Constipation: An Epidemic with Deeper Issues and Effects

Constipation is the most common digestive complaint in the United States and affects women three times more than men. Chronic constipation is a serious health issue that can not only cause pain but also contribute to other health conditions including headaches, migraines, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. To understand the deeper issues associated with constipation let us take a closer look at the digestive system and how it works.

When food is initially eaten it passes down the esophagus and into the stomach. The stomach has a thick mucus layer that produces digestive juices and protects the stomach lining from irritation. As we age this layer produces less gastric acid which means it will take longer for us to digest the same meals we ate when we were younger. (YES it is normal for us to produce less stomach acid as we age, NOT MORE as many people that have been incorrectly diagnosed with acid reflux and GERD believe.) Ideally food will only stay in the stomach for about 30-45 minutes before passing through the next stop in the digestive system, however due to less acid being produced sometimes food can take hours to empty the stomach which can cause lack of appetite, belching, and other reflux-like symptoms due to food putrefying within the stomach. In this case a natural supplement such as Gastro Plus can assist with increasing acid production in the stomach. In some folks this mucus layer can also thin due to nutrient deficiencies and poor diet which can lead to stomach pain after a meal or after eating certain foods. This mucus layer and the acid it produces can be regrown and healed when our body has the proper nerve function from the spine to direct healing and the proper nutrition from a natural supplement such as Gastro Guard that can assist in the healing process.

From the stomach, food will pass into the small intestine where further breakdown and all of our nutrient absorption takes place. The small intestine also has a protective layer secreted by the beneficial bacteria in our gut to protect the intestinal lining from irritation. If the pH of the intestine is too low (acidic) it can lead to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria such as yeast and gas producing bacteria. For probiotic support of these beneficial bacteria you can try Ultrabiotic or our children's line of Pedia Biotic. If this delicate balance of bacteria and pH is altered it can cause abdominal pain or gas, nutritional deficiencies, gut inflammation, allergies, auto immune diseases, and also alter mood due to hormone disruption. In addition, when our hormone balance is altered we can have delayed motility of the intestine due to hormone deficiencies such as progesterone deficiency. Dietary habits (fiber from fruits and vegetables mainly) also have a direct impact on how food moves through the intestine and  how much cholesterol we absorb from our food.

Once nutrients have been absorbed, the food will pass into the large intestine where the body will attempt to conserve water and salt from fecal matter before being passed through to the last stop on your digestive train... the toilet. Dietary habits play a huge factor in how fecal matter moves through the system which is why it is so important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables daily. If our large intestine has altered nerve function from nerve irritation in the lumbar spine this can also contribute to the time fecal matter spends in the intestine. When waste does not pass through the digestive system in a timely manner fecal matter can become hard and can stick to the wall of the intestine and cause further digestive issues. This stagnant waste can also build up toxins that can be reabsorbed into the body to cause chronic headaches, weight gain, and fatigue.

So what can you do to keep your digestive system health?

1) Drink plenty of water. This will keep your joints and muscle hydrated and assist in letting things slide on through the digestive system without issue.

2) Eat at least 7 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Vegetables are the most important as they provide the alkalizing benefits to keep your beneficial bacteria strong and the most nutrients out of any food you can eat!

3) If you are having issues with constipation or having a bowel movement less than once a day, it is time to talk to your doctor. Most doctors will discuss changing your dietary habits to get the most benefits and healing properties out of your food. If changing your diet doesn't yield the results you need it would be a wise idea to get your nervous system and your hormone balance checked for issues. AlignLife offers free consultations in the office or via phone to discuss your health concerns and non invasive salivary hormone testing to check for underlying issues.

4) If you've been dealing with stomach or abdominal pain or have been diagnosed with acid reflux or GERD and aren't getting results with your current treatment, give AlignLife a call to setup a free health consultation to discuss your specific case and get advice on natural treatment options that would be available to you.

To schedule an appointment at our Peoria AlignLife office on Sheridan Rd, call 309-689-6200 or visit our website online www.AlignLife.com/Peoria. If you don't live in Peoria but would like to find an AlignLife near you, visit www.AlignLife.com and select "Find A Clinic".

