Archive for the ‘Digestive Problems’ Category
Bloating Gas Constipation Be Gone!
If you are coping with gas, bloating, stomachaches or heartburn, there are some great natural herbal remedies that have relieve these symptoms for centuries. You may even have some of these right now in your kitchen cupboards. Here’s a table to help you find the right herbal remedy for your condition.
Herb |
Use For |
Info |
| Alfalfa | Rich in chlorophyll, which reduces gas. | Avoid using if on blood thinners |
| Anise | Edible seeds remedy bloating, flatulence, poor appetite and indigestion. | Member of the parsley family |
| Bay | Aids digestion, relives flatulence. | Can be made into a tea |
| Caraway | Relieves belching, flatulence, and intestinal cramps and spasms. Aids in the digestion of starches. | Excellent for children’s digestive issues |
| Cinnamon | Stimulates digestion. Effective in treating appetite loss and flatulence. | Add it to dairy foods to make them eaiser to digest |
| Dill | Edible seeds help prevent heartburn, nausea and indigestion | The edible flowers and leaves rich in Vitamin C |
| Fennel | Edible sees and leaves enhance digestion, ease flatulence, heartburn, stomachache. Helps digest fatty foods. | Member of the parsley family |
| Flax | Soothes inflammation in the GI tract. Consume 1 to 2 tablespoons of seeds with plenty of fluids to ease constipation. Eat raw or cooked. | Seeds can also be ground up in coffee grinder |
| Gentian | Helps break down proteins and fats. Improves absorption of iron and vitamin B12. Take tincture 10 to 30 min. before meals for best results. | Used to flavor beverages known as bitters |
| Ginger | Soothes indigestion, bloating, flatulence, irritable bowel, nausea, and stomach pain. Root is the most effective in dried form. | Pregnant women should taken no more than 1 gram a day |
| Juniper | Eat up to seven of these berries before a meal to stimulate stomach acid. Helps with digestion and flatulence. Possesses anti-diarrheal properties. | Avoid during pregnancy |
| Licorice | Eases acid indigestion, constipation, cramps, spasms, diarrhea, heartburn, stomachache, and irritable bowel. Use deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) to reduce potential of increasing blood pressure. | Avoid in cases of nausea and vomiting. Short term use if pregnant |
| Linden | Eases indigestion | Herbal tea should be consumed in moderation, is suitable for children |
| Peppermint | The oil relaxes muscles in the stomach and small intestine, relieving cramping. Useful for flatulence, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, and stomachache. | Do not drink more than 2 cups a day if pregnant |
| Rosemary | Aids in digestion of fats and starches | Excellent herb of seniors |
| Sage | Stimulates digestive secretions, improves digestion of fatty foods, and can help treat diarrhea, flatulence, and indigestion. | Avoid large doses during pregnancy |
Now you can start treating yourself with these natural herbal remedies! I can vouch for the ginger, I’ve used it many times when my stomach felt sort of queasy. Helped in no time flat!
Fat Stomach and Fake Fats
Of course, the processed food manufacturers are making hundreds of billions of dollars, tickled pink, as increasing numbers of the 50 million overweight people in the US try to control their weight with fake fats like Olestra and Simpless and eating low-fat junk like Snackwell cookies.
Here’s why this approach doesn’t work:
The lure of fake fats from processed foods in boxes, bags, cans or jars is that they offer the sensation and pleasure of real fat, without all of the calories. So
theoretically, you should be able to feast on potato chips fried in fake fat and it would be just like eating a plain baked potato.
Doesn’t work. Read on.
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Your body will get what it needs…or make it
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While it’s true that fake fats are devoid of calories, and even taste like real fats, your body is not fooled. Your body (especially your brain and nervous system) needs REAL fat to function effectively, and it’s biologically programmed to get the fat it needs.
This means that eating processed fake fats makes you crave REAL fats…
And so eventually you will succumb to the cravings, often in a BIG way. Just watch the tide roll in at that point.
Plus if your body doesn’t get the fats it needs, it turns into its own fat-making machine. And the type of fat your BODY manufactures is saturated fat–the artery clogging bad stuff.
Eating fake fats also leaves you hungrier.
In one study, volunteers were given either a normal meal with real fats or a meal where a third of the fat was replaced with fat substitutes. None of the participants knew which meal they were given.
Those given the fat substitutes reported feeling hungrier than usual shortly after eating. Feeling hungry right after eating is a great recipe for overeating (and being overweight).
There’s more: The next day, all of the study participants were allowed to choose freely which meal they wanted, and the majority unconsciously selected the meal with the real fat. This is a perfect illustration of the body craving what it needs.
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The two-sided issue of bulk
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Another factor that’s “forgotten” in the low-fat/fake fat myth is bulk, and there are two sides to that.
