“Natural” Colon Cleanses May Ultimately Not Be Healthy
Perhaps you’ve heard about all natural colon cleanses that cure your body by ridding toxins and built up waste in your system. Usually these colon cleansing systems are touted as miracle cures for everything from Irritable Bowel Syndrome to Chron’s Disease to even cancers. Unfortunately the truth is that there is no ultimate or best colon cleansing program & in fact most are downright frauds.
How can you detect if a company is trying to scam you with their colon cleansing product?
Well the first question is to ask yourself if you really need to “clean your colon”? The truth is that your body does not normally build up waste that then sticks to the walls of your intestines for years and years, that is a lie. There are conditions that can lead to retaining fecal matter and it becoming impacted or turning into fecalomas(hardened fecal matter), this is usually the result of a serious medical condition and needs to solved by a medical professional. In fact taking a high fiber or stimulating laxative, such as a colon cleanse will probably do more harm than good for people in this situation. So ultimately, if you have a normal intestinal tract, it will not horde poo. If your system is slow at moving stool(typical constipation) then there are better methods(soluable/insoluable fiber, yogurts, juices, magnesium, licorice root) than harsh colon cleanses. If your system truly is blocked then you need to seek medical attention immediately.
What is in a colon cleansing program?
What manufacturers do not want you to know is that essentially what you’re getting are basic fibers, minerals & herbs that have laxative qualities. Some even put cheap gums or gelatin like substances(guar gum, xanthan gum,agar or Carrageenan), which can cause distress for people who don’t tolerate these products. Sometimes you will even find things such as earthen clays mixed in. Usually colon cleansing websites fail to disclose their actual ingredients list or make it extremely difficult to find it. This alone should be a warning sign.
How safe are colon cleansing products?
While most colon cleanse products like to tout that they are “all natural”, “safe for anyone”, & “no interactions with other drugs”, this is again a lie. There can be serious health effects caused by going through a colon cleanse. Basic concerns are things like dehydration & loss of nutrients. If there are certain minerals like magnesium added, this can cause problems for people who are susceptible to kidney, liver or heart problems. Taking medication and then flushing your system is a bad idea as you’re essentially flushing your medication through your body along with everything else. In many cases you should make sure you take any prescribed medications hours before or after taking a colon cleansing product. People who already have issues with chronic diarrhea or have other digestive issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chron’s Disease or diverticulitis should be especially wary of taking a product that, in most cases, will only make their symptoms worse. If you have heart, liver, kidney problems or diabetes you could put yourself in grave danger by voluntarily inducing diarrhea like these products do. If you do take a colon cleansing & have a major health condition you MUST get the entire ingredients list and cross reference it with any medication you are taking to ensure they will not conflict. Last thing you want to find out is that some random herb or mineral is blocking your heart medication.
Since most colon cleanse products are listed as being “supplements” they are not regulated or tested buy the FDA. In all likelihood they haven’t been extensively tested before being released to market.
Are these companies trustworthy?
No they are not. Many colon cleansing product companies have been known to fake testimonials, reviews & even create fake gross-out pictures of their product clearing out “years of waste”. The truth is that in many cases these pictures are either completely made-up or are the dramatic result of the product’s ingredients being excreted, not any actual toxic build-up being removed. Many blogs or websites that promote colon cleansing products are affiliates of the company which means they are getting a cut of each sale. When someone is getting 15 – 20% off of each sale, wouldn’t you think that might lead to a bit of bias? Sites that aren’t directly controlled by a company or it’s affiliates might be inundated with spam. If you are on opinion or review sites, check how long the person who left the review has been a member. In many cases you will find that the person only joined to post a positive review of said product, which is very concerning. For some examples, here are some positive and less than positive Amazon.com reviews for the Dr Natura Colonix program 
Are these products worth the price?
No. The ingredients in colon cleanses are cheap. You can get psyllium husk, magnesium or things like licorice root extremely cheap on your own. It’s not uncommon to find things being advertised for $80 when you could by the supplements at retail for around $20 – $25. It’s a HUGE markup. They may claim they are using higher quality ingredients or they have more overhead. However the majority of their overhead is in advertising not in the quality or efficacy of their product.
Overall the goal here is to make you aware that in many cases these companies do not have your best interest in mind and are out to make a quick buck on a cheap product sold at a high mark-up to people who are desperate.
