Good Intestinal Health

Salutations and good tidings to everyone.

Our fast food and highly processed society has played havoc on our digestive health. Chronic conditions such as constipation, irritable bowel disease (IBD), and colon cancer along with other intestinal issues are becoming increasingly prevalent. I will break this subject up into three parts beginning today with fiber and water intake. Subsequent offerings over the next two or three weeks will include what highly processed foods do to our digestive health and how improper food combinations can lead to sluggish digestion which in turn leads to constipation and a whole host of other issues seldom considered. Prevention is the order of the day and there are a few things we can do for ourselves today for better digestive health tomorrow.

We can begin simply by increasing our water and fiber intake. There is some debate as to how much water we should ingest daily but it is reasonably accepted that 6 - 8 glasses (48 oz. - 64 oz.) of fresh clean water is needed. For now we will leave it at that. Water is the grand solvent by which advantageous materials are moved in and unwanted or waste materials are moved out. Without a sufficient amount of water our ability to eliminate waste properly is greatly diminished. A person can acquire water through fruit and vegetable consumption, whether they be whole or juiced, as well as simply drinking water itself. You may have noticed I didn't mention soda. That is because despite having water in it soda manages to rob the body of other essential nutrients that can be detrimental to good digestive health.

Fiber is essentially indigestible carbohydrates that combines with water. Fiber makes our stools bulkier and less dense. This makes passing "complete" stools easier and helps keep the colon clean. Both soluble (easilt dissolved in water) and insoluble (not easily dissolved in water) should be sought through the intake of whole foods (foods that are not highly processed, refined or over cooked) such as whole grains, lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds along with 5 servings of green leafy vegetables and 3 - 4 servings of fresh fruit. By the way, this doesn't leave much room for junk food or other empty calories which is a benefit to ye olde waistline! An ideal intake of fiber is at least 35 grams which is covered easily if you are taking in the foods listed above. However, through years of harsh eating plans a super sluggish system may benefit from supplementation but a proper diet is highly recommended in conjunction to any supplementation. In case you are wondering a person with a sluggish system is generally regarded as someone who has fewer than one bowel movement a day!

Next week we will discuss how highly processed foods, refined foods (including enriched foods), and over cooked foods can upset the delicate balances within us that determine good or bad intestinal health so please stay tuned.

Peace and much love to all!