Well Women Guide to Digestion

The Digestive Disorders Foundation estimate that over a third of the population suffer from a digestive illness such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome which alone accounts for 20 per cent of the adult opoulation and is often suffered chronically by them.

Scoliosis can also cause digestive problems.

As we age, our digestive systems slow down causing problems which range from mild to severe and even to things like gastric and peptic ulcers or worse, stomach cancer. Of course our dietary habits play a big role. In fact, to avoid problems completely we would need to eat an almost 100 per cent Raw diet. Why is this? Our body's are failing to produce enough enzymes to facilitate digestion. Some of us also have low hydrochloric acid. A good way to find out if this is you, is to drink beetroot juice. If your urine is red or pink, then it is possible that you have low hydrochloric acid and supplements may be needed so that digestion is aided.

What is responsible ultimately?

Diet of course, high in fats, sugars, artifical sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin, salt and additives and a lot of the things we eat, our digestive systems have no ideas how to cope with. One example is childrens jelly sweets. There is probably not one ingredient that is natural in them and they are made up of E numbers (colours, flavourings, preservatives) sugar and Gelatine etc.

Then there is also Digestive Enzymes or lack of them. These are present in raw food, but when we cook them, the enzymes are destroyed. This puts extra stress on our digestive system which has to work all the harder to digest our cooked food Fortunately, we can supplement with digestive enzymes and take the strain off our digestive system.

90 per cent of all illnesses are said to stem from a poor digestive system, abused over the years with a poor diet.

What can we do?

Well, we can do a few things.

1. You can change to a 100 per cent raw diet, eliminating all artificial products,processed foods, hydrogenated fats, sugar and salt from your diet. This is unrealistic of course in those of us who eat the majority of our food cooked. However, drastic action is often needed.

2. You can opt for 50/50 raw/cooked, eliminating artifical products, processed foods, hydrogenated fats sugars and salt and top up with a digestive enzyme supplement which is better than eating cooked food with not enzyme support.

3. You can carry on with cooked food, also eliminating artifical products and processed foods, hydrogenated fats, sugars and salt, but also take a digestive enzyme supplement, permanently.

Digestive enzymes are necessary for those of us who eat cooked food. They contain the enzymes we are lacking which will help us digest our food properly.

Even Microwaving weakens the immune system

Please read this article Dietary Guidlines for Optimising Health and helping to Overcome Disease

We are largely responsible for destroying our body by what we eat and by our lifestyle. Basically by anything we puts in to our body (or on it). There would be less chronic and degenerative illness, mental illness, cancers, childhood diseases like autism and ADHD, arthritic conditions, autoimmune disease and many others such as asthma, eczema IBS, inflammatory bowel disorders Obesity to name just a few.

Those people who benefitted from changing to RAW can tell you their stories Before and afters

What digestive conditions can be helped by Herbal and Naturopathic Treatments

Stomach Ulcers, Crohns Disease, Diverticulitis, Indigestion, IBS, Ulcerative Colitis and many others.

However many conditions will return unless dietary changes are made

What are Digestive Enzymes?

They are mainly:

Amylase (breaks down starches, including grains and starchy vegetables)

Cellulase (Breaks down plant fibre)

Lipase (Divides fat and oils into fatty acids)

Protease (Breaks down protein into amino acids.)

Lactase Anyone who is lactose intolerant is lacking this enzyme and can not manufacture it either. All except for Cellulase are manufactured in our body. Cellulase comes from vegetables and plants and is why chewing thoroughly is so important to help release cellulase and avoiding the bloating that so commonly goes with eating many vegetables. Juicing also releases Cellulase.

However, plant fibre is necessary for bowel function.

It is worth noting too, that an over ripe plant, be it fruit or vegetable is the result of the process where enzymes are breaking down the fruit. This is when we deem the fruit rotten. Each piece of fruit, vegetable or plant contains enough Cellulase to break them down. Cooking will destroy enzymes within fruit, vegetables and plants.

It is recommended that organic vegetable juice is regularly consumed together with Barley Grass Juice. Bread is not recommended and is said to be the source of many digestive problems. However, if bread is to be eaten, make sure it is organic wholemeal only and not refined white bread.

Sugar and artificial sweeteners should not be consumed at all. Manuka Honey and Molasses, however are exceptions. Also consider Stevia as an alternative. Indeed if you suffer from chronic Candida, the only way to assist in curing the problem is to avoid sugar and it's products all together as Candida yeast feed on sugar.

Margerine is said to be particularly dangerous with a composition similar to plastic as when left out of the fridge, it will not develope mould or decompose in any way. (suspicious)

It is also discussed the the body needs to be brought to a more alkaline state to function optimally.

A product called Alka Vita can do this and also Organic Silicon by bringing the body to a more alkaline state. Silica is the second most abundant element on earth and is critical for human function. It has very many benefits to the body as you will see by clicking on the relevent links above. Maintaining healthy levels may also significantly slow down the aging process including degenerative associated diseases.

It is very surprising that more people are not aware of it, and indeed, until I began my own research, over a year ago, neither was I. Therefore, had I not embarked on this website, I may never have known.

Some of the properties of Organic Silica

Completely non-toxic

It has the ability to penetrate the skin and seek out organs suffering from pain or damage or those organs that are not functioning correctly.

Has anti-inflammatory properties

Compatible with all medications and treatments.

Effective as part of any anti aging programme

It is a very quick acting pain killer

How does this fit in with digestion?

