The Intestinal System

There is a popular, time-honored saying among herbalists that "Death begins in the colon."  As one looks at the function of the colon and the evidence surrounding this statement, it is hard to conclude that it is not full of truth.

We all understand that eating good, healthy items is critical for good health; yet, does it not make sense also that efficient elimination of waste by-products (toxins & other unhealthy things) is just as critical?  The same is true for an automobile--good, clean fuel is necessary for the car to run, but if the car cannot eliminate the natural waste products of its combustion, the car motor will fail very quickly due to sludge buildup and other reasons.  If you are not having a bowel movement corresponding to each major meal, then you are probably not eliminating properly--laying the foundation for a multitude of health issues.

Fiber, friendly flora (bacteria), water and exercise are all factors in intestinal system health, and all are necessary to keep good health.

Common Concerns of the Intestinal System
Colitis, constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, dehydration

Functions of the Intestinal System (See picture)
After the food leaves the small intestine in the digestive system, the nutrition absorbing process is mostly complete.  As the food enters the intestinal system, the colon uses a squeezing--or compacting--action to eliminate solid waste products.  Also, the colon reabsorbs water from the waste products back for use in the body.

How Does it Work?
As the undigested food--in liquid form--leaves the small intestine, it enters the large intestine (colon) through the ileocecal valve.  The ileocecal valve not only is the separation between the small intestine and large intestine, but it also acts as a "check-valve" to prevent waste products from moving the wrong way--from the large intestine back through the small intestine.  There are over 400 species of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, and they need to be in the correct place.  The ileocecal valve prevents the bacteria that should reside in the colon right there--in the colon.

About 2-5 pounds of your body weight is made up of bacteria in the colon.  The friendly flora (bacteria) species in your colon provide many useful functions that enable you to live and to fight disease and other sickness.  They are important for aiding digestion (and thus helping the immune system), as well as killing parasites and other unfriendly bacteria. There are two main types of friendly bacteria--Lactobacillus acidophilus and "bifidus", a name referring to several strains of bifido-bacteria.  These bacteria assist in the final breakdown of food, produce B-vitamins, and keep the populations of unfriendly bacteria in check (including putrifactive or coliform types--the ones that increase flatulence and putrification in the colon).  A decrease in the population of friendly bacteria may greatly reduce the amount of certain B-vitamins available to the body. Recent research suggests that insufficient amounts of the B-vitamin folate in the diet may increase the risk for colon cancer.  Friendly bacteria is often destroyed easily by antibiotics, stress, alcohol, caffeine, high-meat/high-fat diets and high-sugar/low-fiber diets.  Low levels of stomach acid also promote the growth of harmful bacteria.  Probiotics, or supplements containing living bacteria, reintroduce beneficial bacteria to the gastrointestinal (GI)  tract.  Studies show that they may also hamper the intestinal tract's cholesterol absorption, thereby decreasing cholesterol levels.  As a side benefit to women, a 1992 study found in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that acidophilus may reduce the recurrence of candida infections. There are some excellent probiotics available.  Probiotic Eleven is an excellent blend of eleven different bacteria species that are beneficial.  Other popular probiotics are Acidophilus, Bifidophilus, and L. Reuteri.  L. Reuteri is a friendly bacteria that seems to be especially beneficial to the immune system.  It does not have to be refrigerated, is chewable, and has a lemon flavor--making it an excellent choice for children! Fact:  Did you know that E. coli, the bacteria found occasionally in undercooked beef and famous for the serious illness that it can cause, actually lives in the colon and helps break down food substances?

The large intestine itself is about 5-6 feet long, and about two inches in diameter.  In order for the squeezing action to work, it needs something with bulk to "squeeze against".  You can compare this to squeezing a toothpaste tube that has water in it.  The water has no bulk, and it is difficult to move the water in a certain direction by a squeezing action.  This is only one of the functions of fiber.

Although fiber has no real nutritional value, it does have several key properties that make it necessary for colon health.  First, it absorbs water and toxins with it.  Second, it provides a "scrubbing action" for keeping the gastrointestinal tract clean--helping to getting rid of waste that builds up in the colon over weeks, months, and even years.  Third, it provides bulk to the waste for the colon to squeeze against, which moves the waste through the colon faster.  The faster transit time is important for a few reasons, but primarily since the less time toxins and other harmful things are in the colon, the fewer that get absorbed into the rest of the body. A daily dose of fiber to the diet is one way to alleviate constipation and prevent other colon problems.  Bowel activity is affected by the amount of fiber, as well as water, present in the colon. In general, fiber includes such foods as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans. Fruits and vegetables are known as cleansing foods. Scientists are finding that cultures who forage for vegetables and whole grains don't have problems with constipation, colon cancer, diverticulitis or other associated health problems. Why? The high fiber content of these diets aids in the proper elimination of body waste. There are two main types of fiber - each performs a different role. Soluble fiber forms a gel with water, creating a laxative effect. Soluble fiber traps sugar and binds cholesterol. Pectin, gum and mucilage are examples of soluble fibers and can be found in wheat, corn bran and cereal grains.   Sponge-like insoluble fiber contributes to regular bowel function by adding bulk. Fruits, vegetables, beans and oats contain insoluble fibers such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Fiber also helps to absorb and thus eliminate toxic substances.   Sometimes, people who have an irritated bowel, cannot use the 'scrubbing' fibers like psyllium hulls since their intestinal lining is already inflamed and/or ulcerated. Intestinal Soothe and Build is an excellent formula of herbs to work with this condition. Of course, bran is an excellent source of dietary fiber. When adding bran to your diet, begin with a small amount, such as one teaspoon per day. As the body becomes accustomed to the bran, increase the amount of your daily intake.  Nature's Sunshine products that are excellent fiber sources are Psyllium Hulls, LOCLO, and Fat Grabbers. Fact:  Did you know that Psyllium has the highest level of soluble fiber known—more than eight times that of oat bran?  It is a very convenient way to get fiber into your diet. Fact:  In a study conducted by James W. Anderson, M.D., volunteers who added one heaping teaspoon of psyllium twice daily to their diets averaged a 4.7% drop in cholesterol after 24-26 weeks, while LDL (bad) cholesterol dropped 6.6%.

