Health and Diet Blog

The Colon Cleansing & Constipation Resource Center asked:




Colon cleanser tablets are an excellent way to keep your colon clean and healthy. To ensure good results and to keep your body safe, you need to know how to select the right colon cleanser tablets from the many available on the market.

Reasons for Using Colon Cleanser Tablets

As the name implies, colon cleanser tablets are used to clean out the colon. Cleansing the colon should be a part of your regular health routine to help keep your overall health at its optimum level.

You may be surprised to realize the importance of the colon regarding overall health. The reasons are very simple. In response to the foods you eat, your colon naturally produces mucus and sludge to protect itself during the digestive process. The more unhealthy foods you eat, the more mucus and sludge your colon produces. Unfortunately, this mucus and sludge tends to become built up on the inner colon wall and makes it difficult for waste to pass through. Thereafter, constipation may develop.

In addition to causing constipation, the accumulated sludge releases toxins into your bloodstream. These toxins spread throughout your body, causing your immune system to weaken, ultimately leading to many illnesses such as allergies, skin rashes, and general fatigue.

To help keep the colon clean and prevent the spread of toxins within your system, you should use colon cleanser tablets. Using the right colon cleansing tablets will flush out your system and remove the waste from the walls of your colon.

Selecting Colon Cleansing Tablets

If you have been searching for colon cleansing tablets already, you have probably discovered literally dozens of different tablets are available. How are you supposed to determine which colon cleanser tablets are right for you?

You should consider several factors when shopping for colon cleanser tablets. The first thing you need to consider is whether or not the colon cleanser tablets are oxygen-based. Oxygen-based colon cleansers, such as Oxy-Powder®, are capable of liquefying the waste built up on your colon wall. This allows it to be released more easily from your body while also leaving your colon cleansed and healthy.

Many colon cleanser tablets can be detrimental to your health. For example, colon cleanser tablets relying on a laxative effect should be avoided. These types of colon cleanser tablets do not actually cleanse the colon. Rather, they soften the stool that was going to be released anyway. As a result, the mucus and sludge that has built up on your colon walls is not removed. Also, your colon can become dependent upon the supplement, which means you will not be able to eliminate waste properly unaided. On the other hand, oxygen-based colon cleanser tablets are not addictive.

You also need to be careful to select colon cleansing tablets made with fresh ingredients. To save money, some manufacturers use ingredients that are nearly expired or they use parts of plants containing less of the active ingredient than the actual source. This results in tablets that are not potent or that do not provide the proper effect. In some cases, the ingredients may expire and can actually upset your colon or make your digestive problems worse.

Colon cleansing tablets including a variety of ingredients are more effective than those relying on a single ingredient. In fact, some single ingredient colon cleansing tablets can be too abrasive and can damage your digestive system. Those colon cleansing tablets (made solely from Psyllium husks for example) can be detrimental if used too frequently.

Recognizing When Colon Cleansing Tablets are Effective

There are a number of ways to determine whether or not your colon cleansing tablets are effective. First, the appearance of your stool can help you determine if you are achieving success. If your colon cleanser tablets are cleansing the mucus from your colon, you will notice that your stool is shiny. It will probably be dark in color as well, which will help you differentiate between colon cleanser tablets that cause diarrhea and those that are actually cleansing the colon.

You may also lose some weight after using quality colon cleansing tablets. This weight is not fat. Rather, it is weight lost from finally emptying the accumulated waste from your colon. Some people lose as much as 20 pounds after cleansing their colons. Even if you don’t lose weight, most people feel lighter after a successful colon cleansing.

Colon cleansing tablets are beneficial to your digestive system as well as your body. Just choose the right tablets in order to obtain the results you desire.

—–

peterhutch asked:


Irritable bowel syndrome, usually called IBS, is the most common disorder physicians see today, affecting 1 in 5 adults. Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating, distention, nausea, flatulence and intolerance to certain foods. It can present as diarrhea, constipation, or may alternate between the two. Most Americans use over the counter antispasmodics and laxatives, but the use of these medications can create a vicious cycle of diarrhea and constipation.

Irritable bowel syndrome can be classified into four groups. These four categories of IBS include diarrhea predominant (IBS- D), constipation, predominant (IBS-C), IBS with alternating stool patterns (IBS-A) and IBS that developed after a serious infection (IBS-PI).

