Digestive enzymes are necessary to break down the food we eat. If we are not breaking down food properly, we do not gain the nutrients needed for the body to absorb and turn into energy for good digestive health.
Assessing patients for colon cancer is part of my functional medicine comprehensive gastrointestinal evaluation that all of my patients over 45 years old receive, especially those with a strong family history of colon cancer and those who have endured long-term severe symptoms of gastrointestinal/ GI dysfunction, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease and chronic constipation.
In last week’s group, Weight Loss and Mindfulness, we had some nice sharing about the positive effects of mindfulness on various aspects of life! So now it is appropriate now to inquire into one of my favorite topics (and maybe yours?) – food.
One of the ways to tune up your immune system and give you more resistance to the Coronavirus is to heal your intestines. A healthy gastrointestinal tract is often synonymous with a healthy immune system, which strengthens your resistance to any and all infections.
There are more and more studies being done to research the body’s healthy microbiota. Microbiota refers to all the microorganisms that are found in an environment. In the human body, the microbiota includes the gut, vagina, the sinuses, mouth, skin, and the blood....
Food sensitivity is often a major risk factor for systemic inflammation immune stress and it can distract your immune system from more important tasks such as destroying cancer cells, parasites, fungus, viruses and invasive fungus. As part of a functional medicine...
Food poisoning is a common illness in the body from consuming contaminated food or water but natural home remedies can help alleviate the unpleasant symptoms. Foodborne or waterborne microorganisms can cause vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, weakness, and can range from...
It is never too late to start caring for one of the most important organs of elimination of your body, the colon. The colon is one of the five major organs of elimination. Its main function is to rid your body of the leftover waste your body no longer needs. If your...
Why We Need a Healthy Gut Microbiome When considering what is healthy for our overall digestion, it is important to understand that the gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem. The inherent diversity of an optimal gut flora is a key component of a healthy...
That is a great question! In my experience, the last thing people want to do is lug a big bag of supplements on holiday or vacation. (See my previous post, Am I Taking Too Many Supplements?) And there is some evidence that we respond better to supplements if we pulse...
Leaky gut is an often overlooked condition, especially if you have been diagnosed with another disease. This is unfortunate because it may be a root cause of many other health problems. Some 2,500 years ago, the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, said, “All...
The microbiome refers to the full set of micro-organisms that inhabit a given site, most often (when discussing humans) the gut, but one might study the skin, oral, nasal/ lung or vaginal microbiomes. Each area has its own cluster of bacteria, or microbiota. Gut microbes make up the largest population within the human microbiome. When studying the microbiome, often the genetics of the microorganisms that live on us and in us, are the focus.
Cultured Vegetables and Fermented Foods Cultured and fermented foods have been around for a long time, initially as a means of preserving food, but it turns out there is a wonderful healing benefit to this process. Foods were put in a jar and stored in a cellar for a...
Why is a healthy gut essential? Gut health is crucial to optimal health but is often overlooked in health circles. Unhealthy gut can be a significant contributor to inflammatory conditions such as chronic pain and immune issues. It can slow down energy and hamper...
What Does Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC) Have to do with the Super Bowl? Not much, I would have imagined, but thinking broadly, after the 112 million people who tuned in1 finished laughing, maybe a few hundred thousand viewers might connect the dots. That’s...
Gastrointestinal symptoms occur frequently in children Unexplained abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and gassiness all commonly prompt a visit to the doctor’s office. More and more research is showing the importance of gut health for a child's healthy immune...
If you’ve experienced any of the following gluten sensitivity symptoms, the answer is YES. Disproportionate fatigue Migraines/headaches Excessive weight gain or loss Emotional issues involving chronic irritability and sudden, irrational mood shifts often moving into...
A healthy gut and good digestive health is one of the most critical pieces to obtaining and maintaining good overall health. The health of any person is directly related to the health of the GI system, as about 70% of our immunity resides in the “gut”. Therefore, it...
Healthy Gluten Free Christmas Cookies Here is a healthy recipe for gluten free cut out Christmas cookies in case you can find the time to bake! We have all been busy with holiday decorating and shopping....there’s never enough time to get things done in December it...
