March 26th, 2009 by hanun

Most people who have suffered from hemorrhoids would tell you that they wished they had known better about colon health, about constipation, and about the possible consequences of straining during bowel movements. Having knowledge about colon health can help you make smart choices now and in the future.

Have you ever heard someone say “if you’re constipated, don’t strain!” Instead of straining you may want to seek alternatives to relieve yourself from constipation. Research shows if you are frequently straining or exerting pressure during bowel movements you may be at risk of developing hemorrhoids.

The next time you find yourself straining for a bowel movement, think about this: Straining during bowel movements puts pressure on blood vessels leading into the anal canal and rectum. Frequent straining during bowel movements may lead to hemorrhoids, or what is commonly called piles–veins around the anus or lower rectum that become swollen and inflamed.

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins. The veins bulge and can cause extreme discomfort especially if they are found outside the rectum. The inside of the anal canal has no pain sensors. Because of this you may not even be aware you have hemorrhoids inside the anal canal. You notice its effect after they have developed and may see signs such as traces of fresh blood in stools. If that happens, visit your doctor immediately.

Here are a few practical ways to support colon health

:

Include adequate fiber in your diet. Drink sufficient water Use an herbal colon supplement to promote regularity and support colon health

Herbal Colon Cleansers

Herbal colon cleansers can be a smart option for those interested in supporting a healthy colon and bowel regularity. An effective colon cleansing program can help to ensure that healthy microflora (good bacteria) prevails.

An herbal colon cleanser like BeneCleanse can offer you the support you need. Its scientifically-based formula comprises of 3 stages. The initial cleanse helps evacuate accumulated waste from the colon. The secondary cleanse assists your body’s natural detoxifying abilities. The third phase is a natural component that offers nutritional support through a careful blend of vitamins, minerals, fiber and probiotics to help promote regularity and support digestive, colonic and systemic health.

When you find yourself repeatedly straining during bowel movements, remember that it’s probably not worth the effort. Instead, regular use of an effective colon cleanser could benefit your health in a number of ways. Refraining from straining may also be a good way to forestall hemorrhoids or avoid aggravating existing hemorrhoids is to keep yourself free from constipation.

March 25th, 2009 by hanun

Diverticulitis seems to be the new “Disease of the Year”, in the media. Everywhere you turn you’re hearing more doctors and medical studies say “More people in the world have either diverticulitis or diverticulosis than ever before!” But how many of them are telling you effective and easy ways to stop it? Certainly not many.

It’s time for a change, and it’s time for YOU to take control of your digestive health. However, in order for you to be fully in charge, you need to understand the facts. When you’re armed with what’s really going on, it makes it so much easier to reveal the easy change you can do to prevent this painful problem.

First, these intestinal changes don’t develop over night. Due to dietary habits, the problem takes a while to form, and then be noticed by the affected person.  Diverticulum are small pockets in the intestine wall which develop when the intestine has to work too hard to move food through it. The great strain causes these hazardous pockets to form. They can become infected, sore, or even break open and harm your health.

But why do they form? And why “now more than ever”?

It’s not your fault! Just look around at the foods readily available to everyone. They’re full of refined flour and there isn’t a lot of ‘whole grain’ that tastes delicious as an option for you. The combination of not enough liquid throughout the day, along with not enough soluble and insoluble fiber adds up to intestinal trouble.

Fiber is important for your health on many different levels.  Once you understand the benefits of fiber, you can use it to combat many common problems! There are 5 main points to keep in mind.

First:

Fiber that is incompletely or slowly digested promotes normal bowl function and treats constipation. This type of fiber also helps prevent diverticulosis and diverticulitis. It provides relief from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which is also on the rise.

Second:

 Fiber-rich foods are processed more slowly by the body. This is a great benefit if you’re trying to lose weight! When foods process more slowly, you feel ‘satisfied’ or ‘full’ much faster than normal. This makes it easy to eat less at mealtime.

Third:

By packing in fiber, the food you eat is less calorically dense. The fiber fills you up, and performs its important roles, but ISNT absorbed by the body to turn into extra calories and fat.

Fourth:

 Reduce your risk of colon cancer. When the food you eat has enough fiber in it, it does not spend very long in the intestines. Bile acid doesn’t get re-absorbed. Unwelcome bacteria don’t get a chance to ferment food in the intestines. Toxins don’t build up or have the opportunity to be absorbed into the body because everything “Keeps on moving”. Thirteen case-control studies were recently published on the use of fiber in the diet. They concluded with substantiated evidence that the risk of colorectal cancer in the USA could be decreased by 31% JUST by adding 13 grams more fiber each day. Easy to do? Just keep reading.

Fifth:

Cholesterol and blood glucose. Everyone knows about cholesterol levels, good and bad. There have been so many studies on it as a risk-factor for heart attacks and heart disease. There’s plenty you can do naturally to help lower cholesterol, but did you know getting enough fiber will help too? Soluble fiber has been proven to lower blood cholesterol levels.

But what about glucose? Glucose and insulin levels are important for preventing type-2 diabetes. Starchy foods, sugary drinks, and other modern-day diet options that convert quickly into sugars in the body spike insulin levels. These are hard on your body to digest…so you can give your system a break with fiber. Viscous fiber (that which appears like a gelatin) slows down the conversion of carbohydrates into sugars and helps normalize blood glucose levels.  

But if fiber is so beneficial, why isn’t anyone getting enough?

There’s plenty of fiber in apple peels, celery stalks, whole-grains like oat and flax…but these foods don’t always fit into what people think is delicious or convenient. “An apple a day…” is rarely practiced by anyone! What about fiber pills or powders? These can be expensive, gritty, or “Just another pill” among a handful that people already didn’t really want to choke down every day. Plus, with supplement pills or powders, the body misses out on important oils, micronutrients and anti-oxidants available in plant fiber sources.

