1. Proper hydration: proper hydration is drinking half your body weight in ounces. This means if you weigh 100 lbs you should drink a minimum of 50 oz per day. Good quality water consists of purified water with no chlorine or fluorine. Tap water is toxic to the human body and should be avoided from casual drinking, cooking, and especially in the shower as the skin, the largest organ, is a breathable material which absorbs many of the toxic chemicals in the tap water shower stream along with the breathing of the vapor which is linked to disease formation and progression including lung cancers as reported by non-cigarette smoking people.
2.Consuming adequate fiber: there are two main types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Soluble dissolves in water where as insoluble is not soluble in water. A good source of soluble and insoluble fiber, as both as needed, can be obtained from the plant kingdom. Fruits and vegetables of all sorts are the best way to consume these easily digested and assimilated fibers. Fruits like: apples, mango, watermelon, cucumber, squash, pears, pineapple, papaya, peaches are only just a few of the countless many. Vegetables and roots like spinach, kale, celery, bok choy, lettuce, cabbage, beets, radish, onions, and the many more. Other fiber sources like nuts and seeds: psyllium husk, hemp seed fiber, flax seed fiber, chia seed fiber, sprouted grains and seeds like pumpkin seed, almonds, mung beans, adzuki beans.
3. Adequate oils: seek good quality, cold pressed organic oils preferably. Like: grapeseed, coconut, sesame. Although frying of foods is highly carcinogenic (cancer forming) to the body, the precious mentioned oils hold up fairly well against heat. All three can be consumed unheated on salad or mixed in smoothies to get your daily oils. Other great oils that can be used on salads or smoothies but never to be heated are, hemp seed oil, flax seed oil, chia seed oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, extra virgin olive oil. Avoid at all costs, any foods with partially or fully hydrogenated oils, as these are highly carcinogenic substances. Avoid entirely the following oils in any form: soybean oil, canola oil, butter, margarine, heated olive oil. Fish oil is okay but lately has been found culprit for heavy metal content, which is disease forming and highly neurotoxic( heavy metals are toxic to the brain not good quality heavy metal free fish oils which are very beneficial to the brain).
4. Adequate bowel movements: normally, modern society experiences 1 bowel movement every other day sometimes only twice a week and sometimes worse. Adequate bowel movements are 2-3 per 24 hours. To aid in the removal of fecal matter and debris from the colon, adequate water, fiber and oils are needed. To further provide removal of debris as this waste causes toxicity and precursors to almost every disease, natural debriding agents can be used. Bentonite is a clay that can be used in powder form to adsorb toxicity in the intestinal tract to prepare it for removal. Zeolites, diatomaceous earth and activated charcoal are some others.
5.Consuming high quality probiotics and digestive enzymes: The enzymes will assist the pancreas in food breakdown while the probiotics aid in intestinal waste removal and improved functioning of the entire gastrointestinal system.
6.Intestinal Care: Keeping the colon clean and free of fecal matter and accumulated toxicity from harmful bacteria, parasites and undigested food particles of which many are of the undigested animal protein variety is essential for the health of the entire body. The colon amounts for over 60% of the entire immune system function, and as such is the source of disease if unclean as well as the source of health if clean. The maintenance of the colon health promotes the health of the small intestines which allow for the proper absorption of nutrients from food. This proper utilization of food nutrients is only possible if the duodenum is functioning properly. The duodenum is the site of the small intestines where bike and pancreatic enzymes are delivered to help break down food. It is ideal to ensure the optimal functioning of the pancreas and the liver/gallbladder for these events. Above the duodenum, the stomach must be functioning adequately to provide enough acid to break down food. A common misconception about acid reflux is that the stomach is producing too much acid, which is seldom the case. When the stomach does not have the minerals it needs to make the acid to break down food, the the undigested food in the stomach does not empty out of the stomach, making acidity in the stomach rise and enter the esophagus. This acid reflux over time can eventually damage the integrity of the esophageal lining so greatly that ulcers form in the esophagus, stomach and anywhere in the intestinal tract. Good digestion starts with chewing. Chewing enough allows the stomach to digest properly, lets the small intestines absorb nutrients and promotes adequate bowel movements. If any of these processes are over looked then, food takes additional time to break down and optimal nutrients are never absorbed, while this undigested food clogs the colon, continuing the viscous cycle.
Some guidelines to follow are:
Drink water 1 hour before eating
Don't drink water until 1 hour after eating
Only drink 8oz or less of water while eating( the additional liquids while eating dilutes the acid of the stomach prevent food break down)
Take great quality digestive enzymes to aid in digestion
Cleanse with bentonite clay powder protocols
Consume high quality probiotics
Exercise-as this promotes intestinal health
Reduce stress- breath techniques, yoga, stretching, meditation