Unfortunately the exact causes for developing this disease remain unknown to the medical world. The contraction that occurs in the intestinal tract of the body of the patient of IBS are seems to be too fast that last longer than normal. The food reaches in the intestine will be pushed speedily causing gas, bloating and diarrhea in the patients of IBS.

One of the most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is frequent stomach pain in combination with explosive diarrhoea or loose bowel movements. Your symptoms may be mild or severe and usually alternate between the two from day to day

Thousands of people around the world are known to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. Though there is no specific general cure that is available for IBS there are several IBS treatment options that are available, which can provide relief from the symptoms. A combination of different types of treatment is actually the best option for relief from IBS symptoms. The combination includes change in diet, proper medication and management of stress.

There are plenty of ways that sufferers from IBS can use in order for them to treat it. Most people want to treat their IBS naturally, in order for them to avoid the risks of side effects. There are plenty of herbal remedies that sufferers from IBS can use. One of these herbal remedies is Bowtrol Colon Cleanser. This is a all natural product, so it is safe to use and can effectively and naturally treat your problem. It works by removing all the old fecal matter out from your body and also the bacteria that comes with it, leaving you with clean colon.

As for effectiveness of both herbal remedies and medications in general, the first group of solutions is better to fight against abdominal, intestinal and other pains and spasms. But medications are usually considered to be effective solution to treat the syndrome to the roots.

One of the most generally prescribed irritable bowel syndrome medications is Alostron. Alostron helps those with irritable bowel syndrome because it decreases abdominal sensitivity. This helps to relieve the symptoms of the disorder, especially in pregnant women who are more prone to have more intense symptoms. Tegaserod is another irritable bowel syndrome medication that is usually prescribed. This works a little differently than Alostron in the fact that is increases the movement of the intestines.

Cindy Heller asked:


There are several ways to stop heartburn with the use of natural and pharmaceutical products. The ultimate goal to stop heartburn should be from temporary episodes to permanent relief. Natural methods to stop heartburn include making dietary and lifestyle changes and taking natural products to relieve the symptoms. The most common method today is to pop a couple of antacid tablets to quickly dilute the acids regurgitated from the stomach. Antacids have been found to work best for stress-related heartburns.

For people who suffer from frequent heartburn, they need to transition their treatment from using antacids and other medications to making the necessary changes to eventually stop heartburn. Ninety percent of heartburn episodes are triggered by the foods and drinks one consumes during a meal; especially the last meal before bedtime.

The first dietary step to stop heartburn is to control the amount of food consumed. The intake of fats in large meals is high. These remain in the bloated stomach for a long time to be digested. The stomach is unable to contain its acidic contents and some escape as acid reflux. This acid burns the sensitive inside walls of the esophagus resulting in the heartburn symptoms. Since these symptoms are felt in the chest area, many people are frightened that they may be feeling the onset of a heart attack. In summary, take smaller sized meals up to five times a day, rather than the traditional three larger ones.

Foods To Avoid To Stop Heartburn

Knowing which foods and drinks to avoid help one from future episodes of heartburn. If this is done consistently, it may be possible to completely stop heartburn.

The common foods and drinks to avoid include the following:

1. Spicy dishes like those found in Indian and Mexican diets

2. Tomato rich dishes like those found in Italian pastas and pizzas

3. Chocolates, Donuts, Creamy desserts

4. Citrus based fruits and desserts; containing oranges and lemons

5. Certain forms of potatoes: mashed potatoes and French fries

6. Raw Onions

7. Caffeinated drinks, Alcoholic beverages

8. Some dairy products: sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese

Smoking has been found to weaken the esophageal sphincter muscle that keeps a lid on the stomach’s caustic contents. Smoking is key risk factor that causes acid reflux.

There are several steps that can be taken to put a stop to heartburn. Sensible lifestyle and dietary changes can be made to reduce heartburn symptoms. Some medications like antacids can bring about quick heartburn relief. A consistent treatment plan will help the sufferer put a stop to heartburn.

Vitamins For Heartburn

There are certain vitamins and minerals if taken may help the body recover from heartburn. However, the use of vitamins for heartburn treatment would only be effective if other essential lifestyle and dietary changes are made.

Seek Medical Advice Before Using Vitamins for Heartburn

In general, taking vitamins to supplement heartburn treatments should not require prior medical advice. However, to ensure that the right vitamins are being considered in the right doses, discuss these with your doctor. In rare cases, some vitamins taken in the wrong doses may result in adverse reactions and aggravate heartburn.

