones the intestinal tract, corrects constipation, promotes detoxification of the entire body, and promotes elimination. It is very helpful in ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome, and also helps high blood pressure and hypertension, and to improve circulation.
• Yellow Dock has a mild laxative effect and stimulates the release of bile and digestive enzymes.
• Ginger helps calm a sour stomach, improves digestion and helps the body efficiently move out wastes.
• Marshmallow Root helps relieve diarrhea and constipation.
• Slippery Elm Bark  is a plant with much mucilage and helps relieve digestive upsets and problems, diarrhea and constipation.
• Senna is useful for occasional acute constipation. It is not recommended during pregnancy, and prolonged use may cause a dependency. 

Poor Elimination Blocks Nutrients and Overloads the System with Toxins 

A slow colon minimizes proper nutrient absorption because slow moving waste matter creates a block between the intestinal walls and the nutrients. You may be eating healthy enough foods, but your body is not absorbing the nutrients because of this block.  This may also cause signals to be sent to the brain requesting more nutrients (making you hungry) and thus cause weight gain. Another concern is that this slow moving fecal matter becomes toxic. These toxins not only cause digestive disorders, but can also spread to the rest of the body if the condition persists. This can affect overall health, contributing to chronic and systemic ailments. An unhealthy colon is also creates an inviting home for parasites, which produce more toxins, increasing the amount of toxins the body must endure. 

A Colon Cleanse Will Provide a Fresh Start 

Digestive health can easily be improved by performing a simple colon cleanse.  Many health food stores and supplement suppliers provide pre-packaged colon cleanses, or one can simply be created by following the instructions below. 

Note:  Do not perform a colon cleanse if you are pregnant or nursing OR if you have any major medical complications or take prescription medications. Check with your health practitioner. 

The following items are needed to create a colon cleanse: 

• Psyllium Husks
• Herbal Laxative Tea
• Probiotics 

Psyllium husk will provide bulk, extract toxins, and help to move everything out of the digestive tract.  These can be purchased from almost any drugstore or health food store and are available in loose or encapsulated form. Metamucil is a common brand of psyllium husk.  Follow the directions on the package and any recommendations provided.  It is normal to experience a small amount of gas and/or bloating at first.

Herbal Laxative Tea taken at night will work through the night and gently aid elimination in the morning.  These teas can also be found in many drugstores and health food stores.  Some even contain herbs that will eliminate parasites. After the psyllium husk has been in your system all day working to clean out accumulated toxins and dried fecal matter, the herbal laxative tea will flush  everything out of the intestines in the morning. Some natural laxative herbals and/or anti-parasitic herbals are senna leaf, chamomile flower, peppermint leaf, fennel seed, cinnamon bark, ginger root, milk thistle seed, passion fruit, licorice root, rhubarb stem, and barberry.

Probiotics will restore beneficial bacteria to the digestive system.  These bacteria should be present in the intestines naturally, but colon cleansing may remove them creating the need for replacement.  Antibiotics also destroy the good bacteria needed for a healthy colon.  Probiotic supplements available in health food stores, and beneficial bacteria is also plentiful in natural yogurt.  

Water is very important during a colon cleanse.  It is important to drink plenty of water while doing your cleanse.  This will help flush out toxins and prevent digestive system disorders. 

Lifestyle Changes Will Build and Maintain Digestive Health

Small changes made over a period time can result in dramatic health improvements.  Many small changes can be made now to improve digestive health leading to improved overall health.

Some small changes with huge payoffs are:

