No blood to draw, spitting in tubes or filling up jugs of urine. The dried urine collection process is an easy yet accurate method for measuring baseline hormone levels in men and women and for monitoring the efficacity of a treatment protocol.

WOMEN

Millions of women suffer from the symptoms of hormonal imbalances, from hot flushes, weight gain, fatigue, low libido and PMS to irritability and depression. The DUTCH test gives insight into the levels of progesterone and oestrogen as well as the way they are detoxified by the liver and cleared through the urine. The overall involvement of Adrenal stress and cortisol in controlling those levels is also monitored with four sample collection distributed through a typical day. This unique insight helps target nutritional, lifestyle and hormonal strategies with specific supplement, body identical hormones, detoxification protocols and naturopathic recommendations that are easily monitored with retesting.

MEN

Over time, men experience a gradual loss of their hormones that are produced in the gonads and adrenal glands.

Testosterone and DHEA levels fall and oestrogen levels tend to rise. Those changes in hormonal levels can lead to symptoms of weight gain, lower sex drive, depression, hair loss, sleeping troubles, fatigue, and increased prostate cancer risk. Many men feel this is part of getting older and do not believe that it is possible to take measures to improve hormonal balance. However this is not the case. Nutritional factors, sleep quality, exercise type and stress managements all have a major impact on hormonal balance.

The DUTCH test helps to get an accurate picture of the factors controlling hormonal balance and point towards accurate solution.

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The term ‘food intolerance’ and ‘food allergy’ are often confused and are two very different things.

Genuine food allergy is relatively rare. Only about 2% of the adult population are affected. A food allergy is a swift response by the body’s immune system to a food protein when the body’s immune system mistakes a food for an ‘invader’. This results in a rapid and intense allergic reaction, often within minutes but generally within a maximum of two hours. Allergic reaction is commonly associated to peanuts, eggs or seafood.

Food intolerance is characterised by a slow and non-life threatening immune re response. Food intolerances are much more common than food allergies.

When foods and drinks are digested the proteins within them are broken down into smaller fragments for easy absorption into the body. Larger fragments can pass through without breaking down, and can drive the immune system to produce antibodies called Immunoglobulin G’s (IgG).

A recent study* has shown that those who eliminated trigger foods based on food-specific IgG test results had reductions in weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumference and improvements in all indicators of quality of life that were measured. The quality of life indicators included physical and emotional wellbeing, mental health, social life, pain levels and vitality.

Allergy vs Intolerance what are the specific responses?

Food Intolerance: Reactions up to 72 hours after eating; Multiple foods can be involved; Any organ system can be affected; Very common Trace amounts of foods can cause reactions; Caused by raised IgG antibody; Symptoms can clear after avoidance (3-6 months)

Food allergy: Immediate reactions (2 hours or less); Rarely more than 1 to 2 foods; Primarily skin, airways and digestive system; Difficult to self-diagnose; Caused by raised IgE antibody and therefore life-long Lifelong

On average people who suffer from food intolerances usually have between 4 and 8 trigger foods.

More information about prices and nutritional counseling available alongside food sensitivity testing 

It is possible to simply order a test. There is no charge for us to organise your food intolerance test. As part of the test you will receive a comprehensive report outlining which foods to avoid, which to reduce and which are perfectly safe. If no food sensitivity is identified you will be refunded the price of your test.

If you are struggling with your health or find it difficult to know what to eat I recommend that you also book a consultation alongside your food testing.

Symptoms of food intolerance include:

Many people suffer for years, having formed a coping mechanism to deal with the symptoms without necessarily getting to the bottom of it.

Food intolerance is a condition with a wide range of symptoms including: including gut symptoms, bloating, migraines, low mood, weight gain, fatigue and skin problems.

More specifically the following symptoms can often improve and sometimes clear completly when avoiding the foods that trigger IgG immune response.

Abdominal Pain
Aches and Pains
Acne
Bloating
Constipation
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Diarrhoea
Dizziness
Eczema
Fatigue
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Itching
Fluid Retention
Headaches
Hyperactivity
Migraine
Nausea
Rashes
Rhinitis
Sinusitis
Stomach Cramps
Tension
Tiredness
Urticaria
Weight loss/Weight Gain
Wheezing.

*Lewis J et al, 2012: Eliminating Immunologically-Reactive Foods from the Diet and its Effect on Body Composition and Quality of Life in Overweight Persons. Journal Obesity & Weight loss Therapy 2:1

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Limiting weight loss to the desirable side effect of healthier habits and focussing on how we feel will ensure instead that we avoid the common traps laid by the unhealthy pursuit of weight loss. The motivation to carry on rather than counting the days to that celebratory binge is in itself a side effect of health, making it less about will power and more about mind set and choices.

A key element here is metabolism. By metabolism I don’t mean the rate but the way in which each cell is able to power up. The greater its efficiency, the healthier and clearer minded we feel. Additionally our immune system is alert without being hyper, ageing is slowed down and cancer is much less likely to take a hold.

An efficient cellular metabolism is one that can easily burn fat. The trouble is that this natural ability is easily inhibited by the consumption of excess sugar and by anything else that damages mitochondria (the units in the cells where energy is created and thought to have evolved from bacteria).  

The following will support mitochondria and a healthier metabolism:

• A cleaner less toxic environment
• Organic food
• Food timing and circadian rhythm
• Quality sleep: a minimum of 7 hours per night preferably in total darkness
• Exercise: best to combine formal exercise with increased movement by walking more, getting up regularly from your chair and taking the stairs whenever possible
• Overall sugar and carbohydrate reduction: the aim is to limit grains and potatoes and avoid sugar altogether
• Limiting protein consumption to a specific amount per body weight (on average1.5g/pound but this depends on activity levels, age, sex and overall health): protein can have similar detrimental effects to sugar and the reason why very low carb/high protein diets are not particularly healthy even if they achieve fast weight loss.
• Increasing healthy fat consumption: avocadoes, coconut oil, nuts and seeds, olive oil, flax, chia, eggs (yolk), oily fish

However to really push your body into fat burning I recommend intermittent "fasting"

What makes fasting so powerful yet easier than you expect?

Historically, fasting was regarded as dangerous and considered evidence of an eating disorder. Yet recent science has demonstrated its poweful effect on our overall health. Of course this must be qualified and it is important to understand how to eat and when to fast for maximum benefits and comfort. Nonetheless, it is a proven method to slow ageing, reduce risks of cancer and limit the ravages caused by chronic inflammation (such as auto-immune diseases, arthritis, Alzheimer's, etc.).

Most people are afraid of being hungry and think that fasting is difficult. What is difficult is to improve metabolism when it has already been disrupted by years of eating too frequently and too much sugar and/or processed foods. The transitory period is what makes most people feel overwhelmed. For this reason, I recommend a very gentle and gradual approach with short periods of fasting (12 to 16 hours to start with) and a diet that already encourages fat burning. This may yield small weight loss to start with. However it will pave the way for improved metabolism and the mind-set that comes from breaking our dependence on sugar/carbohydrates and constant eating.

Fasting is unique in the way that it trains the mitochondria to modify their energy sourcing. We have sugar reserves available in the cells and the liver that have to be used up first. This takes 9 to 12 hours on average. When those run-out the mitochondria have no other choice but to look for alternatives. They will provide protein needs by using close-by old or aberrant cells and source energy from fat reserves. It is thought that an average (not over- weight) person has 40 days’ worth of fat reserves. This is a lot of energy yet fatigue and lack of energy is one of the most common complain I receive from my clients. Think of a large tank-truck carrying petrol yet running out of fuel on the motorway…

If done regularly, periods of 16 to 24 hours of “fasting” can positively but gently improve metabolism and lose fat without damaging lean tissues. The overall energy consumption can be the same as long as longer periods without food are built into your weekly routine. This can easily be achieved by regularly skipping breakfast and delaying lunch. We are physiologically programmed for night time feeding, making the benefits of fasting greater during the day. It is also easier to delay eating during the day and in this way you can be asleep for the first half of your fast. 

Most foods negate the effects of fasting, but there are fast assimilating nutrient-dense exceptions.These are:

• Whey protein
• Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, rocket, watercress, etc.)
• Chlorella and spirulina
• Green juices made from celery cucumber, spinach etc.
• Blueberrie

These foods will nourish your body without taxing your digestion and enhance the anti-inflammatory and metabolic modulating effects of fasting. They also increase antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species (ROS) which tend to accumulate during fasting and exercise and are by-products of fat breakdown and detox. Those are responsible for the undesirable side-effects of fasting such as irritability, headaches and loss of motivation. The more they can be neutralised the better we feel while fasting. 

What makes these foods complimentary to fasting are the following properties:

• They are rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients
• They target the same genes as fasting (SIRT 1 and 2)
• They induce similar effects to those you get from fasting

Having small servings once or twice in a period of 16 to 24 hours of whey protein, green vegetables (or green juices) and (blue)berries will increase the weight loss benefits from your fast,  prevent feeling hungry and teach your body to burn fat. Providing you eat for a healthy metabolism the rest of the time, as little as a 16 hours fast twice a week will make in road into your waist line. 

Weight loss is really that easy!

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Scientific evidence is pointing out to an independent influence from our gut to our emotional brain. It follows therefore that realigning abdominal tissues would facilitate the healthy flow of information that create our feelings.

Colonic has a therapeutic influence on how we feel about our bowels which are often the seat of emotional afflictions. Yet our emotional brain and the gut are directly connected. The Vagus nerve continuously mediates from the gut to the brain and neurotransmitters (such as serotonin) produced in the intestines control the behaviour of our Gut and flood our Brain. Colonic has been shown to stimulate gut serotonin and directly affect the Vagus nerve. This undoubtedly accounts for the fact that a colonic generally leaves someone feeling peaceful, uplifted and clearer headed.

Colonic hydrotherapy gives meaning to that “gut feeling” we so often disconnect from yet is our most immediate experience of intuition. Colonic irrigation facilitates the conscious connection with our gut in a clean and safe situation. There is no obvious smell or direct contact with faeces.

Effects on gut bacteria

Colonic hydrotherapy targets bowel function as well as bowel flora thus enabling the delicate and reciprocal interactions that exist between the mind, the gut and the microbes that populate it, to be harmonised.  

Through the use of deep abdominal massage, varying water pressure /temperature against the bowel walls and specific implant, colonic hydrotherapy directly affects peristalsis (the natural movements of the gut that help propel bowel content) and bowel function.

The combination of massage and water deeply cleanses and washes out the Colon. This releases gas pockets and built up stools relieving abdominal bloating and pressure on the lower back, bladder, ovaries/prostate and diaphragm.

The effect on gut bacteria is influenced by a number of factors. Recent research on the microbiome (gut microbes) has highlighted fascinating facts about the relationship between gut microbes, our immune system and our brain. There are some complicated interactions between the different types of organisms and our immune system. Bacteria and, in some cases, the toxins they produce can be picked up from the gut by our lymphatic system and transported to the brain (or anywhere else in the body) contributing to various inflammatory responses in remote sites. This type of chronic low grade inflammation has been shown to explain the process behind degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson’s and cardio-vascular diseases, arthritis, diabetes, etc. Colonic hydrotherapy has a definite effect on gut microbes and relieves the strain on the immune system caused by excess toxins from less than ideal gut microbes. However, colonic does not “strip” the gut. It is a gentle procedure which, unlike laxatives, does not irritate the delicate gut lining and does not alter gut microbiome. Research has shown that the microbiome will soon reconstitute itself.

Generally the specific strains and species that live in our gut are established in the first two years of life. They are sensitive to drugs, antibiotics in particular. The equilibrium between all the different types is altered by many factors from exercise and hormones to stress and diet. Together with dietary and lifestyle adjustment colonic is a powerful treatment to improve gut microbe’s balance. It can also be effectively used to flush out parasites and organisms that are not part of the established microbiota but are trying to set up residence and creating symptoms. The symptoms of parasite’s infestation are varied but generally include gut inflammation causing pain, sometimes diarrhoea and often sever bloating.

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Brussels sprouts are actually little cabbages that grow on a stalk. As such they share many of the benefits you may find in other members of the family such as the much celebrated kale and broccoli. They are rich in Carotenoids, a class of antioxidants known for their anti-ageing properties, and for a number of key compounds well research for their ability to support liver enzyme detoxification and reduce cancer risks. Sulphur is the characteristically smelly chemical much sought after by your liver for numerous detoxification tasks and heavy metal neutralisation.

It is the third most abundant mineral in your body and plays an important role in synthetisation of glutathione (one of the most powerful antioxidant in the body). It supports hair, skin and joint health and regulates insulin function to name a few. Brussels sprouts are one of the richest sources of non-protein bound sulphur.

There are over 500 studies confirming the value of Brussels sprouts in preventing certain types of cancer. The most researched molecules, indole-3 carbinol (I3C), phenethyl-isothiocyanate (PEITC), 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) and Sulforaphane (SFN) are common to the whole cruciferous family including Brussels sprouts. They have been shown to significantly reduce the proliferation and migration of certain kinds of hormone dependent cancer cells (especially breast). Additionally 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl)butane is specific to Brussels sprouts and broccoli and has been shown to activate the process of cellular suicide in lung cancer cells.

