We have been told forever that “we are what we eat.” But in actuality we are what we eat, digest and absorb! We can eat the cleanest, freshest, organic food, take the purest, most effective supplements and still feel awful and not enjoy vibrant health and vitality. Why? Compromised digestive health. The digestive system is not only responsible for transforming your nutrition (food and supplements) into fuel your body can readily use, it also houses 70% or more of your immune system!
If you are sick, bloated, tired, overweight and nothing you do seems to help, take a look at these 3 “C’s” and see if they could be the reason:
Caffeine. Now don’t get nervous. I’m not saying you can’t drink a cup of coffee. In fact, caffeine in moderation, for most people, has health benefits. However, when you overdo that, which most people do, that caffeine not only depresses the digestive process, it actually destroys the good bacteria in your gut. When that level between the good and bad bacteria tips more toward the bad, you can begin experiencing all sorts of problems, like candida, bloating, infections, chronic fatigue, weight gain and more. Caffeine also relaxes the esophageal sphincter muscle which allows gastric juices to enter the esophagus and cause acid reflux or heartburn. It also depletes magnesium, which as you will see below is a critical mineral needed for overall health and one which most people are deficient in.
Chlorine. If you don’t swim in a chlorinated pool and drink bottled or purified, filtered water, you probably think this wouldn’t apply to you. And you may be wondering what the problem is with chlorine anyway. Well, think about it this way: when you think about chlorine, what comes to mind first? Bleach, right? Well bleach kills bacteria when you use it in your pool. Well it does the same thing in your gut –it kills bacteria and it’s an equal opportunity killer – it destroys the good and the bad! If you think you are not exposed because you don’t drink tap water – even if you bathe or shower in it, you are exposed! Chlorine is a gas and even just breathing it in will affect your good bacteria.
Carbonation. Do you enjoy a carbonated soft drink with your meals? Well, you need to know the carbonation very effectively depresses digestion! Forget for now that sodas are loaded with phosphoric acid, which leaches the minerals from your bones, resulting weak bones and teeth. It increases risk of kidney stones and chronic kidney disease. It also shuts down your body’s ability to digest and then absorb the nutrients from your food by changing the pH of the intestinal tract resulting in incomplete breakdown of food. Regular ingestion of soda and phosphoric acid appears to reduce the secretion of hydrochloric acid in your stomach over time. You need adequate HCL in your stomach to digest food and also to kill germs.
This is even more important because one of the minerals that you lose in this process is calcium. Every muscle in the body relies on the correct ratio of calcium and magnesium to function properly. You need adequate calcium for muscle contraction and the right amount of magnesium for muscle relaxation. Of course these minerals also keep your bones and teeth strong and healthy and have many other critical functions. This is why I suggest no matter what the health issue may be – you begin by addressing your digestion. When that is functioning optimally, any other changes will be more effective.
Have you been handcuffing your digestion and wondering why you can’t get healthy?
About the author:
Ann Musico is a holistic health coach and wholeness advocate who works with women of all ages to empower them to exemplify lives of vibrant health and wholeness – spirit, soul and body – in a way that is simple and effective, in order to be a positive influence in their world. Her focus is on nutrition, detox and healthy, long term weight loss because she believes those areas are most often the root cause of so many other problems. And she addresses them not only from the physical but also the spirit and soul as well, which are often overlooked. Learn more at Three Dimensional Vitality. And be sure to follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for free exclusive giveaways as well as daily inspiration and motivation!
Sources for This Article Include:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17525693
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24552939
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10499460
http://www.healthambition.com/negative-effects-of-coffee/
http://www.thecandidadiet.com/chlorine-immune-system.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1334730/
http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/sc/0403/sc0403-expertadv.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/magnificent-magnesium/
http://wellnessmama.com/3610/magnesium-deficiency/
The 2nd edition of her book, Today's the Day Seven Week Fitness Plan is now available. Learn more about Ann, her coaching, and the many free resources she offers at her website: http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com