One thing that should be considered is the importance of water.  A popular magazine actually had a statement in it a while back that a person does not need to drink a lot of water, because the body will absorb it from food.  This is an incredibly ill-advised statement to make!

Water is needed to maintain the mucous lining of the intestines.  This lining lubricates the food and waste as they travel through the colon.  Water also helps keep the stool soft and pliable for easy elimination.  Hard, dry stools cause strain on the colon.  If the body does not get adequate water, the colon will absorb more water from the food and waste there, increasing the chance that toxins will also be absorbed, and causing stools that are dry and difficult to pass.

Regular exercise stimulates the action of the colon.  Mild aerobic exercise, such as walking, is especially good.  Any type of exercise that involves bending of the abdomen may also be helpful in promoting colon health.

It normally takes anywhere from 12-36 hours for food and waste to be processed and eliminated.  In general, the shorter the time, the better!  Unfortunately, modern diets and health habits greatly increase transit times--and consequently the amount of toxins eventually absorbed into the body.  After the waste has traveled through the colon, it exits the body through the anal canal.

Problems with the intestinal system
Problems with the colon can frequently be helped considerably by two things--improving the diet (less refined foods, less fat, more fiber, more water) and periodic colon cleansing.  In fact, many health problems that are seemingly unrelated--acne, allergies, skin eruptions, respiratory issues, emotional imbalances and many more--are often corrected by something as simple as colon cleansing.  Of course, colon health is dependent on the four things mentioned earlier--friendly flora, fiber, water, and exercise.

Although not a pleasant subject, colon cleansing must be taken seriously by anyone desiring to improve their overall health--and, in particular, their colon.  The modern diets of refined foods, high fat, and low fiber have taken a toll on colon health--and thus people's health in general.  In general, everyone should consider doing a colon cleanse at least once per year--maybe even twice.  Atonic constipation  is a common problem characterized by sluggish colon action.  Often, a stimulant containing Cascara Sagrada, such as LBS II, is needed to stimulate a lazy colon into moving strongly again. Certainly as well, certain foods contribute to the problems.  Mucus-forming foods, such as dairy products, are especially prone to contribute to constipation. These foods may form a sticky matter that adheres to the colon wall. This attracts further buildup, blocks absorption of minerals, and traps toxins. A stagnant bowel may lead to the stagnant condition of constipation, allowing toxins to spread throughout the body.  Pastas, refined flour, and other foods also contribute to this unhealthy buildup around the interior of the colon walls. In general, a colon cleanse needs 4 elements in order to be effective.  First, it needs fiber to help provide the bulk needed to move waste and to provide scrubbing action.  As noted earlier, Pysllium Hulls are a good product for this.  Second, a stimulant such as Cascara Sagrada or LBS II  is needed to force the colon out of its sluggishness.  Third, it needs one or more toxin removers/absorbers.  Hydrated bentonite is a very popular choice, and is often used with Aloe Vera and Liquid Chlorophyll for this purpose.  Fourth, water is needed to flush out the toxins you are attempting to remove as well as the buildup on the colon walls that has broken loose. One very convenient way to have these is to use the 14 day CleanStart (apple cinnamon) or CleanStart Wild Berry cleanse.  The 10 day Chinese Tiao He Cleanse has also been around for a while and does very well.  For those looking for a pre-weight loss program cleanse, the Dieter's Cleanse can be a good option. If you are interested in putting together the elements into your own cleanse, you can use the following recipe.  The four ingredients may be mixed in a glass of juice and taken with the LBS II capsules every night. 1 Tbsp. Psyllium Hulls 2 Tbsp. Liquid Chlorophyll 6 oz. Aloe Vera 2 Tbsp. Hydrated Bentonite 2 LBS II capsules A basic cleansing program may last for three to six months and provides gentle cleansing action. If you are miserable while cleansing, you're probably cleansing too fast and should decrease the amounts of the most active ingredients in your cleansing program.

One other important general problem with the bowel comes from parasites.  Parasites generally are an issue when one has eaten questionable meat sources, been around animal waste (remember the children playing with the dog outside!), and traveled internationally.  Also, food service workers who have lived in high-risk areas may pass along the parasites in the food.  Para Cleanse has added Paw Paw to the formulation.  Paw Paw has excellent anti-parasite and anti-bacterial properties.  When taking the Para Cleanse, one should take a second Para Cleanse 10 days after the completion of the first to ensure that eggs missed by the first cleanse are eliminated.

Once the body has broken down the food and extracted the nutrients, it must distribute them throughout the body using the circulatory system.

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