A well functioning digestive system –
the foundation of health

• What needs to be done immediately?
• The digestive system performs at its maximum every day.
• Is anyone free of digestive problems?
• Excessive flatulence upsets daily living.
• What are the causes of heartburn?
• How to take control of your reflux

Do you ever wonder how your digestive system works? Can you imagine how much food it needs to process during your lifetime? Let us look at these questions and get some answers and numbers. We know that an active man, weighing 70 kg, consumes approximately 1.5 kg of food a day. This means that in a year (1.5 x 365 = 548 kg) the majority of people consume just over 0.5 ton of food. This represents 7 to 8 times a person’s weight. If we consider the average age to be 70 years, the food consumed and processed during this time amounts to more than 38 tons! This is amazing.

However, unlike the amount of care spent on maintaining a machine or car in good working order, many people spend little time or thought on their digestive system. It is a well- known fact that, in time, a machine or car which runs without maintenance will stop working. It is not surprising then if, suddenly, life is made unpleasant by flatulence, heartburn, a bloated stomach, digestive problems, and bloating and gas. These are the signals the digestive system is sending you to let you know that it has problems and needs attention. Digestive problems can be caused by many factors, e.g. impaired digestion, a lack of digestive enzymes, a sluggish digestive system, parasites, but also diverticulitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), inflammatory impairment of the small and large intestine/colon – Crohn’s disease, stomach cancer etc. That is why it is always advisable to consult a doctor.

However, it is in your power to take positive steps to improving things. By taking timely action, you can quickly get rid of discomfort and pain. How? Continue reading.

What needs to be done immediately?

It is very important to:

• Cleanse the colon to remove the accumulated build-up and parasites. Body detox is a critical but easily achieved prerequisite for improved digestion and absorption. Try the Colonix program. You will find that it helps in reinstating the normal functioning of the bowels and relieving digestive problems.


• Change your eating habits in order to improve digestion and absorption. This does not depend on how much you eat but rather how much of what you have eaten you are able to fully digest, absorb and metabolize. To be well-nourished means to give the body all that it needs but also to eliminate everything that it is not able to digest (so as not to produce unnecessary waste). For this reason, you should not eat any heavy, fatty, fried, and overly spiced meals typically offered by most fast food outlets. Rather, a light diet, high in fibre and lactic bacteria – probiotics (for more see Healthy food for the bowel) - is what you need. You can supplement the lack of fibre and probiotics in your diet by taking Colonix fibre and Flora Protect. Together, and in a natural way, they help to tackle chronic digestion problems like stomach pain, flatulence, bloating and gas, bloated stomach, bloated colon, feelings of being bloated and gases, constipation, diarrhoea and the side effects of long-term antibiotics use. Flora Protect, containing eight different types of probiotic bacteria, restores a healthy intestinal bacterial flora.


• Chew food well and eat it slowly. If, despite this, you still experience flatulence, bloating and gas, a bloated stomach or a bloated colon after a meal, you need to take some stomach medicine – pills, which actually contain natural digestion enzymes. When the pills are used before each meal digestion is improved. This increases the availability of nutrients and reduces the production of antigens (food particles which may stimulate allergic reactions) and waste material. Digestive enzymes can be replenished by taking e.g. a product called Digestaid.


• Limit cigarettes, black coffee and alcohol.


• Maintain a drinking regime.

If none of these measures brings relief and digestive problems still persist, it is imperative to see a doctor.

The digestive system performs
at its maximum every day.

A well functioning digestive system is of great importance for health. It consists of the digestive tract (alimentary canal) which starts at the mouth opening, continues down the torso/upper body and ends in the anus. It is continuous, approximately 5m long (at death, when the smooth muscles relax, it lengthens to about 10m), and with openings at both ends. It is divided into the oral cavity with its salivary glands, the pharynx, osophagus, stomach and the small and large intestine/colon. The starting point of the small intestine – the duodenum - is where the pancreatic gland (pancreas) and the liver are situated, and where bile enters the system.

As the above description shows, the digestive system is a complex group of organs. Each of them has a different, but very important, function. For this reason, the activity of the individual parts has to be coordinated and they have to be connected. The digestive system fulfills some very important functions:

• it ingests food.


• it digests food – it breaks it apart with the help of mechanical and chemical means.


• it absorbs the products of digestion (glucose, fructose, amino acids, fatty acids).


• it removes unusable or harmful and waste products in the form of feces.

If one of the above noted activities does not work properly, slows down, or stops altogether various less or even more serious digestion problems immediately appear.

Is anyone free of digestive problems?

Problems occur at any age if there is no respect for the natural physiology of digestion and one eats everything “willy-nilly”. Apart from bad eating habits, there may also be other culprits. One of the most common digestive problems is impaired digestion, due to:

• the insufficient production of digestion enzymes in the digestive system (e.g. lipase, necessary to break down fats, protease, pepsin, trypsin and renin, that are needed to digest proteins, saccharase, maltase and lactose to break down sugars, and ptyalin and α-amylase to break down starches etc.).