If one is looking for a vitamin for heartburn, then Vitamin C is a good candidate. Vitamin C taken twice daily of between 250 milligrams to 500 milligrams each time has been found to keep stomach acidity in check and therefore heartburn.

The body’s ability to maintain optimum pH levels in the stomach allows the effective digestion of food consumed and readily releases vitamins from food sources. Vitamins like B-12 prevent and remove bacterial outbreaks in the stomach. The optimum pH level of 3.0 or less stimulates the release of vitamins for heartburn relief.

If a health supplement containing vitamin B, choline, thiamin and pantothenic acid is taken regularly, heartburn may be cured within a month and the painful symptoms are likely to disappear gradually.

If 500 milligrams of vitamin B1, known also as thiamin, is taken in the morning before breakfast, heartburn symptoms may be relieved. For chronic cases, the combination of vitamins B1, B5 and choline will aid in heartburn relief. In summary, there are vitamins for heartburn that can be taken to rid of the painful and discomforting symptoms.

Cindy Heller asked:


Heartburn relief is sought by the millions of people worldwide who experience the pain and discomfort of acid reflux. For the occasional and mild cases of heartburn, over the counter antacids may be sufficient to bring rapid relief. In severe cases, these antacids may be insufficient.

After dismissing the first few episodes of heartburn, all sufferers will consider the various heartburn remedies available. These can range from simple lifestyle and dietary changes to natural remedies to advanced pharmaceutical options. Information about these options can help one make the appropriate choices to get prompt relief.

Simple Heartburn Remedies

For the occasional heartburn episode, simple remedies will suffice. Understanding what triggers and why heartburns occur is the first step. The simple treatment plan for heartburn remedies involves a lot of common sense.

Since acid reflux is the main issue, attempts to dilute the acids should be taken first. This can be as simple as drinking a glass of water. Another simple thing to do is to chew gum. Chewing gum stimulates the generation of saliva which helps to neutralize the gastric acids.

The next most important step is to avoid foods and drinks that trigger heartburn. The common foods and drinks to avoid include the following:

1. Spicy dishes like those found in Indian and Mexican diets

2. Tomato rich dishes like those found in Italian pastas and pizzas

3. Chocolates, Donuts, Creamy desserts

4. Citrus based fruits and desserts; containing oranges and lemons

5. Certain forms of potatoes: mashed potatoes and French fries

6. Raw Onions

7. Caffeinated drinks, Alcoholic beverages

8. Some dairy products: sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese

This is a common option to consider amongst the various heartburn remedies.

The pain of heartburn is usually at its worst when a sufferer lies down to sleep. The acid reflux unimpeded by gravity since the body is prone, regurgitates more caustic acids from the stomach thereby burning the esophagus and possibly the throat. The first thing to note is to avoid eating just before bedtime. As part of the common heartburn remedies to consider, have a reasonable sized meal avoiding the aforementioned foods and drinks at least two hours before bedtime. Next sleep with the head and upper torso raised – use additional pillows or raise the headboard. These two suggestions should help the heartburn sufferer get a more restful night’s sleep.

Heartburn Remedies: The Pharmaceutical Options

In the case of people who suffer from chronic or a severe form of heartburn, medical practitioners will be able to suggest a course of treatment to bring about heartburn relief. Apart from lifestyle changes, certain medications may be part of the treatment plan.

H2-Receptor Blockers is a class of heartburn relief medication that reduces the secretion of acids in the stomach largely by blocking the actions of histamines. This type of medication has been around from the 1960s and was developed to bring relief for various ailments like heartburn, stomach ulcers and dyspepsia.

A distinct advantage of using H2-receptor blockers is that it can be taken before a meal to suppress the buildup of stomach acids and brings about heartburn relief for a chronic sufferer. An additional advantage is that the palliative impact of the medication lasts for than 6 hours. The heartburn symptoms are avoided and the singed esophagus gets an opportunity to gradually heal; especially in the case of chronic heartburn patients.

Currently, the most preferred medication; beating H2 receptor blockers, is another class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors work in a similar way to bring about heartburn relief but only more effectively. These drugs halt the secretion of enzyme generation in the gastric cells, instead of merely inhibiting the catalysts that cause the generation.

The inert inhibitors only become active when they enter the stomach. They block the generation of the caustic stomach acids and help the sufferer begin his or her road to heartburn relief. The proton pump inhibitors continue to work for more than two days.

