TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE 7

In parts 1-6 of this series of articles titled "Take Back Your Life", we discussed what could be considered the four wheels of the human wellness vehicle. We discussed the importance of proper cell function, the necessity of having and maintaining a balanced endocrine system, and the role of vitamins and minerals, including certain trace minerals as they relate to wellness, the value of antioxidants, the necessity of consuming plenty of enhanced water and what roles lactoferrin (Lf) and proline-rich peptide (PRP), which act to regulate and balance the immune system, play in helping to maintain a healthy body. In this segment we shall discuss what elements in our food and supplements contribute to keeping the digestive functions working well and how that contributes to our health and a higher quality of life. Since it is not so much what we EAT, but rather what we ABSORB that contributes to our state of health, it is important to consider how well our intestinal processes function. If we make healthy choices when selecting foods that will make up our diets, then we must thoroughly digest those foods in order to get all of the valuable nutrients we seek to benefit from. It is widely known that improper digestion and elimination contribute greatly to ill health and disease and that the cleaner and more efficient our intestinal systems are, the greater the chances that we can avoid the disease processes that often come with colon dysfunction and age. As we age, we tend to produce lower amounts of those things needed to fully digest the food that we consume. Therefore it is often necessary to supplement our food intake with those enzymes, healthy flora, and bacteria that are necessary in order to fully break down our food and contribute to regular and trouble free digestion and elimination. One way to think of our digestive structures is a balanced ecosystem. One characteristic of any healthy ecosystem is the presence of a diversity of organisms. At birth, the human intestines contain no microorganisms. Shortly thereafter, depending upon the type of food ingested, they become populated with various genera of bacteria. The average modern human's gut is often not a healthy ecosystem. As stated previously, we must thoroughly digest those foods in order to get all of the valuable nutrients we seek to benefit from. Therefore it is often necessary to supplement our food intake with those enzymes, healthy flora, and bacteria that are necessary in order to fully break down our food and contribute to regular and trouble free digestion and elimination. What follows is information regarding some healthy gut elements that may contribute to proper digestion and healthy colon issues. While a healthy adult's large intestine is normally populated by as many as 500 microbial species, many adults can be deficient in sufficient levels of lactobacilli bacteria. The average modern human's gut is frequently not a healthy ecosystem. Modern consumption of bacteria is estimated to be a million times less than levels consumed by our ancestors. Antibiotics can radically lower the level of lactobacilli in the intestinal environment. Poor dietary habits, alcohol use, and stress can also upset the microbial balance of the gut. The intake of lactobacilli to help the digestive process and improve our health results has been suggested health professionals for many years. Indeed this practice has been included in the dietary habits of many cultures for thousands of years. The observation of such healthy practices and the resulting benefits continue to be advocated as part of a healthy lifestyle to this day. Today's popularity of yogurt and other such foods and supplements is proof of the efficacy of these common sense dietary habits that have endured as long standing healthy gut traditions. The methods by which probiotics apply their health effects are extensive, and include the combination of anti-pathogenic substances, competition for nutrients required by pathogens, competitive inhibition of adhesion of pathogens, induction of expression of mucin proteins, modification of toxins or toxin receptors, reduction of permeability of the gut, and stimulation of non-specific and specific immune responses to pathogens. Studies of infants, children, and adults, including HIV-positive infants, have confirmed that sensible consumption of probiotic bacteria is harmless and contributes to their well being. Probiotics can, to a great extent, positively influence numerous disease situations. A study found that the dietary intake of fiber and fermented dairy products was associated with a diminished risk of colon cancer. Some probiotic bacteria have been found to be helpful for infants and children with severe contagious diarrhea, people with severe gastroenteritis, atopic eczema that has consequence of and allergic food reaction, pelvic radiotherapy-caused diarrhea, and intestinal swelling and irritation. A blend that incorporated species of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and streptococcus contributed toward the reduction of ulcerative colitis and prohibited the re-emergence of Crohn's disease. Bifidobacteria, it is believed, generate vitamins that can be used by our bodies, including thiamin, folic acid, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine, and vitamin B12. Dietary bifidobacteria are thought to effectively populate the large intestine and there they can even withstand the harsh environment of the stomach and the assault of small intestine enzymes. When compared with animals not having the benefit of this type of supplementation, mice consuming B. bifidum are not affected by a rotavirus that causes diarrheal disease. The annihilation of E. coli is improved when people eat foods containing these healthy gut flora and bacteria. Peppermint is another common element that has historically been accepted as producing a beneficial effect on digestion processes. Studies have demonstrated the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal attributes of peppermint oil. Peppermint oil can provide relief from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and can reduce postoperative nausea. Prebiotics help sustain a healthy flora and bacterial balance in the gut. Soluble dietary fibers (including gums) form a gel, provide the environment in which bacteria can survive and beneficial chemical changes can occur. Many studies suggest the favorable effects of soluble dietary fiber on blood pressure, obesity, serum lipids, diabetes (serum blood sugar), coronary artery disease, and some cancers. Populations that consume high-fiber diets have a lower incidence of ill health stomach conditions, digestive disorders and complaints, including gallstones, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease of the colon, appendicitis, hemorrhoids, and hiatal hernia. Over 200 studies found that dietary fiber is among a group of fruit and vegetable substances that show definite potential in the area of cancer prevention. Over 200 human studies have supported the conclusion that a diet rich in soluble fiber may lower plasma cholesterol. As little as 8 grams of various gums can lower serum total cholesterol. The function of dietary fiber as it relates to diabetes is also very important. Diabetics who increase their dietary intake of soluble fiber can and have experienced a radical decrease in their need for high insulin dosages and have also been found to have improved control of serum glucose. The soluble fiber part of the diet can appreciably reduce postprandial blood glucose concentrations in patients with either type I or type II diabetes. Twelve daily grams of XG will lower glucose levels and will reduce fasting levels of total plasma cholesterol in diabetics. Studies have shown that soluble fiber can improve intestinal immune function. A large portion of the body's immune system is located in the intestinal wall. Bacteria form a defensive cover and help control irritation and bolster resistance. Elimination of bacteria from the GI tract by antibiotics can result in the suppression of the immune system. In an animal study, the dietary intake of gum acacia stimulated intestinal and splenic immune system function. The recommended daily dietary fiber intake is 20-35 grams. The average North American consumes less than half the recommended amount--about 10 grams of fiber daily. The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics consume even more - at least 40 grams of fiber daily. Because many individuals find it difficult to increase their fiber intake by over 100% through food sources, some physicians recommend concentrated fiber supplements to their patients. It is very clear that the supplementation of our dietary foods with plenty of good fiber and a beneficial array of appropriate healthy gut flora and bacteria can contribute to an increased quality of life for all of us. To read more about why Steve is so passionate about moving toward wellness and how you can head that way through a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy gut food consumption and supplementation, go to: http://steve.myglycostore.com/go/gi-pro/

About the author: To read more about why Steve is so passionate about moving toward wellness and how you can head that way through a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy gut food consumption and supplementation, go to: http://steve.myglycostore.com/go/gi-pro/