What can help?


It is important to increase the consumption of raw vegetables and fruit and drink fresh vegetable and fruit juices, which are an excellent source of and contain digestive enzymes in large quantities. The juice made from green barley/barley shoots provides a good quantity of suitable digestion enzymes. Other good sources are the fresh water algae Spirulina a Chlorella. Some stomach medicines in the form of pills also serve this purpose. It is a natural mix of enzymes necessary to improve digestion. Taking e.g. a product called Digestaid can also give you the necessary digestive enzymes. The enzyme mix is contained in an enterosolvent capsule that protects it from the acidity of the stomach so it can enter the small intestine unharmed. Here the enzymes support proper digestion.

• the reduced production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The cells of the mucous membrane of the stomach release the acid and it transforms an inactive pepsinogen into active pepsin – an enzyme that starts the process of breaking down proteins in the stomach.

What can help?


When you notice that eating food high in protein brings digestion problems, the reason may lie in the reduced production of the stomach acid. One of the remedies is to try to take a nutritional supplement containing betaine hydrochloride.

• A sluggish digestive system. It is very simple to take a test to find out whether your digestion problems are linked to a slow-functioning digestive system. To find out how long it takes food to transit the digestive system simply eat a few charcoal tablets (which will give the stool a black colour) together with your meal. If the digestive system works at its best, the time between eating the food to its appearance in the stool should be about 12 – 14 hours. The food should completely disappear from the stool in 36 – 48 hours (this is called the holding time). If the transit time is more than 14 hours and the holding time is more than 72 hours this indicates a sluggish digestive system.

What can help?


If you discover that your digestive system is sluggish the first thing is to do a body detox, in order to cleanse the colon in a natural way. Avoid laxatives and instead gradually add fibre into your food. Fibre passes through the whole of the intestine without any change and thus supports the peristaltic movement, as well as increasing bulk in the intestine. However, it is very important to increase the intake of liquids alongside increasing the intake of fibre. This is necessary because fibre swells, and if you do not drink enough water, the fibre absorbs it from the intestine.

Some problems can be ameliorated by natural means and diet:

• garlic and onion cleanse the digestive system.


• flax seeds, dried prunes, rhubarb, ginger, chilli, liquorice, olive oil and honey help in mild cases of constipation.


• the Colonix program cleanses the colon, removes toxins, waste and parasites.

A healthy digestion is also aided by regular physical activity/exercise.

Excessive flatulence upsets daily living.

Are you bothered by a bloated colon, an excess of intestinal gas, bloating and gas or a bloated stomach? If you have answered yes, read on and you will get to know what causes the symptoms and how to avoid them.
There may be a few reasons:

1. Poor digestion, i.e. the presence of food in the stomach and small intestine, which is not digested sufficiently. If this food reaches the colon, it goes through an undesirable putrefying and fermenting process. Here the incompletely digested food encounters the billions of smooth bacteria and yeasts that make up the natural or abnormal intestinal flora. The yeast bacteria produce gasses (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, hydrogen sulphate and mercaptans) and the decomposition by putrefying bacteria produces ammonia, sulfone, phenol etc., in the end becoming excrement. Some of these gasses impart a specific odour, for example, hydrogen sulphate smells like rotten eggs, and it is accompanied by a feeling of being excessively bloated and gases.
   
   Some foods also cause excessive flatulence since they contain more indigestible saccharides than other foods. Beans are extraordinarily potent in this respect! Apart from legumes, other foods causing flatulence, or bloating and gas are brassicas (broccoli, savoy cabbage, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.), onions, garlic, leeks, beets, potatoes, yeast in bread, wheat, radish, etc. People who are not able to break down lactic sugar – lactose suffer from increased flatulence after drinking milk due to the activity of intestinal bacteria that breaks it down.


2. Parasites; it is typical to suffer from frequent flatulence and stomach cramps if parasites are present in the body. Certain parasites occur particularly in the upper part of the small intestine and cause inflammation in this area. The inflammation gives rise to gasses and a bloated feeling. It is noticeable chiefly with an increased consumption of some types of vegetable.


3. Internal disorders – Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Colon inflammation – diverticulosis. With diverticulosis, small pouches are formed on the intestinal wall in which food accumulates. The food is processed by fermenting bacteria, which produce gasses, resulting in bloating and gas, and causing discomfort in the stomach. The inflammation of the pouch results in diverticulitis. Its signs are stomach cramps, a gagging reflex and elevated temperature.

How to get rid of bloating and gas:

• eat slowly and chew well. It is not advisable to over-eat and it is always best to stick to simple foods.


• remove accumulated build-up and parasites by cleansing the colon.


