Detox Diets - Why You Should Avoid Wheat & Dairy

Most detox diets exclude wheat and dairy products. Yet we are always being told that wheat fiber is good for the bowels and that we need dairy products to supply the calcium for strong bones. So why do we need to exclude them when on a detox diet?

Wheat is probably one of the most consumed foods. Many people eat wheat three times a day. Wheat cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, pasta or pizza for dinner with snacks of muffins, cakes and cookies in between. With so much wheat in our diets it can become a toxin and the detox diet aims to reduce toxins.

How wheat becomes a toxin.

Wheat is a relatively new food for the human race. Ancient man, the hunter-gatherers, lived on meat from the animals they hunted, fish and wild vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds that they gathered. It was not until the agricultural period that began about 12,000 years ago that wheat and other grains were introduced.

Wheat contains gluten, a family of proteins, that as many as one in three people may be sensitive to. Gluten is also found in rye, barley and oats. The gluten in oats, however, is very different and can be tolerated by many people who react to the other gluten grains.

Genetic testing has discovered that people have simply not adapted to the introduction of wheat into the diet. Researchers have detected gliadin, the principle type of wheat gluten, in the blood of 15% of people they tested.

Your digestive system provides a barrier between the foods you eat and your blood stream but if this barrier breaks down gliadin gets into the blood stream. The immune system reacts to it and it becomes a toxin. Your detox system has to deal with this so all gluten grains including spelt, an ancient wheat, kamut and triticale all contain gluten and are best avoided on a detox diet.

How does the barrier become leaky?

Many things can cause the intestinal barrier to" leak". Drugs, alcohol, food allergies or sensitivities, constipation, gastric infections, aging, nutritional deficiencies are some of the things that can cause damage to the sensitive and delicate lining.

Wheat because of its complex structure is also hard to digest and almost all normal people fail to absorb a large amount of starch from wheat. These starches get fermented by the bacteria in the digestive system which produces acids that damage the lining.

People with many intestinal conditions like Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's, diverticulitis, Celiac improve when they avoid gluten. Many people are surprised to find that they do react to wheat when they start eating it again after being on a detox diet.

What's wrong with dairy?

Although we are always being told that a daily glass of milk is good for you half the world manages quite well without it. According to genetic researchers human adults were not designed to digest milk. Many southern Europeans, most Asians and many Africans cannot digest milk products. It is only as a result of genetic mutation that some humans tolerate lactose at all.

As many as 75% of people naturally lose the ability to digest the lactose, a milk sugar, once they are weaned. Lactose intolerance can cause gastric upset which causes irritation and a leaky intestinal barrier that places a heavy load on the liver detox system.

One of the most common allergies or intolerance is to cow's milk. Again dairy products appear in many food items as milk protein, whey or casein.

Non organic milk can contain traces of environmental chemicals and hormones which all place an extra burden on the detox system. It makes sense to exclude it when on a detox diet.

What to eat instead.

As so many people have wheat and dairy allergies it has become much easier to find products that do not contain them. Manufacturers have produced cereals, pasta and bread made with non-gluten grains.

Other grains or grain like seeds that can be eaten include brown rice, quinoa, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, gram flour (garbanzo or chickpea flour) and maize.

Dairy alternatives include rice, soy, almond, oat and coconut milks, soy yogurt, pumpkin seed or nut butters and cashew cream. Calcium can be obtained from nuts seeds, leafy vegetables, grains, peas and beans.

So although excluding dairy and wheat when on a detox diet may take some planning you will still be able to eat tasty meals. It will be well worth it when you find that many niggling symptoms disappear and you feel and look so much better.

Colorectal Cancer (Colon Cancer) - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Cancers arising in the colon and rectum are called colon cancer or colorectal cancer, and are usually believed to have developed from polyps. Colon cancer is very common in the Western world but is rare in Asia and Africa. Diets high in fat are believed to predispose humans to colorectal cancer whereas diets high in vegetable and high fiber foods help reduce the risk. Ulcerative colitis highly increases the risk for colon cancer. Genetic factors are also an important risk factor in this disease. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, anemia, breathlessness, change in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, red or dark blood in stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, cramps and bloating. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the standard line of treatment for this condition.

