Digestion

If you want to know what illnesses Americans have these days, simply look at the endless drug adds. Evidently indigestion, heart burn, ulcer, irritable bowel, gas, bloating, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and bowel cancer are very popular complaints in this country. According to the drug companies it’s as simple as connecting the right drug to your complaint and that’s all it takes. Here’s a headline for all of you; you are moving in the wrong direction and I will tell you why.

With one half of all Americans on at least one drug (and many on more); it would seem we have become dependent on the local pharmacy to stay alive. As I have said in previous articles, how did the human race survive without all the drugs our culture consumes on a daily basis? I’m being facetious when I say that because in my humble opinion predicated on 35 years in practice, most drugs are unnecessary and correct nothing. My medical counterparts will strongly disagree with that statement and I would invite any of them to debate this issue. For now, let’s focus on why so many Americans have so many digestive issues.

Food is the number one cause of ALL digestive problems. I know, you think it can’t possibly be just that simple but it is. Remember, food is nothing more than fuel that goes through an exhaustive and complicated process to bring nutrients to each and every cell. The right food provides energy, wellness and will likely eliminate any reason to take unnecessary drugs. The wrong food starts a process that can cause everything from heartburn to ADHD in children. So discovering the best foods for you is where everybody should start.

Let’s take heartburn for as an example. It’s either food allergies/intolerance or low acid (not high). The stomach is a mixing bowl of acid and enzymes prepping your food for digestion. American’s eat WAY too much food and 95% is now processed. Is it any wonder where disease begins? If you take antacids, you will no longer digest your foods as you were meant to and now you have issues with nutrient absorption that you never had before. You also create what we call “dysbiosis” meaning your gastrointestinal tract has to deal with the side effects of the drugs that can destroy the good bacteria.

Irritable Bowel is another common complaint with many drugs to treat you. Again, remove the offending foods and the irritation usually goes away. Too simple you say? Then try eating healthy for a few months and see what happens. You might just get better all by yourself. It’s helpful to have someone assist you in discovery of what foods are good or bad for you as individuals rather than random guessing.

Dairy is another food that causes so many problems for so many people. It’s another animal’s breast milk to begin with that seems to create a lot of antibodies in humans. I see it all day long in my office. In times where the world was starving, any food was better than no food. The milk today is so processed by the time it gets to you it’s been treated and is loaded with hormones and other additives. Asthma, sinus problems, headaches, fatigue, etc. can all be attributed to reactions from dairy. But I love milk and cheese you say! Then keep blowing your nose and taking drugs to help you tolerate the foods that cause your illness.

Grains are another destroyer of your digestion. If you look at the food pyramid, grains are ostensibly the basis for health. That may have been true a very long time ago but biotech companies have genetically altered the seeds grown today. Seeds spliced with pesticides to increase crop yield. All of you with irritable bowel should stop all grains for a few weeks and see what happens. Again, I have patients that would rather die sooner than give up bread, pasta, cereal, cookies and snacks in brightly colored bags. The average American child gets up and has a bowl of cereal (grains) with milk (dairy) and an hour later goes into an allergic/intolerance state making it very hard to comprehend what the teacher says as the mucous runs from their noses. Sound like your kids?

If you are tired of the “disease management” approach to healthcare, it might be time to learn what’s actually wrong with you for a change and get better all by yourself. The choice is up to you.