Digestion
Digestion is the process of taking food in via the mouth and eliminating via the anus. Enzymes are activated even before you’ve taken food in and still working as food leaves.
Is constipation normal?
In my many years as a practitioner I have met numerous folk who have one bowel movement every 3 – 7 days, and in some cases, up to 10 days. Is constipation normal? If this is a regular occurrence for them, then it’s normal, but is it healthy? Recent TV programmes have suggested that every 3 days is normal, however, most definitely not ideal. According to an article produced by the Royal Society of Medicine “Death Begins in the Colon”, almost every known chronic disease is due directly or indirectly to the influence of more than 36 bacterial poisons that are absorbed from the intestines into our blood streams.
An unhealthy colon can hold up to 15lbs of unwanted waste matter! If there is an imbalance in our intestines many symptoms may occur such as: bloating, constipation, IBS, diarrhoea, fatigue, skin conditions, muscle aches and pains, headaches, depression, confusion, allergies, and yes, even infertility!
So what is ideal?
If our bodies were in perfect homeostasis (balance) then each time we ate a meal we would have a formed bowel movement, making room for what has just gone in. This of course requires us to live a stress free life, eat healthily, exercise regularly and be free of any emotional traumas. “Ideal” transit time from when a food has entered our bodies to when it leaves is 18-24 hours. Try including some beetroot in your diet to check your transit time.
Discover the importance of the second brain for your digestive and emotional health.