Ancient Wisdom and Modern Holistic Remedies for Improving digestion.

Primary ways digestion is disrupted are as follows:

+ Not Chewing Properly
+ Excess Liquids with Meals
+ Antibiotics
+ Excess Juicing and Raw, Cold Foods
+ Excess Sugar in the Diet
+ Excessive Consumption of Artificial Alkaline Water.

By becoming mindful of our eating habits, we can quickly bring our digestive health back into balance.

• Instead of pharmaceutical antibiotics, it is far safer and equally effective to use natural antibiotic medicines that destroy harmful, disease-causing bacteria but leave your essential, beneficial bacteria unharmed and perhaps even strengthened. As a first line of defense, colloidal silver and oil of wild oregano are excellent, time-honored choices.
• Most people are not aware that a major portion of our nervous system is located in our intestines, also know as the ‘enteric nervous system’ by doctors or, more commonly, as our ‘second brain.’ In fact, more than 90% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, as well as about 50% of the body’s dopamine. Furthermore, your intestines produce and co-regulate 30 other neuro transmitters identical to those found in your brain and are used by your central nervous system to regulate mood, stress levels, sleep patterns, mental functioning and any number of other essential body processes.
• Our bodies are very warm (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and our stomach needs to heat everything we eat up to this temperature for optimal digestion. Eating cold foods puts enormous stress on our digestive system and causes us to only partially digest what we eat.
• Drinking fresh-squeezed juice, or any cold beverage regularly introduces excess liquids into our digestive tract as well, dilutes our digestive juices. Compounded by the fact that they are cold and typically high in naturally occurring sugar, juices can very quickly imbalance even otherwise robust digestion and create digestive problems.
• Raw food diets rely heavily on nuts and seeds which are the most difficult to digest of all foods. Depending on how nuts and seeds are prepared, they contain varying levels of phytic acid and trypsin, both considered ‘anti-nutrients’ because they bind up essential minerals in forms unusable by our bodies and inhibit digestion simultaneously. They can be broken down to a degree by sprouting, which is commonly done on raw food diets, but this does not remove them completely; and, even in small amounts, they put quite a bit of stress on our digestion and can lead to chronic digestive problems.
• Our digestive secretions are extremely acidic; and when we regularly drink alkaline water or beverages, it neutralizes our stomach acidity, which eventually breaks down our digestion. Alkaline water can be beneficial in moderation if it is naturally alkaline—meaning that it is alkaline due to naturally occurring or added minerals such as those which occur in spring water. All minerals are alkaline, and mixing them with water causes the water to become alkaline. However, many brands artificially alkalize water by passing it over metal plates with slight electric charges, which manipulate the ion balance as a shortcut to alkalinity. The body, as you might imagine, does not react well to these types of ‘processed’ waters and digestive problems form as a result.
• Excess fruit, fruit juices, honey or any other natural sweetener can create digestive problems by weakening pancreas. Insulin safely transports the excess sugar out of  bloodstream. This is a normal, healthy process; but like anything in excess, it leads to digestive problems. Pancreas is critical for healthy digestion, releasing a number of vital digestive enzymes to break down foods as they enter the intestines.
• Ghee heals digestive problems because it is extraordinarily rich in butyric acid, which is used in the treatment of ulcers, IBS, ulcerative colitis and colon cancer, among other things. Butyric acid works by soothing and reducing inflammation in the digestive tract and healing wounds in the mucus lining of the stomach and intestines. It also balances the hydrochloric acid levels in the stomach, which are frequently disturbed in those with digestive problems. As an added benefit, Ghee is delicious and makes just about everything it comes into contact with taste much richer and more flavorful.
• Trikatu is the Sanskrit name for a highly revered Ayurvedic herbal blend of long pepper, black pepper and ginger, all herbs with the remarkable ability to powerfully stimulate digestion—particularly the production of digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Significant increases in energy and elimination of digestive problems after the first dose are not uncommon, however, for such a powerful herbal blend it is important to start slow and be aware of how your body reacts.
• Bitter herbs have a drying effect in the stomach and intestines, which is beneficial in cases of deficient digestion where conditions therein tend to be ‘damp and wet’, according to Chinese Medicine terminology. Furthermore bitters heal the liver (which is often compromised in cases of digestive deficiency) and stimulate it to produce bile, which is essential in digesting fats, clearing out undigested food residues from gut. Take after meals.
• Aloe vera is widely used as a powerful skin moisturizer, scar remover and wound healer. When taken internally, Aloe has many of the same effects on the digestive tract. It works wonders on constipation, soothes ulcers, eases heartburn, and is an excellent remedy for healing digestive problems. However, aloe’s effects are not solely limited to the digestive tract. When any organ is weakened, be it the stomach or intestines, the other organs are also affected, having to overcompensate to deal with excess toxins, stress, etc. As digestive problems are healed, neighboring organs may need to be cleansed and rejuvenated as well and aloe serves a double purpose as a tonic for the entire organ system. It deeply cleanses and nourishes the body, pulling out wastes from the affected tissues and helping the liver to excrete them. Fresh plant gel is best.
• In cases of mild to severe digestive problems, nutrient absorption is frequently impaired and the body is suffering from sub-clinical nutrient deficiencies. Not surprisingly, many vitamins and minerals are necessary for proper digestive function, which can create a vicious cycle without a source of easily absorbable nutrients. Taking a high quality multivitamin and can make a major difference in the time it takes to recover by supplying the body with much needed nutrition to bridge the gap while digestion is restored.
• Slippery elm is derived from the bark of the Elm tree and has been used medicinally in traditional cultures for thousands of years. The bark absorbs toxins from the digestive tract, speeds digestion and transit time of food in the bowels, heals damage to the intestinal walls and feeds beneficial probiotic bacteria. It’s also rich in vitamin A, the B complex, vitamin C and K, as well as the essential minerals calcium, magnesium and sodium, and contains smaller amounts of chromium, selenium, iron, phosphorous, silicon and zinc. All in all it’s a great herb and an essential part of any healing regimen addressing digestive problems. Be sure to drink at least an 8 oz glass of water with a dose of slippery elm, as it absorbs water and toxins from the digestive tract and can be drying otherwise.