Buyer Beware.
Categories: Tips
Tags: Chron's Disease, colon cleanse, colon cleansing, Diverticulitis, IBD, ibs, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, natural colon cleanse, ultimate colon cleanse
Living With Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Video
YouTube user rickvanman has a two-part video explaining his experiences with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. He explains both the physical and mental toll IBS can take on the sufferer. I can completely relate his experiences to my own while dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You can view the videos below, also check out his IBS website.
PART 1:
PART 2:
Fecal Transplantation Helps With Chron’s, IBS, Clostridium difficile Infection.
I am sure your mind must be pondering, “that title doesn’t mean what I think it means”, well actually it means exactly what you’re probably thinking. The first time I heard about fecal transplantation was when my girlfriend discussed it after seeing an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. I thought it was a joke, no way they would really do that. Thanks to the internet and research, it turns out it is indeed not a joke, but an actual procedure that has helped many people.
Fecal transplantation is simply taking stool from a donor who has a healthy, functional digestive system and implanting it into the affected patient. A poo slurry is created with saline, stool & in some cases added fiber. This is done with a blender(you probably won’t want to make smoothies in this thing afterward). Implantation can be done in different ways, such as via enema, colonoscopy or naso-jejunal tube. This is repeated for 5 – 10 days.
The idea behind fecal transplantation is that the sufferer with the disease is suffering from a bacterial/microbial imbalance in their digestive system. There are literally thousand and thousands of different types of microbes and bacteria in our bodies. If you are missing certain types then you will have an imbalance that will either cause problems with digesting food or allow harmful invaders to setup shop in your digestive system. Since you won’t have the good bacteria available to fight off the infection, this can cause long-term problems. This is the case with Clostridium difficile, a bacteria that is extremely hard to get rid of with normal antibiotics or by the immune system. Also in some cases Chron’s Disease may be the bodies response to invading bacteria, but since it has trouble penetrating the gut to attack the bacteria, it instead inflicts damage on the gut itself.
One thing that is interesting is that many people who had a a history of taking antibiotics seemed more likely to see improvement after transplantation. Antibiotics are known to wipe out your bacterial flora. When I was little I went through many ear infections which involved many doses of antibiotics. I am wondering if this might play some part in my Irritable Bowel Syndrome. A lot of this is theory, but the facts are that fecal transplantation is real and has had beneficial results for many people.
Prof. Thomas Borody has been pioneering this technique in Australia at the Centre for Digestive Diseases. There hasn’t been much effort taking place in the United States, though there are some Gastro doctors who may be willing to entertain the idea. There have been suggestions that the University of Chicago has been holding focus groups regarding fecal transplants & possibly seeking a grant to do further research. There is nothing on their website right now confirming this though.
If you are in the US or UK or you’re not a character on a Grey’s Anatomy episode, you might try doing this on your own. Some enterprising individuals have taken up doing the job of doing it on their own by recruiting stool from their spouse or family. Some have had surprisingly good results as far as combating Chron’s or Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. Here is a very informative discussion from the HealingWell.com forums with experiences from people who have done the procedure themselves.
Have you done fecal transplantation? Are you a doctor researching it? Comment or e-mail and tell me your story.
References:
Categories: News
Tags: Chron's Disease, Fecal Transplant, Fecal Transplantation, IBD, ibs, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Hypnotherapy – How Can It Help You And Your IBS
Special thanks to Hypnotherapy Directory (UK) for writing this detailed post on Hypnotherapy.
Many suffers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome only get occasional pain and discomfort, but for some the condition can effect their lives on a daily basis. You may suffer from constipation, or diarrhea, some may even have both. Pain can vary from mild to severe and can occur at any time of the day. You may also be suffering from indigestion, nausea, cramping, heart burn and muscle pain.
There has been lots of information and research into the condition. Some research suggests that parts of the gut may be over-active, some of the contractions in the muscles can become abnormal. Other research has found that sensitivity to the amount of gas in your bowel and your genes can all contribute to the development of IBS.
Because there is no known cause for IBS there is no definite cure. There are things that can help though, although it is important to recognize that as IBS is a medical condition you should consult your doctor before trying a new method. One method that is growing in popularity is Hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, both have been shown to help relieve IBS symptoms.
