September 2004


Words from us…

Wayne’s World
It is embarrassing to talk about our colon, bowel movements, intestinal gas, and all those other things that are associated with expelling waste material from our bodies.  But hey, these bodily functions play a crucial role in our health and one must pay attention!  We know we need fiber which is an excellent way to dramatically improve elimination.  Remember, whatever fiber source (capsules, tablets, chewables, liquids, powders) you choose, drink a minimum of eight glasses of pure water a day.  Dietary changes include eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and including whole grain cereals, a source of fiber and complex carbohydrates.  Increasing fiber can help prevent constipation as well as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.  As you know, fiber is the part of plant foods we cannot digest or absorb, and fiber has no calories.  Insoluble fibers do not dissolve in water (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) while soluble fibers do dissolve in water (gum and pectin).  We need both types of fiber everyday, for each form functions differently and provides different health benefits.  Oat bran has the most soluble fiber of any grain, while apple skin is an excellent example of insoluble fiber.  Good bacteria (probiotic) help keep the digestive and eliminatory systems running.  Make sure your probiotic choice dissolves only in the intestine because the harsh environment of the stomach destroys the majority of these bacteria.  Sometimes medications can cause constipation as well as certain low-fiber diets.  People who eat lots of cheese can be cursed with slow-moving bowels as cheese acts like glue in the intestinal tract (dairy in general).  Stay Healthy! offers a fine array of fibers and probiotics as well as much free information on the subjects of digestion, elimination, and constipation.  Call us today or stop in and get moving again!
Thank you so much for your patronage. Stay Healthy!

Jenny's Jive: Constipation is spreading rapidly through our society. People are walking around constipated & don’t even know it!  Constipation can cause many other ailments such as bad breath, body odor, fatigue, headaches, gas… just to mention a few. The main cause of constipation is a poor diet. Eating foods high in fiber can help keep one regular. A few foods high in fiber are: bran cereal, beans (black, kidney, and lentil), peas & potatoes.  Probiotics can help keep the colon & bowels healthy by replacing harmful bacteria. Garlic can also be used to destroy harmful bacteria in the colon. Aloe vera has a healing & cleansing effect on the digestive tract & aids in forming soft fecal matter. Essential fatty acids are needed for proper digestion & stool formation. One of the most important elements in combating constipation, as with any other condition, would have to be water. Water is the key element to life! It hydrates & lubricates when consumed, it purifies the body… purifies the soul.☺

Jeff's Positive Vibrations: Constipation is a very uncomfortable condition that hits us all at some time in our lives and can be an underlying condition to something more serious going on in our digestive tract.  The colon and bowels are the depository for all waste material after food nutrients are extracted and processed into the bloodstream.  When you have digestive problems, this old and infected material often gets reabsorbed into the body and nearby organs, which is a factor for up to 80 to 90% of all disease.   People often don’t realize they are constipated and don’t think they should be having 2 to 3 (or more) bowel movements per day!  Water is so important to good health and a healthy digestive tract.  Fiber is very important too.  Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, whole grains, and cultured foods like yogurt will decrease your chances.  Avoid high fat, sugary, fried foods and dairy products.  Drink 8 to 10 (or more) glasses of water daily, chew food well, eat smaller meals and if you are still having problems come on in to Stay Healthy! where our knowledgeable staff will be glad to show you our products to keep your river flowing smoothly…

J.C. Speaking Words of Wisdom
What causes constipation? To understand constipation, it helps to know how the colon (large intestine) works. As food moves through the colon, it absorbs water while forming waste products, or stool. Muscle contractions in the colon push the stool toward the rectum. By the time stool reaches the rectum, it is solid because most of the water has been absorbed. Common causes of constipation are not enough water, essential fats (good oils) and fiber in the diet. Other causes are lack of exercise, medications, irritable bowel syndrome, changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, older age, abuse of laxatives, ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement, stress, etc. What can you do to treat constipation? Herbs can be very effective for toning and rebuilding the peristaltic muscle contraction. Without strong peristaltic muscles, all the lubrication and fiber in the world won’t make a permanent difference. Triphala is an ayurvedic (Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine from India ) tonic combination of three fruits used for thousands of years to rebuild and tone the colon muscles. Aloe vera is another mild laxative that’s good for general purging. I personally don’t recommend the stimulant laxatives like senna and cascara sagrada for they can easily make you depend on them for elimination. Chi-Kung can be very effective for helping move the bowels. One such exercise is called “Shake the head and twist the trunk to extinguish fire in the heart”. Fire translates to gas, heart burn and the bloated feeling that sometimes accompanies constipation.  Stand with feet shoulder distance apart, put your hands on your stomach and begin to rotate your upper torso, keeping your hips stationary. Rotate 3-5 times in both directions. Focusing on the stretching and scrunching of the stomach. This exercise is one of the best things you can do to keep you internal organs soft and supple. Remember that cold water contracts the colon or shrinks the colon around your food, so be sure to drink only room temperature liquids or nothing at all when you’re eating. Massaging the stomach and hot Epson salt baths can also be beneficial. Another very important aspect for keeping the colon clean is greens. Try “5GREENEST” by WARRIOR MYSTIC FORMULAS for lots of the detoxifying pigment, chlorophyll. A healthy diet along with lots of water and exercise is still the greatest way to keep things moving. 
“He is able who thinks he is able”-Buddha
Knowledge applied is Wisdom…Love ♥ Light ♥ Energy

Nik Notes: According to the staff of the Mayo Clinic, “Stress, too many hours at the computer and too few vegetables can sometimes make you irregular. But does that mean you're constipated? Not always. The normal frequency of bowel movements varies widely — from three a day to three a week. What's normal for you may not be normal for someone else. In general, though, you're probably constipated if you pass hard stools less than three times a week. In some cases you may also have a bloated feeling or abdominal cramping or pain.  Fortunately, a few common-sense lifestyle changes, including getting more exercise, eating high-fiber foods and drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, can go a long way toward preventing or alleviating many cases of constipation.”