Brussels sprouts' fibres are useful in binding to cholesterol (from bile salts) in the colon and escorting it out of the body, rather than recirculating it back into the blood stream. Cooking Brussels sprouts will maximise the effect of those fibres. As a rule, avoid eating too much raw cabbage, kale and broccoli because of their tendency to lower thyroid function. If you like to add kale to your morning smoothy plunge it in boiling water for a couple of minutes first.

There is also some evidence that one of the sulfurophanes in Brussels sprouts counteracts an enzyme involved in the creation of new  fat cells...I rest my case!

Walnuts have the highest level of antioxidants of all nuts thus helping control free radical damage at the heart of ageing.

Walnuts contain several unique and powerful antioxidants that are available in only a few commonly eaten foods. This includes the quinone Juglone, the tannin Tellimagrandin, and the flavonol Morin.

In a study Walnuts polyphenols were shown to prevent chemically-induced liver damage and had the best efficacy among the nuts tested for lipoprotein-bound antioxidant activity.

Lead researcher Professor Joseph Vinson, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry at The University of Scranton says “A handful of walnuts have almost twice the antioxidant content as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut." 

The outermost layer of a shelled walnut has a bitter flavour and is thought to concentrate up to 90 percent of the antioxidants in walnuts.

Compared with other fruits, Dates are rich in phytonutrients (polyphenols) and soluble fibre.linical  Clinical study suggests they can quickly improve digestive health. Both the fibre and the polyphenols found in dates have important prebiotic effects. Daily addition of 7 dates (50g) to the diet for 21 days significantly improved bowel movements and stool frequency. Metabolic markers also improved with significant reduction in stool ammonia concentration and reduced genotoxicity in faecal water. Both are used as markers of colon cancer risk.

Although sweet, dates do not appear to negatively affect blood glucose if consumed in amounts lesser than 100g/day and as part of a low sugar diet.

The dates that came out best are Hallawi dates.

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 There are four distinct patterns of bloating

1. The intestines are filled with gas; this may or may not be accompanied by flatulence or/and belching
2. Peristalsis (intestinal movement) is dysfunctional preventing healthy evacuation of gas and stools. This is referred as dysfunctional intestinal obstruction
3. The intestines are hypersensitive and feeling bloated even though they may not be particularly distended
4. The abdominal area is retaining water making it feel heavy and uncomfortably bloated

Let’s examine further what may cause each of those particular patterns and how to improve them.

Intestinal gas

The gut is a complex system made up of many communities of microbes. They colonise every nook and cranny of our intestines and coexist in relative harmony. Together they make the changing landscape of our gut from mouth to anus. Some produce gas, others can utilise that gas to power their own requirements. Some can function in the presence of oxygen other can’t; some like an acid environment others are killed if the PH drops below a certain level and, of course, all those organisms are dependent on the food we care to eat.

In an ideal world, the interactions between us, our food and our microbes should be harmonious and produce comfortable amount of gas. It should be easily passed and dealt with either via our lungs/skin or simply expelled. A certain amount of gas is normal and the sign that our flora is abundant and doing its job. Gas only really creates bloating if it is excessive. As a point of reference passing gas 20 times in a day is not excessive.

Food that is poorly digested, and allowed to reach the large intestine where most of our bacterial colonies live, will create excessive fermentation/gas. This can be due to meals that are too large and too dense compared to our digestive capacity, a physiological deficiency in digestive enzymes (which can be compensated with a digestive enzyme supplementation) or an inability to digest a particular food (lactose is typically a food that some of us do not have the ability to digest while gluten cannot be digested by celiacs).

Sometimes bacterial overgrowth can occur in the small intestine. Under normal conditions, the bacteria that produce gas are limited to the colon but can spread back into the small intestine where they will come in contact with partially digested food and create excessive fermentation. This condition  is called small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It may be responsible for the more sever digestive symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

You can test for bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine using a hydrogen/methane breath-test. This is done following ingestion of a fermentable sugar (lactulose, fructose, and sorbitol). Colonic bacteria will naturally form hydrogen and/or methane which is absorbed into the blood and eliminated in the breath where it can be measured. In normal individuals, there is one peak of hydrogen or methane when the lactulose enters the colon. In individuals who have SIBO, there are two peaks of hydrogen or methane: When the lactulose passes and is exposed to the bacteria in the small intestine and again when it enters the colon.

Depending on the state of an individual gut flora, some foods will create excess fermentation. Dairy, wheat, specific vegetables (i.e. onion, cabbage, red peeper, etc.) contain fermentable sugars that can react with gut bacteria. Limiting those foods can keep symptoms under control. Finding out exactly which foods are the worst offenders can be painstakingly slow and may require keeping a food diary. Colonic hydrotherapy can help manage and reduce symptoms of excessive gas, IBS and SIBO

Functional intestinal obstruction

A functional obstruction is not an actual physical blockage, but results from the muscles of the stomach or intestines that propel the intestinal contents not working functionally. This causes the content to accumulate and distend the abdomen. It can be caused by a nutritional deficiency such as magnesium, an emotional issue, a physical/neurological issue or an inability to handle fats. Fats can directly affect bowel peristalsis and slow it right down if poorly digested fats reach the small intestines. Typically this is because of liver/gall bladder congestion reducing bile out-put in the duodenum and poor fat digestion. Functional intestinal obstruction can lead to SIBO, further contributing to bloating. Kinesiology is an excellent tool to assess the cause and treatment of a functional intestinal obstruction.

Intestinal hyper-sensitivity

In some individual the gut itself feels boated and uncomfortable but there is no evidence of excessive fermentation or muscular dysfunction. This reflects a neurological state. Gut neurotransmitters such as GABA and serotonin may play a part and sensitivity can be accentuated by chronic low grade inflammation of the gut as evidenced by mucous in the stools and a tendency to diarrhoea. Butyric acid is helpful in controlling low grade inflammation as is a detox diet and probiotic supplements

Water retention

This can affect the abdominal area and is usually influenced by hormonal variations. Generally sugar, alcohol and excess salt (sodium chloride) contribute to water retention. Trace minerals and quality water is important in regulating kidney function. Food sensitivity and low grade cellular inflammation can lead to bloating. A detox diet combined with Dandelion leaves tea and colonic can effectively reduce water retention  

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• 64 percent of people wrongly believe that antibiotics treat viral infections such as colds and flu 
  
• 75 percent of people wrongly believe "antibiotic resistance" means that your body is resistant to the drug rather than the bacteria being resistant
• About one-third of people wrongly believe you should stop taking the antibiotic once you feel better to avoid building "immunity" to the drug
• 66 percent wrongly believe you're not at risk of drug-resistant infection as long as you follow your doctor’s prescription
• Nearly half wrongly believe drug-resistant infections affect people who use antibiotics frequently when in fact they can affect anyone

The facts are:

• Antibiotics can ONLY treat bacterial infections. They have no effect  on viral infections including colds and flu
• Unless the disease-causing bacteria are completely wiped out, the infection may recur, so it's important to finish the entire course 
• Antibiotics should be reserved for SEVERE bacterial infections and only as a last resort
• Non organic meat and dairy from intensely raised animals and fish are major sources of antibiotics that will make their way to our body. Antibiotics are used as prophylactics (and convenient growth promoters) because stressed animals forced to live in confined spaces are prone to disease. Only choose organic, wild or traceable meat, dairy and fish to avoid unnecessary exposure to antibiotic.

This makes a convincing argument for educating ourselves better about antibiotics, their use and associated risks, if we are to continue enjoying the current level of protection they offer

Gut flora is especially vulnerable to antibiotics

Research in the UK and Sweden has revealed that, depending on the type, antibiotic treatments can affect gut microbiome adversely for up to a year afterwards.

The randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated participants' oral and gut microbiomes.

The oral microbiome normalized fairly quickly, but the gut microbiome typically did not.

As reported by The Atlantic:

"People who took clindamycin and ciprofloxacin saw a decrease in types of bacteria that produce butyrate, a fatty acid that lowers oxidative stress and inflammation in the intestines. The reduced microbiome diversity for clindamycin-takers lasted up to four months; for some who took ciprofloxacin, it was still going on at the 12-month check-up. Amoxicillin, on the plus side, seemed to have no significant effect on either the oral or gut microbiome, and minocycline-takers were back to normal at the one-month check-up."

The study also demonstrated that the risk of antibiotic-resistant disease is increased:

• Antibiotic-resistance genes were found in both British and Swedish participants at the outset of the study, although the British had on average a 1.13-times-higher load of antibiotic resistance genes than the Swedes. (The authors speculate that this may be a result of the fact that Sweden has significantly decreased use of antibiotics over the past 20 years, due to the Swedish Strategic Program for the Rational Use of Antimicrobial Agents and Surveillance of Resistance [STRAMA], launched in 1994.)

After exposure to antibiotics, the antibiotic resistance gene load increased across the board.

According to the authors:

"Among the antibiotics tested, exposure to amoxicillin resulted in the least discernible effects on the microbiome composition, while these samples had the highest number with antibiotic resistance-associated genes and the most classes that were increased in the predicted metagenomes and in the full metagenomes, respectively, a week after the exposure ... 
Clearly, even a single antibiotic treatment in healthy individuals contributes to the risk of resistance development and leads to long-lasting detrimental shifts in the gut microbiome."

Antibiotics save lives. I am not suggesting that they should be avoided no matter what but that they should be reserved for sever bacterial infections and only after prior assessment by a medical practitioner.

If you are taking antibiotic minimise their detrimental impact on your gut flora by taking saccharomyces boulardii 6 hours after taking your medication for the duration of the course. Follow with a daily probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for 3 to 6 weeks. Those have been shown to greatly minimise symptoms of antibiotic induced diarrhoea. If you get thrush look for Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 as the most effective stains to protect against vaginal yeast infections.

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could be treated with a specific probiotic strain. Despite the considerable impact (gut) microbes have on our health, from mood to immunity and the expression of our own genes, this could not be further from the truth.

One of the misconceptions about probiotic supplements is that the bacteria they contain will implant and eventually replace our own resident colonies. So far the research has shown that strains not intrinsic to our own body will usually pass through within a few days to a few weeks. If you look at a probiotic supplement the strain is what comes after the family and the type i.e.Lactobacillus (family) acidophilus (type) NCFM (strain). This is because our bacterial colonies are formed in our childhood years, in particular the first 2 years of life. We inherit a hefty dose from our mother while going down the birth canal and from her milk and skin. As we grow so do our bacteria diversity and we pick up a few more strains from our early environment and food. Once our gut microbes have established themselves, fought for their territories and organised their colonies, resident strains will tend to remain. What changes is the delicate equilibrium of this complex “bug-scape”. Diet, medication, stress, alcohol, sugar can tip the balance towards certain types of microbes at the expense of others leading to various levels of dysbiosis (when our gut bacteria are causing symptoms and eventually disease). If we are birthed naturally and breast fed our gut flora tends to be healthier and our immune system stronger. Incidentally, rubbing a Caesarean section baby soon after birth with a sponge that has been inserted in the mother’s vagina and left there for two hours during labour has been proven to improve the baby’s immunity and digestive health.

Our resident colonies can be weakened significantly by chemo-therapy and other immuno-suppressants. Antibiotics have even been shown to modify gut flora for up to a year after taking them (depending on type). The appendix and gut associated lymphatic tissues provide our stock bacteria with useful hiding nooks in case of diarrhoea. Appendectomy (removal of appendix) can also reduce our resident flora’s ability to bounce back to health after illness or/and medication.

This doesn’t mean that probiotic supplements are useless but probably not for the reasons you’d expect. Fermented foods together with pre and pro-biotic supplements can make positive changes to our gut flora either by changing the gut environment or/and by feeding our resident friendly microbes. A probiotic supplemental strain may not implant long term (unless it is already one of our resident strains) but regardless, acidophilus bacteria create additional lactic acid and favourably strengthen those types of lactic acid resistant bacteria already dwelling inside us. Similarly a bifido-bacteria supplement will deliver bacteria that produce an abundance of short chain fatty acids and favourably support our gut tissues and existing bifido-bacteria colonies. There is also conclusive evidence showing that a diet rich in fibre and pre-biotic (the fermentable sugars that friendly bacteria favour) increases the bio-diversity of our gut. Fibres can be found in vegetables, nuts, seeds, pulses and whole grains. Specific pre-biotic can be taken as food supplement. The pre-biotic FOS (fructo-oligosaccharide) is widely available as a supplement or as part of a probiotic combination. Onions, leeks, garlic, artichoke and asparagus are foods rich in pre-biotic sugar and can be helpful to our existing friendly flora.

If you are going to supplement with probiotic here are a few things to look for:

• Is the strain specified? This tends to indicate that the strain has been well researched and therefore selected to survive both the packaging process and the gut.
• Is the amount of individual bacteria specified? More is not always better. Numbers should be between 5 and 30 billion CFU (colony forming unit)
• Is there a specific instruction for storage and a sale by date? This will ensure some quality control
• How many strains does it contain? 5 to 7 strains is a good average; too many and you will not get enough of any one strain, too little and you may not get the particular strain that will do well in your gut and on your diet

Once you have established that a probiotic supplement is a quality one you can look at individual types and strains. Some have proven track record and you may favour them for specific symptoms bearing in mind that how they will do in your gut is entirely individual. Be prepared to try different brands and different combinations to find one that presents benefits to you. How long you take a probiotic supplement will vary with the strength of your own flora and the level of dysbiosis.