Hypnotherapy can help you learn how to relax and teach you new ways to manage stress. Your state of mind can influence your physical health as well as your mental health. The stress and anxiety that IBS can cause can undermine your immune system which can then fuel the IBS further. Being able to relax and control your stress can be invaluable tools in coping with your IBS.
Hypnotherapy can also help you to stay positive about your condition. By communicating with your sub-conscience mind a hypnotherapist can help you change your reactions and feeling to certain situations and feelings. Meaning you may be a much happier and positive person.
Finding a professional hypnotherapist can add to your stress and confusion though, there are no government regulations in place in the UK for hypnotherapy at the moment. This is why the website Hypnotherapy Directory was created. You can search their network of UK based, qualified and insured hypnotherapists by your postcode, town or county to find help in your area. You can also find out lots more information on how hypnotherapy can help IBS, and many other areas . This is a free and confidential service for all.
If you are looking to find a Hypnotherapist in the US check out IBSHypnosis.com’s List of Professionals.
Alternatively if you do not have access to a local Hypnotherapist try Michael Mahoney’s IBS Audio 100 Program.
Align Probiotic For Irritable Bowel Syndrome Update
Align Probiotic For Irritable Bowel Syndrome Update
[Buy Align Probiotics from Amazon.com
This is a follow-up to my post “Align Probiotics Review: First Glance“. I did have some time to try out Align Probiotics and see how they worked out for me. Check out below for a week by week run-down.
Week #1
Week #1 started out pretty well. I did notice that I was dealing with some aches and fatigue, possibly due to Align clearing out toxins or possibly due to something else entirely(I am known to get sinus infections randomly). Within a few days these aches and pains stopped. I think I did start to see some benefit from Align almost immediately. Improvements such as not having to go to the bathroom as often, bowel movements feeling more complete & perhaps even less gas/cramping. Having the pills labeled by the day of the week was pretty handy to keep on top of taking it. I tried to take it the same time each day.
Week #2
Continued improvement, but maybe not as large a leap as the first week. Things seem pretty stable. Maybe a small amount of constipation this week ,but not too bad. I think Align is probably a bit more gentle due to only having 1 billion colony forming units versus other products promoting having 6 billion or sometimes 20 – 50 billion colony forming units.
Week #3
This is where our story goes a bit south for Align. I started having chronic constipation again and even started getting some mild lower abdominal pain. Mild nausea also, probably from being constipated. This is pretty typical for me when my body has decided to go south on the probiotics. Also during this time I was under some stress, so perhaps this played a part in it as well. So ultimately I do not blame Align probiotics for fouling up, but rather I just have a touchy system.
Week 4
Unfortunately, at this junction I decided to discontinue taking Align probiotics, in hopes of reliving some of the constipation. Also the stress eased up in my life during this time as well.
Conclusion
I do not think that Align is a faulty product and actually it’s been the most successful probiotic I’ve used. I have a very touchy system and have had much less luck with other probiotics. I definitely think Align probiotics are worth trying, especially if you’re suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
[Buy Align Probiotics from Amazon.com
Special thanks to Proctor & Gamble for supplying the samples of Align Probiotics.
Excerising for Digestive Health
Excerising for Digestive Health
If you’re suffering from a digestive ailment like IBS, IBD or GERD exercise may not be a top priority. Usually digestive ailments leave us feeling tired, sluggish & fatigued. As you probably already know exercise can be very helpful overall for your body in general & can even help symptoms when dealing with digestion. Exercise has the two-fold benefit of helping to cleanse toxins from your body as well as helping to move gas through your system so you feel less bloated.
Knowing Your Limits
This is important. Don’t over do exercise. If you haven’t been exercising recently then you should start off slow. Nothing is more discouraging than going full force into an exercise program and completely exhausting yourself or even possible hurting yourself in the process. If you’re feeling bloated, aching abs are not going to make your abdomen feel any better, nor is having to use the restroom dealing with aching hamstrings.
If you’re dealing with a more serious digestive problem where you are having trouble maintaining weight, you should not be exercising until you have your condition under control. As a general disclaimer, talk to a doctor if you have doubts or are unsure of how to continue.
