People in industrialized societies suffer
from the highest incidences of digestive and colon problems. Constipation and poor digestion are epidemics
in this country. Concern for colon and
digestive health is often never a thought because people are often unaware of
what is going on inside of them. “Over
the counter” drug sales for colon and digestive problems is a “multimillion”
dollar industry.
There are five characteristics of a poorly functioning colon:
1) Moving bowels less than 2-3
times a day.
2) Straining to pass your bowel
contents.
3) Having a hard stool that
sinks to the bottom.
4) Chronic diarrhea, loose
stool, or constipation.
5) Excess gas, bloating, and
abdominal cramping.
Digestion problems and heartburn are on the
rise because the majority of people are chronically dehydrated, eat too fast, chew poorly, and their enzyme bank has been
depleted due to over consumption of cooked and processed foods. If food is not digested properly, the small
bowel needs to produce mucus to further break down the food and protect the
lining of the small bowel. When food is
poorly digested, you do not get the nutrients out of the food you are eating. The mucus production also blocks the absorption
of nutrients from your small bowel. When
you don’t absorb nutrients, your body’s cells are depleted, and they will
eventually become diseased. Poorly
digested food and the mucus produced to deal with it will congest your
bowel. A congested bowel often puts
pressure on the stomach, which may push up into your esophagus stimulating
heartburn. Caffeinated drinks also
stimulate heartburn. The elderly and
Blood Type A and AB people have a lower capacity to produce hydrochloric acid
and enzymes for digestion.
In his book, Colon Health: The Key to a Vibrant Life, Norman W. Walker, D.Sc.,
Ph.D. states, "The elimination of undigested food and other waste products
is equally as important as the proper digestion and assimilation of food. Infirmity and sickness, at any age, is the
direct result of loading up the body with food, which contains no vitality, and
at the same time allowing the intestine to remain loaded with waste
matter. The fact of the matter is that constipation is the number one affliction underlying
nearly every ailment. Short-term
afflictions resulting from the absorption of mucus and toxic waste from the
colon into the rest of the body include pimples, sore throats, colds, hay fever, sinus, eye and ear problems. Afflictions of a more long-term nature caused
by a constant influx of toxemia into the body from the colon include
degeneration or cancer in vital
organs."
“The intestine may harbor the seeds of
disease in the form of a false lining that blocks nutrient absorption and creates
toxicity. Many illnesses such as a
number of cancers, most allergies, infections, liver diseases, acne, psoriasis,
and asthma start in the intestine. The
intestine becomes clogged, toxic, and diseased by what and how we eat and by
how poorly we eliminate waste material.
Once the bowel is toxic, it creates toxicity for the entire body and an
inability to absorb the nutrients necessary for health and healing.” (Diamond M.D., Cowden M.D., Goldberg) A clogged colon is also the perfect
environment and breeding ground for parasites.
Just as the pipes in your home accumulate a
slimy, protein build-up, your colon accumulates a build-up of thick, sticky
mucus, and poorly digested food debris on its sides. A narrow passageway is created, which slows up
the drainage of the foodstuffs you eat.
This build-up occurs when you eat the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.),
and when your diet is deficient in fiber and water. The following foods/drinks from the SAD diet clog up your colon and cause poor
colon health:
1. White flour acts like glue.
2. Fats are very sticky.
3. Meat stimulates the production
of sticky mucus to help break down poorly digested meat.
4. Dairy is the most mucus-forming
substance you could put in your mouth.
5. Alcohol, soda, coffee,
and other caffeinated drinks stimulate your kidneys to excrete more
water than it should to flush these toxic drinks from your body. This causes chronic dehydration.
Dehydration causes you to lose more water out of your colon, which
causes the fecal matter and mucus to become hard and stick to the sides of the
colon.
The colon has reflexes that affect other
parts of your body. For example, if your
ascending colon (goes up right side of abdomen) is
swollen and irritated, you may have liver issues, breathing issues or pain in
your right leg or arm. If you have bulging in the turns of your colon (upper left and right quadrants of
abdomen), you may have ringing
of the ear or dizziness. If your
transverse colon (crosses top of abdomen) is congested with encrusted
fecal matter, you may have sinus congestion, allergies, foggy thinking, or
memory loss. If your descending colon (goes down
left side of abdomen) is enlarged and contains pockets filled with old fecal matter, you may
have heart or lung trouble, shoulder or arm problems/pain, or spleen issues.