If you are taking antibiotic

take saccharomyces boulardii three times daily for the duration of your course. It is a probiotic yeast and will not be killed by the antibiotic but will protect your flora. Follow with a daily probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG  for 3 to 6 weeks.

If you have eczema

Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003 PCC have been shown to help treat itchy, scaly skin rashes — especially in children.

If you have a cold 

Bifidobacterium animalis lactis Bi-07 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM may stimuate antibody production and help reduce the duration and severity of the common cold and flu.

If you have bladder or vaginal infection

Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 have been shown to help prevent and clear up bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections in some individuals. Researchers point to Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 as the most effective stains to protect against yeast infections as they’re especially adept at colonising the vaginal environment and fighting off other undesirable microbes and yeast.

If you have bad breath, gingivitis or periodontitis 

Lactobacillus reuteri LR-1 or LR-2 promote oral health by binding to teeth and gums. Research has also demonstrated the ability of Weissella cibaria to freshen breath by inhibiting the production of sulfur compounds in the mouth.

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This diversity comes from a diet of unprocessed foods that is rich in raw vegetables, fermented foods and fibre. Fibre are particularly well researched for their protective effects on the bowel. The benefits come from the short chain fatty acids (butyric acid is possibly the best known but by no mean the only one) that result from the fermentation of fibre and resistant starches by specific bacteria. Those can be in rare supply in the typical processed western diet of high fat, high sugar, low fibre junk. Bowel cancer and inflammatory gut disorders are more common in the western world and generally associated with poor gut bio-diversity and lack of fibre.

Fermentation is how those vital bacteria get their energy in the absence of oxygen (which mostly discribes the environment of our gut). The inevitable side-effect is gastrointestinal gases.

Although we tend to think of farts as smelly 99% of their volume is non-odorous. They are made up of swallowed oxygen as well as carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane produced by our specific gut bacteria.

Methane has no odour and is only found in about half the population. Methane (from methane producing bacteria) is associated with constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Farts that lighten up the dorms are not everyone’s claim to fame but could help identify if you harbour colonies of methane producing bacteria. However, I do not recommend this particular testing method at home, an alternative breath test is available.

The pungent smell of flatus comes from volatile sulfur compounds, including hydrogen sulfide, which make up just 1% of its volume.

According to a 2014 study at the University of Exeter in the UK, smelling farts could even be good for you.

Apparently a sniff or two of hydrogen sulfide can help preserve your mitochondria (part of the cell structure of important microorganisms in your body).

In China there are professional flatus smellers who can allegedly diagnose illness and tell you where it is in the body, simply by taking a sniff. Personally, I'd rather stick with colonic hydrotherapy!

High Altitude Flatus Expulsion is a known phenomenon which refers to an increased need to pass wind on flights – not because of the airline food – but because of the reduced air pressure in the cabin.Thank goodness for efficient aeronautic ventilation!

To fart in comfort, without the possible embarrassment caused by pungent smell, you can buy underwear etc. designed to filter the smell of your fart.

Every time you fart you also release your own signature bacteria combination thus marking your space. Apparently we all walk around with our own bactrial aura which we continuously deposit around us. Forensic research is even contemplating analysing bacterial DNA traces left in a room as a way to determine if someone was there or not.

Happy farting!

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Reserchers working with post traumatic stress have recently highlighted the benefits of the drug Propranolol. This is a beta blocker used to treat cardiovascular conditions, elevated blood pressure and anxiety.

As reported by Medical Daily:1

"Having analyzed data from a variety of studies, researchers found that propranolol given before memory consolidation reduced subsequent recall for negatively-perceived stories, pictures, and word lists. Use of propranolol before reconsolidation also reduced subsequent recall for words with negative impact as well as the expression of cue-elicited fear responses."

What makes this particular finding fascinating is that for the drug has to be recalled after taking proponolol to be effective and to affect subcequent memories and associated emotional response. The drug appears to inhibit proteins that enable the memory to be saved again. By taking the drug, followed by recalling the memory, the emotional pain that goes along with it can be reduced over time and repetition.

Interstingly this is what I have observed in my practice from using Emotional Balancing techniques taken from my Systematic Kinesiology training. Those include accupuncture points "tapping", lymphatic reflex rubbing and eye exercises while getting the person to describe the momory or the pain associated with it. This is followed by a positive resolution and pro-active solutions to the painfull memory such as reframing the event or its emotional response.

Perhaps the propanolol research has found an explaination for such techniques as NLP and EFT and proven why they actually work. To me it shows the importance of anchoring the therapy with the memory for it to be effective. 

I beleive this important aspect can be applied to pain, anxiety and therapy in genreal. Because we are so keen to avoid suffering, we might think that going into the problem is not useful but I argue that on the contrary to go into it prior to treatment and while receiving treatment is part of the treatment. Applied to a physical treatment and in the hands of a trained therapist this is what normally happen. There is a prior discussion/consultation about the problem before the treatment. In the case of nutrition (or medication) it follows that evoking the reason for taking it each time we ingest it will make it more efficacious.

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L’article How memory is created and why we can influence its emotional impact est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

When 25 years ago, as part of my training, I first came across "The Gall Bladder Flush", I was intrigued. I was taught that it was a prescription for flushing the gall stones we all harbour in our liver and gall bladder that contribute to hepatic "congestion". This justified enduring such a scary practice consisting of drinking between 120 to 200 ml of olive oil on an empty stomach.  

The effort being rewarded by quantity of "stones", which could be collected from the stools the following morning, somehow made the challenge worth undertaking and I was sold on the idea. 
From then on, I started practising regular flushes and prescribing them as part of my detox retreats and cleansing packages. Over the years I must have supervised thousands of gall bladder flushes despite being repeatedly challenged by those of a mind that a gall bladder is essentially an appendage designed for the benefit of newly practising surgeons.Those doubters believe that the pea-shaped yellow green blobs that are released can only be oil (or cholesterol)...and what could possibly be the point in that?  

For a start, I can confirm that some of those blobs are indeed genuine gall stones even if a lot of them are a soft congealed mixture of bile and cholesterol; additionally and on closer examination the softer blobs frequently reveal hard calcified centres proving that, although not strictly speaking stones, they are on their way to become calcified. Colour varies from yellow/grey to black or green also clearly indicating variations in state and composition. 
I have come to realise from my extensive experience with clients, and with myself, that a "Gall Bladder flush" may get rid of gall stones (although not everyone seems to suffer from them) but even more reliably flushes a quantity of bile from both the liver and the gall bladder... And there is a definite benefit to that whatever the state of your gall bladder.
Bile is the bright green viscous liquid made by the liver and stored in the gall bladder which has the specific property of emulsifying fat but does so much more than participating in fat digestion. Through the bile system, the liver excretes cholesterol and detoxifies some fat-soluble molecules such as hormones (oestrogen, testosterone etc.) metabolites (the broken down bits that need to be eliminated to avoid toxic accumulation). Perhaps the most remarkable function of bile is in the control of bacteria especially of the gut. The bile acids that make up bile act as a strong antibiotic and tightly regulate the type and amount of bacteria that can thrive. Without optimal bile composition and flow (encouraged by regular flushes), pathogenic organisms in the gut can quickly run out of control and start wrecking havoc with the immune system leading to chronic inflammation not just in the gut but in the whole body. Chronic inflammation is now a well documented cause of many diseases from cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia and cardio-vascular diseases to obesity and depression. As part of a whole system approach, bile flushing effectively targets chronic inflammation and should not be overlooked in the control of chronic diseases.

Last year I undertook a "Gall Bladder Flush" journey which taught me a lot about its benefits.
I decided to experiment with my own body and in order to establish exactly how useful they are. I also wanted to know if what came out changed/reduced (how many "stones" could one liver actually store or produce?) and if the practice itself became easier as the liver became "cleaner". I was a very good candidate for this because I have always had a delicate liver after contracting hepatitis A as a child. This also meant that drinking oil made me feel queasy and all of my previous (but much less frequent) flushes had produced quantity of yellow/green stone-like matter. 
Far from a self-inflicted punishment for the sake of science, my journey of self discovery quickly became fascinating and a turning point in my own health management. Every time I did a flush I would observe immediate benefits: feeling lighter, clearer thinking, emotionally calmer, reduced PMT, reduced knee pain, etc... It didn't always lasts but it was always noticeable. Twice I suffered with a bad cold straight after but it still spurred me on. I can't actually remember at which point I was able to say that lasting changes had taken place but gradually the experience became easy, the released amount of bile and stones much less and my general well-being and energy level more stable than they had ever been. 
There are contra-indications to gall bladder flushing (gall bladder disease being one of them) and it is not always useful or beneficial. Bile composition is unique to the individual as is its tendency to thicken and produce general liver congestion. That's why it should never be undertaken without a full medical history and the supervision of an experience practitioner. However time and time again I have seen how helpful it can be to relieve hormonal issues such as menopausal symptoms and how it substantially improves symptoms of heartburn and bloating. It undoubtedly works on an emotional level too and can subtly help release old resentments, hurt and anger.
A colonic treatment on the day of the flush and on the day after will make the experience more comfortable and ooccasionally I have also recommended a follow up treatment a few days later. 
All of the detox retreats I run include the possibility of a gall bladder flush.

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Although no one can successfully steer clear of ALL chemicals and toxic agents, you can minimize your exposure by keeping the following principles in mind.

L’article Reducing exposure to toxic chemical est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

• LNYU Langone Medical Center foundancet, 2014:  "We found that when you perturb gut microbes early in life among mice and then stop the antibiotics, the microbes normalize but the effects on host metabolism are permanent," says senior author, Dr. Martin Blaser, director of the NYU Human Microbiome Program, and professor of microbiology at NYU School of Medicine. "This supports the idea of a developmental window in which microbes participate. It's a novel concept, and we're providing direct evidence for it."
• British Journal of Nutrition, 2011: Rats given lactic acid bacteria while in utero through adulthood put on significantly less weight than other rats eating the same diet. They also had lower levels of minor inflammation, which has been associated with obesity.
• European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010: Obese people were able to reduce their abdominal fat by nearly five percent, and their subcutaneous fat by over three percent, just by drinking a probiotic-rich fermented milk beverage for 12 weeks.
• American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2008: Babies with high numbers of Bifidobacteria and low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus -- which may cause low-grade inflammation in your body, contributing to obesity -- appeared to be protected from excess weight gain. This may be one reason why breast-fed babies have a lower risk of obesity, as Bifidobacteria flourish in the guts of breast-fed babies.
• Nature, 2006: Two separate but related studies found that obese individuals had about 20 percent more of a family of bacteria known as Firmicutes, and almost 90 percent less of a bacteria called Bacteroidetes than lean people. Firmicutes help your body to extract calories from complex sugars and deposit those calories in fat. When these microbes were transplanted into normal-weight mice, those mice started to gain twice as much fat.

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L’article Evidence Showing the conection between Gut Bacteria and Waistline est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

They are mostly found in processed foods (even organic). Some make their way into toiletery and even  medications. Aluminium for instance  is used as an anti-perspirant and an anti-caking agent in antacids.

Their negative impact is made worse if they are in combination and children are especially sensitive.

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L’article Food additives: clear and present danger est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

Sedentarity is fast becoming the number one cause of degenerative and chronic diseases. It is associated with metabolic illnesses like diabetes and osteoporosis; it is a known cause of depression, muscle waisting and premature aging.

Our Physiology and skeletal structure heavily depend on movement and interaction with gravity. Without movement our lymphatic system stagnates, our digestion slows down, our bowels become congested and our arteries glogged up. Our bodies need us to move no matter how very tempting that sofa might look.

Research suggest that to counter-act the negative side-effects assocated with sitting we need to get up every 20 minutes and move for 30 seconds. Interestingly the same research seem to conclud that office workers who rarely got off their chair suffered with the metabolic dysfunctions associated with sendentarity even if they also engage in a sport once to three times per week.

This said exercise is extreemly useful and will largely contribute to a younger, stronger, leaner healthier body if done properly and regularly.

Most exercisers skip a workout occasionally, traveling, falling ill, or heavy work deadline can keep even the most dedicated exerciser from the gym.

Sometimes lack the motivation to workout sets in as a result of too many skiped sessions but skipping workouts is not the same thing as spacing workouts appropriately. 

If skipping workouts becomes a habit, your body and your fitness level will suffer, with negative changes occurring faster than you might think.

How Long Does It Take to Get Out of Shape?

There's no hard and fast rule about how long it takes to lose your fitness edge. Generally speaking, if you're very fit to begin with, your body will remain in a fitter state longer than someone who's not fit, even as your workouts cease.

That being said, a study in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggested that skipping workouts for just two weeks can significantly reduce your cardiovascular fitness, lean muscle mass, and insulin sensitivity.

Two months to lose all of your fitness gains is fast enough... but there are varying opinions on the matter. Many experts agree that about two weeks is a pretty standard number after which your body will start to fall out of shape with no exercise.

Cardiovascular Fitness Typically Fades Faster Than Muscle Strength

When you skip too many workouts, the strength of your heart and lungs will fade first. One study found that after just 12 days without exercise, VO2 max, ameasure of cardiovascular endurance, dropped by 7 percent, while blood enzymes associated with endurance performance dropped by 50 percent.4

Likewise, four weeks of inactivity among endurance cyclists resulted in a 20 percent decrease in VO2 max.5,6 Keep in mind this is among trained athletes... among those new to exercise, gains in VO2 max completely disappeared after four weeks of inactivity.