Easy Low-Cost Excersises
- Try some basic exercises like windmills, semi circles, running in place or using a jump rope. Basic slow stretching is also good as well. You can create your own 20 minute work-out with these basic items.
- Walking is your friend. Getting out on a hike if you’re dealing with digestion problems may not be a fun idea, but if you can navigate your local neighborhood 20 – 30 minutes, 3 times a week you’ll probably gain some benefits, plus you might even get a little bit of confidence.
- Tai-Chi & Yoga are great low impact exercises that can help not only with body, but also with mind. Check out Yoga For Beginners
& Sunset Tai Chi
.
- Inflatable Fitness Balls are the way to go if you plan on working out your core muscles. Balls provide better support for your back and lessen the wear and tear on your abs when first starting out. Height Guide: 4′ 11″ – 5′ 3″ check out the Valeo Body Ball (55 cm)
, 5′ 4″ – 6′ check out the Valeo Body Ball (65 cm)
, 6′ 1″ – 6′ 9″ check out the Valeo Body Ball (75 cm)
.
Exercise Equipment
Going to the gym when dealing with digestive problems can be nerve wracking, so instead of going to the gym, there is nothing wrong with getting some equipment for your home.
Suggested Equipment:
- Stamina 1300 Magnetic Resistance Upright Bike
- Schwinn 420 Elliptical Trainer
- Gazelle Edge
– Personally I’ve used this before and am not a big fan, but it appears there are others out there who like it & it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than a true elliptical.
Keep A Regimen When You Can
Try to keep a regimen or even a log of what you’ve done. If you’re not feeling well, don’t feel bad to skip exercise for that day. Listen to your body. Exercise is here to help, not hurt you!
Align Probiotics Review: First Glance
Align Probiotics Review: First Glance
Please check out my updated article “Align Probiotic For Irritable Bowel Syndrome Update” for further information on how I did with Align Probiotic.
Recently Proctor & Gamble’s marketing department got in touch with me to take a look at their flagship probiotic, Align. While I haven’t actually started taking Align yet, I’d like to share some of my first thoughts on the product.
I’ve seen Align advertised before & it has received good reviews on places like Amazon.com
Packaging
As I said above the packaging looks very nice. I received some sample sized versions which have a little fold out flap with information about Align & it even has a nifty 7-day calendar to track your progress. The capsules themselves come in a flat blister pack for 7-days. You can tear each capsule away from the sheet before opening it. Each capsule has a day of the week listed on it. I am not quite sure if this is how the retail 28-day supply is packaged, but I’d imagine it is similar. Additionally Align promotes the use of the AlignGI.com website, which has an online digestive tracker. All these ways to track your progress, I feel are helpful. One of the hard parts about taking probiotics is taking them consistently and at a regular time. Anything that makes it easier to remember to take your probiotic or to really be able to track your progress, I see as a good thing.
Contents
As for what’s in Align, it goes 100% with the B. Infantis 35624 strain of bacteria for it’s probiotics. There are a lot of products that mix it up and go for a bunch of different strains. I am not too worried about only one strain of bacteria being in there, it may even be beneficial to focus on producing a single high quality strain than to put in a mix of different, but lower quality strains. B. Infantis 35624 has been shown in studies to improve Irritable Bowel symptoms.
Align contains 1 Billion Colony Forming Units(CFUs) of B. Infantis 35624, this is considerably lower than other probiotics on the market. Again I don’t mind this so much as I think CFUs are overrated. Really it’s about quality. If you have 20 billion CFUs but they all die before hitting your gut or are contaminated with other things, it’s not going to do you any good. Also a lot of people have problems tolerating high doses of probiotics. Going low & slow may be the best approach.
Another positive is that it would appear Align uses a vegetable based capsule(not geletin), so vegetarians probably shouldn’t have any problems taking this. There is no lactose, gluten or soy in Align either. There is “Milk Protein” listed as an ingredient, but trace amounts are found in other probiotics as well.
Criticisms
One thing that does bug me is the use of Titanium Dioxide & FD&C Blue #1. Perhaps this was something that came out of focus groups or something. I would have preferred no artificial coloring in the product at all. I am sure there’s only a tiny bit in there, but if I am only going to see the capsule for a few seconds before popping it in my mouth, I shouldn’t care if it’s “white” or “off-white”.
