Marthoma Malaysia » digestive system

Constipation: A Serious Health Concern

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:33:18 +0000

How often do you go to the bathroom and have a bowel movement?
I realize that this question may seem odd, but it the most basic sign of good digestive health. Over 95% of health problems start in the digestive system and constipation is certainly a culprit in many of these maladies.
Bowel movements should correlate to how many meals are eaten in a 24 hour period. If you eat three meals in a 24 hour period, you should have three bowel movements. If not, you are constipated. The statistics show that over 65% of the American Population is constipated.
There are two different theories related to constipation. They are the traditional Medical Opinion as well as the holistic opinion.
Traditional Medicine defines constipation as the passage of small amounts of hard dry stool. However it also states that we have different levels of metabolism and because of this we all experience different frequencies of elimination.
Holistic Medicine believes that you should have one elimination for every meal you eat each day. The holistic practitioner would tell you that the healthiest digestive system is one that absorbs food and nutrition at meals and eliminates the toxic waste 12 to 18 hours later. If the food stays in your system for more than 18 hours it putrefies, accumulates toxins which get absorbed into the bloodstream and contributes to numerous other health concerns.
If you are constipated there are several things that you can do to bring your body back into balance.
1) DRINK more water. Ideally you should drink one ounce of water for every pound of body weight each day. This will help rehydrate the digestive system.
2) Exercise Regularly. This will increase the blood flow which will assist with normal elimination.
3) Supplement with a good daily fiber product that consists of ground flax.
4) Lubricate your digestive system with Essential Fatty Acids like Flax, Borage and Fish Oils which make it easier to have an elimination.
The reason that Constipation is a serious health concern is that we absorb whatever is put in our digestive system. If your digestive system is blocked and filled with waste you will absorb that waste and put the burden on your liver, lungs, lymphatic system, blood, skin, colon and kidneys to assist in getting those toxins out of your body.
It is always a great idea to see a naturopathic medical practitioner who can suggest great supplements, reading materials and healthy alternatives when confronted with poor digestive health.
Charles O. Palmerson is the webmaster for http://www.eConstipation.com
an online Constipation Information Resource created to resolve poor digestive health.

Author: Charles O. Palmerson
Source: articleage.com

Restoring Your Digestive Health and Natural Health

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:34:49 +0000

Your digestive system is responsible for breaking down the foods that you eat and providing energy to the rest of your body for optimum functioning. If your digestive system is not working properly, all your other bodily functions will suffer, thus causing various diseases and illnesses.
The health problems that can arise due to digestive problems range from mild disorders such as upset stomach, irritable bowel disorder, and dyspepsia (all of which can be very uncomfortable and debilitating), to serious health concerns such as diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and colon cancer, which can even be fatal. All these health problems that are caused by digestive problems thus make it essential to have a health digestive system.
In order to better understand how to restore your digestive health, you first need to know how the digestive process works. The digestive process starts in your mouth, where your food mixes with your saliva and is acted upon by an enzyme known as ptylase that is found in your saliva. From here, your food enters the esophagus and through that, your stomach.
Once in your stomach, the food is further broken down by stomach acids and then this mixture (known as Chyme) enters your bowels. Here the mixture is acted upon by pancreatic digestive enzymes, which metabolize the vital nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, etc) from the food and convert them into substances which can then be readily absorbed by the body. The undigested portions and waste matter is then excreted from your body through bowel movements.
Thus, for proper digestive functioning, it is important that:
You chew your food thoroughly
There is adequate stomach acid in your body (neither more nor less)
Your food is high in digestive enzymes
You do not have a high intake of antibiotics and chlorinated water, which can affect the digestive process
Your food is high in fiber so as to facilitate bowel movements, thus keeping your body free from harmful waste matter.
As you can see, your digestive system is quite a complex system and any breakdown in this process can lead to severe health problems. This is why you need to restore your digestive health, which can be done by following the 4R approach that includes:
Remove: which refers to elimination of disease causing pathogens, germs, bacteria and viruses from your body. This is achieved through fasting, use of natural laxatives, natural antibiotic medicines, and eating food high in fibers.
Replace: which refers to replacing poor digestive enzymes with good quality, broad spectrum digestive enzymes supplements.

Re-inoculate: which focuses on adding good bacteria into your intestines to help the digestive process. This is achieved by using high quality probiotics (which is a liquid supplement containing live bacteria; or powders, capsules, and tablets containing freeze-dried bacteria). Along with adding bacteria directly through supplements, the re-inoculation phase can also be achieved by ingesting natural foods that increase the quantities of good bacteria in your body.
Repair: this last step focuses on using natural supplements which help to repair and strengthen the structure of the intestinal walls, so as to optimize their functioning.
In order to determine the exact approach to follow, investigation may be required to rule out any underlying significant disorders that could mandate specific medical therapy, which is why it is essential to consult an alternative medical doctor for restoring your digestive health.
Dr. Nabil Khoury is a medical doctor who practices integrative medicine combining allopathihc medicine with natural health. Visit his website Natural health and longevity bible to learn more on restoring your digestive health.

Balanced Diet Promotes Good Health!

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:44:55 +0000

They say, â€œhealth is wealthâ€. It is indeed true. There is no denying the fact that good health brings in lots of good luck and prosperity. It is only when you are in sound health that you can work and live your life to fullest extent. The kind of food that you eat plays a crucial role in deciding your health. A healthy diet is a must for good life. A healthy and nutritious diet can play a big role in deciding the well being of a person. Besides this, good thoughts and positive vibrations also help to bring about a positive change in the outlook of a person. Following some simple steps will help gain good health: Eat a balanced amount of foodEat plenty of food rich in starch and fibreHave plenty of fruits and vegetablesAvoid eating food that contains a lot of fatAvoid sugary foods tooCut down the intake of alcoholHave a balanced amount of food These seemingly simple steps will determine the well being of a person. Good health helps keep diseases at bay and boost immunity. You can also have food nutrients that can provide the required vitamins to the body. A balanced diet is a must for good health. You must have a balanced amount of food too. It is advisable you avoid consuming junk food. This kind of food includes burgers, chips, and other fried items that contain no protein. They cause no good to your health. Instead, they help you gain weight. Having lots of fruits and fresh vegetables will help keep the digestive system in order. Alternately, you could also have fruit and vegetable juices. Aerated drinks are known to build gas formation. It is advisable to avoid this as well. There are many other kinds of products that are available which can help build immunity. ÂÂ The type of food that you choose determines the health of the person. Since every individual is unique, the type of food that you must choose also varies. Food is the main part of life and the health depends on this to a large extent. Eating the right amount of food helps maintain the balance in the body and build immunity too. A good lifestyle; that is devoid of stress will also help disease at bay. The direct effect of stress is on the digestive system. Hence, you must avoid consuming food that has no calorie value and spicy. It is a known fact that the digestive system is often subjected to foods, stresses and other obstacles that have a negative impact on the system of the body. It is crucial to not consume food that is low on nutrients. A sound digestive system promotes well being.