The Ayurvedic treatment of colorectal cancer is aimed at treating the main cancer, preventing or reducing its spread to other parts of the body and improving overall survival. Medicines used in this condition are: Arogya-Vardhini, Kanchnaar-Guggulu, Yograj-Guggulu, Triphala-Guggulu, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Mahamanjishthadi-Qadha, Panchamrut-Parpati and Saarivasav. Medicines which act on the 'Ratka' and 'Mansa' dhatus (tissues) are useful in this condition. These include medicines like Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Triphala (Three fruits), Nimba (Azadirachta indica) and Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica). Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Triphala (Three fruits), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa) and Dashmool (Ten roots) are also very useful in this condition.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Bhrungraj (Eclipta alba), Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Suvarna-Parpati, Abhrak Bhasma and Heerak Bhasma are used to improve the immune status of the body.

Treatment needs to be taken for prolonged period to get good results. In combination with modern therapy, Ayurvedic treatment can reduce the tumor size, prevent or reduce the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, improve the immune status of the body and prolong survival. All patients need to be under the regular care and supervision of an Oncology team.

How to Cure Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases With Aloe Vera

Granted, there are drugs to help in decreasing stomach acid secretion but do not seem to heal the area. Improvement seems to be temporary at best. If gastritis and stomach ulcers remain chronic, than the possibility of stomach cancer looms as a real diagnosis just as ulcerative colitis can lead to colon cancer.

Taking aloe vera helps in decreasing the stomach acid production. The stomach lining is protected from ulcers and bacteria are killed. Never mind the pain experienced by individuals plagued with ulcerative colitis or stomach ulcers.

Using aloe on a daily basis will protect the mucous membrane of the stomach. This prevents bacterial and other organisms from irritating the lining. Consistent irritation will eventually break down the lining of the stomach thus allowing the formation of painful ulcers. These ulcers start small and if the irritation is allowed to persist, will eventually turn into bleeding ulcers. With the use of aloe vera on a daily basis a remission and healing can take place, not only in the stomach area but also throughout the digestive tract. This cannot be attained merely by prescribing medicines to address chronic conditions of the colon and stomach.

Aloe has the unique ability to soothe irritations. Only by using the purest, undiluted form of aloe vera can this claim be made. The body's immune system regains peak performance and by doing so is able to turn its attention to the healing power it was designed to do. Along with healing, health becomes a distinct reality and with health is the ability to maintain a positive outlook for the future.

What is Colitis?

Colitis happens when there is an occurrence of inflammation of the colon of a person. There are several Colitis causes which include poor blood supply, infections and in cases where the body undergoes autoimmunity. What are the colitis symptoms? What is colitis treatment?

The colon is responsible for pushing undigested food to the anus for final elimination in the process of bowel movement. As the undigested food travels in this long muscular tube, it gathers up mucus and bacteria along the way. The bloodstream reabsorbs water permitting the liquid mixture to solidify to form the feces.

Colitis causes mainly include various infections and illnesses. Infections that bring about inflammation of the colon often come from food poisoning. Lack of blood supply in the body can also cause Colitis. There are a number of reasons why the colon can lose blood and in turn can contribute to having diarrhea, anemia, dehydration or shock.

If one is experiencing bloody bowel movements and abdominal pain, this can be because of an inflammatory bowel disease. Before consulting what is colitis treatment for your case, one will first need to study the causes, and with it the careful application of various diets including the ulcerative colitis diet.

Symptoms:

The symptoms will depend on the type of colon inflammation that the patient has but the common factor among them is experiencing diarrhea and abdominal pain.

- There may or may not be blood in the feces.

- Patients will experience frequent urges to defecate.

- Abdominal can be great at the beginning and gradually declines; regular pain.

- Chills and fever can be observed with some types of Colitis.

The Diagnosis:

- While many patients may attest diarrhea as the general symptom, some are able to resolve the dilemma in just hours while there are a number of patients who suffer from it for years.

- Dehydration can greatly add to the occurrence of a colon inflammation.

- Colitis is often associated with diarrhea because of its symptom being prominent in every type of colon inflammation.

The Exams and Tests:

- Blood testing is done to discover the patient's stability and observe possible factors that can lead to Colitis.

- A Colonoscopy is performed by a gastroenterologist by inserting a long flexible camera in the anus to permit visibility of the colon walls.