Cost & Money-Back Guarantee
Align is some what pricey, especially when you are dealing with only getting 1 billion CFUs per capsule. However, if it does turn out to be higher quality & works for you, then I am sure it’ll be worth the money.
Align is offering a Money-Back Guarantee, which is actually pretty sweet. Try it for one month, if it doesn’t work, take them up on the refund.
Where To Buy
-
Buy Align from Amazon.com
- Find a local store.
Follow-Up
Once I’ve got some real world experience with Align, I’ll post back with more information and a link here to the follow-up review.
Disclosure: I was supplied by Proctor & Gamble with samples of Align. The positive or negative outcome of this review is not based on receiving these samples.
Categories: Reviews
Tags: align, b. infantis, bloating, gas, ibs, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, probiotics
Trigger Foods and Valentine’s Day.
Trigger Foods and Valentine’s Day.
So it was Valentine’s day last Sunday, for which I decided to make a cake for my girlfriend. Unfortunately cakes usually do not agree with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. On top of this I was making an Asian style pork roast(ginger, soy sauce, honey, garlic, etc..), rice & steamed carrots + broccoli. Overall the meal was quite good, the only problem was that pesky cake.
Trigger foods for me are usually fatty foods that are low in fiber, plus dairy is rarely good unless something has broken it down. Cheeses are okay, so is sour cream. Plain milk is a no-no.Sometimes it’s a matter of mixing a trigger food in with something so it doesn’t bother you as much.
I’ve had experiences with cake in the past that worked out just fine. For example once I ate a white w/ cream cheese frosting without problems or very little problem. This most recent cake had the markings of being something that would probably cause me trouble. It had butter, oil, whole eggs & milk in it. On top of those items, I was putting a whipped cream frosting on it. Truly it was digestive Armageddon. I was praying to the mighty Digestive Gods to let this one slip by, when I was eating a slice. Unfortunately the Gods were angry & I paid for it a couple hours later with mega-D & discomfort the entire evening.
Ultimately it’s frustrating what with not being able to enjoy the food you make or food others can eat with no problem. Also frustrating is how trigger foods can change from week to week or month to month. Best bet is to probably just stay away from things so loaded with trigger foods. Maybe you can sneak 1 or 2 trigger foods here and there, but not a gut bomb like that cake.
Do you notice your trigger foods change from time to time? What are your trigger foods? Leave a comment, it’d be interesting to know.
Digestive Charities You Can Donate To.
Digestive Charities You Can Donate To.
Perhaps you’re in the mood to give to a good cause, why not donate to an organization that aids in the advancement of treatments for digestive disorders. I’ve compiled a couple different organizations that could use your support. If you are aware of other organizations I should have listed here, please drop me an e-mail or leave a comment and I’ll add it.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
- IAmIBS.com (USA/Intl.)
- The Gut Trust (Canada)
Chron’s Disease:
- Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (USA) or donate $5 by texting CCFA to 90999 via phone.
- National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease (UK)
- Chron’s & Colitis Foundation of Canada (Canada)
Gastroparesis:
GERD:
If you have something to spare, please think strongly about giving to one of these organizations. Thanks.
McGill University Finds Genetic Link With IBS
McGill University Finds Genetic Link With IBS
A recent study from McGill University in Canada has found a genetic predisposition for developing Irritable Bowel Syndrome due to infection:
“Although the exact cause of PI-IBS remains unknown, we now know for the first time that, in addition to the environmental trigger, genetic factors are also playing a critical role in the development of this disease,” explains McGill PhD Alexandra-Chloé Villani, who led the team under the direction of principal investigators John K. Marshall (McMaster) and Denis Franchimont (formerly of McGill). Stephen Collins (McMaster) also collaborated.
Link: Walkerton Tragedy: 10 years of research leads to breakthrough.
The Walkerton Tragedy involved massive bacterial water contamination & incompetence/negligence by the employees of the water utility. In the end 9 people died & 2,300 became ill, with approximately 1/3rd of those ill developing IBS like symptoms.
While on McGill’s website, I found this interesting video which covers the symptoms & treatments of IBS. It is presented by Dr. Serge Mayrand, who along with other things is the Director of Digestive Motility Laboratory at McGill. Please note that registration with their website & the Quicktime application are required to view the video, both of which are free.