It takes "guts" to be healthy

Many individuals today have a lot of excess "guts". With all of these new "diet" pills and plans that are introduced to our society I would think that the problem would subside.
But alas our health concerns and weight have gone up dramatically.

Many Americans today have what health care providers call "Leaky Gut Syndrome". Do your intestines leak?
What is this Leaky Gut Syndrome? Well this is the inflammation of the gut lining (intestinal walls), brought on by any combination of the following:
*Antibiotitcs
*Alcohol and caffeine
*Prescription corticosteroids(ex. prednisone)
*NSAIDS (ASA, ibuprofen, indomethacin, etc.) and asprin
*Diet high in refined carbohydrates
*Prescription hormones (birthing contraceptives, etc)
*Mold and fungal mycotoxins
*Free Radacals
*Parasites like giardia lamblia, cryptosporidium, ring worm, tapeworm,etc
*Bacteria like helicobacter pylori, klebsiella, citrobacter, etc
*Chemicals in fermented and processed food (dyes, preservatives, peroxidized fats)
*Enzyme Deficiences

With that being written, how many of these have you encountered? With our ways this day and age, I know myself personally have been caught up with many of these. Some I still have problems weaning away from because of their addictive tendencies.

Let me begin by helping you understand what the Gastrointestinal Tract, GI Tract is a more commonly used name, is and what it does. The GI Tract breaks down and absorbs nutrients and is the first line of immune defense against pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungus, etc) and chemical irritants. We have 60% or more of our immune system lying within our guts. Who would have guessed that? When you become sick with a head cold, flu, virus, etc just look to your gut and begin the cleaning process there.

To start a healthier lifestyle you must first educate yourself on how these health concerns come about and what symptoms are involved. Leaky Gut Syndrome is when the intestines become inflamed due to an irritation of some kind i.e. acidic processed refined foods, pollution, etc. Inflamed tissues swell, increasing the porous nature of the intestines. When having leaky gut syndrome this limits absorption of nutrients which can cause fatigue and bloating after eating. Large food particles are absorbed which creates food allergies and autoimmune situations like arthritis and fibromylagia. Carrier proteins are damaged so nutrient deficiencies occur which can cause numerous symptoms
-Magnesium deficient muscle spasms
-Copper deficient high cholesterol
Immune function is compromised greatly and increases chemical sensitivity, leaking toxins burden the liver, bacteria and candida (yeast) are able to translocate, i.e. pass from the gut into the bloodstream and infect other organs and systems, and much more.

What the heck does all that mean, right? Let me translate exactly what leaky gut syndrome causes and the health problems associated with this issue.
*Abdominal discomfort
*ADHD
*Arthritis
*Asthma
*Autism
*Automimmune diseases
*Bloating
*Candida
*Celiac disease
*Chronic fatigue syndrome
*Depression
*Dermatitis
*Diarrhea
*Eczema
*Environmental illness
*Fatigue
*Fever
*Food allergy
*Inflammatory bowel disease
*Irritable bowel syndrome
*Memory problems
*Multiple chemical sensitivity
*Pancreatic insufficiency
*Psoriasis
*Sinus problems
*Skin rashes
*Toxic feelings

That may help put this issue into a more serious perspective.

I will break down an eight guide process on "cleansing",cleansing is more than just stimulating bowel eliminations.

Step One: Avoid Intestinal Irritants
Avoid processed foods loaded with food additives
Eliminate food allergens (wheat, corn, dairy, etc) Note: everyone has different allergens, elimination diet works wonders
Avoid Refined sugars and simple carbs
Avoid drugs which damage intestinal mucosa (Ibuprofen, birth control, corticosteroids, etc.)

