6 Ways to Love Your Colon Every Day!

Up to 80 percent of your immune system can be found in your gut, which means a properly functioning digestive system is the foundation for optimal health. Still, digestive diseases affect nearly 70 million Americans every year, resulting in more than 20 million hospitalizations and close to 250,000 deaths.i What can we do to change that?

At the heart of a healthy digestive system is a healthy colon (or large intestine). The colon is one of the seven channels of elimination and its primary function is to eliminate unwanted waste from the body. However, an unhealthy or sluggish colon can’t perform at its peak and may allow harmful toxins to build up inside the intestinal lining. This can result in a number of health problems affecting the colon and beyond. Here are 6 ways to love your colon every day:

  1. Colon hydrotherapy: In order for your digestive system and your whole body to function optimally, toxins that have accumulated must be purged from the system. Natural colon hydrotherapy is a safe and effective way to help cleanse the system and improve digestive health and elimination.
  2. Eat fermented foods:Fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha and sauerkraut help nourish the beneficial bacteria in the colon to support healthy digestive function. In addition, they provide support for the delicate intestinal barrier.
  3. Eat more fiber:A healthy colon requires bulk to eliminate regularly, and fiber helps provide that bulk. Aim for at least 35 grams a day from non-starchy veggies and low-sugar fruits. If you have trouble getting enough fiber in your diet, try adding a natural flax-based fiber supplement that provides a balance of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Avoid fibers that could be binding, such as psyllium, as they can leave the colon dehydrated.
  4. Drink plenty of water: Properly hydrating the colon will promote regular peristalsis (the natural muscle contractions that move food through the intestines) and help ease elimination. Try to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of purified water each day.
  5. Get plenty of exercise: Regular exercise promotes healthy circulation and blood flow, which in turn supports the healthy function of your colon and your entire digestive system. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week.

Consider an herbal colon cleanse: A natural colon cleanse formula made with fiber, magnesium hydroxide (to help hydrate the bowel) and herbal ingredients supports the body’s natural cleansing processes and promotes regular, healthy elimination.‡

i http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/statistics.aspx

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Back-to-School Basics for Kids: 5 Tips for a Healthier, Happier Year


As summer comes to an end, kids across the country are loading up their backpacks with fresh supplies and heading back to school—but new notebooks and No. 2 pencils aren’t the only things they need for a successful school year. Good nutritional habits go a long way toward giving kids a healthy head start. Here are five important tips for parents!

Bring Back Breakfast
A wholesome breakfast gives kids the fuel they need to start their day and stay energized, and studies show that children who eat breakfast perform better in school and are less likely to have behavioral problems. Avoid sugary cereals and heavily processed pre-packaged breakfast foods, and opt instead for fiber-rich steel-cut oats, fresh fruits that are low in sugar, and lean protein sources such as eggs, plain Greek yogurt, and turkey bacon or sausage.

Keep them Active
Kids may be more active during the summer months, but a new study from Illinois University suggests parents should make regular exercise a priority all year long. Researchers found that the brain scans of physically fit kids showed more white matter—indicating a greater capacity for learning, memory and paying attention in the classroom. Sports and after-school activities are a great way to encourage exercise, and parents can even arrange meet-ups at the park or ball field to help children get active after a long day spent sitting at their desks.

Be Smart about Brown Bagging It
With school cafeterias under pressure to provide better nutrition, many parents are opting to brown bag it. However, a new study out of Tufts University shows that packed-at-home lunches often include sugary drinks and processed snacks and not enough fiber, protein and healthy dairy products. Choose plenty of low-sugar fruits and non-starchy veggies, along with lean protein sources such as plain Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and chicken or turkey slices. Other ideas include celery with low-sugar peanut butter, a handful of nuts, and baby carrots with hummus.

Make Sure They Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Research shows that children who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to have difficulty concentrating in the classroom. In addition, lack of sleep can contribute to mood swings, irritability and behavior problems during and after school. Most experts agree that school-age kids should get between 9 and 12 hours of sleep every night, so do your best to create (and stick to) a regular bedtime schedule to ensure they are getting a healthy amount of shut-eye.

Provide Essential Supplements
A healthy body begins with good digestion, so it’s important that children get the nutrients they need to digest their food properly and eliminate waste effectively and efficiently. Daily supplementation with fiber, probiotics and digestive enzymes can help kids get the nutritional support they need for a better digestion and overall health.‡ A daily probiotic supplement also promotes a healthy internal balance and can go a long way toward supporting healthy immune function during the school year, when children are exposed to daily challenges to their immune systems.‡

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