Seven Tips for Intestinal Health

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Seven Tips for Intestinal Health

JoAnn Guest

Jan 05, 2005 20:12 PST

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Seven Tips for Intestinal Health

http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/nc/intestinal_health_tips.asp

 

Improving the bacterial flora of your GI tract will turn out to be one

of the best forms of health prevention you can take. And, as a bonus,

it's simple and inexpensive. Here are some easy steps you can take to

correct and maintain the bacterial balance in your intestines:

 

Minimize your use of antibiotics.

In Alternatives Vol. 4, No. 11, May 1992, I reported on several natural

products that have antibiotic properties but that don't disrupt the

friendly bacterial flora in the body. Some of these items include

vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, honey, and aloe vera. Make it a point to

keep these on hand and use them at the first sign of infection. The more

time you give the infection to take root, the harder it's going to be to

heal.

 

I predict that we'll see more and more research on the benefits of

probiotic products and natural alternatives to antibiotics, and you'll

be way ahead of the game by minimizing your use of antibiotics now.

Antibiotics solve some problems but, as I explained in the Health

Dispatch, they also create a long list of new ones. Antibiotic-resistant

microbes are now appearing far more quickly than new products to

counteract them can be developed.

 

If, despite the clear health risks, you still decide to take

antibiotics, then it is imperative that you also take supplemental

probiotics along with probiotic-rich foods. This also goes for anyone

with a serious illness, longstanding infection, or bowel problems. You

should use supplemental probiotics at least until you correct any

bacterial imbalance.

 

I covered my favorite probiotic supplements—Lactobacillus acidophilus

and lactic acid yeast—in detail in Alternatives Vol. 3, No. 2, August

1989. Basically, L. acidophilus forms colonies on your intestinal walls,

helping your intestines to absorb more nutrients. For L. acidophilus to

work best, it needs to be accompanied by milk products in the diet. If

you have milk allergies, you can instead try using a product called

Lactic Acid Yeast Wafers available from both Mountain Home Nutritionals

1-888-887-8262 and For Your Health 1-800-456-4325. A quality probiotic

product will deliver a billion live bacteria.

 

 

Reduce the use of all drugs whenever possible.

This applies to over-the-counter drugs as well as prescription

medications. I'm not for a minute suggesting that you drop your blood

pressure or diabetes medication. Never change or eliminate any

medications without the help and guidance of your doctor. However, it is

well within your control to refrain from running to the local pharmacy

or your medicine cabinet for every little problem that you experience.

For almost every problem imaginable, there are viable natural

alternatives that can work without the side effects of pharmaceuticals.

 

 

Decrease your intake of sulfur-based preservatives.

Check labels for sulfur dioxide, sulfites, bisulfites, metabisulfites or

sulfates. If you see any of these included, buy another brand!

 

 

Use fermented milk products, including organic yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk.

 

These products help to provide the " seed " bacteria needed to establish a

proper bacteria flora in the lower bowel. Yogurt is now more popular,

and that's a good thing. It's best to make your own organic yogurt at home, but

if you do buy it at the market make sure the yogurt container has the

words " live " or " active " culture on the label.

 

 

Eat a generous helping of oatmeal at least once a week.

Beneficial bacteria must be able to latch on if they are going to

flourish and colonize in the GI tract.

 

Fortunately, oat bran can help. Oats have some very unique properties.

Oat fiber is a rich source of water-soluble beta-glucans, which have

been associated with the ability to enhance the function of the immune

system.

 

The gum in the oats promotes the production of a protective intestinal

lubricant, and now appears to improve the adhesive capabilities and the

growth rates of beneficial bacteria strains. Please keep in mind that

instant oatmeal packets are light on the oat bran and heavy on the

sugar.

 

If I were you, I'd stick to plain old-fashioned, slow-cooking oats,

which taste just fine on their own.

 

 

Include a minimum of one liberal serving of sauerkraut in your diet each

week. I can't emphasize this enough! Several servings a week would be

even better (provided they aren't on top of hot dogs).

 

As we have become more technologically advanced in food preparation, we

have greatly reduced our intake of fermented foods. As a result, we have

lost one of the most potent tools ever in our fight against pathogenic

bacteria and other microbes.

 

 

Consider adding a probiotic to your daily supplement program. Between

400 and 500 different species of bacteria reside in your GI tract.

 

Estimates are that these bacterial flora account for as much as three

pounds of your body weight. Very few physicians understand the true

importance of these bacteria, primarily because they are not a topic of

study in medical school.

 

Based on the miraculous rejuvenation and healing effects I've witnessed,

I am wholeheartedly convinced that these bacteria should be

re-classified in medical teachings as a vital, integral part of the

body.

 

We now know that problems arise when the bad bacteria are present

without the good bacteria to control them. In other words, it's an

imbalance of bacteria in the GI tract that causes problems. Look for a

probiotic that delivers at least 1 billion mixed, beneficial bacteria.

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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