Some ideas that you will help build and support your intestines would be:
Eating fiberous foods (whole grains, leafy green vegetables, etc)
Drink plenty of purified water
Exercise regularly
Eat quality fats and oils
Eat fermented foods

Step Two: Bind toxins and irritants in the gut to prevent inflammation and damage to the intestinal mucosa
As mentioned above fiber is needed daily. The average American only gets roughly 6-11 grams of fiber a day. Our daily intake is set around 30-35 grams. Fiber is our Nutritional Security Guards! It acts as food for and encourages the growth of the friendly flora in the intestinal tract and directly soothes intestinal inflammation. When this item is taken with adequate amounts of water it improves colon transit time! THIS IS HUGE! On average we are to have an elimination 2-3 times a day. This shows a healthy "transit time". Again, an average American's "transit time" is around 70-100 hours, which it is suppose to be close to 8-14 hours. That is an extreme difference. When people say we are full of it they speak the truth!

Step Three: Improve colon transit time so that toxins and irritants are removed from the GI tract in a more timely basis
Alright let's get that junk out of there. No need to be pack rats and keep it with you wherever you go. Another reason why we gain weight. Who wants to decrease their colon transit time? I know I do! Ways of doing this are to get half your body weight in ounces of water. Adding fiber, herbal bitters: yellow dock, burdock, oregon grape, etc, and ENZYMES!
*Enzymes break down undigested foods, improve intestinal absorption of nutrients, reduce build-up of toxins, and have a
very mild laxative action.

Step Four: Reduce existing intestinal inflammation and restore integrity of intestinal membranes to reduce gut permeability
Anti-inflammatories are needed here. Such as, Chamomile, Mangosteen, Yucca, and Licorice, which you can even drink teas with these such herbs which eliminates "pill popping".

Step Five: Remove yeast and other harmful microbes and creating a healthy balance of friendly bacteria in intestines
This is, for me, the most important step of all. There are tons of yeast fighting "diets" you can follow which work so well and you feel horrible at the beginning, but when you finally rid yourself of the yeasty bacteria you feel as if you went back in time!
Some herbal agents to help would be oregano, garlic, Pau D'Arco and colloidal silver. Items to take to keep them from coming back is Black Walnut, Garlic, and wormwood.

Step Six: Support Phase I and II detoxification enzymes with nutritional co-factors and antioxidants
The liver filters toxins out of the blood coming from the digestive tract. It does this via the bile.
Liver Enzyme Systems- Phase I detoxification:
Beta-carotene
Vitamins/Minerals
Choline
Fatty Acids
Lecithin
Methionine
Phase II detoxification are enzymes which add chemical groups to toxins to make them water soluble so they can be excreted by the kidneys
Vitamins: Folic Acid, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C
Minerals: Germanium, Magnesium, Manganese, Selenium, Sulfur, Zinc
Amino Acids
N-acetyl-cystine
Nutritional supporters would be green foods, milk thistle, sam-e, indole-3 carbionl,etc

Step Seven: Stimulate the flow of bile and urine to remove toxins which have been processed by the liver
Aids to elimination are again Fiber and Water! No one can stress this enough. If we got the proper amounts of water and fiber daily we would have magnificent "transit time" and be eliminating the waste that makes us sick and disease ridden.

Step Eight: Repopulate the intestines with FRIENDLY microbes
Yes there is bacteria that is on our side that lives in our intestines. These are better known as Probiotics! They protect intestines from infection by harmful microbes, help breakdown food and provide nutrient absorption, helps neutralize toxins.
I suggest taking these daily and even sprinkling on children's food and baby's! They need to start as soon as possible so they do not follow in our unhealthy foodsteps.
Some common probiotics are:
Acidophilus
Bifidophilus
L. Reuturi
Flora Force
Fermented foods

In conclusion, it is never to late to start Transforming your lifestyles to ones that will heal you then harm. Stepping away from lies and pressure of those who are focused mainly on gaining financial reigns and searching and finding those who are truly interested in your well being as much as you should be. Yet, that is where it begins. How much you love and want yourself to be happy and healthy is how you will live your life.
I end with live your life as fully as you choose but also live it healthy so you can live longer without illness and die as a whole.