APPENDIX F

Improving Symptoms of IBS and Overall Digestive Health

Millions of Americans suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms such as heartburn, bloating, gas, constipation (less than one to two bowel movements per day), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), diarrhea, pain, and ulcers. The key to good health stems from a balanced diet that is appropriate for your unique constitution, effective digestion, nutrient absorption, and regular elimination. It seems so simple, yet so many people suffer from poor health as a result of poor digestion.

Digestion is literally the cornerstone of our health. If we are consistently having any discomfort or problems, something is wrong. We must look deeper to heal the root cause, not just the symptom, or we will have to deal with a laundry list of subsequent health issues down the road.

Poor digestive health weakens the immune system, causes nutritional deficiencies and hormonal and endocrine imbalances, and weakens all organ function. It also creates an additional toxic load for the body to deal with and dramatically affects how effectively the body can convert food into a usable form of energy.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most commonly diagnosed “dis-eases” related to digestion in our country. In our opinion, IBS is not a diagnosis, but rather a stopgap to finding the root cause. If not handled appropriately, it will lead to exponentially worse dysfunction in the body.

When someone comes to us with IBS, we look for intestinal permeability and pathogens such as bacteria, parasites, yeast (Candida albicans), and fungus. We test them for food sensitivities—not food allergies, but sensitivities. A food sensitivity might not produce an overt outward reaction such as breaking out in hives, but it does lower the immune system and irritate intestinal lining, making it more susceptible to microbial invasion. Over time, consistent consumption of these foods will wear the body down (if the gut is not fixed). Nine times out of ten, it is one or more of these issues that must be addressed and resolved for total recovery to happen and optimal health to be achieved.

We should all take stock to improve digestion on a daily basis as a barometer of our total health. This is our one life to live. Why not live it the best that we can?

Here are our top ten recommendations to improve your digestive health immediately:

1. Avoid the use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, Advil, and Motrin. They thin the lining of the gut. Instead, use natural remedies like boswellia and turmeric.

2. Limit alcohol intake to three to five drinks per week or, preferably, less. Alcohol irritates and damages the stomach.

3. Avoid chronic stress. Evaluate where it comes from and take steps to minimize it in your day-to-day life. It is possible.

4. Avoid unnecessary medications and stomach aids. Instead, take a 2-ounce shot of Bragg raw apple cider vinegar for heartburn or acid reflux. It will stimulate increased hydrochloric acid production, as well as shift your pH to a more alkaline position.

5. Take a good, multi-strain probiotic.

6. Try the Ayurvedic herb triphala for gentle, natural, and effective relief of constipation. It can be taken daily and consistently and is non-habit forming.

7. Do not combine fruit and grain together (i.e., oatmeal and blueberries). Fruit should be eaten alone because it digests the quickest. When we add grain to fruit, the fruit is forced to wait in the intestines, which makes it ferment and cause gas. Regular gas leads to yeast overgrowth and an imbalanced pH, both of which are linked to cancer.

8. Take a good superfoods green supplement for daily cellular detoxification.

9. Get an IgG blood test for food sensitivities and allergies. Know and avoid the most common allergens: wheat, pasteurized dairy, nonorganic corn, soy, and eggs from chickens fed corn or soy products.

10. And last, but certainly not least, avoid poor dietary choices. Don’t restrict yourself completely, but rather follow our 80/20 rule and put your health and well-being first!