What can YOU do about it?

The power to save yourself from this range of digestive maladies is now in your hands. Now that you have a basic understanding of what fiber can do for you, and how it works, it’s time to take easy action and get your health under your control.

What you need, are seeds!

Chia Seeds, to be exact. These seeds are loaded with soluble & insoluble fiber. In fact, it is their special type of fiber that allows the seeds to form a bead of gel on their exterior when exposed to liquid. The fibers trap more than THREE times the weight of the seed in water, and hold it close to the outside. What does this mean for you?

Easier digestion! The liquid clings to the seed, and is removed slowly throughout the digestive process. This keeps the colon hydrated, so it’s easy to move food.

Insoluble fiber is found in the seed’s outer coating. It’s this type of fiber that isn’t digested by the body and is sometimes called ‘roughage’. It acts like a ‘sweeper’ moving things along in the intestinal tract and preventing constipation.

Fiber isn’t the only thing…remember the above points? Chia Seeds have you covered on all five points. You can even literally see the viscous (appears like a gelatin or gummy) fibers on the outside when you make Chia gel. These help lower blood cholesterol and normalize blood glucose and insulin levels.

It’s time to feel full longer, reduce your cholesterol, and clean up any colon problems! Chia Seeds are incredibly easy to use. They have no flavor of their own, so you can add them to anything you already like to eat. If they are allowed to hydrate in a liquid food (like yogurt, juice or cola) they will take on the flavor of that food. In cooking, because of their ability to distribute flavors, they can actually make the food more flavorful!

A tablespoon of Chia a day is generally what most people require. Chia seeds are incredibly safe and simple to use, so you don’t need to worry about having too much. The seeds also contain essential micro-nutrients, omega 3 healthy oils and b-vitamins. No fiber substitute can do all of that, while tasting as great and being as versatile as Chia. When you add Chia to your meals, you’re guaranteeing that you and your family are getting the fiber your body requires.

NOW is the time to take control of your digestive health, and the easiest answer is Chia.

March 24th, 2009 by hanun

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in the USA with equal distribution between men and women. Colon tumors usually affect people over the age of 40, with the majority of people who are diagnosed with the condition being over 60 years of age. Colon cancer may affect any racial or ethnic group; however, some studies suggest that Americans of northern European heritage have a higher-than-average risk of colon tumours.

INCIDENCE OF COLON CANCER

Colon cancer is more common in industrialized nations and in those societies where red meat is a major part of the diet, although evidence tends to suggest that merely changing your diet to white meat and seafood as in for instance Japan, tends to just swap stomach cancer for colon cancer. In almost all cases colon cancer is a treatable disease if caught early.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Colon cancer usually begins with the appearance of benign growths such as polyps. Often there are no early symptoms. If signs and symptoms of colon cancer do appear, they may include: a change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool for more than a couple of weeks, rectal bleeding or blood in your stool, persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain, abdominal pain with a bowel movement, a feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely, weakness or fatigue and unexplained weight loss.

CAUSES OF COLON CANCER

Colon cancer’s exact cause is unknown, but it appears to be influenced by both inherited and environmental factors. Studies show a concentration in areas of higher economic development suggesting a relationship to diet, particularly excess animal fat and low fiber. Other factors that increase the risk of developing colon tumors are: age over 40, the presence of other diseases of the digestive tract, family history and ulcerative colitis.

Development of colon cancer at an early age, or at multiple sites, or recurrent colon cancer, suggests a genetically transmitted form of the disease as opposed to the sporadic form. There also is a slight increased risk for colon carcinoma in the individual who smokes.

The most common colon cancer cell type is adenocarcinoma which accounts for 95% of cases.

DIAGNOSIS

The development of polyps of the colon usually precedes the development of colon cancer by five or more years. The American Gastroenterologial Association revised its screening guidelines in 2003 to recommend that people with two or more first-degree relatives with colorectal cancer or a first-degree relative with colon or rectal cancer before age 60 should have a screening colonoscopy beginning at age 40 or beginning 10 years prior to the age of the earlier colon cancer diagnosis in their family (whichever is earliest). Those with a first-degree relative diagnosed with colon cancer after age 60 or two second-degree relative with colon or rectal cancer should begin screening at age 40 with one of the methods listed above, such as annual sigmoidoscopy. The most common colon cancer screening tests are colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and fecal occult blood test.

CT scans and Barium enemas are also routinely used for diagnosis of colon and rectal cancers.

TREATMENT OF COLON CANCER

Almost all colon tumors are treated with surgery first, regardless of stage. The malignant tumor, adjacent tissues and any lymph nodes that may contain cancer cells are removed.

In colon cancer, chemotherapy after surgery is usually only given if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (Stage III). Radiation therapy may also be used to induce tumor regression. As with other cancer treatments, the incidence of side effects varies with patient health and the exact nature of the treatment.

PREVENTION

There is not an absolute method for preventing colon cancer. Still, there are steps an individual can take to dramatically lessen the risk or to identify the precursors of colon cancer so that it does not manifest itself. People who turn age 50, and all of those with a history of colon cancer in their families, should speak with their physicians about the most recent screening recommendations from physician and cancer organizations. They should watch for symptoms and attend all recommended screenings to increase the likelihood of catching colon cancer early. Exercise is believed to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Apparently, no association exists between frequency of bowel movement or laxative use and risk of colon cancer.

PROGNOSIS

Prognosis depends on the stage of the disease and the overall health of the patient. If diagnosed early, before the tumor has spread from the bowel, these treatments are very effective, with about 90% of patients alive five years after diagnosis. If the colon cancer does not come back (recur) within 5 years, it is considered cured. Prognosis is poor in patients with liver and lung metastases.