The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

drbobsmate — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:36:52 GMT

I am 64 and work 2 full time jobs at approximately 70 to 80 hrs a week. People who dont know me well think I am about 45, I am healthy and very fit. My secret? Last40 years as a vegetarian and lotsa enjoyment eating olives (which I prepare myself) Sauerkraut, Pickles, and staple diet of Avocadoes. I have never suffered a simple cold in years and enjoy life to the full... I have rarely experienced any illness relating to gut problems. Mercola is on track for sure... thx for the confirmation doc!

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

grandlulu — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:35:58 GMT

Do probiotics help infants with colic? She is only 1 week old!

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

QZSueZ — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:32:26 GMT

Bacterial overgrowth and very low Secretory IgA..... I've had this, unknowingly, for most of my life but have just begun to understand by doing lots of reading and getting lab tests done. In spite of probiotics, L-glutamine powder, elimination of gluten, 4 weeks of Goldenseal therapy and 3 weeks on a course of Nystatin, I still am not 'cured'. Since the SIgA is the body's first line of defense and mine has been long damaged, I wonder what else is going on. Thinking of doing the 'leaky gut' test to see how badly damaged my gut still is. Something is bothering my joints, esp. hips, and I suspect it's nightshades or occasional gluten that makes it flare up. I also did the blood test for food allergy (IgG...delayed reaction) but be sure to do it at a lab that specializes in this.

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

SunnySD — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:30:26 GMT

I read on here someone talking about Shakati by ubernatural. Can anyone give my any comments on it? It sounds good on the website but it is an overseas product. I am not much of a pill taker so I am looking for something else.

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

WaterHarmony — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:26:15 GMT

Love the article & all the helpful input. My sister-in-law always had constipation problems until she started supplementing magnesium. Drinking lots of water is vital - for bowel health and everything else. Only thing is, don't drink bottled water (way too acid, as is pop and all the fancy vitamin water-type stuff), reverse osmosis water (aka dead water). Tap water is better, even though it may taste ugly, because it likely is more alkaline. All the chemicals in most tap water are poison, as far as I'm concerned, but I guess we have to choose our poison. Charcoal-filtered water is better than bottled, for sure. I'm gluten-sensitive & when I avoid wheat and dairy products my allergies are non-existent. I have GERD but keep it in check by using probiotics and digestive enzymes - and avoiding fatty foods. I like Enzymatic Therapy, but I'm sure the are lots of good ones. Mercola probably has some & I'm almost out, so I'll have to check. When we drink lots of water and alkalize our bodies, they are just like self-healing machines.

Does using milk kefir grains allow the lactose intolerant to drink milk again? I'm going to try raw milk. I drank it as a child but developed intolerance, perhaps, as an adult drinking pasteurized, homogenized.

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

mammagrande — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:11:17 GMT

Hello,

There is a book I highly recommend: Performance Without Pain, published last year, written by a concert clarinetist. She was so ill she was losing the ability to control her muscles, including the ones she needed to play with. Following a strict diet for a certain period, and making certain changes, she has an inspiring, can-do story. I've gotten several copies for friends, just because of all the little nuggets of health info and the excellent explanations she gives--and because I know too many people in chronic pain.

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

Gramma E — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:03:47 GMT

Reading these comments makes me sad! For some of these folks, their (and my) health issues would be nonexistent if their moms had breastfed them. Breastmilk is the ONLY source of nutrition that nourishes and protects the infant intestinal system. Artificial formula does the same thing to infant intestines that artificial food does to a grown up's intestines: it creates a seedbed for disease, while slowly destroying [future] health. So for all you future moms out there, please, please breastfeed your babies!!! It's not about you! It's about the health of your children!!! LaLeche League provides excellent support for all breastfeeding problems. There are very few women who truly cannot breastfeed their babies. If you don't have enough, go to bed with your infant for 24 hours. Continuous nursing builds up the milk supply.

For anyone interested in fungus in relation to some of these health issues, please check out Doug Kaufmann's website and view some of his TV programs online. Also, I agree with the Maker's Diet mention as an excellent resource. I like what Dr. Mercola said: "Modern day convenience foods--foods that are heavily processed and often loaded with sugar--are essentially the equivalent of pesticides in farming..." In addition, I firmly believe that avoiding restaurant/fast "food" is another key to improving one's health, unless you can find one that is committed to their customer's health rather than cheap food at a cheap price. Cheap food is cheap food. Quality food is not cheap.

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

ceubanks — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:07:30 GMT

I am taking Sustanex. Is that probiotic any good? I just started taking it.

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

Heather Marsh — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:29:16 GMT

On magnesium - are Epsom salts any good at counteracting a deficiency?

And are they OK in a footbath (I know skin absorbs some nutrients) or should I add a pinch to drinking water?

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

Heather Marsh — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:59:17 GMT

hi all- I have a question.