Poor Gut Health Causes Diabetes

Many of us aren't drinking enough water or eating the proper diet that supports proper gut health and as a result our body's normal balance is being thrown off course. This abnormal bacteria balance is predisposing our bodies to all different sorts of health conditions and ability to cope with the changes in our natural environment. Keep reading to hear more about how to keep you and your family's gut health in the green and  some useful tips on how to keep it balanced properly.

Your gut bacteria levels should contain high levels of a number of different lactobacillus and other normal species of bacteria, however many Americans today have high levels of E. coli and pathogenic bacteria that can lead to gut inflammation, excessive gas production, decrease nutrient absorption in the intestines, and even cause gut cell wall death. Recent research including the studies in the paragraph below, have been looking into the role of gut bacteria in the development of common health concerns including diabetes, colorectal cancer, autoimmune diseases, obesity, and also food allergies.

The University of Copenhagen's Department of Biology is now embarking on research examining these gut bacteria genes and their role in the development of diabetes. In a recently published study, a link was found between environmental factors in pathogenic gut bacteria that are speculated to contribute to the inflammation that leads to the development of diabetes. A 2011 study looked at the impact of gut flora and their role in the development of the immune system and increased rates of obesity and diabetes when that normal balance was altered.

A proper diet includes 3-5 servings of lean protein and 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. During digestion the protein is broken down into amino acids which are used for everything in your body including hormone and enzyme production and building tissue such as muscle and ligaments. This means that if your diet doesn't include the right amount of protein you may not have the building blocks necessary for tissue rebuilding needed for healing and maintenance or the amino acids used for enzymes and hormones. The fruits and vegetables are actually a carbohydrate (YES that is correct carbohydrates are not just breads and pastas) that are broken down and used for nutrient and mineral absorption as well as for feeding the healthy gut bacteria I mentioned above. The waste products from these healthy gut bacteria actually coat and protect the cells of the gut wall from damage and death. If these bacteria don't have enough of the fruits and vegetables they need, they will not produce the waste products necessary for gut wall protection and your gut wall may start to become damaged or sections of the gut wall may die. This can lead to undigested food products being released through these dead cell walls and the potential for allergies to develop at a cellular and blood level. In order to restore a healthy bacterial balance we need to alter our diet to help promote the healthy gut bacterial growth and possibly even take a probiotic supplement to help increase the levels of healthy gut bacteria in our systems.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

1) Eat a healthy diet. Make sure to get 3-5 servings of lean protein and 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Also make sure to drink plenty of water which should be about half your body weight in ounces, not just the 8-10 glasses of 8 oz of water anymore.
2) Cut down on sugars and junk foods. Sugars and junk food can cause an acidic environment in the intestines and a hostile environment for the healthy bacteria that need to be thriving in your gut. So cut out as many processed sugars as you can and try to restrict the bread and pasta sources of carbohydrates in favor of the health promoting carbohydrates present in fruits and vegetables.
3) Take a probiotic supplement. A probiotic supplement can help to restore normal gut flora and decrease the number of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. A good supplement should have numerous different strains of lactobacillus and recommend you take them multiple times a day, however children may need a probiotic with different strains of bacteria. If you're on any immune system suppressants or medication, you should talk to your doctor before beginning any supplemental regiment.
4) Get your gut bacteria tested. This will give you an in depth look at your current bacterial balance and dictate whether you need a special diet and/or dietary restrictions to control the digestive environment.

4 Reasons Your Kids Should Play In Dirt

There is a saying that "dirty kids are happy kids" but this saying goes far behind happiness because, truth be told, more and more research has been finding that dirty kids are in fact healthier kids! Allergies and auto immune diseases are on the rise in children, and scientific hypotheses and smart mamas have been saying its because kid's are not getting exposed to germs and bacteria as much as they used to. Children nowadays have a sterile environment free of as many germs, microbes, and well pain old dirt as possible for parents. In the rush to protect our children, are we really just putting them at risk for an improperly developed immune system?

