Meat and Your Health

 

Colon health is a topic of lasting human interest and has been since antiquity. Colon health is a matter of life and death, but it is one of the most neglected areas of the body. It is not something most people pay no attention to, especially if none of their family members have suffered colon problems. Colon health is basically helping the healthy bacteria far outnumber the harmful bugs, and thats what you can do for colon health. How can a colon weighing 30 pounds (as many autopsy’s find), be healthy. Colon therapists suggest that the typical American diet, which is low in fiber and high in red meat and other fatty foods, is a major contributor to this problem.

Health

The importance of “regularity” to overall health has been greatly overestimated for thousands of years. Careful observations have shown that the bowel habits of healthy individuals can vary greatly. Thus, many illnesses can be caused by an unhealthy colon or can be prevented by maintaining a healthy colon. Incorporating the practice of annual cleansing and detoxification will not only help regain, but also maintain your health so that your later years are productive and joyful.

Cleansing

How do you know if you or your family needs cleansing and detoxification. The answer is : Everyone needs cleansing and detoxification at least once a year. Cleansing the digestive tract helps to assure that the body is digesting and absorbing the necessary amounts of nutrients for repairing and restoring proper tissue functions, tissue healing, and maintaining a healthy body in general. Cleansing the colon helps bring the acid-alkaline ratio back into balance, allowing friendly bacteria to thrive, while inhibiting disease-causing organisms.

Detoxification

As opposed to fasting, detoxification diets can be undertaken for extended periods. Detoxification is the process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins from thebody. The major detoxification therapy categoriesare: fasting, specific diets, vitamin therapy, colon therapy, chelation therapy, and hyperthermia. Some detoxification methods are potentially dangerous, with side effects ranging from dehydration to bowel perforation. Unsupervised detoxification should not be tried by anyone who is underweight, pregnant, recovering from substance abuse, nor by those suffering from diabetes mellitus, thyroid problems, or an eating disorder.

Herbal Colon Therapy

Today some alternative practitioners continue to use colonic irrigation as part of a basic detoxification program, though many prefer to recommend herbal laxatives in supplement form. Herbal colon therapy is the cornerstone of much of our treatment for bowel conditions in the same way that endonasal therapy is the cornerstone for the treatment of ear, nose and throat diseases. To the uninitiated it might seem that the most obvious reason for the herbal colonic treatment would be for correcting constipation. Although used for constipation, herbal colonic therapy is much more specific in mucous colitis, diverticulosis, various forms of idiopathic diarrheas and other conditions in which the bowel is irritated or overly sensitive. Natural colon cleansing involves taking a balanced diet and additionally, a few herbal supplements that help kill the harmful bacteria and in removing excess of toxins.

Fiber

Fiber provides no nutrients to the body, but it does promote good health because it is very absorbent. Fiber adds roughage to the diet, and so Psyllium plays an important role in digestion and elimination, and can promote regularity and colon health. Ordinary constipation usually can be remedied by increasing the fiber content of the diet, drinking adequate amounts of water, and engaging in regular exercise.

Conclusion

The conclusion is that our health depends on the health of the colon. Therapists have come to the conclusion that colon therapy is not mysterious, is a useful adjunct to detoxification in a variety of illnesses in which the accumulation of toxins plays a major or contributory role to a person’s ill health; therefore, washing the lining of the bowel is just as sensible as maintaining cleanliness in other parts of ourselves and, in the modern living environment, there is a tendency for the accumulation of toxins, increased constipation, increased concentration of the residue in the bowel because of a shortage of roughage in the diet; thus cleaning and irrigation is an advantage.

 

Colon health is undeniably an important issue that directly affects our entire bodies. A properly functioning colon is necessary to not only absorb essential nutrients, but to rid the body of waste and harmful toxins.

Learning as much as you can about having a healthy colon is the best defense for warding off a host of illnesses and conditions.

5 Important Facts About Colon Health

1. Besides the skin, kidneys, and lungs, the colon is another organ that helps the body get rid of waste materials. If colon health is compromised for some reason, toxins may build up over time.

These toxins may be absorbed into the bloodstream and lymph nodes, negatively affecting the rest of our body. Colon hydrotherapy is one procedure used to cleanse the bowel of these harmful substances.

2. As we age, the colon may lose some of its ability to effectively eliminate waste. It is for this reason that our diets should contain adequate amounts of fiber from sources such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

3. Peristalsis is the term used to describe movement within the colon. These contractions move food through the digestive tract and help the body absorb nutrients.

A healthy colon has approximately 14 contractions within the colon each and every minute.

4. Two to three bowel movements per day are necessary for avoiding the accumulation of harmful toxins. Infrequent bowel movements or constipation directly contribute to poor colon health.