Digestion is just one of the conditions that organic silica treats and there have been many testimonials regarding digestive problems vanishing when organic silica was taken. It treats many others such as:

Acne, Arthritis, herpes, migraine, insomnia, blood pressure, rheumatism, circulatory problems, psoriasis, sinusitis, joint damage, back pain, muscle pain, diabetes, eczema and many others.

burns, bruising, cuts (when applied topically)

Digestive Disorders Tincture by Regenerative Nutrition, is an effective herbal combination that can eliminate ulcers in 5 weeks. IBS and other digestive disorders including Crohns Disease and ulcerative colitis can also be helped by this.

Multi-Enzyme Protect replaces the enzymes destroyed by consuming cooked food and our failure to produce sufficient protein digesting enzymes from our pancreas has been implicated as one of the major causes of cancer. Autoimmune diseases are an example of chronic enzyme deficiency and can be helped by enzyme supplementation. Eating cooked food over many years can cause a chronic build up of toxins from undigested food particles in our system.

Manuka Honey

Dr Peter Molan, who is the world's honey expert has carried out much research on the properties of Manuka Honey and has found that UMF rated Manuka Honey, especially those with a UMF of 20 plus, is effective against the stomach bacteria, Helicobacter Pylori which is responsible for stomach ulcers and many other digestive conditions.

Many users have found that normal digestion returned after using UMF rated Manuka Honey medicinally for it's amazing anti-bacterial properties.

How can I use Manuka Honey for my digestive problems?

Take a generous teaspoon of Manuka Honey on a slice of wholemeal bread (organic) one hour before meals and again at bedtime. Do not drink during this time. The purpose of the bread is to ensure that the honey stays in the stomach for a longer period of time. Additionally, take the honey (half a teaspoon) periodically throughout the day straight from the spoon ensuring that a regular supply of Manuka is in contact with the stomach.

Always ensure that the Manuka Honey you purchase has a UMF factor and is from a reliable source such as Comvita. The higher the UMF the better in treatment of digestive disorders such as stomach ulcers.

The honey is also of benefit to sore throats, relieves skin conditions such as eczema and heals wounds when used with a dressing to cover a wound. It is being used effectively by many hospitals to treat MRSA

L-glutamine is an amino acid which is of great benefit to those with digestive problems such as leaky gut (where damage to the lining of the gut means that it is too permeable allowing partially digested food to cross the intestinal wall causing bloating, fatigue and food sensitivity. Supplementation of 500mg of L-glutamine 3 times a day for around 2 months has been shown to speed healing of the gut lining.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera works by gently breaking down impacted food residues easing constipation and diarrhoea. This also makes it invaluable for Irritable bowel syndrome. It helps reduce discomfort and bloating and aids in the correct absorption of nutrients as well as helping to control blood sugar, improving liver function and boosts the immune system. It contains amino acids, enzymes, minerals and vitamins.

Taken daily, either alone or in conjunction with other suggested natural treatments, it can be of great benefit to your health and well being.

Bee Pollen

What exactly is it?

It is the gold coloured dust that bees gather from flower stamens, it contains 27 minerals, 22 amino acids, vitamins and EFA's.

It regulates the action of intestinal functions and aids digestion. It works where anti-biotic treatments fail. It is an immune system booster and a detoxifier and often used for treating young drug users to come off drugs, they experience little or no withdrawl. It can remove toxic material from the body, lower cholesterol, help with endocrine disorders by assisting in the correct functioning of glands.

It can also be used to treat anemia and nervous system disorders such as depression and anxiety and has strong anti-biotic properties and helps maintain energy and vitality.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Usually thought of as an old wives tale or a "folk" remedy but it actually has cured many conditions such as Candida sinus infections, acne, high cholesterol, chronic fatigue syndrome, digestive problems including acid reflux, sore throats, gout, arthritis, skin problems such as eczema and it also has the power to bring high blood pressure under control within two weeks.

Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva)

This is a member of the Elm (Ulmus) family and is native to Canada and the U.S and can be found growing in the Appalachian Mountains and is collected from the inner bark of trees that are at least 10 years old. It is powdered for therapeutic use.

It has been traditionally used for healing and one of it's main uses is for healing the digestive system and this continues today. The main usage is for IBS, Colitis, Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis. Soothes pain and inflammation whilst not masking the cause of the illness. Whilst not a cure, it goes a long way in soothing pain and inflammation as it adhere's to the intestinal wall and is a very safe herb with no side effects. Taking it as a drink is the best way, but capsules are also available and it is also highly nutritious.

Provides relief for: Acid reflux and acid indigestion, inflammation of the gut, colic, colitis, diverticulitis, ulcers, chest and bronchial conditions. It can also be used for cystitis

Chlorella is wonderful for the digestive system. It is a single-celled freshwater micro-algae recognised as one of the most potent health foods on Earth.

It has the highest know chlorophyll content from a natural source and this has been proven to remove environmental toxins from the body, putting Chlorella on a pedestal above many other wholefoods. It is immune enhancing and ant-viral.

It has more than 20 vitamins and minerals and is beta-carotene abundant. Protein rich (3 times more than steak or fish) and high in omega 3 and 6 and contains 19 amino acids.

Even more beneficial than spirulina due to its ability to help in the absorption of its own B12 content, it contains more B12 than beef liver!!

It's benefit to the Digestive system?

Deeply cleansing to the bowel and digestive tract, helps freshen breath, encourages friendly bacteria growth, alkalising to the system, anti-viral, builds red blood cell count, gentle cleansing action, cleansing and purifying to the blood stream, kidneys and liver.

Please Please click here to read more about the Liver and Kidneys and how to make sure you keep them in perfect working order.

This is an extensive page and will take time to complete. I will also be adding to it regularly

To see books about digestion, please click here

Please Click Here to read about the Endocrine System

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