The opposite holds true for strength loss among newbies, with studies showing newly made gains in strength tend to hold on even after months of inactivity. For instance, among previously untrained men who engaged in a 15-week strength-training program, taking a three-week break in the middle had no impact on strength levels at the end of the study.

As for muscle strength among athletes, it appears to hold steady even after a month of inactivity – but there are significant differences among certain types of muscle fibers. Your body has three types of muscle fibers: slow, fast, and super-fast twitch muscles.

Slow-twitch muscles are the red muscles, which are activated by traditional strength training and cardio exercises. The latter two (fast and super-fast) are white muscle fibers, and these are only activated during high-intensity interval exercises or sprints. As reported by Greatist:

"Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise published a review of several studies on the subject that looked at runners, rowers, and power athletes.For all of these groups, muscular strength fibers appear not to change, even after a month of inactivity.

But here's the kicker: While general strength doesn't change much in that period, specialized, sport-specific muscle fibers start to change in as little as two weeks without a workout.

For example, endurance athletes lose a significant amount of the extra slow-twitch muscle fibers that they worked so hard to accumulate, and the same thing happens for the power athletes and their hard-earned fast-twitch muscle fibers."

Long-Time Exercisers Have an Easier Time Bouncing Back

If you've taken a long hiatus from the gym, you might be nervous about returning to your workouts. You should ease back in gradually to avoid injury, but if you're a life-long exerciser, you'll have an easier time getting back into shape than someone who only recently started.

Your age also plays a role. The older you get, the faster your muscles atrophy if you're not regularly engaging in appropriate exercise. In addition, it will take you longer to gain it back. When comparing 20- to 30-year-olds with 65- to 75-year-olds, the older group lost strength nearly twice as fast during six months of inactivity.

That being said, if you're past your 30s, please don't let that discourage you. Older adults can gain a two- to three-fold increase in strength after just three or four months of weight training.

Are You Skipping Your Workouts Because They Take Too Long?

If time is the factor leading you to skip workouts, here's a simple hack you can use: cut down on the duration of your workout while increasing the intensity. Exercise experts are quickly abandoning the old exercise advice – the recommendations that suggest you need 30 or 60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity to best stay in shape.

Study after study is showing that this is not the best way to exercise, both in terms of its health benefits and its duration. You can actually reap much greater benefits by exercising in short, high-intensity bursts known as intervals than you can exercising for longer periods at a slower steady pace.

High-intensity interval training research presented at the Integrative Biology of Exercise VI meeting in Colorado, for instance, demonstrated that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) burns more calories in less time – a mere 2.5 minutes, divided into five 30-second sprint intervals at maximum exertion, each followed by four minutes of light pedaling to recuperate, can burn as many as 220 calories.

Another study published in the Journal of Obesity reported that 12 weeks of HIIT not only can result in significant reductions in total abdominal, trunk, and visceral fat, but also can give you significant increases in fat-free mass and aerobic power.13 Other research published in the journal Cell Metabolism showed that when healthy but inactive people exercise intensely, even if the exercise is brief, it produces an immediate measurable change in their DNA.

Several of the genes affected by an acute bout of exercise are genes involved in fat metabolism. Specifically, the study suggested that when you exercise your body almost immediately experiences genetic activation that increases the production of fat-busting (lipolytic) enzymes.

Yet another study found that unfit but otherwise healthy middle-aged adults were able to improve their insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation after just two weeks of interval training (three sessions per week). A follow-up study also found that interval training positively impacted insulin sensitivity.

In fact, the study involved people with full-blown type 2 diabetes, and just ONE interval training session was able to improve blood sugar regulation for the next 24 hours! 

The HIIT approach I personally use and recommend is the Peak Fitness method, which consists of 30 seconds of maximum effort followed by 90 seconds of recuperation, for a total of eight repetitions.

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A group of health researchers, though, has recently called on the NHS to halve that.Even in the US, the recent nutritional panel that recommended the USDA drop the warnings on dietary cholesterol also suggested they implement a recommended 10% maximum of daily calories from added sugar.

As of now, the USDA hasn’t made any changes, choosing to lump added sugar in with “solid fats” (which is as weird a combination as I’ve ever seen) and suggesting we obtain no more than 5 to 15% of our daily calories from them. Quite how this is supposed to work is anyone's guess.

Currently the most prevalent recommendation across government agencies and health organisations is “no more than 10% of calories from added sugar" equivalent to 55 grams for an average 2000 calories/day diet. Those include the following:

• Any sugar used to make baked goods, candy, chocolate, desserts.
• Any sugar used to make sauces, dressings, and condiments or added to food
• HFCS, molasses, agave nectar, white sugar, brown sugar, honey and any other isolated sugar.
• Any sugar found in sweetened beverages, including the naturally occurring sugar in fruit juices (most countries consider fruit juice sugar to belong to the added sugar category since it’s divorced from its fiber; I tend to agree).

The trouble with this sort of recommendations however is the implied message that we should view sugar as a percentage linked to the overall amount of calories consumed. If you want more sugar simply eat more calories.Furthermore there is no consideration of the fact that most people over-eat and under move. Added sugar has a very different metabolic effects in a hyper-caloric sedentary person with overstocked glycogen than in an active person who regularly burns glycogen through careful diet, food timing and exercise.

The other problem, as I see it here, is that adding sugar to food rather than appreciating the natural sweetness of whole foods (such as fruits, vegetables, almonds, sprouted wheat and rye, etc.) not only contributes to disrupted metabolism but also makes our taste buds and brain chemistry excessively dependent on sweetness for satisfaction and well-being instead of actual flavour. The dulling of our taste buds influences our food choices and can quickly run out of control. This is something that food manufacturers are well aware of and happy to exploit with deceptive labeling. 

The five most deceptive cons to watch-out for are:
 
1) Serving size: frequently unrealistic this deceptive labeling helps to make it look as if something is very low in sugar/calories.

2) Separating sugar from total carbohydrates, implying that carbohydrates are not real sugar. Yet after digestion all carbohydrates end up as simple sugars (fructose, galactose and glucose). Fructose and galactose  maybe slightly worse offenders for the liver than glucose but ultimately once they eventually find their way into our blood we either burn those sugars or or store them for later.

3) No added sugar doesn't mean it has no sugar. Fruit juices, smoothies and diabetic jams are the worse offender in that category of deceptive labeling. 

4) Sugar free: this doesn't mean that it is carbohydrate free and as we have seen carbohydrates are just another kind of sugar

5) lactose (or even gluten) free and low fat: may imply that they are healthier but are no reflection of the overall sugar content. In fact a low fat product very often contains more sugar (carbohydrates) than its full fat counterpart. You may think that carbs versus fat is the lesser of two evil but in fact the metabolic pathway of fat means that it does not contribute to hypoglycemia, diabetes or any of the chronic diseases associated with metabolic syndrome and disrupted metabolism.

Ultimately the only thing to remember is that sugar and carbohydrates are naturally part of the wholesome foods we depend on for essential nutrients and energy. The simpler the diet and the closer to their natural states the ingredients the healthier we will feel. We do not need to add sugar when we can add sweetness, tastes and colour from fresh fruits nor do we have to eat a lot of processed bread and baked goods when we can snack on nuts, seeds and home baked sugar-free  goodies. 

For more info on low carb, low sugar baking check my recipes. 

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At this time of the year however, there is a seasonal factor which potently combines with the above: an extra helping of Christmas cheers, making it almost impossible to remain fully in control of what we eat and drink and crucially how much.

Come January, the need to purge and erase the after-effects tends to become a cheerless theme as we set off on the traditional post-Christmas "detox". Yet our liver cannot afford to wait January to detox, it has to get on with the job day and night all year around, regardless of the seasonal challenges we may inflicts on ourselves, otherwise we would die very quickly. 

The breaking down and detoxification of the various poisons and toxins that make their way inside us is only half the story. Once detoxified, the metabolites (the broken down bits that are left) must be eliminated through the skin, bladder, lungs and bowel. Our health and well-being depends on the efficiency of both elimination and detoxification. The two are interdependent. If elimination is slow it will jam detoxification which in turn will clog elimination.

Our constitutional health is in direct proportion with our natural ability to sustain the flow of detoxification through to elimination. Not all of us are blessed with a strong constitution that can sustain and quickly recover from excesses. It is possible, however, to improve it by directly stimulating detoxification and accelerating elimination. Both actions are best coordinated to be useful and to reap the full benefits from our efforts.

There are many foods and natural substances that will stimulate detoxification. You may even find them on your Christmas menu…here are a few of my favourites:

Elimination on the other hand is only stimulated in limited ways

1. by speeding bowel transit:

1. 1. Have regular colonic hydrotherapy treatment
   2. Stimulate bile output from the liver by eating enough healthy fats like flax, olive, and coconut oil; adding bitter foods regularly to your diet especially endive and radicchio and taking bitter herbs like milk thistle, gentian and dandelion root

2. by increasing sweating through:

1. 1. Exercising
   2. Sauna
   3. Steam
   4. Infra-red sauna
   5. Epsom or Dead-sea salt bath (300g per very hot bath for 15 minutes cover well and keep warm afterwards to increase sweating)

3. by (re)hydrating :

1. 1. Ensure that you drink plenty of hydrating fluids like water and herbal teas
   2. East plenty of quality water soluble fibres like flax seeds and chia seeds

4. by breathing:

1. 1. Breathing out is how we eliminate gases. Consciously breath out and regularly practice forced out-breath

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The five I have chosen are particularly useful as concentrated sources of nutrients that support a healthy bowel and enhance detoxification.

1. Liver (raw organic from grass fed cows)

liver is one of the most nutrient dense food. It is an excellent source of high-quality protein and vitamin A. It cntains all the B vitamins in their easily absorbable forms, in particular natural vitamin B12 and folate. With the detoxification enzymes that are cencentrated in the liver those nutrient are specifically supportive of the detox processe and come with all the necessary co-factors such as copper, zinc and chromium. This make liver a very apt super food for detoxification
It is also exceptionally rich in CoQ10, a nutrient that is especially important for cardio-vascular function and cellular energy production as well as absorbable iron (unlike most supplements)
An other desirable quality of liver is that it provides bile which supports the digestion of fat and the absorbtion of fat soluble vitamines and essential fatty acids. It is also a necessary lubricant for the bowel and makes for easy elimination.

You can buy organic liver (cow, lamb or calf) from your butcher. The best way to prepare it is to keep it rare and cooked in butter. However if the whole idea makes you heave you can source dessicated liver powder but you must ensure that it is from clean animals. Radiant Life has an excellent track record but is only available from the US. They will ship to the UK however

1. Chia and flax seeds

They both contain a type of  omega 3 fatty acid (alpha-linoleic-acid or ALA) which is better absobed if the seeds are ground. They are exceptional provider of a type of water soluble fibres (mucilage) which makes them very gentle stool bulkers and provide them with bowel healing properties and help lubricate the stools. They are also a very rich source of Lignan a type of anti-oxydant with interesting hormone-like capability. Depending on the situation it can have weak estrogenic activity or block the actions of estrogen in the body. For this reason, plant lignans are classified as phytoestrogens, and there has been much interest in the potential contribution of lignan-rich foods to reduced risk of hormone-related cancers. Plant lignans also increase concentration of sex hormone binding globulin, which blunts the effects of estrogen.These benefits were documented when 48 postmenopausal women consumed 7.5 g/day of ground flax seeds for 6 weeks, then 15 g for 6 weeks — and significant decreases in estradiol, estrone, and testosterone were noted with a bigger decrease in overweight and obese women who naturaly produce more estrogen from their fat cells and are more likely to develop breast cancer.

1. Spirulina and broken cell wall chlorella
2. Whey protein (concentrate and isolate from grass fed cow)
3. Apple cider vinegar and fermented foods

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1) Squatting:

Research on exercise physiology have shown that total work effort is more significant than power in the release of human growth hormone (HGH) and testosterones, two significant markers of age involved in the preservation of muscle mass, bone density and metabolic rate. Practicaly this means that the more muscles are involved in performing an exercise the more effort it requires and the biggest the increase in blood HGH and testosterones. Furthermore blood tests show that the resulting elevated HGH continues for another two hours after exercising in this way. This was confirmed by a study comparing the effect of repeatted barbell squatting done with medium weight until fatigued and squatting performed with a very heavy weight and done only once or twice (the sort of exercise done in muscle building and power lifting).

Squatting is one of those exercises that not only requires (leg) muscles to be performed but also brings in a lot of stabilising back, hips and core muscles making it a high effort high efficiency exercise relative to the amount of time spent on it. It is a functional movement which mimics sitting and getting out of a chair. In fact most people don't have the strength to get up from sitting without swinging their body for momentum or holding on to something to propel themselves up. Regular squatting with or without weight will improve your ability to get up from a chair elegantly, with minimal strain on your joints and ensure that you continue to do so all of your life.

