IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects 15-20% of all Americans. This is an incurable condition not to mention quite an “irritable” problem. There have been some who have said colon cleansing could cure it. But I doubt it. I think colon cleansing would do more to reduce symptoms or just relieve it temporarily. After multiple tests, my husband was diagnosed as having this condition about four years ago. And it has been a struggle with food ever since.

It seems like no matter what I made for dinner it sets his stomach off. I am always searching for good recipes that will sooth his problem, yet that are tasty and good for you. We had heard from different sources to eat lots of bran and vegetables to help the problem, but they only seemed to make the problem worse.

After a little hunting (not to mention “googling”) I found a web site that I have found really helpful. It has lots of good recipes, great suggestions on how to help the problem, and some amazing product that have helped greatly. They do recommend a good colon cleanse. But in some ways, they also recommend foods and ingredients that seem to be in many colon cleanses and diets anyway. The web site also lists trigger foods that may make IBS symptoms worse, which is great information to have. My husband is not very good at taking the Acacia and Peppermint supplements but when he does he can really notice a difference. I am glad we found the web site, and we have been return customers for years now.

I was researching “fasting” on the internet and I became a little overwhelmed at the information I found. I have heard that fasting is a good way to clean out your system and rid your body of natural toxins that build up there. I read on a personal blog one persons experience with fasting. It was quite interesting to hear the stages of hunger, headaches, run down tired feeling and pains in different parts of the body that this person went through during their fast. This particular fast was a week long, with the person drinking lemon water in the morning and night.

I actually find it interesting that many medical professionals acutally recommend fasting once a month or so, and they talk about it having a cleansing effect on the body. Yet, they also say that your internal organs are able to maintain themselves and so cleansing would only be harmful to the body. It sounds a little bit stupid right? They also fail to explain why we get cancer of certain organs if those organs can maintain themselves.

I don’t know that I am quite dedicated enough to commit myself to a weeklong fast, but I found the topic quite interesting. I tried a 24 hour fast, and I was amazed at the difference I felt. Honestly, it was in some ways like the benefits they describe with colon cleansing. After about 12 hours, I had the worst headache I have had in a long time. But by the time 24 hours was up, I felt like my insides were working better and I really felt like I had a lot of energy. I was surprised at the fact that I felt so good. I thought for sure it would wipe me out to have no food for that long.

I think it is good to give your body a break every now and then. Fasting can be beneficial to everyone, and I think if you haven’t tried it, that you give it a go.

My mom has been really into getting food storage for the last few years. She has been attending lots of emergency preparedness classes, and purchasing some interesting products. One thing she purchased in bulk about a year ago is ion drops which are used to clean contaminated water by killing bacteria. She mentioned that the ion can also be taken in a glass of water in order to kill bacteria in the body. So gave me a bottle to try and I have actually been happily surprised with the results.

When I feel a cold or stomach flu or even a UTI coming on, I immediately start adding ion to my water once or twice a day and boy does it do its job. It kills just about everything inside of me, which is sometimes not so fun. But after a few days of cleaning my body out, the illness is usually gone, along with everything else.

I do have to be careful not to overdo it, because it can cause some pretty serious stomach pains. But I have been happy with the results, and because of it I have been able to stay pretty healthy. I add 50 drops to a glass of water once or twice a day, and am usually feeling good again in no time.

Parasites are all over in our world. You are actually a wonderful breeding ground for many different types of parasites. Have you ever wondered where they all come from? Come on, I shower every day; I try to clean my food thoroughly before eating or cooking. Yet, they are still there, everywhere. Some parasites are actually good for us, and help our body to function properly, while others can make us very sick or can even cause death. So how do we know what to watch out for and how to protect ourselves?

One way to keep the parasites at bay is to pay attention to the foods you are eating. Especially if it is being prepared for you, like at a restaurant or eating at a friend’s home. There are certain foods that will put you at higher risk for contracting a food born parasite so it’s good to know what to watch out for.

One food that tops the list for parasites is escargot. If you are like me, the thought alone of eating snails is enough to keep me away. There are those out there that enjoy the butter and garlic covered delectable. Snails are known for feeding on decaying animals and feces, so it is important if you are cooking this up to be sure the farm the snails were raised on has fed them only grains. Most farmers do this, but just to be on the safe side, I think I’ll skip that entrée.

If you are like me, you wouldn’t really believe that getting the proper amount of sleep could affect your digestion process. But as I struggled with stomach issues, I noticed that my sleep patterns became disrupted also. This led me to believe that there must be some correlation between the two, so I just had to look into it further. You can definitely use a colon cleanse. But it seems like sleep might be more preventative.