• increase the intake of fibre and lactic bacteria - probiotics, this is necessary to improve and eliminate the condition.


• flatulence can be alleviated with the help of ANIZ, FENNEL or CARRAWAY SEED tea.

What are the causes of heartburn?

Obesity, smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking too much coffee and other caffeinated beverages, consumption of food high in fats and too much food before going to bed are all contributory causes of heartburn. It is shows itself not only in the burning pain in the area above the stomach, the bitter taste in the throat, but also in the pressure behind the breastbone. In this instance it is not that you are about to have a heart attack; rather, these are all symptoms of heartburn. It is erroneous to think that it is the result of too much acid in the stomach. Actually, it is due to the esophagus being irritated by the gastric hydrochloric acid, which is moving up and down.

Whatever the case may be, the result is the same: stomach acids that reach the esophagus irritate it and with repeated action damage its mucous membrane. In many cases, this leads not only to ulcers but also to an increased risk of bleeding, rupture of the diaphragm and, as a result, a potential esophageal cancer.

Heartburn is most common in adults. More and more people, repeatedly, complain about it.
These are the two known reasons:

• If you feel bloated and full, lose your appetite at the beginning of a meal, there is pain in the stomach area, and you are on the verge of vomiting (and sometimes actually do so) this means you are suffering from the so-called primary cause, due to a stomach disorder. Either it is “lazy”, and the evacuation slows down, or it can “go on strike” when the food from the duodenum returns to the stomach, or even to the esophagus. In this case, the processed food that contains bile and gastric acids irritates the mucous membrane of the esophagus, which is perceived as reflux. This is actually a disorder in motility and experts call it functional dyspepsia. The digestion problems are caused by an inadequate coordination between the phase of the intake of the food and its digestion. Simply put, the digestive system is out of balance and is not able to push the food in the proper direction within the whole digestive system.


• If you feel a burning in the chest and throat, the presence of the stomach content and acidity in the esophagus or the mouth you are suffering from the so-called secondary cause - the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this case the ingested content of the stomach and the gastric acid rather than travelling further into the duodenum, return into the esophagus through the incompletely closed sphincter (a muscle closing the entry from the esophagus into the stomach).

Reflux, therefore can be caused by two different diseases:

1. functional dyspepsia (a stomach disorder).


2. reflux disease (the malfunctioning of the lower oesophageal sphincter).

However, frequently these diseases may be interwoven.

How to take control of your reflux

Impaired digestion and reflux are not conditions that need to be taken lying down, or suffered silently; they do not have to be considered part of life. If the symptoms occur frequently, do not take them lightly, because neglect may lead to a serious illness (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, ulcers, cancer etc.). Do not hesitate to see a doctor. If you experience intense stomach pain with vomiting and a black sticky stool or serious anemia, a gastroscopic examination is necessary within 24 hours.

In order to limit digestive problems and reflux, the following is advisable:

• Change your lifestyle and eating habits – this is the first step in dealing with any upsetting digestive disorders and acid reflux.


• Eat small portions more frequently and thoroughly chew each bite of food. The same applies to drinking liquids. When eating too fast and in big chunks you also swallow air, which causes digestive problems.


• Do not eat fatty, fried or other heavy foods, or freshly baked goods. Avoid foods containing too much air and carbonated drinks high in carbon dioxide.


• Eat foods high in fibre. Moreover, maize, rice, kefir, yoghurt, almonds and any light meals are of help.


• Do not lean forward or lie down for at least two hours after a meal. Certain foods, mostly fats and chocolate, usually cause acid reflux and digestive problems. Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine also work in a similar way. All of these irritate the stomach mucosa, impair the functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter and make it easier for the acids to enter the esophagus.


• Home treatment. Acid reflux can be moderated by eating spinach, carrots, red beet and raw potatoes, and drinking the juice of the celery root. Drink the juice daily for several weeks as part of your home treatment. Bicarbonate of soda has proven to be of great help in cases of acute acid reflux. Dissolve one spoonful of bicarbonate of soda (or baking powder) in a glass of water and drink it. A tisane of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) also provides fast relief. Drink the tisane in sips in the morning and in the evening. To make the tisane pour one litre of boiling water over one heaped teaspoon of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and let it steep for a short period before drinking.


• Healing and regeneration. In cases of an inflamed mucosa, it is useful to take the cold pressed oil from the fruit and seeds of the sea-buckthorn (Hyppophae rhamnoides) on an empty stomach and at night.

Important notice. Do not treat heartburn on your own at home on a long-term basis, as the symptoms may mask other, more serious diseases.

A burning chest pain lasting more than 15 minutes that does not abate even after sitting or standing may be a symptom of a heart attack. In such an instance call the emergency services immediately – hesitating or waiting may prove fatal!

- Prof. Katharine Horak, Doctor of Natural Science

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