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Hi John
I watch people wherever I go—not in a stalking way, but in an educational way. After all, when you’re in the holistic health field like me, it’s important to observe people’s behaviors and get a read on how their habits may affect their state of health.
I’ve got to be honest...most times what I see is very disturbing.
Of course, I expect to see some not-so-healthy sights and choices at places like an amusement park, the movies, at airports, in a nightclub or in a restaurant.
But I’ve been stunned when I see some of the unhealthiest people in the most unlikely places!
For example, I speak at a good number of health and fitness conferences and seminars across the US—places where you would expect to see a lot of “healthy” people.
Not so.
The average person at these events looks anything BUT healthy.
Time and again I observe that the vast majority of people are overweight or obese, or snacking on chips and soda or struggling to walk.
Many stop by and tell me their story about their acid reflux, high blood pressure, allergies, back pain, arthritis, autoimmune conditions and more.
Now the obvious questions here are:
What’s going on? Why are sickness, disease and overweight the norm and not the exception?
Well, a major answer lies in an area that's about 30 feet long in the average person.
It's called your digestive tract.
And believe me, how well it's operating is the #1 reason behind whether you are sick or not, are in pain or not, are at a normal bodyweight or not, and whether or not you even woke up this morning.
Here is why I say that--let me introduce you to…
Your dutiful digestive tract
Your digestive tract includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus.
And although most people just think of it as your "food path" that's a HUGE understatement.
Here are some highlights and neat facts about the key players in the route from Ur-mouth to Ur-anus, and the serious health price you can pay when something goes awry:
Open wide!
It's obvious that the mouth is meant for chewing, but there are also amylases (enzymes) in your saliva that begin the digestion of starches as you grind away.
Plus your saliva contains enzymes that attack certain dangerous bacteria that you ingest with your food. This is your body's first line of defense against harmful invaders.
So for those of you who “inhale” your food, it may behoove you to slow down a bit and let your body protect you like it's supposed to.
It's tubular!
The next part of the path is your 10 inch long esophagus, AKA food tube. Its mucus-creating cells coat your food and keep it slip-slidin' down to the stomach.
It also has a "trap door" at the bottom--known as your LES (lower esophageal sphincter). This trap door is designed to open up and let your food pass into the stomach, but then close so no re-entry into the esophagus is allowed.
When this trap door is pushed the wrong way long enough (by overeating or poor digestion), it can weaken and allow your stomach contents to "backwash" into your esophagus--otherwise known as acid reflux or GERD, and if that continues long enough, possibly Barrett's Esophagus.
The acid trip
The next stop is your stomach.
Now, contrary to what people believe, very little digestion and absorption take place in the stomach. Pretty much the only thing that gets absorbed here is alcohol--that's why it's not a good idea to drink on an empty stomach because you can get slurring your words pretty quickly.
Although your stomach acids work on breaking down proteins, they also are another line of defense, destroying dangerous bacteria and even carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) that you take in with your food.
So listen up, all you acid reducer poppers--every time you take acid medication you are crippling one of your body's primary defenses against bacterial illness and even cancer, as well as destroying your digestion of proteins.
Plus your stomach acid is necessary to cleave Vitamin B12 from proteins it's attached to so you can actually absorb and use it. That's why people who use acid reducers are frequently deficient in B12.
20 feet of action
The next 20 feet of you is arguably where the MOST action takes place--in your small intestine. Its functions are threefold--digestion, absorption and protection.
The first section (the duodenum) is your "hot spot" of digestion. That's where the majority of your food breakdown takes place, assisted by enzymes and juices from the pancreas and bile from the liver via the gallbladder. This is also where your mineral absorption takes place.
The next section (the jejunum) is where your water-soluble vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins are absorbed.
And lastly the final section-the ileum-is where your fat-soluble vitamins, fats, cholesterol and bile salts are absorbed.
But wait--there's more!
Because the small intestine is also like a "prison guard."
It keeps toxins, wastes and dangerous bacteria "locked up" so they can pass to the large intestine and be escorted out when Nature calls, instead of getting absorbed into your bloodstream and poisoning you--otherwise known as autointoxication.
And your small intestine (with the assistance of your large intestine) houses about 70% of your immune system too-which protects you against infections, viruses and even diseases like cancer.
So as you can see, the health of your small intestine largely dictates YOUR overall health--because if your body is not breaking down your foods good enough, not getting needed nutrients, is poisoning itself and has a weak immune system, it's not a matter of if but merely when will you get seriously ill.
Problems that can come about from poor functioning of the small intestine can include gas, bloating, IBS, constipation, nutrient deficiencies, worsening of asthma or allergy symptoms and food sensitivities.
Plus toxins being absorbed into your bloodstream can lead to chronic inflammation, pain and poor cell functioning all over your body.
This can compromise the functioning of all of your other organs and systems, including your heart, your muscles bones and joints and your nervous system (including your brain).
And not properly absorbing nutrients will lead to constant feelings of hunger and overeating—which will make your backside grow larger and larger.
The homestretch
The homestretch of your GI tract is your large intestine (AKA colon). This is where the last remaining water and nutrients not absorbed by the small intestine are taken in.