Patients ask me all the time, “Sharon, why do you do THIS? How did you get into THIS?” I always know THIS means COLON HYDROTHERAPY. Patients wonder why I’m so excited and intrigued by, as one patient says, “watching people poop all day.” One patient lovingly calls me the “Poop Lady.” When people ask my 40 year-old daughter what I do for a living her response is, “my Mom helps people get the mess out of their lives.” Yes, she’s a comedienne; the woman definitely has jokes. Needless to say, my chosen career is the butt of many jokes (pun intended)!
Did you know that according to TIME magazine, 97% of Americans cannot remember the last time they ate a salad? As we age, typically, our bodies produce 13% fewer enzymes than the decade before. Yikes, no wonder there are so many people with digestive health issues. ...
In my article last week, The Truth About Constipation, you discovered a new definition for constipation. In summary, you discovered if you’re not experiencing a one to one ratio between the meals you’re taking in and the waste that’s coming out, you’re probably constipated. Now, let’s talk about some of the symptoms of constipation. And, this is an extremely limited representation of the many symptoms you suffer daily as the result of a constipated/toxic colon.
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, “Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement less than THREE times a week.” Well, I’d like to modify that definition because it doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of what it means to be constipated. This is what I think: If you eat at least THREE meals per day, which equals TWENTY ONE meals per week, and you are having less than THREE bowel movements per week, you are EXTREMELY constipated. You see, you were created to operate the way you did when you were a baby; one meal in and one load of waste out. Constipation begins when the body is not releasing the waste from every meal consumed.
According to a January 2012 study conducted by the Microbiology Department of Leeds General Infirmary in the UK, C. difficile bacteria were commonly spread in hospital bathrooms without toilet seat covers. The report states the bacteria were found in the bathroom air...
Problems with dairy have become common today. Have you experienced lactose intolerance, bloating or other unpleasant side effects when eating dairy? Do you enjoy dairy products but are concerned whether they are actually good for you? Real dairy is healthy and can be...
Cultured and fermented foods have been around for a long time, initially as a means of preserving food, but it turns out there is a wonderful healing benefit to this process. Foods were put in a jar and stored in a cellar for a period of time where they fermented, or...
If you live in the Washington metro area then you are all too familiar with the quick changes in weather, and a recent heat explosion, not to mention the power outages due to big storms. We were without power for 5 days at my house and so naturally we lost all the...
A very common yet under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed digestive problem that we find in patients is parasites. They can live in the body for many years without causing symptoms and when they do, the symptoms are often subtle or vague. Parasites can generally be...
Good Bugs Eat Bad Bugs The human body is an amazing biological machine. Food is digested, converted into energy and the unusable becomes waste. This conversion is dependent on many factors and processes but the bacteria that create the ‘enzymes’ that help...
Simple, daily ways to love your gut, which contains about 70% of our immune system. Loving your gut means better health! 31 Ways to Love Your Gut and Improve the Digestive System Probiotics Digestive Enzymes Breathe Stretch Massage Reflexology Essential Oils...
Are you interested in colon hydrotherapy, but not sure what to expect? Some people consider colon hydrotherapy a bit of an awkward thing to do. Most people who come in for the first time are a bit nervous, but once they experience the procedure, they can’t believe they waited so long to try it.
If your answer is yes to constipation, you’ve got a lot of company – over 4 million “friends” in the US alone! In fact, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, responsible for over 2.5...
Did you know that 70 -80 % of your immune system is in or around the digestive tract? It’s true. Now consider what would happen to your health if the digestive tract were compromised. Malnutrition and lowered immunity would become a real health concern. There are...
Conditions That May Indicate Allergies Did you know that better allergy treatment can alleviate conditions that are aggravated by allergies such as Migraine headaches, Sinus headaches, Recurrent sinusitis as well as Allergic Rhinitis that are triggered by...
The practice of intestinal cleansing is not a new one, not by a long shot. Flushing away excess waste through enemas has been around since ancient times in Egypt. The practice of administering enemas was recorded in the medical document "Eber Papyrus" in 1500 B.C....
Symptoms of Parasites May be Hard to Detect Parasites evade detection and diagnosis better than most human pathogens, explaining why some healthcare professionals deny their existence or clinical relevancy. Since diagnostic tests are often falsely negative or...
Updated March 2024 Why am I constipated? Like everything else related to your body, your constipation is a very individual thing. In general, you become constipated because your diet does not provide enough fiber since you are not eating enough fresh green, leafy...