Before any drugs are taken for heartburn relief, it is important to seek medical help to confirm the symptoms and the right dosages. While several options are available, it would be useful to note that the use of proton pump inhibitors have largely over taken the use of h2-receptor blockers in the treatment of chronic heartburn.

Jyoti asked:




Hemroids are embarrassing, painful and a terrible daily condition to have to deal with.

Do you know that hemorrhoids can be a life-threatening disease? If not treated in early stages then it can be really painful and need to be operated. Hemroids can occur in different types like internal, external, bleeding hemroids and others.

What are the causes of Hemroids?

The main causes of hemorrhoids can be divided into two groups, namely that those are associated with our lifestyle and that are related to our eating habits. Usually the common causes of hemroids include aging, unhealthy diet, pregnancy and child birth, heavy lifting, heredity, severe coughing, straining during bowel movements.

Another reason of occurrence of hemorrhoids is the manner of passing the stool. Wrong habit of passing the stool like



Not providing sufficient time to pass stool - In this way the large intestine gets damaged while passing the fecal waste. This results in rupturing of veins and is therefore harmful to the tissues which can lead to hemorrhoids.





Lack of liquid intake - In the daily diet lack in sufficient water makes your stool dry and hard which is the most prominent cause of hemroid.





Sudden lifting of heavy weights – Hemorrhoids can also cause due to pulling heavy weights that put extra pressure on veins and tissues. But this is not found among those who use heavy weights in routine rather. It affects greater level to those who are obese or overweight.





Heart and Liver diseases- When the blood is pooled in and around the pelvic system, the enlarging of the veins may lead to Hemroids.



Easy Treatments of Hemroid

Complete knowledge of Hemorrhoids and its correct precautions can help in the prevention of hemorrhoids. However, if it occurs, then there are some easy and effective treatments of hemroids:



It is significant to include additional fiber in your diet and to drink plenty of water each day. This will prevent constipation which causes damage to your bowel muscles and make hemroids worse.

There are foods that tend to worsen hemroid symptoms. The most common are nuts, coffee, alcohol and spicy food. If you notice another type of food making your hemorrhoids worse, abstain it for a few days and see if there is any positive effect.

Use ice on the area for 10 minutes, follow with a warm, moist towel for 20 minutes to provide relief.

Other hemroids treatmeant involves rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, infrared coagulation and surgical operation.



It is highly recommended that DO NOT IGNORE HEMROIDS IN THE EARLY STAGES! One must ask the doctor and get medication as soon as possible.

Chrisanne Sternal asked:




Holistic pet care is gaining popularity by the droves. Holistic medicine involves everything from homeopathic treatments to acupuncture for dogs and other pets. Holistic veterinarians say these treatments can successfully treat and cure many chronic and acute diseases like cancer, liver disease, pancreatitis, allergies, asthma, urinary tract problems and behavioral problems.

So what should you consider when deciding on whether to treat your pup with traditional medicine or take the less traveled road and join those who have decided to explore a natural approach?

With holistic health care the emphasis is on the patient rather than the disease. Signs and symptoms are not the total issue. They simply represent imbalances in the patient’s body. The holistic practitioner has a large number of tools to support and motivate the body to heal. Natural therapies have the ability to allow the body to self-regulate and heal itself.

Holistic veterinarians will tell you they have seen acupuncture, homeopathy and good nutrition help cases that had seemed incurable with conventional therapy.

A holistic approach is focused on preventing disease. Part of that process includes feeding your dog natural dog food free of harmful chemicals and by-products. A natural diet is known to minimize cell damage.

Additionally, the holistic approach minimizes vaccines and the use of medications and toxins. Finally, a well-prescribed supplement regimen can reduce inflammation and oxidation in your pet’s body, decreasing the chances of your pet developing chronic diseases.

We wrote an article on this topic for That Mutt blog which was just published. It gives several reasons to consider holistic pet care. They include:

1. Holistic pet care can prevent disease

2. Holistic pet care minimizes drug intake

3. Holistic pet care heals the “whole” pet rather than the disease

4. Holistic pet care can save you money

5. Holistic pet care minimizes vaccinations

If you are interested in checking out the full article, which expands on these five reasons to consider holistic pet care, click HERE.

Jim Rees asked:




If you or anyone in your family is an asthma sufferer, then you will surely be interested in any effective asthma prevention methods and techniques that will help to reduce contact with the things that cause asthma attacks. Read on and you may be surprised and probably pleased to learn, that effective asthma prevention could be simply a matter of choosing the right indoor plants!