Whatever is left comes together to create your next bowel movement.
Note that your colon must have a healthy wall and strong muscle contractions (peristalsis) to push your wastes into the rectum and anus and out of you, preferably with very little difficulty and none of your BM getting stuck to its walls.
But when you instead have a sluggish colon, wastes can accumulate along the colon wall. This can lead to chronic constipation and diverticulosis.
In addition, your colon can also become a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria which can obliterate your friendly flora, weaken your immune system and make you an attractive candidate for colon cancer and autoimmune diseases.
A primary cause of a sluggish colon is laxative use, so pay attention all you laxative disciples. Regardless of what the package may say, they are NOT harmless, and you may get to the point where you can't have a bowel movement without them!
Take care of your "pathway to health!"
Clearly your digestive tract is your pathway to great health from head to toe!
So it's important to treat it like gold and make sure it stays in tip-top shape for years to come.
And the great news is, that's so easy to do!
You just need to pamper your "pathway to health" these 4 ways:
1) Eat your way to better health
The Great Taste
No Pain health system will show you exactly what to do.- http://www.greattastenopain.com/great.asp
The Great Taste No Pain manuals will guide you in putting together delicious meals made from nutritious real foods (not processed, chemical-laden packaged garbage), that are easy to prepare and are much easier for your body to break down.
It's just a matter of a few easy food matching principles to remember and I'll explain everything to you.
And Great Taste No Pain recipe book really delivers on the “great taste” part—it’s chock full of tasty temptations that will soon become your family’s favorites.
Note: If you're gluten sensitive, then Great Taste No Gluten is for you:
- http://www.greattastenogluten.com/great.asp
You’ll get the same food pairing advice as in Great Taste No Pain, plus suggestions for recognizing and avoiding all sources of gluten.
And it delivers on the “great taste” promise too with a collection of delectable gluten free recipes.
2) Ensure your intestinal flora are properly balanced
The friendly bacteria in your system help to keep your gut wall strong, as well as assisting with digestion and nutrient absorption and keeping harmful bacteria under control.
The ideal flora balance is having at least 85% beneficial bacteria and no more than 15% harmful.
The problem is most people are walking around with the complete OPPOSITE of what they should have. This is not only due to poor food choices and bad digestion, but also factors like environmental toxins, stress and smoking.
So it's wise to
give your gut a helping hand with a quality probiotic supplement.Like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula.
- http://www.bluerockholistics.com/product/pross.asp
Super Shield contains potent, effective strains of 13 friendly bacteria that are robust and ready to take their place in your system. They'll help fend off harmful pathogens, keep your digestion smooth, beef up your immune system and help make that gut wall nice and strong.
3) Get proper rest
Lacking sleep takes its toll on your health in countless ways, and that includes upsetting your intestinal flora balance.
The average person needs between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. So if you’re regularly getting fewer than that, you are rolling out the red carpet for sicknesses, infections and eventually diseases.
Try to go to bed at the same time each night—then your body will settle into a routine and you’ll help encourage more consistent sleep patterns.
And if you have trouble nodding off at night, be sure to avoid alcohol and caffeine drinks later in the evening—both have been shown to interrupt sleep.
4) Consider alternatives to medications
Although medications are supposed to “help” with a sickness or condition, they also do their share of harm.
You see, contrary to what most people think, medications don’t just magically sail through your system, find their “target area” and then proceed to work their magic.
As they cruise through your body, they can negatively affect the functioning of any of your cells, tissues and organs…otherwise known as side effects.
One area where medications can be particularly harmful is your gut flora—and now that you know all that it does for you, you can appreciate that your friendly flora is not something you want to hurt.
Especially guilty here are acid reducers, antibiotics, steroids and birth control pills.
So if you are on any medications (especially the four I cited), it may be time to talk to your doctor about lowering your dose, exploring safer alternatives, or possibly weaning off them altogether.
Note that if you improve your gut health, you just might help alleviate some of the problems you were taking medications for in the first place!
Wouldn’t that be nice?
The golden years
Your GI tract is truly your "gold" when it comes to overall health.
Take care of your internal gold and it will return the favor many times over—well into your golden years!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
PPS: We're on Facebook! Like us here:
- https://www.facebook.com/HolisticBlends
PPPS: Always be sure to let your doctor or healthcare provider know what supplements you are taking.
PPPPS: Anne no longer needs antacids!
I have followed your Great Taste No Pain plan and am amazed.
I COULDN’T move without my antacids, sometimes had vomiting and always in pain. I had gone gluten free and dairy free which helped but not entirely.
So far 2 weeks have passed on your plan and I still wait for the discomfort to arrive and it doesn’t! I am telling all my friends!
I had one relapse when I couldn’t resist eating a bad combination and I paid for it for 2 days.
So no more deviation—it’s great.
Anne
Haven't taken the Great Taste No Pain test drive? Why not? Get over to
- http://www.greattastenopain.com/freereports/ and feel the power of Great Taste No Pain.
Orders: 1-888-724-4366
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- http://www.greattastenopain.com/great.asp
- http://www.greattastenogluten.com/great.asp
- http://www.bluerockholistics.com
(c) copyright 2013 Holistic Blends
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