A healthy colon is about five feet long, two
and a half inches in diameter, and weighs two to three pounds. The average American's colon weighs ten to
fifteen pounds. It is not uncommon for
an unhealthy colon to weigh up to 60 pounds.
When John Wayne died, the autopsy reported was said to reveal that his
colon weighed between 70-80 pounds. The
colon's main function is to remove water from the chyme
(digesting food particles) and bulk up the stool. Friendly bacteria continue to further break
down any partially digested food/meat substances. Friendly bacteria make nutrients such as
vitamin K and some of the B vitamins.
Your colon should eliminate its contents every 8-12 hours. Ideally, your stool should be a foot long, 1
inch around, and partially floating.
Ten steps to a healthy colon:
1. Consume
raw vegetation, up to 65% of
your diet.
2. Have good digestion by
taking enzymes.
3. Increase fiber by taking a
natural fiber supple-ment (i.e. psyllium,
ground flax seeds, or equal parts oat bran, prune juice, and applesauce).
4. DRINK WATER! Water is nature's best stool softener. Drink half your body weight in ounces of
water per day (135 lbs. = 68 oz. or 8
C./day).
5. Eliminate refined, white flour and
sugar, processed and deep-fried foods, dairy, and soda.
6. To aid in the most thorough
bowel movement, place your feet on a stool about 10 inches high. This squat type position produces a more
natural way to pass your bowels. It also
supports your abdominal muscles and colon muscle.
7. Take a flora/probiotic (good bacteria) supplement, which contains two of
the most common forms of good bacteria - acidophilus and Bifido
bacterium, at bedtime.
8. Maintain a healthy
gallbladder function because bile acts like a detergent to clean the walls of
your colon. Bile makes your stools dark brown and move
with little effort.
9. Never repress the urge to
pass your bowels! Holding back the urge
will cause a lazy bowel with subsequent chronic constipation.
10. Exercise helps to stimulate
intestinal contractions.
Colon Hydrotherapy and occasional enemas can help loosen
up old built-up fecal matter on the sides of your colon.
Seven steps for
healthy digestion:
1. Chew your food until it is
mush in your mouth.
2. Take a good digestive enzyme
after every meal. If you are elderly or
Blood Type A or AB, make sure the digestive enzyme has hydrochloric acid in
it. A two-phase digestive enzyme is
best.
3. Maintain a healthy colon.
4. Stay hydrated between meals
to keep excess stomach acid diluted.
Baking soda water may help neutralize excess acid and help heartburn.
5. Avoid drinking with your
meal to prevent diluting your digestive enzymes.
6.
DO NOT DRINK CAFFINATED DRINKS DURING OR AFTER YOU EAT!!! (i.e. coffee
and soda)
7. Maintain good gallbladder
health because it breaks down fat so minerals and nutrients can absorb through
your small intestine. Take an Ox Bile or
Bile salt supplement, if needed, and do a liver/gallbladder flush to clean out
stones.
References:
Balch & Stengler, Prescription for Natural Cures (2004)
Diamond, Cowden, Goldberg, Definitive Guide Cancer (1997)
Goldberg, Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide (2002)
Jensen, Iridology Simplified (1980)
V.E. Irons, The Healthview Newsletter, (1982)
ãHealthy Journey
DISCLAIMER: The
information within this web site is not intended to take the place of medical
advice from your personal physician. Readers are advised to consult their own
physician or qualified health care professional regarding the treatment of
their condition. Janis M. Betz, R.N. and
Healthy Journey does not offer medical advice diagnose or prescribe the use of
diet and/or supplements as a form of treatment for a specific illness or
disease. It is your decision and
constitutional right to treat yourself. Janis M. Betz, R.N. and Healthy Journey is not responsible for any possible consequences from any
treatment, action or application of herbs, vitamins, minerals or other
supplementation.