There are obviously a few rules to apply to squatting in particular alignment of the knees and hips so that you do not strain your knees or hurt your back. Keep your knees above your toes and do not bend them more than 90 degres; avoid leaning forward and think about sticking your bum out instead. I recommend that you start your squat training without weight or with only medium size dunbells in each hands. Limit the depth of your squat by placing a chair behind you and squat to almost sitting before standing up again. Perform your squat as slowly as possible taking at least five seconds to go down and two seconds to go up. Once you have mastered basic alignment and positioning, it is important to keep on challenging your adaptation mechanisms by regularly varying speed and weight. For instance you can go down very slowly and jump slightly as you stand up; you can also take up to 10 seconds to go down and 5 to come back up or change weight and number of repetition. For instance perform 20 squats with a light weight, immediately going on to 10 squats with a much heavier weight and finish with 15 squats with a medium weight. 

2) Walking lunges:

Walking lunges have similar benefits to squatting in terms of high effort, weight bearing, joint and bone strengthening. They are equally functional and use a similar action to walking up stairs. Because you are shiftting body weight from one leg to the other walking lunges challenge all of the stabilisers and are the best to build dynamic core stability and balance (i.e. while moving). They are far more effective than static planks for instance and more useful for preventing falls whatever your age.

3) Pull-ups: 

Pull-ups are the equivalent of squats but for upper body strength. Almost all of your muscles are engaged either as prime movers or as stabilisers. They require a lot of effort relative to time so are ideal metabolicaly. Not everyone can do a pull up however depending on body weight and arm length. You can use your legs to jump or push from a chair and start by lowering your body very slowly if you can't pull un-assisted. This will gradually build up your upper body strength including those most important upper back muscles which when strong stop you from leaning forward and rounding your shoulders: the antidote to working at the computer.

4) Rowing:

Rowing is a cardio exercise usually ignored by gym goers, yet compared with other cardio machines, rowing is the only action that uses the whole body. This makes rowing challenging and tiring but metabolically far more interesting than any other cardio exercise like running or cycling. Even the cross trainers don't challenge core and upper body as much as rowing. What rowing does so well is to get you into the high intensity cardio zone very quickly. Research show that you only have to stay there between 15 and 30 seconds (depending on fitness) to get a host of metabolic benefits in particular increased insulin sensitivity (protecting you from developping diabetes), increased fat burning, increased metabolic rate and decreased waist-line. This form of exercise has been shown to be the best if you are trying to loose weight and improve your blood sugar balance thus reducing cardio-vascular risks and chronic inflammation. Three times a week go on the rowing machine and warm up gently for 4 minutes then go flat out for 20 seconds, slow right down again for 90 seconds and repeat the 20 seconds flat out effort until you have repeated the whole 20/90 cycle eight times. This will shorten your workout routine and significantly improve your overall fitness.

5) Walking bare foot on damp grass or sand:

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Read on and find out my hit list of the 10 most deceptive foods you should not to trust...and why

1. Popcorns

There are a number of reasons why popcorns are not the healthy food you may think it is. Indeed corn is high in fibre, low in fat and for the volume they are low in calories when popped. In short the ideal way to keep fingers busy and mouth instantly gratified wherever you are. 
So what could possibly be wrong with popcorn...

•  Industrial popcorn are packaged with a chemical (PFOA) that prevents the fat from leaking into the wrapper. PFOA is a known carcinogenic with gender-bending properties that disrupts thyroid function and the immune system. PFOA levels soar when reheating the popcorn in their wrapper (as is the case with microwavable popcorn) because it will then freely leach into the popcorn.
• Popcorn (unless you make them yourself with a more stable fat like coconut oil or butter) are made using unstable vegetable oil (usually rape or corn) and as such share the same toxicity issue with all industrial and fried foods (such as crisps) namely trans-fat contamination. No vegetable oil can resist heat without the formation of toxic trans-fat. Trans-fats are exceptionally toxic to the liver and the cardiovascular system contributing to arterial plaque, unlike the cholesterol in food which has no bearing.
• Corn is one of the main GE (genetically engineered) crop. Despite broadly assumed knowledge, GE corn is far from being the answer to the global food crises. It is a source of increased contaminants in the food chain and the environment. The GE corn seeds are engineered to resist the weed killing action of Glyphosate which makes spraying it liberally on crops of no immediate consequence.  The combination with calcium phosphate in fertilisers is particularly toxic for the kidneys and killing farmers worldwide... Don't be lulled into a false sense of security Europe is not GM free. Some European countries are banning its agriculture but genetically engineered food is still making its way through imported process foods and animal feed

 2. Table salt

Salt is essential for life—you cannot live without it. However, regular ‘table salt’ and the salt found in processed foods are NOT identical to the salt your body really needs. In fact, table salt has practically nothing in common with natural salt. One is health damaging, and the other is healing.

• Processed salt is 98 percent sodium chloride, and the remaining two percent comprises man-made chemicals to help absorb moisture. These are dangerous chemicals like ferrocyanide and aluminosilicate. Some European countries, where water fluoridation is not practiced, also add fluoride to table salt. Fluoride is also potentially toxic and can disrupt thyroid function
• Natural salt is about 84 percent sodium chloride. The remaining 16 percent of natural salt consists of other naturally occurring minerals, including trace minerals like silicon, phosphorous and vanadium

Given that salt is absolutely essential to good health, I recommend switching to a pure, unrefined salt. My favourite are Himalayan pink salt and grey Atlantic sea salt.

3. Tuna fish

Combustion in power plants of coal containing mercury is a major source of environmental pollution. As mercury containing particles are released and move through the air they get deposited in water and mercury finds its way into fish. It accumulates especially in fish that are higher up the food chain like tuna, marlin, shark, barracuda, and swordfish which, when tested, have some of the highest levels of contaminants.

Pregnant women should be especially careful to consume the right types of fish because the toxic heavy metal can cross the placenta and harm the rapidly developing nervous system, including the brain of the foetus. Studies have associated prenatal methylmercury exposure with impaired development of sensory, motor, and cognitive functions, resulting in learning difficulties, poor coordination, and inability to concentrate.

4. Chard, barbequed and rotisserie meat

Heterocyclic amines, or HCAs, are compounds created in meats and other foods that have been cooked at high temperatures. The worst part of the meat is the blackened section, which is why you should always avoid charring your meat, and never eat charred sections from barbequed meat.

Studies have shown that humans who consume large amounts of HCAs have increased risk of stomach, colon and breast cancers.

However HCAs aren't the only cancer-causing chemicals created during cooking. A couple of other well-known compounds include:

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): are formed when dripping fat from barbequed meat is burnt and smokes the meat. It is also found in processed meats that are smoked as part of the curing process.
• Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs): Those are oxidizing free radical released from cooking. Their concentration increase with the intensity of the heat. AGEs build up in your body over time leading to oxidative stress, inflammation and an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.

In a study, published in the June issue of Meat Science, researchers specifically measured the HCA content of a variety of meats and found they contained the following amounts of this cancer-causing compound:

• Pepperoni--0.05 ng/g
• Hot dogs and deli meats--0.5 ng/g
• Fully cooked bacon--1.1 ng/g
• Rotisserie chicken--1.9 ng/g
• Rotisserie skin--16.3 ng/g

Clearly, when it comes to HCAs, the skin of rotisserie chicken is one of the worst culprits, so it is best to remove the skin.

This obviously doesn’t mean that hotdogs and bacon are preferable compared to chicken. You simply cannot judge the danger of a food by its HCA content alone. It does however alert to some of the problems associated with cooking methods. It is also worth noting that virtually all Processed Meat contain another well-known carcinogen: sodium nitrite. It's a commonly used preservative and antimicrobial agent that adds colour and flavour to processed and cured meats. Hot dogs, deli meats and bacon are notorious for their nitrite content, so even though they might be low in HCA's, they are far from healthful.

5. Organic “healthy” crisps

I know this one is possibly obvious to most of you but you could be forgiven for thinking that organic potato crisps made with natural sunflower oil is only mildly objectionable and that fat free Pringles or baked chips sound like a good idea. Think again

• One of the most hazardous ingredients in potato chips is not added, but a by-product of the processing. It is created when carbohydrate-rich foods are cooked at high temperatures, whether baked, fried, roasted, or toasted. It is an AGE that causes cancer and is neurotoxic called Acrylamide
• According to a 2005 analysis, ALL potato chip products tested exceeded the legal limit of acrylamide by 39 to 910 times, and baked chip products oftentimes contain more acrylamide than their fried counterparts
• There are more than 800 different heat-induced compounds in crisps and chips, 52 of which are potential carcinogens and include trans-fats.

6. Tinned tomatoes

Many leading brands of canned foods contain BPA , a toxic chemical linked to reproductive abnormalities, neurological defects, heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, heart disease and other serious health problems. According to Consumer Reports’ testing, just a couple of servings of canned food can exceed the safety limits for daily BPA exposure for children.

High acidity — a prominent characteristic of tomatoes – causes BPA to leach into your food. To avoid this hazardous chemical, avoid canned foods entirely and stick to fresh fruits and vegetables, or switch over to brands that use glass containers instead—especially for acidic foods like tomatoes and other tinned fruits.

7. Margarine and “cholesterol busting” spreads claiming to be free of trans-fats

It is a bio-chemical fact that unstable unsaturated (omega 3 and 6) or mono-unsaturated (omega 9) fatty acids are just that : unstable. It is also a bio-chemical fact that they are liquid at room temperature and remain mostly liquid in the fridge, unlike saturated fats AND Trans-fats.

Trans-fats are also called hydrogenated fats and those can be impossible for the body to break down. They end up as fatty deposits and are a source of chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is now well documented for its involvement in many degenerative diseases like Alzheimer, Cardio-vascular disease and certain cancer. Trans-fats are extremely stable. They are solid and occur whenever unstable/unsaturated fats (like soya, rape or sunflower oil) are submitted to heat (any heat!). The resulting Trans -fats are artificial and resemble plastic.

It bears the question therefore of how a margarine that is supposed to be rich in unsaturated “healthy” fatty acids can be spreadable! The answer is it can’t. No matter how much the manufacturers (and the NHS website!) would like us to believe it. Those artificial fats are toxic and un-recognisable by our bodies. If you are worried about your cholesterol it is sugar and processed foods that you need to be concerned with, not naturally saturated fats like butter!

8. Vegetable oils

Vegetable oils are also something of a con, pretending to be rich in omega 6 and good for you. The seed they come from may be rich in healthful fatty acids but by the time the oil has been extracted at quite considerable temperature the fragile omegas are now degraded and turned into those nasty trans-fats again. Industrial oil extraction is never omega friendly. Only buy oils that specify that they have been extracted by cold pressed methods.

In addition to the fact that vegetable  oils  commonly contain trans fats degraded by excess heat exposure during extraction, an excess of omega 6 in the diet (from too much of those omega 6 rich oils), creates an imbalance between omega 6 and omega 3. This imbalance is associated with chronic inflammation and is something to be careful of. For this reason I recommend that the majority of omega 6 comes from nuts and seeds (rather than oils) and that you choose cold pressed oils richer in omega 9 such as olive oil and argan oil or rich in omega 3 like flax seed oil and hemp oil for your salad dressing.  Bearing in mind that those are not especially stable when heated, choose coconut oil for cooking

9. Omega rich eggs

These eggs are obtained by feeding hens (often caged) with fish or flax oil. These types of feeds can be made from inferior crude products and the fats they contain are highly unstable. This is again leading to a degradation of the precious omega fatty acids in the feed and the eggs may end up contaminated with trans-fats. They also can have contaminants, e g. heavy metals, from contaminated fish which is a real concern these days. Eggs are a healthy food if they are free range and organic or locally produced by hens that are left to scratch and eat bugs, grass etc. Those types of eggs are, in fact, already very rich in healthy fatty acids.

10. Non-organic potatoes

Who would have thought it but the humble potato is one of a “dirty dozen” according to The Environmental Working Group It turns out that along with non-organic spinach, celery, apples, grapes, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, kale, red peppers, strawberries and nectarines it made it to top of the list of the non-organic vegetable with the most pesticides residues.

The reason I have picked the potato over the others is that it already contains little in the way of nutrients so no redeeming features! At least the others have beneficial nutrients as well as poisons…and if you have to choose between a non-organic salad that contains celery apples and spinach over a sandwich, the salad is the clear winner. A diet rich in (raw) fresh vegetable is far preferable organic or not, but a potato is not a vegetable as such, it’s a starch more like wheat or rice. The good news is that sweet potatoes are low pesticide residue even if non-organic so there is a simple nutritious alternative packed with antioxidants and delicious. Try roasting with coconut oil, Himalayan salt and thym.

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Christmas is the time of cheers after all and alcohol is the traditional social lubricant and celebratory symbol of choice. But what about those toxins I hear you say?

Alcohol is a complicated subject because it is toxic. But how toxic varies considerably depending on the type, the amount and what it is combined with. Also relevant are the state of the bowels, the kidneys, the liver and the nutrient status of the individual.

The good news is that with so many variables to influence, it is possible to improve your body’s resistance to alcohol.

The problem is not the fall but the landing, another word it’s not the drinking but the ensuing circulating poisons that are damaging. By ensuring good detoxification the negative effects of alcohol can be substantially controlled.

If you are drinking (organic) red wine (especially burgundy, Shiraz, Cabernet sauvignon or merlot) and champagne/champagne-like wines made from Pinot noir grapes, you are benefiting from a healthy dose of polyphenols, not least of them Resveratrol. Resveratrol is a powerful anti-oxidant with neuro-protective and anti-aging properties. The polyphenol s found in wine and champagne are amongst the chemicals commonly associated with the “French paradox”. This refers to the fact that, despite a lot of eating and drinking, the French don’t seem to suffer as many heart diseases as their north-European counter-part who tend to drink more spirits/beer and less wine. But the French paradox will have to be the subject of a whole different newsletter…

So here is my step by step guide to no-tox drinking that will keep you dancing well into the New Year.