Side one–too much bulk and boredom
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To explain this, I’ll use an example of cole slaw. Let’s say I gave you cole slaw made of one cup of shredded cabbage mixed with 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise for a total of 130 calories. 110 of the calories come from the mayo and 20 from the cabbage.
Now, if we were to do the ultimate fat avoidance by taking away the calories from the mayonnaise and replacing it with 110 calories worth of cabbage, you’d need to eat 6 1/2 cups of cabbage!
Let’s face it–you’d drop a few sizes fast, but you’d be bored to tears by the taste.
But the big question is: How long could you stand eating this way? If your answer is “Not very long” you’ve just realized one of the shortcomings of a reduced-fat diet.
Plus you’ll yearn for REAL fat (like mayonnaise, cheese or butter) and be likely to ditch that low-fat diet in a heartbeat.
Side 2–those innocent little cookies add up
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The other side of the bulk issue is the fact that even though reduced-fat products like nonfat ice cream, low-fat cookies and chips are low in fat, they lack bulk or volume.
You can devour a low-fat cookie in about 10 seconds. When you swallow it, it takes up so little room in your stomach that your brain doesn’t receive a “stop eating” message.
So…you keep eating. But since there’s no volume in what you’re eating and you can eat these processed, refined pseudo-foods so quickly, chances are good that you’ll polish off the whole box before you feel satisfied.
Now you’ve just filled your body with hundreds or even thousands of empty calories. And since the cookies have no usable nutrients, your body will sound off the hunger signal again very soon.
So you’ll want to eat again and again.
This isn’t weight LOSS–it’s weight GAIN.
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The best way to take off weight
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First of all, it’s essential to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meat and fish, all in the correct combinations.
These are the foods that give your body the nutrients it needs so you get full and stay full (because you’re nourished). Plus with a wide variety of foods that taste great as well as provide bulk, you’re less likely to get bored.
And eating the right food combinations ensures efficient digestion with no build-up of wastes–which makes the scale number smaller too.
Next, it’s essential to acknowledge and accept that fat isn’t just calories–it an essential, life-giving nutrient. Your body needs real fat, and it will accept no substitutes.
What you need to do is just make sure your body is getting the good fats it needs in the right amounts. Food sources of good fats include olive oil, avocados, nuts, real butter (not margarine), dairy products and even lean meats in moderation.
Plus it’s crucial to ensure that you have a good ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. This will help enhance your metabolism and prevent inflammation, and lessens your chances of developing insulin resistance and the resulting diabetes and obesity.
Don’t let yourself be caught in the “low-fat/fake fat” trap one minute longer. All you’re doing is making the food giants richer.
Diane Is Out of Crohn’s Prison
Many Crohn’s disease sufferers have told me that it’s like being in prison. They live their lives not knowing when a flare-up will occur, but there is the one certainty: It WILL happen. It’s just a matter of time.
They make sure they know where a public bathroom is in every place they go…and many times, they can’t go out at all for fear of an attack.
They take the medication their doctor gave them (typically dangerous steroids) because the doctor says that’s all they can do.
And they pray that they never end up having to have some or all of their intestines removed. (But the odds are not in their favor–3 out of 4 people with Crohn’s require surgery at some point.)
Yes, that sounds like a type of prison.
But there is a way to break free of the prison of Crohn’s. A safe, easy, natural approach that can make a 100% difference in how you feel.
I’ll let Diane tell you about it—because she ended 30 years of diarrhea from Crohn’s and is “dancing with joy”:
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I want to tell everyone about my great, wonderful, exciting news, as I’m still in complete awe of what has happened to me since I have started using Your plan!
I have had Crohn’s disease for 39 years. When I was 26 I had bowel surgery. They removed my terminal ileum (the lower part of the small intestine) and told me I would have diarrhea for life.
They were right—I did…or better yet, I was lied to. Because I have changed from daily diarrhea to normal bowel movements with your plan!
It started out weird though—it was the first time for me to ever have what I call a normal BM.” The new changes kept coming (less and less diarrhea) and I thought how did I do this? To think I spent 30 years with the diarrhea! And now it has only gotten more and more normal as I continue to eat healthy foods with your plan!
I can’t even believe how I was lied to by so many doctors telling me there was nothing I could do but take steroids and other drugs! They had me scared to death of good healing foods. Shame on them for taking an oath and not living up to it.
Together we have made a new me!
I want to shout to all the people with Crohn’s, “Stop allowing them to cut out your bowel—it doesn’t cure a thing!”
Believe me, I’m very mad at the medical community for making me so ill for so very very long!
I started researching on my own because they told me Crohn’s was inherited, but going back over 100 years in my family I see no one had this disease other then me. So they were wrong again.
Food was my enemy all my life, and now it heals me! You just have to have patience and let the healing begin.
My story seems so amazing to me—it’s like I was blind for 39 years, and now I can see.