Lysol commercials and even Clorox are now touting that we must disinfect our children's environment, their toys on a daily or weekly basis, and even the air they are breathing! This marketing campaign is particularly disturbing because children's immune systems are developing strength by the constant exposure to these germs, microbes, and bacteria. So by limiting the number of germs they are exposed to we are in fact lessening the load on their immune system which will limit its effectiveness in preventing future sickness and disease. In fact, the National Institutes of Health conducted a study from 1988 to 1994 and found that 56% of Americans ages 6-59 had an allergy or sensitivity to at least one allergen. This statistic is up by almost 5 times from a similar survey completed in 1980.

In a study published by Science in March of 2012, mice exposed to little or no germs and mice with a normal  bacteria infested environments were studied in comparison with each other. Based on the results of this study, researchers found that the germ-free mice had inflammation of the lungs and colon due to hyperactivity of the immune system's T Cells. The inflammation they found closely resembled asthma and colitis which are frequently occurrences in many of today's children. In addition, these researchers found that mice who were exposed to germs during the first weeks of life (equivalent to the first year or more in humans) had a longer-lasting immune system protection even if exposed to less germs in adult life. It seems that microbe exposure in early life is essential to strong immune system function later in life.

In addition, pet or farm animal exposure at an early age can also help children avoid allergies according to another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In addition, this study found that children in larger families that were exposed to a larger range of bacteria had fewer allergies than those in the smaller families of most American families today.

So what's the real deal with these studies and statistics? Well to fight off the notion that all germs are bad, we need to look at how our immune system works and more importantly that not all germs are bad. In fact, our skin is normally and naturally covered in bacteria that help protect our bodies. This bacteria can not only help to prevent inflammation, but according to Dr. Mary Ruebush, an immunologist and author of Why Dirt is Good, it actually helps cuts and scrapes heal. She also mentions that early exposure to germs and pathogens can actually reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease as adults! Dr. Mary recommends parents let their kids play in the dirt (and suggests parents do the same) not only for the bacterial benefit but also as a stress reducer. Digging in the dirt releases the feel good hormone serotonin in the brain which can induce relaxation and better moods for the whole family.

So what can you do to help your little ones immune system develop strong?

1) Don't sterilize your child's life. Children exposed to germs at a younger age have stronger immune systems and let's face it, your child will put everything in their mouth whether you've cleaned it or not. So don't fret if he or she shares toys with Fido because they are preventing cardiovascular, allergies, asthma, and colitis in later life.

2) Let kids play in the dirt. Join them outside by planting flowers or a vegetable garden together to nurture great bacteria balance and some mood boosting serotonin release for everyone. If your little explorer is searching under the couch, don't stress if he gets a hold of some under shoe goo or left overs the mop didn't quite reach.

3) Encourage healthy gut bacteria. Make sure your kids are taking a probiotic especially if they're suffering from colic or gas or have recently had a vaccination or round of antibiotics. This will prevent harmful bacteria from taking over the body environment and help get the beneficial bacteria back into the foothold of health in their bodies.

4) Play it smart when washing hands. Don't use antibacterial soap all the time as this can wipe out the beneficial bacteria on the skin that can help heal and reduce inflammation in case of skin injury. Antibacterial hand cleanser can do the same, but dry out skin quickly due to the added alcohol. I recommend to only use regular soap and water and not to use soap at every hand wash. Just rinsing the hands in warm water while rubbing them together can remove most residual residue and help decrease the amount of bacteria on the hands. Of course if Johnny down the street has strep throat and is coughing all over your house, it would be a smart idea to use soap and stick to washing up prevention as much as possible.

5) Encourage children from the neighborhood to come on over and play. While you may not have 5 kids living under your roof, the more is truly the merrier. The more exposure your sweetie gets from Suzy down the block and her 4 siblings, the better off her immune system will be. Host a sleep over or playdate and team up with other neighborhood moms to spread the responsibility. After all who doesn't love an afternoon to themselves catch up on that novel you've set aside for the past 15 months or to throw another load in the laundry?