Most of the things that trigger asthma attacks are transported in the air so that they are easily breathed in. You can effectively seal off your home to prevent the ingress of all those airborne “nasties” which trigger the asthma but what about the air that you breathe, inside your home?

Did you know that the air in your home is one of the top five environmental health risks, according to the U.S. Environmental Agency? This has to be of considerable concern to everyone but particularly so for asthma sufferers and those who are allergic to chemical products. But why is this so?

Research has shown that many common products such as paint, adhesives, dry-cleaning, de-odorants, antiperspirants and even new pieces of furniture, all give off chemicals (known as volatile organic compounds or VOC’s) that pollute the air that we are constantly breathing in. These chemicals are potent triggers for asthma attacks and chemically triggered allergies.

So apart from permanently using some form of breathing apparatus, what can be done to lessen the problem?

Well you may be surprised to know that the answer is rather straightforward and one that might only require a simple adjustment to your home. What you need to do is choose to include some household plants in your home. As well as decorating your living space, these plants will help to control the environment in your home, providing some welcome relief from your asthma.

Surely it cannot be that simple? Well apparently yes.

Research, at the University of Georgia, has demonstrated that a certain number of plants, commonly found indoors, can effectively remove a large proportion of these chemicals and consequently produce a much healthier environment in the home.

Not all plants offer the same level of chemical removal, however, and of those tested (around 30 common household plants), five stood out for their effectiveness. The five are

• Purple Waffle Plant

• English Ivy

• Purple Heart Plan

• Asparagus Fern

• Variegated Wax Plan

It has to be stated that this information has come from a preliminary study which is continuing, but these early indications are very promising. It would mean that effective asthma prevention could be as simple as choosing the right indoor plants.

But why wait for the investigation to reach its conclusion? Where is the harm in simply decorating your home with these plants? What do you have to lose – apart from your asthma?

Erin Fletcher asked:




A healthy colon is essential to good health, which makes colon cleansing, parasite cleansing, and detoxifying a must. Everything we eat ends up in our bowels as toxins. As these toxins build up, we end up with various diseases, such as being constipation and overweight. The purpose of this article is to review about colon cleansers and to provide information on how we can start cleansing. If you’re looking to cleanse, start using a colon cleanser, there are so many colon cleansers in the market that usually leads to be confusion as to which one is the most effective in cleansing. This article will give you the best answer.

People, who have colon, usually find difficult to follow natural colon cleanses, so they often choose an available colon cleanser on the market. But choosing an effective colon cleanser isn’t easy. Which standards will you depend on to choose without having any worries? According to a recent survey, Bowtrol Colon Cleanser is the most effective product which is used widely to remove colon. Many people will give the question why does Bowtrol Colon Cleanser achieve the high belief of consumers like that?

Bowtrol Colon Cleanser is an all natural herbal colon cleansing treatment that has changed thousands of people’s lives through our effective internal cleansing. Bowtrol is also designed for people suffering from constipation and maximizes colon health. Bowtrol maximizes one’s elimination without causing loose stool or uncomfortable cramping via frequent healthy bowel movements while assisting in cleansing the vital organs and lymphatic system.

In comparison with many different colon cleansers on the market, Bowtrol Colon Cleanser works fast, safely, effectively and is easy to use. You could begin with a low dose and gradually increase it until desired colon cleansing is reached. The average dose is 3 capsules a day, taken before bedtime. Bowtrol Colon Cleanser gives you more energy and you shouldn’t feel as bloated.

In the end, no one product fits all because everybody’s body is different, so it is difficult to say which product is the best but I can confirm that Bowtrol Colon Cleanser has no side effects and is 100% natural. Besides, Bowtrol promotes weight balance and enhances body detoxification. This means Bowtrol Colon Cleanser is an all-natural herbal colon cleansing treatment that has changed hundreds of thousands of people’s lives through our gentle and effective whole body safe and effective internal cleansing. Let’s use Bowtrol to remove colon as soon as possible and you will gain the best result.