•    Take Milk thistle before during and after drinking. Milk thistle is a great liver support that helps detoxification by slowing down intermediate Phase 1 to phase 2 metabolites which are damaging (oxidative stress). The process of alcohol detoxification is regulated by a steady supply of liver detox enzymes and chemical reactions. As long as the pace of drinking is match by the detox pathways inherent ability to do so, all is well. This is a 3 steps process: phase 1(the biotransformation by enzymes cytochrome P450); phase 2 (the conjugation of the metabolites coming out of phase 1 to render them water-soluble) and the elimination out of the body via the bowels and the kidneys.  Jamming can easily occur and one of the main objectives when controlling the potential damages linked to alcohol drinking is to improve the rate of detoxification and elimination to prevent accumulation of poisons and recirculation. Use milk thistle tincture and spread the dose through the day. Do not exceed 100 drops per day

•    Avoid binge drinking by alternating with glasses of water and spreading your drinking. Binge drinking (drinking a lot in a very short time) is clearly not going to match any detox rate. If your intention is to get drunk as quickly as possible then you are unlikely to be interested in damage control anyway!

•    Avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Here again an empty stomach means very fast absorption rate and poisons jamming along the detox gateways. Snack foods that are particularly helpful to slowdown absorption without contributing further poisons are nuts, seeds (humus), raw vegetable sticks, and avocado (guacamole). Do limit consumption of salted nuts as this will only make you thirstier.

•    Avoid combining alcohol with sugar especially fructose (concentrated in fruit juices and high fructose corn syrup in soda pops). Fructose has an energetic pathway similar to alcohol. They both result in the bio-synthesis of fat which deposits in priority in and around the liver. Avoid doubling up those negative effects

•    Boost your glutathione intake by eating asparagus, avocado, and walnuts. Glutathione is one of the major phase 2 antioxidant that neutralises alcohol.  Glutathione is unstable and destroyed by cooking so eat plenty of raw vegetables

•    Take N-acetyl-cysteine. NAC is a common supplement that is a precursor for glutathione but a lot more stable. You can divide doses throughout the time that you are drinking and for that purpose it is better to find a low dose (100mg) supplement. This is a very powerful way to improve alcohol detoxification and you can take a capsule with every drink.

•     Lipoic acid, vitamin b’s and magnesium are all co-factors for alcohol detoxification make sure that you are not deficient by taking a good multi vitamin. In addition dead-sea salt baths are a great way to boost magnesium levels

•    Don’t mix alcohol with paracetamol and steroids (not just antibiotics!) they seriously interfere with the detox process. Fried and burnt foods have similar effects

•    Make sure that you are not constipated. Detoxification is complete only once all has been take out of the body. You bowels is a major route of elimination.

•    Have a colonic hydrotherapy treatment to stimulate both detoxification and elimination. In addition colonic can be used to stabilise the gut flora. The toxins produced by the bad bacteria in the bowel (LPS) have been shown to contribute considerably to the damaging effects of alcohol on the liver and the development of (alcohol induced) liver disease.
A colonic is also the quickest way to treat a hang-over!

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and New Year

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L’article Drink and be merry est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

Misinformation about fat cholesterol and obesity is intricately linked to the very active lobbying of both drug and food industry, arguably the two most powerful organisation on earth!! No wonder we are confused. The drug industry needs to keep our blood cholesterol up in order to sell us some statin and the food industry needs to sell us cheap food, no matter how un-nutritious, so they can max on profit … and occasionally sneak in a bit of cholesterol lowering wood pulp derivative and appear to care for our health.

So what is the truth about fat?

Fat is the preferred energy source of our cell … not sugar!!  They are essential to our every cell’s functions for integrity and duplication. They make up hormones, nerve myelin, brain tissues, bile salts and many more. We need fat!!
All fats are made of fatty acids which are split from the glycerol part of fat by our digestive enzyme (bile and lipase) so that they can be absorbed. Those are complicated molecule made of carbon and hydrogen that confer the specific taste and make-up of the fat.

There are 3 types of fatty acids :

•    The more stable saturated fatty acids that will not easily peroxide and turn into something toxic and pro-inflammatory even if heated (within reason). They are found in animal fats, avocado, coconut etc.
•    The mono-saturated fatty acids that are relatively stable but will still peroxide if heated or exposed to light. They are found most in olives, avocado, dairy, cashew, etc.
•    The very unstable heat, air and light sensitive poly-unsaturated (PUFA) fats that will peroxide every step of the way from extraction to consumption. Those are found most in nuts seeds and vegetable oils and omega 3, which is also a PUFA, is found only in animal fats (good quality meat, oily fish and krill).

Margarine and hydrogenated fats (found in most junk foods and all fried foods) are exaggeratedly heated/ processed fats that will no longer go rancid but are totally unrecognisable by the body and cannot be easily broken down. Consequently they end up as fatty deposit wherever they are… inside arteries, around the liver, heart and gut, etc. Best avoided at all cost!!

Fatty acids can be short, medium or long chains.

So what is special about coconut?

Coconut oil is nature's richest source of healthy medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), those are sent directly to the liver to use as energy. This makes coconut oil a powerful source of instant energy, a function usually served in the diet by simple sugar. Numerous studies have shown that, unlike simple sugar, MCFAs promote weight loss and help improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its beneficial metabolic effect, coconut oil also increases thyroid activity thus increasing beneficial effect on metabolism even more.

Another health benefit of coconut oil is its beneficial influence on the inflammatory cascade mediated by an excess of PUFA, especially the omega 6 to 3 ratio, in the diet. This inflammatory cascade is often implicated in the development of allergies, auto-immune diseases and arthritis as well as Cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Half of the fat content in coconut oil is lauric acid—a fat rarely found in nature—that could easily qualify as a "miracle" ingredient because of its unique health promoting properties. Lauric acid converts into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties and make it an excellent support for healthy bowel flora. It is also nourishing for the intestinal wall and the skin alike and can be used topically instead of moisturiser.

You can add raw organic coconut oil to green juices, smoothies, and even coffee (in lieu of sugar). It’s also the ideal choice for all types of cooking. In fact, it's the only oil stable enough to resist mild heat-induced damage. So, whenever you need an oil to cook or bake with, use coconut oil instead of butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, margarine, or any other type of oil called for in recipes.

See also : Fluffy Coconut Flour Pancakes Recipe

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L’article What makes coconut a super food and one you can freely indulge in est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

Cleansing and detoxification through fasting etc. is often associated with an over-controlling attitude and either feared or criticised because of it.

The illusion of control we may get from fasting is not one that I encourage by giving long prescriptive and proscriptive lists of do’s and don’ts. In fact the benefits of a cleanse are greatly increased by relaxing, letting go and resisting the need to “do” anything. Not getting energy from food means that our will is lessen which is the first step towards letting go and an opportunity to experience that sensation.

Although health is a personal experience, it undeniably includes an ability to connect with pleasure and enjoyment which is a lot less obvious than it may first appear. True pleasure,comes from experience and choices and is different from the perceived pleasure which is in fact a mere habit (lack of choice) and/or external transference (from media, family, etc.) of what constitute pleasure.

Our survival dictates that we get pleasure out of sugar (the baby has to find mother’s milk attractive and satisfying) however within that mechanism is also the fact that the baby will stop sucking when he is satisfied because of the amount of fats and proteins mixed with the sugar. Trouble arises when the baby is given sugar water (or formula milk) to stop him cry thus making an association between sugar and comfort whilst missing the wholesome combination of ingredients/sensations. It becomes very difficult after that to distinguish between the need for comfort and the need for energy requirement especially because the later does come with pleasure and is all around us!  
A supported retreat will allow both: the safety to let go and a deep and relaxed sense of pleasure which comes from giving ourselves the time to connect with our deeper needs. In this state it becomes easier to sort through our habitual eating and drinking and evaluate their true pleasure value. It is also the time to think new pleasure habits… but no need to wait for that! Start experimenting with this comprehensive (but by no mean exhaustive) list of inexpensive pleasures to treat yourself daily

• 1.    Have an early night. Sleep is often lacking at the profit of TV and Computers. Switch yours off and enjoy the pleasure of a good night sleep
• 2.    Have a long bath mixed with 300g of Dead sea salts (or Epsom salts). Rich in Magnesium and great to prepare you for sleep
• 3.    Be exceptionally nice to shop assistants, tube staff, taxi drivers etc. They deserve to be treated with respect often aren’t and you will get to appreciate and feel appreciated. Appreciation is a feeling that has demonstrable value. It was used by Sydney university in an experiment with patients recovering from heart surgery.
• 4.    Forgive your loved ones for their inadequacies and tell them you love them. This is the one single regret that the majority of people express on their death bed. Plan to be different!
• 5.    Make yourself a cup of expensive (preferably organic) green tea. Green tea is packed full with antioxidants but expensive ones are so much tastier!
• 6.    Make yourself a cup of green coffee. Stimulating but in a subtle way and beneficial to weight loss and insulin normalisation. Why resist!
• 7.    Use your imagination. It is proven that imagining your-self exercise, for instance, will have measurable benefits. You can also use your imagination to think yourself relaxing somewhere beautiful or making passionate love or achieving your own personal goal at work. Whatever turns you on let your imagination push the limits!
• 8.    Be present to what you do. So many times we avoid situation by trying to procrastinate, or escape them. To be present will bring us to a state of heightened awareness but remove the alienating judgments that we may be passing about ourselves or the situation/person that we face. By helping us connect with our environment and others  we are creating new permanent neurological pathway that make us feel less isolated and lonely, two emotions proven to send us to an early death.
• 9.    Go for a 20 minutes fast walk and swing your arms. Walking, not only keeps you fit, but also simultaneously activates both sides of the brain thus helping clear obsessional thoughts and resolve problems or internal conflicts
• 10.    Read this list again. Forming new habits can be a protracted process but it is linked to the difficulty of the task and the length of time before gratification. Practice on small easy tasks at first. Choose to replace or modify a habit with something that is relatively easy to do and gives pleasure with a short time before gratification.

L’article Health and the pleasure principle est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

One such way would be to focus on purchasing certain organic items, while “settling” for others that are conventionally-grown.
Of the 48 different fruit and vegetable categories, the following 15 fruits and vegetables had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy or grow organically:

In contrast, the following foods were found to have the lowest residual pesticide load, making them the safest bet among conventionally grown vegetables. Note that a small amount of sweet corn and most Hawaiian papaya, although low in pesticides, are genetically engineered (GE). If you’re unsure of whether the sweet corn or papaya is GE, I’d recommend opting for organic varieties:

L’article A Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in fruits and vegetables est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

It is often said that our bowels are the unsavory part of our anatomy which is the sewer of our wayward dietary habits. This sadly contributes to a sense of disconnection from our bowels and of uncleanliness. This is not only unhelpful to our psychological and physical well-being, it is far from the truth.

The bowels are at the heart of the most intimate exchange between our external environment and our internal processes. It is the subtle barrier that keeps us connected to the outside and able to source energy without letting through anything susceptible to harm our delicate physiology. It is made up of the most complex ecosystem of live organisms that have evolved alongside us to maintain and sustain their health and ours. Proprio-receptors feeding back to our nervous system and cell mediating neurotransmitters (acetyl-choline and serotonin in particular), not only ensure response matches demand and healthy function ensue, but also directly connect us to the more primitive and instinctive part of our nervous system.
Something as delicate and complex deserves a better image!! That said there are signs in our stools that can signal underlying health issues and should not be ignored.

What a healthy stool looks like and what signs to look for when it’s not

Although it is not instead of a medical diagnosis, colonic irrigation can provide valuable insight into the bowel by allowing more visual access to the stools. More appropriately, perhaps, colonic is a tool to assess bowel function, to motivate healthier dietary habits and monitor improvements.

The visceral massage, which is an integral part of the treatment, and the direct effect of the water on the colon combine to help reconnect with the true wondrous nature of the bowel.  The consequences of a better relationship with our bowels are as great as the potential damage from traumatizing and dysfunctional potty training. Constipation remains one of the most common causes for (self) medicating; yet it is never due to a lack of laxative!

