BASIC HEALTH
note: not all of these recommendations are suitable for everybody. Discuss these with your healthcare professionals.
- In order to improve digestion, ensure an adequate amount of acidophilus and bifidus is ingested every day. These good bacteria allow the bad bacteria in your gut to stay in check. You can also take plain yogurt with active cultures (check the labeling). Acidophilus is generally recommended to be taking anytime a person has been on antibiotics. Also recommended to take when you have a candida infection. Candida infection is a yeast infection that can throw the body for a loop. Sometimes it is localized in one area (vagina for example) and sometimes it can be throughout the whole body. You can take an on-line test from www.livingtonics.com. A Candida cleanse is a must, if you suspect recurrent problems.
Brand: any good brand kept cool
- In order to improve your body’s ability to get the most from your food, digestive enzymes are often beneficial, especially when traveling and the selection of fresh healthy foods are limited. A good blend of digestive enzymes for the intestines is Wobenzym (includes pancreatin, papain, bromelain, trypsin, rutosid, and chymotrypsin) or Super Digestive Enzymes by Life Extension (includes pancreatin, protease, amylase, lactase, cellulase, lipase, and papya powder). Note: most of the time the intestines are the problem and therefore do not buy products with oxybile, betaine hydrochloride, or pepsin in it (only for stomach problems). List of common enzymes: Protease Blend, Pancreatin, Amylase, Lipase, Glucoamylase, Maltase, Invertase(Sucrase), Alpha-Galactosidase, Lactase, Cellulase, Xylanase, Pectinase, Hemicellulase, Mannanase , Phytase, Beta-Glucanase, Arabinosidase, Bromelain, and Papain. Caution: bromelain, can thin the blood and pancreatin can interfere with diabetes medicines.
Brand: www.LEF.org or www.vitamintrader.com or in health food store
- Green foods can also help with digestion, especially if your diet is not the best. For more information check out a few website: www.greenfoods.com and www.spirulina.com and www.earthrise.com. To buy it just in the store, look at Ultimate Green by Nature's Secret which has Chlorella, Algae, Wheat Grass, Kelp, Kale, etc.
- Prebiotics. Sometimes just taking some extra fiber improves the function of the colon (large intestine). This can be as simple as taking some Metamucil bought at any drugtore to Fiber delights chewable tablets (containing inulin, FOS, and Avina Sativa), or Ultimate Fiber (containing FOS, Acidophilus, Slippery Elm, Marshmellow Root, Psyllium Husk), Apple Pectin Fiber, WellBetx (Konjac root and Mullberry extract) to a full colon cleanse.
Brand: www.LEF.org has many different types of fiber such as listed above.
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) causes the traditional heartburn in which stomach juices rise out of the stomach in to the esophagus. Prilosec and Nexium are commonly prescribed for this condition. However, growing research indicates that these PPI (proton pump inhibitors) can lead to problems down the road such as increased digestive problems, stomach cancer, and respiratory infections. Also PPI lose their effectiveness often after three months at which the symptoms return worse than before. Acupuncturist describe GERD as excess heat in the body and misdirected chi. Often it is not too much stomach acid but too little. Next time you experience GERD, take tablespoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, if the feeling stops, you have too little stomach acid. Some solutions would be:
taking DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) which has anti-inflammatory properties and coats the esophagus. Take about 20 minutes prior to the meal, dosage usually about 400 mg.
Lemon Balm which can neutralize acid. Take two teaspoons of lemon balm leaves in tea, three times a day or use the capsules. You can add some honey for better taste.
Turmeric powder, which breaksdown fatty foods, 2 capsules per day.
Eating several lighter meals instead of a big meal, chew slowly and carefully, slow down when eating, and do not eat late at night. The stomach needs a chance to digest it's food otherwise it might be going upstream again.
Hydrochloric Acid as a supplement can be taken to increase acid in the stomach.
An Zhong San is a supplement that is also called "calm the middle powder."
Avoid mint, caffeine, and nicotine which all weaken the esophagus.
- Perform a colon cleanse. Your colon can harbor numerous parasites and cause a variety of health problems, such as bloating, skin rashes, low energy, allergies, digestive issues, and numerous other issues. Ensure you discuss this with your health professional, if you do decide to perform a cleanse.