Amit Kothiyal asked:




Hemroids is a painful disease and now a days around 40% to 50% of people are suffering from it. It is prominent among all age groups and also known as Piles. The main cause of hemorrhoids is swelling of rectum veins. Generally most of us have normal hemorrhoids which do not require any treatment but when it grows more than normal then medical treatments become necessary. Hemorrhoids can cause discomfort, pain due to bleeding, itching and social embarrassment. The most common symptoms of hemorrhoids are bleeding, Inflammation in the anus and strained bowel movement. Hemroids requires proper treatments other wise in some cases it can be a serious health problems.

Types of Hemorrhoids

There are two types of hemorrhoids – External and internal hemorrhoids which symptoms are different. External hemorrhoids appear outside the anus and can be easily identified form bleeding. Internal hemorrhoids appears outside the rectum and generally difficult to identify. Some times bleeding while passing stool may be symptoms of internal hemroids.

Treatment Methods

There are many methods of treating hemorrhoids such as injection therapy, surgery and use of hemroid drugs and creams. Amongst all these, hemroids cream is most easy, effective and painless treatment in most situations. It provides relief from pain and reduces swelling and shrink in short period of time.

Hemroids cream are generally used in external hemorrhoids but in some cases it can be also used in internal hemorrhoids. The best creams are that which can provide quick and permanent relief. The most common ingredient in hemroids treatments creams are petroleum jelly, glycerin, cocoa butter, benzocaine, pramoxine, benzyl alcohol, dibucaine, dyclonine etc.

Hemroids cream is a common product of pharmacy. Some cream products are sold in local market that cannot provide proper treatment and in some cases it can be very harmful for sufferers. So it is a common question that how to find the best and effective hemorrhoids creams which contain active ingredients mentioned above and one can easily identify that whether active ingredients are included in creams or not by looking on information panel, usually back sides of medication packaging.

Some of the effective and popular hemroids creams are available on the internet also. One can get all the desired information about the product and review the feedbacks of the users of the cream. This could be the best way to find effective hemroids creams online.

More information about effective hemroid cream can be found though different forums. Any one can participate in forums, ask question about creams and treatments and can find more information about good creams. Also effective creams can be found by product search web sites.

Medical practitioners and doctors can also suggest the effective hemroids creams on the basis of symptoms and ingredients of creams. So don’t worry if you are a hemorrhoids sufferer, in most situations by easy hemroids cream treatments, you can be free from this painful disease.

Patrick Hamouy asked:




Meat

When we look at our diet and what is good and bad for us, it is always beneficial to look at the way our ancestors used to eat. What has been eaten for 100,000s of years has determined the ability of our body to digest certain food. It will take another few thousand years (at best) before our body is able to digest the junk food some people ingest nowadays.

Prior to the Second World War, meat was expensive and most people only ate it on special occasions or at weekends (if they could afford it). Nowadays, some people eat meat several times a week. Sometimes, several times a day. Mr Richard McDonald and Ray Kroc have probably killed more people than were killed during the Second World War by introducing their fast food restaurants.

Should we really eat meat?

To answer this question, let’s consider the following facts:

* Our teeth tell us that we should not eat much meat. Our molars and premolars are for grinding and crushing. Carnivores have teeth that are sharp and pointed, made to tear the flesh of other animals.

* Our saliva contains ptyalin and is alkaline for the digestion of starches. Carnivore’s saliva is acid for the digestion of animal food.

* Our digestive system is 30 feet (10 metres) in length to allow the slow absorption of all the nutrients we eat. A carnivore’s digestive system is short (only about 3 times the length of their trunk), meat does not get a chance to stagnate and stick to the walls.

* A carnivore’s stomach generates ten times as much hydrochloric acid as ours does for the digestion of meat.

* The digestion of meat generates Uric acid. Our liver cannot easily eliminate Uric acid. A carnivore’s liver can eliminate ten to fifteen times more Uric acid than ours can.

Where will I get my protein?

This is a standard question when I tell people to cut down or entirely give meat. First, we must learn that we do not just absorb protein from meat. In order for our body to create protein from meat, it must first break the animal protein down into amino acids and then manufacture human protein with these. This procedure is very tiring on the body and extremely inefficient.

Where do you think horses, elephants, cows, sheep etc.. get their protein from? Yes, you’ve got it: from the grass, vegetation and all the plants they eat.

Secondly, let’s clear the misconception about the importance of protein in our diet. The information originates from tests that were conducted on rats. Rats need up to eleven times as much protein as we need in our diet as is illustrated by analysing rat mother’s milk. So relax, you are not going to die from a lack of protein if you stop eating meat.