Will taking probiotics affect the action of antibiotics?

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

Muddie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:53:18 GMT

Hi. I have found a great Pre & Probiotic - Fermented - that has helped my 4 yr old son who has had nearly 2 years of digestive issues.

SHAKTI www.ubernatural.com they send all over the world.

My son was not growing over a year before (amoungst other things) - but put him on this and first mth grew 1.7 cm and a 1cm each mth after for 4 mths - catching up. I have been taking for 6 mths and my system now using all good nutrients. the difference is amazing - My daughter without issues - has been on it and she too grew 1cm each mth for first 3 mths and in general - she has hardly picked up a cold or else since. in fact none of us have- even my son who is still dealing with food intolerance's and parasites. when off it his behavior goes bad in a few days - back on it and behavior returns to good.

hope this helps have a great day all

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

ekoliver — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:58:38 GMT

Every healthy immune and digestive system requires asufficientamount of “friendly”bacteria.These beneficial bacteria are destroyed by common factors such as carbonated drinks, laxatives, birth control pills, coffee, alcohol, aging, stress, and antibiotics. Strengthen your body’s defenses and support your over all health I take aprobiotic that has not one, but twelve strains of these healthy bacteria, combined with natural sources of prebiotic FOS (fructooligosaccharides) to further enhance and promote the grow of probiotic flora. These twelve strains are selected and manufactured according to the proprietary processes that ensure these organisms are able to survive the digestve processes and colonize the digestive tract for optimum benefit. It is also improtant when choosing a probiotic flora that it is shelf stable because if it requires a frig then how is it going to survive the digestive tract so it can work in your colon! I have been taking some for awhile now and have no more issues and alway make sure that if I am in antibotics (against) that I increase my probiotic's (for). Also I have ffound the whole foods brands work much better..

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

Garnet_Jule — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:02:18 GMT

It surprises me that not one mention was made for people with intestional problems--whether chronic diarrhea or constipation--to get themselves checked for gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Although doctors have been taught that this is a rare disease (at least, they have in the US; In Europe, and especially Italy, all children are tested by the time they are 5 yrs old), when it's estimated that 1 out of 300 people in the USA have some degree of gluten intolerance, it is no longer a "rare" disease. There are 309 different symptoms that are tied in with gluten intolerance/celiac disease, and being unable to process gluten (found in wheat, rye, barley, oat) can seriously damage the body (severe malabsorption or even malnutrition) and lead to a whole host of autoimmune diseases, not to mention cancer. I have been battling for years to find out what's wrong with me; heavy metal toxicity, being a poor metabolizer (CYP2C9/P450 Cytochrome), and severe vitamin, mineral, enzyme, and amino acid deficiencies have already been found, as well as gluten intolerance. Now, I'm waiting to see if I have celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, the skin version. My daughter's had her 3rd outbreak of huge, red hives all over her body, and I won't be surprised when she comes back with food allergies as well--and I definitely won't be surprised if it's celiac.

Gluten intolerance (GI) and celiac disease (CD) is vastly underdiagnosed in this country, and the medical profession needs to start looking for this disease. Many health problems, cancers, and autoimmune diseases could be avoided if those who are susceptible to GI and CD would be diagnosed. And the prescription? No drugs needed; just eat a gluten-free diet. It's that simple. However, getting your doctor to believe you and getting in to see a specialist, is not so simple. If you suspect you might have GI or CD, fight, fight, fight for your right to get tested. It's your life, and your health. You deserve to be healthy.

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

parksidestables — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:48:16 GMT

I wanted to alert people to the possible reaction of eating Activia yogurt. I have used the probotics in the past with no problem. I have also taken Acidophilus in the past without any problems. I thought it would be easy to get the benefits by eating this yogurt for breakfast. I had some for 3 days and thought I was getting a slight yeast infection but dis not consider this as a possible reason. A week later I went to costco and bought 24 of the Activia. Again I started feeling like I might be getting a yeast infection. I thought maybe some fresh rolls caused it STILL not suspecting the yogurt.

I do not normally get yeast infections, the last one probably over 10 years ago. I finally went online and someone posted how they got a 'raging yeast infection' eating Activia. I had never heard this and would have thought it would have helped cure it. IT DOES NOT! Apparently from what I have heard the bacteria used in Activia is altered. I had a hard time getting rid of this infection with both over the counter and a pill from the doctor. I just think people should be aware of this.

Vicki in Ohio

re: The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health

jefugib — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:05:17 GMT

Correct me if I am wrong, but with all the yogurt and kefir making, isn't the process negated if one is using pasturized milk as the base. As far as I understand, Dr. Mercola says we need to use raw dairy to gain any health benefits. Unfortunately I live in Spain and there is no raw milk to be had. Other than raw milk cheese, I have given up on other dairy products. It's a pity, as I think raw milk yogurt or kefir would be wonder dietary additions.