I found some very helpful information in books from the library and on the web. What I learned is that sleep is not only to let your mind rest from the day, but also allows your body time to shut down as well. This may sound like common knowledge, but the correlation between the two allowed me further insights to changes I needed to make in old habits I had formed. Our mind and our bodies need to be in line with one another in order to fall asleep and get the rest we need. And frankly, a colon cleanse could also alleviate insomnia according to some. So that’s not a bad idea.

Stress and other factors can affect our sleep patterns, but stress can also cause digestion issues that you may not relate back to the original trigger of stress. It is kind of a domino effect, and can spiral out of control if not caught soon enough. I have found it helpful for both my sleep problems as well as my digestion issues to do some yoga before bed to help my mind and body wind down for the day. Once I have eased the stress out, both problems seem to have corrected themselves.

Probiotics are the new big thing for companies to add to their products.  I have seen advertisements and new products everywhere I turn. Some of the new products that I have tried seem to taste a little funny. So at first I thought it must be the pro-biotics that were affecting the taste. But as I have continued to try different products, I have found some that I really like. My favorite so far has to be the Yoplait pro-biotic yogurt. I try to eat one every day with my breakfast, in order to keep my intestines working properly. And I’ve found that some of the best colon cleanses out there use them to really address problems and prevent side effects

Yesterday I gave one to my daughter, and didn’t think too much of it. Later in the evening, she started complaining that her tummy hurt, and she was having lots of gas. It took me a few minutes, but I remember the yogurt she had eating earlier in the day. I am sure that had something to do with her tummy ache. I didn’t have to give her any medicine or anything. After a little bit, and lots of toots, she said her tummy felt better and went off to play.

I think in the future I will think twice before letting her have anything else with the pro-biotics, just in case…

If you go google “colon cleanse” you will be overwhelmed with the information out there on the web. Each one claiming to be better than the others. While I am not here to tell you which one to pick, or even which one is the best for you, I just wanted to make a few observations.

The first thing I noticed is that most people underestimate the importance of doing a cleanse at least once or twice a year. The toxins that surround us each day build and build in our colon, making you feel tired and rundown, not to mention the fact that it can make you sick.

The second thing is that it is important when you decide to do a cleanse, that you do it properly and have the right tools through your process. Many people continue to eat normally through their cleanse, which sounds harmless enough, but really makes the cleanse less effective and sometimes even pointless. If you continue to put toxins into your body during the cleanse process, you cancel out any good that might come of cleaning out your colon.

The third thing I have noticed is that the benefits that come from doing a cleanse on a regular basis can be innumerable. You will feel better, there is a chance for weight loss, and your body will be clean – not just on the outside, but inside as well.

Fresh veggies are so good for you, but over time the expense of constantly buying fresh produce can really add up. This is one reason that I so love the summer and fall, when I have my own garden in the back yard. In the spring I spend just about ten dollars on seeds and new plants. After just a few harvests, the expense is well worth it and we have more fresh fruit and veggies than we know what to do with.

Some people complain that tending to a garden is too much effort, or too hard. But for me not only is it rewarding to be able to put a little sweat and tears into the work, but the payoffs are incredible. My life is richly blessed by having the space and being able to grow a garden. I also love to deliver the produce to friends and neighbors that don’t have the chance to grow their own garden.

My diet seems to improve when I have such easy access to the fresh produce whenever I get the craving. In order to cut down on produce expenses, I try to eat mainly the fruits or vegetables that are in season because the cost is less if it’s in season. I also try to buy from local farmers if it is something that I didn’t grow. This helps to ensure the freshness of the produce, and supports my local community.

Both my husband and my mom suffer with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I also have several close friends that suffer from IBS, and the painful symptoms that come along with the disease. Because I have so many loved ones with problems in this area, I have spent a great deal of time researching the cause of the disease and also ways to elevate the symptoms as there is no “cure” out there.

The first specialist I went to with my husband performed a colonoscopy as well as an endoscopy. The results from these tests showed he had several ulcers in his stomach, as well as IBS. This doctor prescribed a prescription for the ulcers, but for the IBS he basically told my husband to “eat some yogurt and just be happy”. Needless to say, we were both very disappointed in this doctor and his lack of advice, so we sought a second opinion.

The next doctor was wonderful. He took the time to explain in detail the causes and some of the contributing factors of IBS. From there we were able to look for solutions to the major factors that cause my husband to suffer.

The best thing we have found has been fiber. But we had to look into it more than just the basics of “eat more fiber”. We had to educate ourselves as to the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber and the function of each in our systems. My husband is now taking a fiber supplement on a regular basis and seems to have the major problem under control.