- Computerized tomography is performed to see the image of the colon and the abdomen.

What is Colitis Treatment?

- The inflammatory bowel diseases can be controlled by taking a good combination of medicines.

- Abdominal pain and diarrhea from Colitis can be relieved by a clear liquid diet, rest and an ulcerative colitis diet.

- Infectious Colitis is often countered with antibiotics but there are other viral infections that do not require them instead rest can be enough to eliminate the virus over time.

Even though there are several Colitis symptoms, a prominent one is having a diarrhea whether bloody or not, and frequent abdominal pain. Although there are ways to treat colon inflammation, it is always advisable to rather prevent it by eating healthy and staying away from too much sugar, fat and oily foods which can cause Colitis in the near future.

What is Colon Inflammation?

Despite the body's competence to maintain the integrity of the epithelium, the intestine is vulnerable to breaches that can trigger inflammatory responses. Induction of a localized intense inflammatory response is needed to entail disruption or invasion of the epithelial barrier. The onset and period of an chronic inflammatory response is limited, yet in some instances persistent immune activation promotes intense intestinal inflammation, resulting in detrimental pathological consequences.

Inflammation is defined as the composition of immunologic events in response to a variety of damaging stimuli, including tissue injury and infection. The signature clues of extreme local inflammation are swelling, heat, pain, redness, and loss of function. Colon inflammation is characterized by infiltration of the mucosa by leukocytes, damage to the epithelium and lamina propria matrix, and loss of normal nutrient absorptive function. Although extreme inflammation is primarily focused on resolution of a local event, the process is also accompanied by a systemic chronic phase response, which is mediated by the action of cytokines produced within the mucosa that diffuse through the vasculature. As a matter of fact, the structure of events characteristic of colon inflammation involve local vasodilation of small vessels within the mucosa, chemotatic signaling and recruitment of circulating leukocytes, and subsequent leukocytic infiltration and activation that ultimately promotes resolution of the inciting event and promotes tissue healing.

An acute colorectal inflammatory response can be triggered by multiple stimuli. In the gastrointestinal tract, stimuli include infectious pathogens, chemical irritation, and food allergy. In addition, an effective iatrogenic factors of mucosal inflammation include radiation damage, drug reactions, ischemia, and treatment-induced pathology, such as pseudomembranous colitis and ulceration induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) agents. While the mechanisms of action of factors forming intestinal inflammation are not absolutely understood, several common features and mediators of severe intestinal inflammation have been identified.

Acute colorectal inflammation developes as a result of persistent immune response, either due to continual presence of an antigen or dysregulation of the immune response. While neutrophils play a central role in severe inflammation, intensification and activation of T cells and macrophages is the commomly known of extreme intestinal inflammation. Initially the insult is contained, neutrophils are no longer recruited, and their presence is diminisheddiminished. If the site becomes chronically inflamed, monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells predominate in the lesion. The monocytes and macrophages provide two vital functions during the severe state. In the beginning, they phagocytose remaining debris or pathogens unattended by the neutrophils, and second, they modulate T cell function through antigen presentation and cytokine secretion.

Inflammation inside the gut develops as an outcome of interactions between somatic intestinal cells, such as IEC and fibroblasts, and effect or cells of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. These interactions are mediated by both soluble factors and cell-to-cell contact. Extreme colorectal inflammation is either resolved or develops into extreme intestinal inflammatory reactions, which can result in fibrosis and loss of function. Understanding the molecular and cellular events in intestinal inflammation aids in efforts to develop new approaches to control the pathologic effects of inflammation.

Most people probably heard about an annual medical checkups after the age of 40 for colon cancer. Prevention is always way better than a cure, why wait till age 40 for colon screening if there are historic cancer trends within family history. As a matter of fact, ensuring the colon is performing at healthy condition is highly essential. Chronic inflammation could already occur inside your colon without you realizing it.