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If over the last 60 years this view of health has become out dated and irrelevant in the face of so many advances in medicine, it is once again regaining credence. Researchers are now showing how epigenetic elements will develop in response to environmental stress factors such as POP (Persistent Organic Polutant) and endo-toxins (LPS) from gut microbiota. For example, in the case of diabetes, a buildup of POP could be affecting metabolic function in individuals with epigenetic tendencies leading to a higher demand for nutrients whilst their diet is being more and more depleted.
**See article published in the Lancet January 26 2008 371: page 287-288 entitled “Environmental pollution and diabetes a neglected association”
Colonic hydrotherapy interventions
· At the Physical level
A colonic therapist will look at bowel shape, position and length, posture, back/abdominal wall and pelvic floor issues, breathing technique, positioning on defecating, pain or lesions delaying defecation, muscle tone and tissue consistency
The physical applications of colonic irrigation is through stretch reflex action, hot/cold water applications on the bowel and abdomen, massage, breathing, positioning
The physical effects are on peristaltic and diaphragmatic actions, spasms, proprio-receptors bio-feedback, releasing of intra-abdominal pressure from stools and gas leading to organ displacement and compression (especially of the bladder ovaries/prostate) and causing pain, constipation, impaired lower body circulation etc
· At the Emotional level
A colonic therapist looks at how a person feels about defecating, their bowels in general from family messages, relationship to food and eating, history of abuse etc.
The emotional applications of colonic irrigation are through the conscious connection to an area normally ignored in a clean and safe situation. There is no obvious smell or direct contact with feces
The emotional effects are through raised awareness and stimulation of gut tryptophan levels. This could account for the fact that it is commonly reported that colonic brings about a state of general wellbeing. This can be used to re-enforce positive feedback and induce a change of behavior and eating habits
· At the chemical level
A colonic therapist will look at diet and life style and may order lab testing for stool pathology and parasitology
The Chemical applications of colonic irrigation are by addition of herbal tinctures, colloidal minerals, salts, etc. to the water and probiotic implants post colonic
The chemical effects are through speedy removal of bowel content which has been shown to be much less impervious to toxin re-absorption than originally thought and through suggested dietary changes and nutritional interventions leading to better bowel movements, better detoxification processes and better bowel micro-flora
Contra-indications and precautions
There are contra-indications that relate to the introduction of a short (2” inches long) and relatively small devise (3/4” diameter) into the rectum such as anal fissures, sever hemorrhoids etc.
The Amount of water introduced is only to bowel tolerance and rarely exceeds a couple of litters. However, this can be a problem with a compromised bowel wall, as in IBD, bowel cancer and medications/bowel pathology leading reduced bowel resistance. Hernia and abdominal surgery should be healed before treatment.
There are non-negligible effects of colonic irrigation on the vagus and pelvic nerves and the possibility of water re-absorption. The later can be control by raising the intra-lumen osmotic pressure. Caution must be applied with liver/kidney disease, pregnancy and hypertension. A medical history should be taken in details, contra-indications screened for carefully and a physician’s consent should be obtained when in doubt.
To my knowledge there are no recorded cases of adverse reactions from colonic treatments administered by trained and competent therapists.
Hygiene
This is fundamental to safety in a colonic treatment and only disposable contact parts and tubing should be used. There is no evidence that colonic machines are safer than gravity fed system but both should be using low pressure and filtered water
Conclusion
Colonic Hydrotherapy when supported by a sensitive approach and sound dietary/ lifestyle recommendations can be an effective tool for the management and treatment of non-specific bowel conditions such as IBS constipation, flatulence, etc.
It is a helpful adjunct to detoxification and can be used as part of a weight loss regiment or towards the management of toxicity induced conditions.
In combination with anthelmintic it is an excellent tool against parasites
It has a positive effect on bowel microbiota which can be complemented by post-colonic implants. The effects of a healthy and varied gut flora are vast and are currently under-going much research.
Training experience and registration
Colonic therapists should be qualified and registered. Currently there are only self-regulated organizations that govern colonic hydrotherapy consequently each therapist and their training should be evaluated according to their own merits and experience.
Biography
Anne-Lise Miller is honorary secretary to The Institute of Professional Colon Hydrotherapy; she is a qualified Nutritionist and Colonic Hydrotherapy Practitioner and Teacher since 1991; she is registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council

L’article The benefits of Colonic Hydrotherapy a more scientific view point (This article was published in Gut reaction the IBS network newsletter edited by Prof. N Read) est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

With the exception of fermented soy, most soya products are not the health food it is made out. Even worse the majority of soya based products contain GM soy that is contaminated with large amounts of pesticide residues. The reason that it is genetically modified is so that it is resistant to toxic herbicide Roundup sprayed to improve crop production by killing the weeds.

Here is what makes Soy such a risky food to eat?

• 1.    Soy contains natural toxins known as "anti-nutrients."

Soy foods contain anti-nutritional factors such as saponins, soyatoxin, phytates, protease inhibitors and oxalates. Some of these factors interfere with the enzymes needed to digest protein and bind to key minerals such as iron and zinc. While a small amount of anti-nutrients (normally also present in other vegetable sources) would not likely causeproblems, it becomes a significant dietary factor when eating soya protein and drinking soya milk as an alternative to meat and dairy.

• 2.    Soy contains hemagglutinin.

Hemagglutinin is a clot-promoting substance that causes red blood cells to clump together. These clumped cells are unable to properly absorb and distribute oxygen.

• 3.    Soy contains goitrogens

Goitrogens are substances that block the synthesis of thyroid hormones and interfere with iodine metabolism, thereby interfering with thyroid function.

• 4.    Soy is loaded with the isoflavones genistein and daidzein

Isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen, which is a plant compound resembling human estrogen. These compounds mimic and sometimes block the hormone estrogen, and have been found to have adverse effects on various human tissues. Soy phytoestrogens are known to disrupt endocrine function, may cause infertility, and may promote breast cancer in women.

• 5.    Soy has toxic levels of aluminum

Soybeans are processed (by acid washing) in aluminum tanks, which can leach high levels of aluminum into the final soy product.

• 6.    Soy infant formula is not a suitable.

The estrogens in soya can irreversibly harm a baby's sexual development and reproductive health. Infants fed soy formula take in an estimated five birth control pills' worth of estrogen every day.In addition soya formula is up to 80 times higher in manganese than human breast milk.

• 7.     Soya is very rich in omega 6 fatty acid.

Omega 6 EFA is pro-inflammatory and contributes to an imbalance with precious Omega 3. Soya oil is used extensively in all processed foods.
Soya protein is found in tofu, soya milk, soya protein and texture vegetable protein (TVP).

Fermented soya is substantially healthier.

This is partially because the fermentation process eliminates the problem caused by the anti-nutrients and because it is an excellent source of probiotic and vitamin K2. It is also used as a condiment rather than food.

• 1.    Natto, fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and strong, cheese-like flavor. It's loaded with nattokinase, a very powerful blood thinner. Natto is the highest source of vitamin K2 on the planet and has a very powerful beneficial bacteria, bacillus subtilis. It can usually be found in any Asian grocery store.

• 2.    Tempeh, a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor.

• 3.    Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture (commonly used in miso soup).

• 4.    Soy sauce: traditionally, soy sauce is made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes, however be wary because many varieties on the market are made artificially using a chemical process. Japanese soya sauce is usually better quality than Chinese.

Come on one of the Cleansing for Life detox retreat and learn more about food and what a healthy diet really means

L’article Why soya isn't the healthy food once believed est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

LIFE AFFIRMING GOALS AND THE 5 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR-SELF BEFORE ADOPTING A GOAL

• 1. Is this goal truthful to my core values?  (To identify core values comes before goal setting)

• 2. Is this goal supportive of my emotional need for social connection and integration?  If you share or/and involve someone else into your goal you have a lot more chances of achieving it than if you just keep it quiet and to yourself. (Finding like-minded people and relevant information are the first steps to achieving a goal)

• 3. Is this goal contributing (to health) or damaging (physically; emotionally, spiritually) to me or others or my environment?

• 4. Does this goal make me feel significant and empowered or does it fill me with dread and anxiety about the pain and suffering I may encounter along the way?

• 5. Is this goal going towards or away from something? Feeling better slimmer etc. are not positive goals (despite appearances). They are merely stating that the current state needs improving. To be positive a goal needs to be purposeful. What will it help me achieve to be slimmer? If you can’t get a strong positive answer that makes you want to embrace the process with enthusiasm then you have not yet found a goal

L’article Expectations: A measure of failure; Achievements: A measure of success est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

When looking at the intricate interaction of our gut flora and our immune system recent researches are revealing some fascinating facts which go a long way into explaining why antibiotic resistant strains of pathogens are developing at such increased rate and why the bowel is where health (and disease) starts.

Certain bacteria have the ability to produce chemical compounds that inhibit the growth of other bacteria, while not harming their own kind or "close relatives." These chemical compounds or natural antibiotics act as a type of chemical warfare, allowing the bacteria in question to gain a competitive edge by killing off the competition. Meanwhile, other "allies" (such as yeast and fungus) are spared, as they are resistant to the antibiotic chemicals produced.
Our bowel flora make-up is as unique to us as our personality and is influenced by our diet/lifestyle, digestive health and types of chemicals we might be exposed to such as antibiotic, vaccines, fluoride (from certain drugs, toothpaste, drinking water, etc), mercury (from dental fillings etc), chlorine (from mains-water, bleach, swimming pools etc)….the list goes on!

Variety is best when it comes to the landscape of our gut flora

The bowel and its content is essentially the support for the culture of vital and symbiotic bacteria. Just as with gardening, a wide range of species adapted to the variations in environmental conditions, orientation, Ph etc. creates a garden that can thrive, self-regulate and support its environment, it is the same with bowel flora. A variety of species that can each thrive in their own specific environment along the digestive track will ensure self-regulating interactions between colonies and better support of the immune system which is fully dependant on them.

Colonic irrigation and the cultivation of a healthy gut environment

Colonic irrigation and tissue cleansing are potent ways to influence gut bacteria a little like weeding is necessary in a garden from time to time. It will remove the unfriendly guys such as candida albican, drug’s residue (the pill and HRT are especially detrimental here), heavy metals, bile acids and a variety of un-supportive (food) residue (especially if the bowel is constipated – a form of neglect to use the garden metaphor).

Fermenting foods: an effective way to implant healthy flora

As with weed control re-seeding is ideal following a colonic irrigation especially if the bowel flora is in poor condition to start with.
Some foods will support healthy bacterial growth while others will inhibit it or simply favour the pathogen. No other foods will support healthy bowel ecology as much as fermented foods. The fermentation process naturally occurs from the bacteria that live on raw vegetables, in raw milk, on raw sprouted grains, pulses, seeds and nuts. The fermentation can also be enhanced by adding selected strains of probiotics (from a commercially bought probiotic supplement). The end result is a very wide variety of species in well established strong colonies consumed with their very own specific food supply.

L’article Why looking after your friends is the best way to keep your enemies at bay est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

L’article Fermenting foods for digestive and immune health est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

Tissue cleansing uses a combination of juice feasting, nutritionally relevant detoxification support, bulking and toxin binding agents with bowel, liver and kidney flushing methods.

Unlike intermittent fasting, we saw last month, the objective here is not so much to activate the various survival mechanisms that lead to muscle growth and fat burning but rather to switch off the survival part of the nervous system and the demands on the digestive system thus making the way and diverting energy towards repair and self-healing.

Detoxification is a process that takes place at every second of every day but stress, environment and lifestyle can have a detrimental effect leading to toxins accumulating and backing up down the line (oxidative stress). The short term effects are fatigue and poor general health, the long term effects are metabolic diseases, heart diseases and cancers. There is very little doubt now-days that those so called “disease of the western world” are, at least in part, linked to an inability to process the phenomenal amount of toxin we are, often unwittingly, exposed to.

The importance of keeping nutrients high during tissue cleansing

Although referred to as a “fast” tissue cleansing is more concerned with flooding the body with the necessary nutrients for detoxification than with depriving it. Detoxification is a process that requires a lot of nutrients particularly anti-oxidants to mop-up the free-radicals that are released as a by-products. This is to avoid further damage from the detoxification process itself (something that would definitely be counter-productive).
To that effect it is recommended to drink a lot of antioxidant rich (vegetable) juices and even supplement with additional antioxidants,

Why is flushing out a key element in tissue cleansing?

The four excretory routes of detoxification the body can use are the skin, the bowel, the liver and the kidneys. In order to eliminate fully toxins need to be able to move freely out of those particular channels. Keeping them clean, open and stimulated is essential to avoid build up and re-absorption. Colonic irrigation, liver/gall bladder flushing, skin brushing and plenty of (kidney enhancing) fluids are essential elements of tissue cleansing.

How long should tissue cleansing last

It takes between 24 and 48 hours (depending on the individual) for the Gastro-intestinal track (bowel from mouth to anus) to fully empty, even with the assistance of bowel flush or colonic irrigation.
The minimum a tissue cleanse can last therefore is 72 hours. This will make it possible to “flood” the bowel (and therefor the cells/tissues) with the infusion of nutrients that comes from the juices and other supportive adjuncts.
The maximum a tissue cleanse should last is 7 days after which time it is usually agreed that the body becomes used to the new regime and stops responding with as much focus on detoxification (although the associated fat loss will continue to release toxins normally stored in fat). It is best to re-introduce some foods for a week or two before going back to the tissue cleanse routine if looking to go deeper. It is also important to take a break from bowel flushing to establish a healthy stock of friendly bacteria and symbiotic organisms.
Most people feel that one or two episodes of seven days each per year is enough to improve or/and maintain health.

In the next newsletter we will discuss ways of supporting the function of detoxification thus sustaining the benefits of tissue cleansing.

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L’article Tissue Cleansing: reaching the parts that other detoxes can't reach est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

However a new body of emerging evidence demonstrates that informed well managed intermittent fasting is in fact a health enhancing practice coherent with our ancestral genetic programming which supports fat burning and health. Genetically our primal ancestors had to hunt on empty stomachs and eat whenever they managed to get hold of food. Very few had regular and timely food supplies thus making the body adapt and thrive on intermittent fasting

What makes fasting effective for weight loss

One of the mechanisms that makes fasting so effective for weight loss is the fact that it provokes the secretion of human growth hormone (HGH), which is a fat-burning hormone. It also plays an important role in muscle building. Fasting also increases catecholamines, which increases resting energy expenditure, while decreasing insulin levels. This allows stored fat to be burned for fuel. Together, these and other factors will support effective fat-burning.