• Drinking plenty of water.  Adequate fluid intake is a necessity for digestion.  If not enough water is consumed, the body will obtain the fluids it needs by extracting them from the waste material in the colon.  This will make the stools hard and dry, and slow down digestion metabolism, possibly to the point of toxicity.  A good recommendation to body weight in pounds by two, and drink that many ounces of water per day.
• Eating fresh veggies, fruit, and other raw foods.  Fresh veggies and fruits will provide enzymes that aid in digestion, as well as natural fiber, fluid, and vitamins that are easily accessible for metabolism.  Raw foods (foods not cooked over 116 degrees) are a wonderful source of naturally occurring enzymes. Cooking foods above 116 degrees destroys all enzymes.
• Eating  Enough Fiber.  Fiber helps regulate the digestive system whether you have diarrhea or constipation by helping to normalize the transit time. Eating fiber-rich foods help to move waste material through the intestine.  Fiber also absorbs fluids along the way, this helps in constipation by softening the stools as they pass through, and in diarrhea by absorbing the excess fluid thereby making the stools more solid.  Fiber also helps normalize blood sugar levels.
• Getting Plenty of Exercise. Stretching and aerobic exercise can help eliminate trapped gasses in the intestine.  Certain types of exercise, such as yoga can increase blood flow to the digestive tract and encourage peristalsis.  Core workouts will strengthen the muscles used in digestion and having strong core muscles frees up some abdominal space.  Aerobic exercises in general will speed up metabolic processes.
• Avoiding Processed Foods.  Many of the essential nutrients your body needs for digestion are removed during the processing.  Processed foods take much longer to digest, and some processed foods my not be fully broken down.
• Eliminating Stress. Stress affects digestion in a couple of ways.  Being stressed sends signals to the brain to release chemicals, and these chemicals often cause the digestive tract to be more sensitive, and to twitch and cramp.  Stress may also cause people to indulge in eating items that are not so healthful, adding to the stress placed on the digestion.
• Eating Slowly and Chewing Thoroughly. Eating more slowly gives the stomach more time to start digesting the food, and thoroughly chewing allows the enzymes in the saliva to do their work before the food reaches the stomach.  By slowing down eating, more time is provided to send signals of fullness to the brain, and can aid in weight loss.

ORDER NUTRITIONAL SUPPLIES FROM NATURES SUNSHINE

NATURE’S SUNSHINE nutritional products are standardized and undergo 500+ quality control tests to assure the purity and quality of every item.

Sources: 

• All4NaturalHealth.com. (n.d.). Preventing Digestive System Disorders – How Healthy is Your Gut? Retrieved August 2, 2010 from http://www.all4naturalhealth.com/digestive-system-disorders.html
• Eliopoulos, C. (2004). Invitation to Holistic Health. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
• Gladstar, R. (2008). Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. Adams, MA: Storey Publishing.
• Life Mojo. (n.d.). 10 Kitchen Spices with Healing Power. Retrieved August 1, 2010 from http://www.lifemojo.com/lifestyle/10-kitchen-spices-with-healing-power-3852125
• Regenerative Nutrition. (n.d.). Digestion Problems. Retrieved August 2, 2010 from http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/natural-supplements-cure-digestive-problems.asp
• Tierra, M. (1998.) The Way of Herbs. New York: Pocket Books.
• Yoga Health and Healing. (n.d.). Digestive Health.  Retrieved August 3, 2010 from http://www.yogahealthandhealing.com/articles-on-health-and-wellness/nutrition/43-digestive-health.html

Related Links

• $5 VITAMIN SALE!! Plus get FREE SHIPPING on ANY ORDER!. Coupon Code FREE5
• Essential Wholesale:  Wholesale Prices on Essential Oils – No Membership Needed!
• Great Deals and FREE SHIPPING at Dr. Leonards – America’s Leading Online Health Care Catalog!
• Health Improvement:  Use Sound Therapy to Improve Your Health
• Herbal Remedy Cures eBook
• Marharishi Ayurveda: Herbal Remedies and Supplements Produced Through Vedic Tradition and Knowledge
• Shop at MotherNature.com for Great Deals on Thousands of Health & Wellness Products!
• Standardized Herbs: Nature’s Sunshine Utilizes over 600 Tests to Guarantee the Quality of Herbs, Supplements, Essential Oils and Other Natural Health Care Products!
• Self Sufficient Life Website
• Super Antioxidant Juice MonaVie for a daily dose of Acai – the highest rated antioxidant currently known on the planet!
• Ultimate Guide to Vitamins and Minerals Book Info

Disclaimer: The statements in this article are for educational purposes only and have not been evaluated by or sanctioned by the FDA. Only your doctor can properly diagnose and treat any disease or disorder. The remedies discussed herein are not meant to treat or cure any type of disease. The user understands that the above information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or a pharmacist.