In conclusion, this is trigger by a cumulative of harmful toxins inside the colon. In addition, an excessive infestation of harmful bacteria & other micro organism are causing oxidative stress in your colon which will ultimately lead to colon inflammation. Colon cleansing is worth considering if you are new or just learn about this remedy. Always use only natural product while performing colon cleansing.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms - Key Risk Groups

Everyone can certainly experience vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms throughout their lifetime for a variety of reasons (lack of optimal nutrition, poor eating habits, etc.), but some people are more likely to have a vitamin B12 deficiency than others. Knowing that you are a part of one of these risk groups should help increase your awareness and, ultimately, prevent a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vegetarians:

The lack of proteins from animal based foods creates a B12 deficiency for vegetarians and vegans. Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in beef, poultry, shellfish, eggs and dairy products. A diet without these food sources lacks B12 to begin with and hence they will quickly have a vitamin B12 deficiency unless nutritional supplements are introduced.

Pregnant and Lactating Women on Vegetarian Diets:

This group is at a higher risk than other vegetarians. Pregnant and lactating women require more B12 for themselves and their infants during pregnancy and through breastfeeding. A normal adult requires 2.4 mcg per day, but pregnant women require 2.6mcg per day and lactating women should have 2.8 mcg per day. Even pregnant women on low meat diets should monitor themselves for vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms to ensure the health of themselves and their babies. Prenatal vitamins with a B12 supplement are encourages for this group

Adults over 50:

Approximately 30% of adults over the age of 50 develop atrophic gastritis. This process alters the digestive system and makes it harder for the body to properly absorb vitamin B12 in its natural state (from natural foods). Nutritional supplements of B12 are synthetic and are unaffected by the atrophic gastritis, thus reducing the likelihood of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Gastric Bypass and Gastrointestinal Disease Patients:

Disruptions to the normal digestive process from surgery, Chron's disease, celiac disease and ulcerative colitis make it very difficult for the body to naturally absorb vitamin B12. I'll write a further article on the details of these ailments, but nutritional supplements should be considered (preferably in a non-swallowed form). This group has a very high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.

Crohn's Disease Information

Crohn's Disease (also known as ulcerative colitis, granulomatous enteritis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis) is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract (also known as the gastrointestinal tract). Crohn's Disease can affect any area of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus, however it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The swelling can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.

Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease - the common name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines. Because the symptoms of Crohn's Disease are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. In Crohn's Disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel.

The cause of Crohn's Disease is unknown. It is suspected that infection by certain bacteria, such as strains of mycobacterium, may be the cause of Crohn's Disease. However, there has been no conclusive evidence that the disease is caused by infection. Crohn's Disease is not contagious. Although diet may affect the symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease, it is not likely that diet is actually responsible for the onset of the disease.

The most common Crohn's Disease symptoms are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Less common symptoms include poor appetite, fever, night sweats, rectal pain, and rectal bleeding, weight loss, arthritis, and skin problems, may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia. Children with Crohn's Disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. The range and severity of symptoms varies.

A thorough physical exam and a series of tests may be required to diagnose Crohn's Disease. Blood tests to check for anemia - which could indicate bleeding in the intestines. Blood tests may also uncover a high white blood cell count, which is a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body. By testing a stool sample, the doctor can tell if there is bleeding or infection in the intestines.

The most common complication is blockage of the intestine. Blockage occurs because the disease tends to thicken the intestinal wall with swelling and scar tissue, narrowing the passage. Crohn's Disease may also cause sores, or ulcers, that tunnel through the affected area into surrounding tissues, such as the bladder, vagina, or skin. The areas around the anus and rectum are often involved. The tunnels, called fistulas, are a common complication and often become infected. Sometimes fistulas can be treated with medicine, but in some cases they may require surgery. In addition to fistulas, small tears called fissures may develop in the lining of the mucus membrane of the anus.

Crohn's Disease affects both men and women and can run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn's Disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn's Disease can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. People of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn's disease, and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing Crohn's Disease.

Treatment for Crohn's Disease may include drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options. Treatment controls inflammation, corrects nutritional deficiencies, and relieves symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Treatment can help control the disease by lowering the number of times a person experiences a recurrence - however - there is no cure. Treatment for Crohn's Disease depends on the location and severity of disease, complications, and the person's response to previous medical treatments when treated for reoccurring symptoms.

Some people have long periods of remission, sometimes years, when they are free of symptoms. However, the disease usually recurs at various times over a person's lifetime.

This changing pattern of the disease means you cannot always tell when a treatment has helped. It is not possible to predict when a remission may occur or when symptoms will return. A person with Crohn's Disease may need medical care for a long time, with regular doctor visits to monitor the condition.