”Dancin’ with joy”
Diane
15 Yrs of Prilosec Ended – A Shocking Story
Here’s Diane’s fascinating story about multiple medical problems and ending 35 years of pain, pills and being a shut-in:
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I am 63 year-old woman who was basically a shut-in as going out was simply too risky. My only outings were to visit my children or to church, on a good Sunday!
I was in my late twenties when I started having difficulties with my intestines. The doctor felt that an infected uterus might be the cause and I had a
hysterectomy.
The problem did not go away and more issues began. I was told I had loose bowel syndrome. It was suggested that I avoid wheat and milk. A year or so later, I was told I had a hernia. I was told to avoid seeds.
Then I became more and more sick. It took four years for them to diagnose fibromyalgia (then called fibromyositis). My own family doctor did not believe in FM and basically made me feel like a hypochondriac. After all, I had great blood work, my blood pressure was fine, I had no cholesterol problems, so why was I complaining?!
So he prescribed Motrin to help cope with the pain of fibromyalgia. I had bladder problems, digestive problems and it all was always blamed on FM.
Then the problems with acid began and, twenty-five years ago, I started taking Losec. It was then that my doctor mentioned the danger of Motrin (Ibuprofen) on the stomach. I immediately stopped taking them and decided to cope with my pain through prayers and meditation.
Prilosec also know a Losec
For the next ten to fifteen years, I took Losec. My doctor retired and I went to a new doctor. I told her about my stomach, which felt like it twisted and went into spasm when I made certain movements, so she prescribed
Domperidone for Motility. It greatly helped.
But then my bladder problems became so bad that she sent me to a urologist who diagnosed Interstitial Cystitis and told me to avoid fresh fruits and raw vegetables.
The acid problem was no longer being controlled by the Losec so, a few years ago, I was switched to a few others but, none seem to help. I was sent to see a G.I. who prescribed Prevacid and told me I had GERD.
I must say Prevacid seemed to control the acid but once I started taking them, I was catching every cold or bug around me. My doctor suggested that I needed more sleep and because I was up 10 to 12 times a night to go to the
bathroom, so she prescribed Desmopressin Acetate Oral Disintegration (DDAVP MELT).
That made a difference to my sleep and I would wake up only once or twice a night.
I also suffer from a Vestibular disorder (inner ear problem) which gives me vertigo and nausea. Nothing seems to help. I caught the H1N1 flu in September and I was sick until early January.
That was my state, two weeks ago, when I decided to give your plan a try.
Within HOURS I felt better. After two days, I took a long walk with my husband, which I had not done in months. I had energy. I quit taking the Prevacid and the Domperidone.
I cannot believe the difference this has made in my life. Last night I actually slept through the night without having to go to the bathroom.
I was out for four hours yesterday without searching for a public washroom.
I can stand wearing a bra and inches have gone around my stomach. I have lost four # yet I am not hungry. I am enjoying the fruits so much, as well as whole wheat again.
All of me feels better. I have taken long walks every two days since I started the plan.
I thank my daughter and son-in-law for answering my prayers, but most of all, I thank you for your book and your plan. This book, along with the wallet size card, and the recipe book are my favourite reading material for now!
Diane L.
British Columbia, Canada
Bloating Remedies – Get Rid Of Your Toxins
By understanding what they are and how to recognize them when you see them, it will be easier to avoid them in the future and decide whether a body detox is in order right now.
Here are some common toxins that may surprise you:
High fructose corn syrup, which is commonly found in soft drinks and other products containing sugar, is known to build up in the body over time. This is dangerous because it’s been found to force the body to age at a faster than normal rate. As a result, it can especially be harmful to the condition of your skin.
Monosodium glutamate, which is better known as MSG, is another common toxin. Commonly used as a flavoring in food, this material can impact the nervous system and promote allergies.
Soy is considered a healthy alternative for many people who need to avoid dairy products, but because most soy is heavily processed it can cause it to build up toxins in your digestive system. Further, soy can prevent calcium and Vitamin D from getting through your body and being processed properly. As a result, your bone strength may be compromised and put you at risk for fractures and other injuries. At toxic levels, soy can cause your body to suffer from fatigue.
The only soy that actually does the body a favor is whole fermented soy beans, like in miso or soy tempeh.
Talc is a toxin that can be absorbed into the body through inhalation while using cosmetic and baby powders. At too-high levels, talc can cause the body’s reproductive system to be inhibited.
Aspartame is commonly used as a sugar substitute in a number of products including many diet sodas. It easily can build up in the body. Excessive amounts can cause headaches in certain people.
Finally, hydrogenated oil – also known as trans fats – can be toxic to your body. These toxins do not easily break down and can cause clogging. In addition, allergies have been found to be promoted by this unhealthy type of oil as well.
Before you can start to build a healthy body it just makes sense to clean out the old garbage that is hindering your health.