One of my main Macrobiotic teacher, Denny Waxman, used to tell us that the body manufactures protein from just about any food and that we could not be lacking protein unless we stopped eating or were malnourished. This is confirmed by research done in 1957 (Rose, W. “The amino acid requirements of adult man” – Nutritional abstracts and reviews) confirming that nearly all the complex carbohydrates, such as those in whole grains, beans or potatoes, have amino acid profile adequate for human protein needs.

On the subject of protein, it is interesting to learn that in Macrobiotic, we are also told that cancers feed on protein and that we always restrict the amount of protein in a cancer patient’s diet.

Some will argue that fat is necessary because it is a source of linoleic acid. As this acid is also contained in brown rice, the body will get an ample supply by following the diet described in this book and this will not be a problem.

Where else can I get protein from?

If you are still worried about your protein intake, the following food has a high content of easily absorbed amino acid suitable for the production of human protein: Peas, lentils, chick peas, kidney beans, fish, tofu, green grapes, iceberg lettuce, collards and kale.

What is the effect of meat on the body?

These days meat is usually frozen, overcooked and as such stripped of all its goodness. It gives an immediate burst of energy and strength. This is OK in colder and Polar Regions if you do not mix the meat with sweet (Yin) food, otherwise it is deadly.

An excess of meat will cause problems of accumulation of matter: clogged vessels and organs, putrefaction and infection. As soon as the animal is killed, meat starts to putrefy. This process is nowadays controlled by the use of freezing that allows us to eat animals killed several days, weeks, months or years (as recent TV programs informed us).

Putrefaction resumes when the meat is unfrozen i.e. just before you start eating it. To properly digest meat takes 3 to 5 days and as much as two weeks in the elderly. This is compared with a proper digestion time of one to one and half day for non-meat eaters.

Should you eat meat on a regular basis, your intestines are never clear and the meat putrefies in your digestive track. Putrefaction produces toxins and amines that accumulate in the liver, kidneys and large intestines, destroys bacterial cultures (especially those that synthesise vitamin B complex) and causes degeneration of the villi of the small intestine.

Saturated fatty acid accumulates in and around vital organs and blood vessels, often leading to cysts, tumours, and hardening of the arteries. Saturated fat also raises the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Over a period of several years, putrefied meat is going to adhere to the lining of your intestines and cause various problems such as IBS, stomach cramps, prolapsed colons, haemorrhoids, constipation, diverticulosis, appendicitis, varicose veins, atherosclerosis and colon cancer etc…

To compensate for eating meat, the body needs more oxygen in the bloodstream. The breathing rate rises after eating animal food making it difficult to maintain a calm mind. Thinking becomes defensive, suspicious, rigid and sometimes aggressive. A very analytical view is often the result.

It makes the muscles slack and the joints stiff. Daily consumption of meat and dairy food, is at the core of our excessive protein intake, which has been associated with de-hydration and heat-stroke in athletes, fatal exacerbation of kidney and liver malfunctions, increased acidity of body fluids, infant deaths, premature ageing, heart disease, and cancer. A high protein intake creates toxic by-products in the form of unused nitrogen; excreting these can seriously overtax the kidneys, unless large amounts of water are taker to flush them out.

The saturated fat content of meat will then start circulating in your blood stream and start coating your arteries and eventually various organs eventually leading to the development of serious disease such as cancer or heart problems.

In the United states these days, 2 out of every 3 person suffers some form of serious problems related to that very high intake of fat.

“The average American & European intestine carries within it over 5 pounds of putrid, half digested red meat, plus another 5-10 pounds of foul toxic mucous waste impacted of years in the folds of the colon and small intestines.”

When the actor John Wayne died, an autopsy revealed that his intestines had grown to 12″ (30 cms) in diameter with only a small opening in the middle to allow the digestive process to painfully carry on.

What else is in the meat I eat?

This is one of the problems. Nowadays, the meat that you buy contains a lot of chemicals that you end up eating when you consume your favourite dish:

Antibiotics and steroids in the feed to prevent infections and increase weight quickly. This has had the effect of causing the development of new disease breeding bacteria, resistant to many form of antibiotics and causing a threat to human life.

Sex hormones such as androgens, progestogens and estrogens to promote faster growth. The long term effects associated with the consumption of these are:

Obesity, infertility, diabetes, dwarfism, gigantism, kidney disease, hypertension, precocious puberty, hypoglycaemia, masculinisation of females, feminisation of males and cancer.