Fasting and exercise the most effective combination

One 2008 study that evaluated the effect of fasting during the Muslim observance of Ramadan found it had a positive effect on body mass and other health markers in trained athletes

Part of what makes working out in a fasted state so effective is that the body actually has a preservation mechanism that protects active muscles from wasting. If fuel needs to be mobilised and made available by breaking down tissues the active muscle will be preserved. However this really only works well once metabolism has become proficient at burning fat. If fasting (during exercise) makes you feel weak dizzy or headachy then this may need to be addressed first with diet and nutrition before using intermittent fasting.

While athletes are certainly concerned with shedding excess fat, another overriding concern is the optimization of muscle growth with sufficient protein.

As a general guideline, a high quality protein 30-60 minutes after finishing workout -- whey being one of the most ideal for this purpose – is the best strategy for lean muscle mass enhancement. Research has also shown that high quality protein from meat and whey has a positive effect on blood sugar while sparing muscles and losing fat.

How to use fasting for healthy weight management

Many find it works out well to break their fast after working out, which makes use of both benefits: working out in a fasted state, and protein-loading about half-an-hour to an hour afterward. Avoid grain carbs, however. Although popular with many, "carb loading" is a mistake, particularly for people engaged in intense strength training, as carb fuel burns very quickly and is then followed by "hitting the wall."

A simple intermittent fasting strategy which can be use once to 3 times a week could be:

• workout around 9 AM
• Delay (whey)protein breakfast until 11AM or 12 NOON
• last meal around 7 PM the night before
• Sleeping during most of this time makes it relatively painless and easy to do

The next newsletter will address the differences, proper method and advantages of longer fasting periods.

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L’article Fasting for weight loss est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

In truth there is no alternative to sugar that is healthy if looking at the excessive amount of sugar consumed by most: 35-40 kg consumed by the average Briton when it should be no more than 8kg per year.

Finding a healthy sugar alternative includes retraining our taste buds to taste the natural sweetness in unprocessed foods such as fruits, berries, vegetables, grains, corn, etc without needing to add sugar.

Understanding our taste buds and mouth chemistry goes a long way to controlling the need for added sugar. For instance a complex carbohydrate that is chewed long enough will eventually start to taste very sweet and lemon juice or vinegar added to berries will bring their sweetness out.

Honey will taste sweeter, weight for weight, than white sugar. Therefore it could be used sparingly in baking. Also suitable are chopped unsulfured dried fruits such as raisins, apricots, chopped figs etc .

Inuline and fructo-oliga-saccharides (FOS) are undigestible water soluble fibres which are found in chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, leaks, and onions and taste very sweet. Those can also be used in dishes for their sweetness. FOS can also be bought on its own. However they do come with unpleasant side effect in particular bloating and gas.

The healthiest alternative to sugar is steevia, a plant from the daisy family rich in glycosides Refined Steviosides & Rebaudiosides are the sweetest form and may be purchased in a semi-white powder form (usually referred to as an extract) or in a clear liquid made by adding the powder to water and a preservative. The powder may be added directly to food and beverage but in very tiny amounts. The liquid is used drop by drop.

The advantages are many and include calorie free concentrated sweetness with no apparent negative side effect but evidence of its therapeutic benefits. It has been shown to have positive effects on elevated blood pressure and to reduce cravings for sugar (unlike artificial sweetners). It is stable when heated (unlike Inuline) and therefore suitable in baking.

L’article What is the best sweetener? est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

The centre is located in the Languedoc region in Cathares country. The area is reputed for its dramatic Pyrenean landscape and is steeped in mystery and traditional stories of spiritual enlightenment and healing. The centre is built on a sulphur rich thermal spring and its water supply is also from an ancient spring. Its history dates back to the middle of the 19th century when it was originally built as a nature cure spa. All the original features remain (including the thermal plunge pool) with lots of additional modern comfort and personal space.

The first retreat to be held at Les Source www.les-sources.nl will be from Saturday 26th of May until Saturday 2nd of June to coincide with the second May bank holiday. The nearest airport is Carcassonne easily and cheaply accessible from Stanstead with Ryanair .
I will be updating you throughout until then and look forward to seeing you there

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L’article New premises for the retreats in the south of France est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

The trouble with fructose:
Fructose is a simple sugar which is naturally found in fruits, honey etc. Its GI is relatively low. It does not raise blood sugar because it is absorbed in the small intestines and goes straight to the liver. When combined with fruit fibres and other sugars it will be absorbed gradually and utilised for energy but when concentrated by heat it becomes high fructose (HF) syrup and agave syrup amongst others.

Fructose has been the object of much polemics and research of recent years and is associated with elevated triglycerides, fatty liver and intra-abdominal fat/obesity. This is because if not used immediately for energy it will be transformed into fat directly by the liver and deposited in nearby tissues and arteries.

Fructose has also been shown to inhibit leptine levels. A hormone produced in the stomach that will contribute to feelings of satiation. So not only does it turn into fat but it also stops you feeling full so you eat more. How un-desirable is that but terribly convenient for all the soft drink manufacturer (the main ingredient in soft drinks is HF syrup) and agave syrup producers !!

To be followed...
(Next month we will look at the best sweeteners and why)

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L’article Why Agave syrup is not the healthy answer to sugar est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

L’article Thyroid cancer est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

The article was published last week and created a sensation when, apparently, a medical doctor announced that she had concluded from a “number of studies” that colonic hydrotherapy is useless, and even dangerous. It was then copied repeated and distorted by journalists the whole of last week, from Jeremy Vine to the Daily Mail and even the Guardian, but without any sensible research into the original article or the alleged studies. So far nothing else has been published that looks at the validity of the article and the “facts” it seems to perpetrate instead some journalists have gone onto mentioning death when it was never even cited by Dr Mishori.

This is a look at the arguments put forward by the article published on Dr Mishori’s behalf, and an analysis of their alleged validity.

The paper refers to studies on colon cleanses but does not differentiate between colonic hydrotherapy and herbal laxatives or other bowel cleansers. It claims that colon cleanses are dangerous and cause kidney failure.

Kidney failure could be attributed to excessive use of herbal laxatives but not to colonic irrigations if administered by a properly trained therapist who will always take a case history. Kidney failure in a healthy body due to colonic irrigation is impossible and the amount of water that enters the bowel at any one time is never more that 3 pints at the very most.

It is a fact that constipation is widely spread in the western world where diet, lifestyle and cultural habits have contributed to its expansion. This means that, even if the theory that the body is perfectly capable of eliminating on its own is true, it is not always the case as testified by the $725 million spent last year in the sales of over the counter laxatives and anti-diarrheal drugs in the United States alone.

The therapeutics suggested by Dr Mishori are a balanced diet (without defining what that may be and as if it was obvious…), regular exercise, 6-8 hours sleep and to see a medical doctor regularly.  

The paper alludes to the fact that somehow bowel cleansing should only be carried out by a medical practitioner even though it claims that it doesn’t work.  This seems a contradiction in terms. Actually the psychogenic element of bowel function is considerable and requires attentive and individual work which cannot be delivered in the context of a medical consultation due to individual patient requirements and lack of time.  

Professional training in the art of colonic hydrotherapy is not a medical training but it does train in developing sensitivity for the nature of abdominal tissues and the individual’s needs with a subject often taboo and misunderstood. It also puts colonic in its proper context which is as an adjunct to dietary and lifestyle changes and not as a panacea.

Unfortunately there are a number of unsubstantiated and sometimes absurd claims made by colonic practitioners, which make for easy target. This kind of indiscriminate miss-information however is not exclusive to non-medical practitioners as demonstrated by Dr Mishori’s paper.

Setting the record straight on the actual benefits of colonic hydrotherapy would probably go a long way towards preventing the kind of witch-hunt on colonics that we saw last week from the media.
The mere subject matter not only touches on that very private of function (this in itself raises passions) but it also symbolizes the ongoing battle between the medical establishment  with the multi billion pounds drug industry lobby against the complementary health industry with no lobby to speak of.

If colonic is to stand its own it needs to make intelligent and congruent claims.

The effect of colonic irrigation on the para-sympathetic nervous system may lead to temporary discomfort such as bloating cramping and nausea but those are very temporary. Those come as the direct effect of vagus nerve stimulation which is, in fact, desirable when treating constipation. It helps the individual connect with the feeling of bowel movement and trains the muscles to work in a productive way especially when combined with abdominal massage.

Laxatives and anti-diarrheal drugs abuse have far more dangerous side effects.

Laxatives work by irritation and for that reason are habit forming. They also contribute to mineral loss and electrolyte imbalances because of their addictive nature and repetitive use. Colonic irrigation works by distension reflex stimulation and manipulation of the bowel and surrounding tissues. For that reason it is not habit forming. If done in combination with individual and sound dietary advices it is effective at training the bowel, improving its elasticity and restoring function. Obviously if done more than once a week over a prolonged period it may also lead to electrolyte imbalance but this is not the proper way of administering colonic hydrotherapy and is not recommended by practitioners who are well trained.

A number of researches have now exposed the profound and far reaching influence of bowel flora on health specifically in relation to hormonal balance and immunity. The overuse of antibiotics has also been identified as a contributing factor to the deterioration of hormonal and immune functions adding to the endemic development of a number of “western” diseases such as diabetes, breast cancer, chronic thrush, infertility etc…   

A study on “Durable Alteration of the Colonic Microbiota by the Administration of Donor Fecal Flora” in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology: September 2010 - Volume 44 - Issue 8 confirmed the benefits of implanting beneficial bacteria post colonic irrigation on hormonal and immune health. This is a practice regularly prescribed by colonic therapists.

In conclusion colonic hydrotherapy is not to be confused with bowel cleansers and laxatives. It is safe, if mindful of contra-indications. Not only does it remove body waste, something which benefits a lot of people, but it also trains the bowel and achieves in depth bodywork if done expertly. Finally it is an opportunity for re-inoculation with healthy flora and for adherence to a healthier diet and lifestyle.

L’article Colonic Irrigation is safe est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

•    Health Benefits: The health benefits are many and significant. The phytooestrogens have been shown to help reduce the risk of oestrogen dependent cancers (especially breast cancer) and have similar effects on testosterone dependent cancers (especially prostate). It works by binding to the sex hormone receptors and by promoting other hormones (SHBG) that help escort excess oestrogen and testosterone out the body. The fibres also promote bowel movements, healthy bowel ecology and the resulting elimination of sex hormones in particular.
Other health benefits from the high omega3 levels and water soluble fibres include significantly improved blood lipid balance and reduced risk of cardio-vascular disease

L’article The Healing power of Flaxseeds (Linseeds) est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

Health Benefits: Tomatoes contain a phyto-chemical called Lycopene, which has been shown to be useful in cancer prevention, especially, breast, prostate, lungs, colon and skin. The amount of lycopene, which is linked to the colour red, varies greatly depending on variety and ripeness. Lycopene appears to be quite stable in cooking so is still present and rather more concentrated when the tomatoes are cooked (even in tomato Ketchup!!)

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L’article The Healing power of vegetables: The bashful tomato est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

•    Health Benefits: Celery contains phyto-chemicals compounds known as coumarins, which are being shown to be useful in cancer prevention and capable of enhancing specific white blood cells. Coumarins are also know to tone the vascular system, lower blood pressure and may be useful in case of migraines.

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L’article The Healing power of vegetables: The Celery est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.

What we feel is what powers our daily choices

The food we choose to eat (hungry, tired, fulfilled, bored, empty, etc),

The exercise we do (energetic, in touch with the feelings afterwards, afraid of getting fat, in need of friendly/fun activity or social interaction, etc)

The drinks we have (craving, thirsty, dry, tired, wired, etc)

The emotions we express (hungry, irritable, in love, happy, light, etc)

Self discipline and healthy eating is not all in the mind or simply a matter of habit. Behaviours are also powered by internal functions and bio-chemical processes

More than ever before we are now exposed to vast quantities of toxins and poisons in our environment, foods and drinks. Those affect our bio-chemical balance and in turn our behaviours.

Since 2008 the figures published by the WHO show that cancer has over taken heart disease as the biggest killer worldwide with colon cancer being amongst one the most common types of cancers.

Cravings, lack of motivation and fatigue should all be regarded as symptoms of bio-chemical imbalances as are digestive symptoms such as spastic colon, IBS, constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. Those types of symptoms are not regarded by doctors as being medically relevant, yet they are indicators that we need to pay more attention to our bio-chemical balance before it develops into something more serious.

A body detox is an opportunity to reconnect with what we are feeling and become mindful. A juice cleanse can provide the necessary nutrients for optimisation of liver detoxification while colon cleansing will ensure that the toxins leave as quickly and thoroughly as possible. A detox retreat can also give the space for mindfulness and learning.

Each of us has different needs and affinities for detoxification based on taste, specific bio-chemical makeup, social and cultural references but to consider its relevance in today’s world is fundamental for health and longevity.

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L’article Will power doesn’t work est apparu en premier sur Whole Health Colonics.