Digestive Health with natural help

Fiber and Fermented Foods support Intestinal Health

The average western diet high in refined foods, sugar, and red meats has led to an increase in digestive problems, especially those to do with the lower intestinal tract - large intestine (colon) and rectum. Disease like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, colon cancer, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence and hemorrhoids are all linked to the food we eat.

Two factors greatly influence the health of the digestive tract - fibre and fermented foods.

Fibre - natures intestinal loofah

Fiber used to be considered a useless non-nutrient that should be removed from food mostly because it seemed it was not needed by the body - it isn't absorbed into the body like other food components. Fibre is frequently removed from food - either to make it taste better or to make it easier to eat - think of a fast food chain burger bun - there is negligible fibre in that form of bread. Much the same can be said for the average white bread loaf you buy in the supermarket.

Fibre is sourced exclusively from plant material - it is the skeleton of a plant - the bit that gives it structure whether it be the seeds, stems or leaves. In fruit, vegetables, seeds, grains or nuts the fibre is generally found on the outside surface of the food. Unlike other food components eg fats or protein which are absorbed in the small intestine, fibre travels through the large intestine largely unchanged providing bulk to waste matter. Fibre protects the colon wall from being harmed because it inhibits the formation of toxins and the proliferation of harmful bacteria. Nice bulky dense stools that move through quickly also decrease the chances of the colon wall getting twisted or forming pockets where waste accumulates. Fibre is a bit like a big intestinal loofah, it gently scrubs away the waste and keeps the muscles and walls of the colon in good shape.

Fermented Foods

The second step to intestinal health is keeping the friendly microbes or gut flora happy. The food we eat not only nourishes us (hopefully) but it also nourishes the huge population of microbes that live in our digestive tract. These friendly bacteria (eg Lactobacillus acidophilus) fight the nasty toxic bacteria in our systems to keep us healthy. Eating whole grains, vegetables and fermented foods like yoghurt, fermented vegetables - sauerkraut or kimchi, miso and kombucha tea keeps the good bacteria happy. Consuming fermented foods leads to the production of lactic acid within the colon which corrects the balance between the good and bad microbes and gently tones the colon. It is believed that fermentation can magnify the benefits of all food up to 500%- this includes vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and phyto-nutrients.

Two types of fermentation

Food can be fermented two ways - by the action of fungi or bacteria. Generally fermentation fungi like yeast are used to produce alcohol which is considered biologically dead. By contrast bacteria "lower pH and ultimately produce lactic acid, effectively preserving the food while producing otherwise unavailable flavours and nutritional compounds" giving us in the end a biologically active food. (see http://www.humanecologyreview.org/pastissues/her151/scottandsullivan.pdf)

Most modern westerners don't eat a great deal of fermented foods unless you include alcohol, yoghurt or the occasional pickle. Yoghurt is by far the most mainstream popular choice but of course not everybody can happily digest yoghurt due to dairy intolerance.

Increasing your intake of fiber and fermented foods is a healthy choice. If you aren't too keen on fermented veges or miso consider adding Digest-Ease to your diet. It's a powerful probiotic which provides a bounty of predigested, functional food. It involves the fermentation of wheat grass, barley grass and alfalfa grass. and contains an impressive amino acid profile whilst providing a huge number of beneficial organisms (both probiotic and prebiotic) in each serve.

Sources - Staying Healthy with Nutrition - Elson M Haas; The Macrobiotic Way by Michio Kushi; Readers Digest Guide to Drugs and Supplements

Foods Health Digestion....Unity for Good Health

The Importance of Digestion

Good Health starts with a health digestive system. The body cannot function optimally - building new cells, providing energy and resisting sickness if it does not have the fuel it needs to function. You can eat the healthiest food available but it is of little use if you can't digest it.

Digestion is the process by which complex chemicals in food are broken down into simpler chemicals that can be asbsorbed and used by the body. Digestion begins in the mouth, through the oesphagus, stomach, small and large intestines and ends with waste being expelled by the anus. The liver, gallbladder and pancreas each play a role in facilaitating digestion.

Digestive enzymes are the substances that break down the proteins, sugars and fats we eat so our bodies can use them.

Digestive enzymes come from three main sources.

• Raw vegetables and fruit. These must be eaten raw as their enzymes are destroyed by heat.
  
  
• The liver and pancreas manufacture digestive enzymes, but according to Sandra Cabot, author of the best-selling ‘The Liver Cleansing Diet’, a fully functioning liver has become a rare commodity. Not only does the liver provide the vast majority of the chemicals required for good digestion , it also deals with toxins (such as alcohol) rendering them less harmful.
  
  
• The third source of digestive enzymes are the beneficial gut organisms. 100 trillion of these creatures should inhabit the full length of the 30ft digestive tract from mouth to anus, proliferating in the large intestine.

Beneficial gut organisms are those friendly bacteria like acidophilus and other probiotics. A Probiotic is a microbe that protects its host and prevents disease. These friendly bacteria supply vitmains like B12, K, thiamine and folic acid as well as fighting harmful bacteria. Probiotics often require the presence of prebiotics to function optimally. Prebiotics are anon-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth or activity of bacteria in the digestive system which are beneficial to the health of the body.

You can increase the number of beneficial gut organisms by eating certain foods. For example yoghurt, fermented vegetables - sauerkraut or kimchi, and kombucha tea. You can also supplement with various probiotic products available on the market today. One of these includes Digest-Ease, a Human Health Product by NTS. Digest-Ease is a powerful probiotic which provides a bounty of predigested, functional food. It contains an impressive amino acid profile and provides a huge number of beneficial organisms (both probitic and prebiotic) in each serve.

proactive maintenance of optimal wellness

We are really excited to be stocking the Human Health Products range from Nutri-Tech Solutions.

Nutri-Tech Solutions are an Australian company formed in June 1994 to achieve the goal of improving nutrition from the soil up. For the last 15 years they have pioneered a range of innovative strategies in biological agriculture. In fact, NTS is now regarded as a world leader in this field.Recently, the focus has expanded to include animal and human health solutions and their associated product developments in these arenas have proven both potent and unique. NTS remain passionately committed to the concept of improving the nutrient density of the food we eat whilst reducing the immune assault associated with farm chemicals.

NTS are leading the way in providing nutrient packed foods that assist health and vitality. The NTS philosophy focuses upon the proactive maintenance of optimal wellness rather than just treating the symptoms of disease. This is acheived through addressing key issues like digestive health, immune support and detoxification.

We have added 6 uniwue and nutrient packed NTS Human Health Products to out Healthy Choices range - they are Digest-Ease, Vita-Green Defence, MagSorb Magnesium Oil, ProGlow Prostate Support, Nutri-Salt and Sweet Health Xylitol.