Wednesday, January 18, 2012

gentle wellness: your colon & you



the key to the smoothest digestion

we know to stay away from processed foods
....but do you actually do it?

there is step one
how about steering clear of caffinee?
i know you say you "need" it
do you know that caffinee irritates your stomach lining
no bueno

water
helps EVERYTHING
no water, it is very hard for the colon
to do it's job & pushing everything through

probiotics
replace all the bad bacteria
with good 'ens

if you have been on any sort of anitbiotic EVER
you will benefit from healthy these little critters burrowing in your colon

enzymes will aid digestion if you need the assistance
but remember there are different types of enzymes for the three food components of your meals
if you choose the wrong one you will become a bloated fish
consult someone before you start poppin pills

eat organic
pesticides & herbicides wreak havoc on your organs
yes. it is more expensive
but in the long run:
the more you spend on clean foods,
the less you spend on future health problems

greens
powerful little beauties that grown from fresh soil
munch on them as frequently as possible
they are great for weight management
as well as detoxification & circulation

PROBLEM:
if treat yourself once & a while with foods that irritate your system
please understand that, it isnt just that moment of bliss you are enduring
but the time if takes for your body to process
that treat can take up to three months to leave your body!

it isn't as if, what you don't see cant hurt you
if you close your eyes & hold your nose no one will know!
cause your body has to break it all down, silly billy
your tummy never gets a day off
your allergies will subside, lingering in the wings
BUT ONLY if you stick to the plan

when i was training for my first figure competition
in july of 2008
my diet was so clean & my system had time to push all the toxins
that i used to put into my sensitive system

i was so clean that
a few days before the show
i had a pretty little lady kitty Miss Alpha Meekcoms
sitting on my chest
(I AM HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO CATS)
& it did not bother me one bit!
HAVING SAID THAT
I truly believe that our allergies are all linked together
one causes the other
do the best you can.....
esp when traveling it is extremely hard to be regimented with foods
but you have to understand your body doesn't care where you are in the world
or if you have been working for a year straight to open your own gym
or if you haven't had a beer in several years or WHATEVER, it will bite you in the ass

if you are wondering, YES i have been bitten
as i sit in NEWARK AIRPORT waiting for my re-routed flight
i am feeling the effects of this weekend
and understanding that my lifestyle is a lifestyle that i will NEVER get a vacation from

CHEERS TO FOOD ALLERGIES &
TO STARTING FROM SCRATCH

YOU'RE WORTH IT!

these little gems that i just handed you are great starting points
FIBER is another HUGE helper in the road to a healthy colon
let's get down to the nitty gritty apples vs metamucil AKA Psyllium

let's clear up the misunderstandings about FIBER
Fiber is present in all plant based food, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.

However, not all fiber is the same. Fiber can be divided into two categories according to its physical characteristics and effects on our bodies.

Soluble fiber – fiber that dissolves in water

Each type of fiber functions differently and provides different health benefits.

Soluble fiber can be found in oats, oat bran, dried beans and peas, barley, flax seed, fruits such as oranges and apples, vegetables such carrots, and psyllium husk. Soluble fiber binds to fatty acids and prolongs digestion time of stomach contents – thus helping to regulate blood sugar. Soluble fiber is reported to help reduce overall cholesterol and more importantly, LDL (the so-called bad cholesterol).

Insoluble fiber – fiber that does not dissolve in water.

Insoluble fiber can be found in wheat, wheat bran, corn bran, flax seeds, vegetables such as green beans and cauliflower, and the skins of fruits and root vegetables. Insoluble fiber helps to move waste through the intestines and bowel, remove toxins from your colon and helps to balance the acidity of your intestines.


you should try to eat at least 25 - 30 grams of a blend of both types
a common problem is overloading on fiber pills & soluble fibers that bind you
the balance helps the function vs the "eat more fiber" slogan that everyone "says"
and they have no idea what it actually means




Food SourceSoluble Fiber (g)Insoluble Fiber (g)
CEREAL GRAINS (1/4 cup cooked)
Barley13
Oatmeal22
Oatbran23
Seeds
Psyllium seeds, ground (1 Tbsp)51
FRUIT (1 medium fruit)
Apple13
Bananas12
Blackberries (½ cup)13
Citrus Fruit (orange, grapefruit)20.5
Nectarines11
Peaches11
Pears22
Plums10.5
Prunes (¼ cup)1.51.5
LEGUMES (½ cup cooked)
Beans
Black Beans23.5
Kidney Beans33
Lima Beans3.53
Navy Beans24
Northern Beans1.54
Pinto Beans25
Lentils (yellow, green, orange)17
Peas
Chick Peas15
Black eyed Peas14.5
VEGETABLES (½ cup cooked)
Broccoli10.5
Brussels Sprouts31.5
Carrots11.5


pay attention to the fact that fiber REQUIRES WATER
increasing your fiber comes hand in hand with chugalugging plenty of H2O
GOT IT
GET TO IT
NUT SHELL:

organic foods
probiotics
enzymes
fiber
water
allergies be gone


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