Colon Cleansing Fiber - Fact and Fallacies
Fiber can be both the cause and, at least in part, the cure for many symptoms associated with the colon. Dietary fiber are substances in food that are not digested and absorbed in the intestines - so they go through our small intestines and pass into our colons relatively intact. However, for many people the fiber in wheat will lead to an increase in of diarrhea, gas and pain. Wheat bran is a common source of fiber but wheat is also a common allergen. The insoluble wheat fiber ferments in the colon and the gas given off in the process causes distension of the colon. All plants contain fiber - not just wheat and bran. The fiber in fruit, vegetables and pulses is water soluble and produces a softer stool that is easier to pass and is gentler on the colon.
It is suggested that we need at least 40 - 60 grams of fiber per day in our diet for good health. However, many Americans only eat 10 - 20 grams of fiber per day and some even less than that. The low intake of fiber is one reason for partially digested food sitting in our colons. The longer the time the toxic material sits in the bowel the longer the time for the proteins to putrefy, the fats to become rancid and the carbohydrates to ferment. Fiber comes in many forms and the best way to get adequate fiber is to eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and pulses. Increasing the fiber in the diet can initially cause gas and bloating - it is important to make increases in the fiber of the diet over a period of time so that the body can adjust to the changes.
Fiber performs many important functions in the bowel. These include the following.
Fiber provides food for the beneficial micro-organisms that are in our bowels. These beneficial bacteria (probiotics) are important for keeping the candida and harmful bacteria that normally live in our bowels under control - so it is important to support the beneficial bacteria as much as you are able.
Fiber has the capacity to absorb and hold water. This means that instead of drying out and becoming hard and difficult to pass the material in our colon remains relatively wet, bulky and soft. As well as this, the bulk places gentle pressure on the colon wall and this stimulates it into further appropriate action - moving the stool along towards the exit.
Fiber lowers cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that some fibers, such as psyllium husks and pectin, have a cholesterol lowering effect on the blood. They lower the levels of the harmful LDL cholesterol while raising the valuable and protective HDL.
Fiber is able to protect the body against a number of chronic degenerative diseases. Fiber has anti-toxic properties and all the features mentioned above mean that it is able to contribute to long term health. It reduces the risk of developing colon cancer and rectal cancer.
Fiber normalizes the blood sugar levels by slowing the release of sugar into your blood stream. This prevents the exhausting demands for the release of insulin from our pancreas. This is an important feature for someone who has difficulty with insulin regulation - as in diabetes.
The best ways to get sufficient fiber in your diet is by increasing the intake of vegetables, fruit and pulses. So how much do you really need to eat? Many patients claim that they do eat a lot of vegetables, yet in practice this may not be the case. They may only eat two or three for the evening meal. They almost certainly have none for breakfast and generally only a few or a small amount at lunchtime and often very little fruit as well. I read a story about one patient. The only vegetable she ate - at every meal, was a serving of frozen peas. She was told that she needed to ‘eat more vegetables'. On her next visit she proudly claimed that she was now eating sixteen different vegetables each day. However, it was discovered that she made a vegetable stew from the sixteen vegetables. She then froze the mixture and served up a single spoonful of this for her dinner each evening. It is suggested that about 80% of what you eat needs to be fruit, vegetables and pulses. Given the social habits of today this can be difficult to achieve which is one of the reasons why Safe Colon Cleansing contains a volume devoted to delicious recipes and suggestions for how you can eat enough of the foods that you need.
It is important to remember here that vegetable and fruit fiber is much better for you than cereal fiber - so adding a few spoonfuls of bran on your breakfast is not the answer. This will just increase the irritation in the bowel - especially if you are allergic to grains and many people are without knowing it. Many people also find that large amount of bran will slow down the digestion process, particularly if they do not drink a lot of water at the same time.
However, years of a low fiber diet can lead to a sluggish system and you may need some extra help to get it going again. So the other way to increase your intake fiber and to get the bowel functioning is from other sources. This can include the following:
Psyllium hulls from Plantago psyllium - usually in ground form. Psyllium is one of the highest sources of dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble) to be found in any food and had been shown to help maintain cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range. Psyllium also absorbs a variety of toxins as it passes through the gut.
Slippery elm powder is used as a soothing remedy for the mucous membranes throughout the body and will sooth irritation and inflammation in the stomach, bowels, kidneys, urinary tract and the whole reproductive system.
Linseed (also called flax seed) is fibrous but does not absorb water and does not swell up the colon. It becomes a type of soft jelly which is why it is useful in moving material through the bowel. It also contains highly unsaturated fatty acids.
These forms of fiber may be needed in the early stages of adjusting your diet to increase the intake of fruit and vegetable fiber. To find out more about changing your diet, increasing your fiber and other measure to improve you digestion and have a clean colon and a clean body get your copy of Safe Colon Cleansing: Your Good Health Guide and begin now. Then get on with really enjoying life.
02.11.2007. 19:00
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