Some people suffering from constipation find laxatives to be helpful, or simply increasing their fiber intake.

5. Bowel toxemia refers to a condition that causes inflammation and swelling within the colon. This may occur when the colon contains impacted fecal matter, bacteria, or other harmful materials.

If the colon becomes inflamed, it won’t be able to function normally, possibly leading to several other ailments throughout the body.

4 Simple Tips for Good Colon Health

1. Eat Healthy

It’s no secret that diet plays an important role in our overall health and well being. Studies show that people who eat fewer red meats and more vegetables have a lower risk of colon cancer.

A diet high in fiber has also been linked to good colon health. Fiber enables the body to move waste matter through the digestive tract faster than normal.

If your diet is lacking in vitamins, minerals, or fiber, supplements that contain folate (folic acid) are thought to protect cells within the colon from developing cancer.

2. Stay Physically Active

Regular exercise is essential for all aspects of good health, and colon health is no different. Experts agree that regular physical activity, at least 30 minutes per day aids in digestion.

The quicker waste material passes through the colon, the less chance for toxins to accumulate.

3. Avoid Alcohol and Cigarettes

Besides causing various other health problems, excessive amounts of alcohol affects our colon health as well.

Although the reasons aren’t clear, people who have one or fewer alcoholic drinks per day have a lower risk of colon cancer. Cigarette smoke is harmful to the delicate tissues of the colon.

4. Get Regular Screenings

Unless you have a family history, colorectal screenings should begin at age 50 to check for cancer. Nearly a third of all colon cancer deaths could have been avoided through early detection.

Anyone can have a mental illness, regardless of age, gender, race, or income. Mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or AIDS. It is believed that one in five adults and children has a diagnosable mental disorder, one in every 10 young people age 9 or older has a serious emotional disturbance that severely disrupts daily life.and one in four families will have a member with mental illness. Children who develop depression often have a family history of the illness, many times a parent who had depression at an early age. Untreated mental health problems can lead to suicide, which is the sixth leading cause of death for 5- to 14-year olds. An estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need.It is important to remember that mental illness occurs at any age, but most often appears for the first time between the ages of 25 and 44. With proper treatment, most people suffering from a mental illness can return to normal, productive lives, and almost everyone receives some benefit from treatment.

The causes of mental illness are complicated. Mental health disorders in children and adolescents are caused mostly by biology and environment. Examples of biological causes are genetics, chemical imbalances in the body caused by genetics, lack of sleep or poor nutrition, or damage to the central nervous system, such as a head injury, lack of oxygen in child birth and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Many environmental factors also put young people at risk for developing mental health disorders. Examples including exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levels of lead; exposure to violence, such as witnessing or being the victim of physical or sexual abuse, drive-by shootings, muggings, or other disasters; stress related to chronic poverty, discrimination, or other serious hardships; and the loss of important people through death,divorce, or broken relationships.

The following six preventive services are recommended and can be carried out in a clinic, church, library or local community center:

1. Prenatal and infancy home visits or support groups.

2. Targeted cessation education and counseling for smokers, especially those who are pregnant.

3. Targeted short-term mental health therapy.

4. Self-care education for adults (money management, relationship skills, stress management).

5. Mentoring and adult supervised after-school and weekend programs

6. Brief counseling and advice to reduce alcohol use.

Over the years I have found that finding good information is kind of like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The following links will take you to addictions and mental health sites that have the most current and useful information for addictions counselors, rehabilitation counselors, mental health clinicians, nurses and (of course) program administrators. All of the resources are FREE so you can order copies for your colleagues and/or staff!

Clinical Preventive Services in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Update: From Science to Services http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA04-3906/ This report has been prepared to summarize the most promising preventive interventions of a behavioral nature intended to impact mental and substance use disorders, or in some cases, medical outcomes. This review focuses on prevention interventions that are primarily delivered by health care systems. Interventions provided in schools, worksites, communities, and criminal justice systems were excluded, as were population-based interventions.Clinical

Preventive Services in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Update: From Science to Services Special Report: Preventive Interventions Under Managed Care: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA00-3437/SMA00-3437ch1.asp Programs and services that prevent substance abuse and mental health disorders have the potential to lessen an enormous burden of suffering and to reduce both the cost of future treatment and lost productivity at work and home. The availability and accessibility of these interventions to the millions of Americans whose health care is provided by managed care organizations depend upon the services’ status as covered benefits.

Get Connected! Toolkit (Linking Older Adults With Medication, Alcohol, and Mental Health Resources) http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=16523 Alcohol, medication misuse, and mental health problems can be significant issues for older adults. This kit is designed to enable their service providers to undertake health promotion, advance prevention messages and education, and provide screening and referral for mental health problems and the misuse of alcohol and medications. The kit includes a coordinator’s guide and program support materials such as education curricula, fact sheets, handouts, forms, and resources.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): The Basics (CD Rom) http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17296 This mini CD—consisting of slides and accompanying notes—provides the latest and most accurate information on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASD. The CD includes essential facts on what FASD is, how it’s caused, how many people have it, and much more.

Quick Guide for Clinicians Based on TIP 47, Substance Abuse: Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17615 This pocket-sized booklet concisely presents information from TIP 47, including the principles of intensive outpatient treatment (IOT), the services offered, treatment engagement, clinical issues and challenges, and the approaches used in IOT.

TIP 46: Substance Abuse: Administrative Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17440 This Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP), Substance Abuse: Administrative Issues in Outpatient Treatment, was written to help administrators address the changing environment in which outpatient treatment programs operate. The TIP provides basic information about running an outpatient treatment program, including strategic planning, working with a board of directors, relationships with strategic partners, hiring and retaining employees, staff supervision, continuing education and training, performance improvement, outcomes monitoring, and promotion of the program to potential clients, funding agencies, and government officials. More specialized sections address challenges that have emerged and gathered importance in the last decade: preparing a program to provide culturally competent treatment to an increasingly diverse client population and succeeding in a managed care-dominated world by diversifying the funding sources a program draws on.

TIP 45, Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17398 TIP 45 provides lists and tables related to such topics as initial evaluation domains for clients in detoxification, guidance on assessment and rehabilitation planning, and the management of intoxication and withdrawal from specific substances or substance groups such as alcohol, marijuana, stimulants, and opioids.

TIP 44: Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17183 Research consistently demonstrates a strong connection between criminal activity and substance abuse; research also finds that involvement in substance abuse treatment reduces recidivism for offenders who use drugs. This TIP presents clinical guidelines to assist counselors in dealing with problems that routinely arise because of their clients’ status in the criminal justice system.

Good resources for teachers and parents regarding mental health and addictions can also be hard to come by. Additionally, many parents have a hard time sticking with programs because day-to-day things come up—working late, homework whatever. It is often more effective to use these materials in a group setting. Not only does it allow the parents and children to spend time together, but families can provide social support to one another. The following FREE resources are available for order and/or download and can be easily used in a classroom, homeschool or church setting.

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior – Science of Addiction http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17602 (As seen on HBO’s Addiction: Communities Take Action) This landmark publication provides scientific information about the disease of drug addiction, including the many harmful consequences of drug abuse and the basic approaches that have been developed to prevent and treat the disease, and aims to increase understanding of the basics of addiction to help people make informed choices in their own lives, adopt science-based policies and programs that reduce drug abuse and addiction in their communities, and support scientific research that improves the Nation’s well-being.

Building Blocks for a Healthy Future Family Guide http://media.shs.net/bblocks/ParentGuideLong.pdf

The Building Blocks Family Guide contains ideas for fun activities and discussion starters for you and your children, as well as advice and guidance on topics such as active listening, rule making, and being a good role model. It also can be used to guide you through the rest of the Building Blocks materials with your children.

Brain Power! The NIDA Junior Scientist Program: Grades K-1 http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=16883; Grades 2-3 http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=16037; Grades 4-5 http://www.drugabuse.gov/JSP3/JSP.html The Brain Power! program takes students step by step through an exploration of the processes of science and how to use these processes to learn about the brain, the nervous system, and the effects of drugs on the nervous system and the body. The materials include a videotape, a teacher’s guide, trading cards, and parent newsletters.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): The Basics (CD Rom) http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17296 This mini CD—consisting of slides and accompanying notes—provides the latest and most accurate information on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASD. The CD includes essential facts on what FASD is, how it’s caused, how many people have it, and much more.

Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children With Mental Health Needs http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma05-4054/ Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign is a national public education initiative emphasizing attention to children’s and adolescents’ mental health. It supports the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program, in place in communities across the Nation, which is demonstrating the effectiveness of systems of care in meeting the services needs and improving the lives of children with serious emotional disturbances (SEDs) and their families. This campaign is managed by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services. The guide is intended to help parents and caregivers seek help for children with mental health needs. Information is provided on what parents and caregivers need to know, ask, expect, and do to get the most out of their experience with systems of care.

Reach to Teach Educating Elementary and Middle School Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17603 Reach To Teach is a resource guide for parents of a child with an FASD and for teachers in elementary and middle schools who work with children who have an FASD. It provides a basic introduction to these disorders and tools to improve communication between parents and teachers.

Heads Up: A website with .pdf printables from scholastic publishers. http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/headsup/support/index.asp?article=reproducibles

Real News About Drugs and Your Body. Here you’ll find real, science-based facts about the effects drugs have on the teen brain and body. Check out the articles and features below to get the latest facts so you can make smart choices about your health.