Agave is NOT a Healthy Sweetener!

Agave syrup is becoming a favorite of health-minded folks. But beware as that bubble is burst: agave syrup is neither healthy or natural! Dr. Ingrid Kohlstadt, a fellow of the American College of Nutrition and an associate faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health has reported:

"Agave is almost all fructose, a highly processed sugar with great marketing."

Refined sugar consumption is definitely something to be concerned about, but FRUCTOSE is even more problematic.

There are two overall reasons fructose is so damaging:

1. Your body metabolizes fructose in a much different way than glucose. Fructose is broken down in your liver just like alcohol and produces many of the side effects of chronic alcohol use, right down to the "beer belly."
2. People are consuming fructose in quantities that are 400-800 percent higher than they were 100 years ago due to its pervasive presence in just about all processed foods

Egads! Agave products have the highest percentage of fructose of any sweeteners on the market, over 50 percent more fructose than high fructose corn syrup!

Agave syrup is fattening! It has about 16 calories per teaspoon which is the same as sucrose (table sugar). The glycemic index is immaterial, once we understand the full extent of the risk this product poses to our health.

Consuming high amounts of sugar is making America FAT and SICK!

What's the Rumbly in My Tumbly?

GOT GAS? It can be a REAL pain!

Winnie the Pooh aptly describes his hunger pains with the familiar and lovable words, "I'm rumbly in my tumbly!" Perhaps we might just as aptly describe a familiar, but not so lovable, "growly in my bowely!"

When my colonic clients complain to me of gas problems, they always want to know where it comes from. One word defines this uncomfortable nuisance: Putrefaction.

These are some common causes of excessive gas production in the bowel:

• Constipation resulting in the over-accumulation of waste;
• Inability to break down complex sugars and starches;
• Insufficient exercise which slows peristalsis and circulation;
• Improper food combining-i.e. carbohydrates with heavy proteins;
• Endocrine imbalance with insufficient digestive secretions from the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, stomach and small intestines;
• Lactose intolerance or the inability to digest milk based sugars;
• Candida yeast overgrowth;
• Parasites;
• Overeating

NOTE: Colon Hydrotherapist Shiela Shea's Suggestions for Alleviating Gas

• Use herbs, digestive enzymes, or charcoal. Charcoal will also pull out the good metals and minerals when used on a regular basis. If used over time, supplement with rich minerals from algaes and land grasses like wheat and barley;
• Take enemas, Ayurvedic bastis and colon hydrotherapy;
  
• FAST: Ghandi recommended abstaining from food when in pain;
• Take a hot bath;
• Massage the abdomen;
• Avoid complex sugars and starches;
• Exercise with yoga, swimming, and walking;
• Practice breathing exercises;
• Meditate

CLICK HERE to learn more about Oasis Colonics in Portland, Oregon

Enemas, Colonics "Closed" and "Open" ~ Difference?

The large intestine or "colon" ranges between 4 to 6 feet in length. An enema merely flushes out the lower end of the colon where the feces collects before evacuation. The average enema uses only about two quarts of water, while a colonic hydrotherapy treatment uses 15 to 30 gallons of water to flush out waste material from the entire lower bowel. Warm, purified water is introduced at the rate of one cup to two quarts at a time according to the body's comfort and tolerance. The fecal matter is expelled . This action can soften and wash away impaction lining the colon or "lower bowel".

For a description of the differences between "Open" and "Closed" Colon Hydrotherapy systems click here.

The closed-system colonic devise used at Oasis Colonics allows water to gently irrigate the colon in a slow, comfortable manner. During a colonic, the body's own natural peristalsis propels the waste material out by means of wave-like muscular contractions. The colon cleansing "machine" is NOT a type of internal vacuum cleaner or waste extractor, nor is it a pressure hose. It's function can be understood as a technologically advanced "enema bag" that administers water into the colon while simultaneously monitoring temperature and pressure ensuring safety and efficacy.

CLICK HERE and scroll down, to see a picture of the Colon Hydrotherapy equipment used at Oasis Colonics in Portland, Oregon.

Medicinal Power of Music ~ Mind and Body

During the colonic procedure, many people come to realize how intimately their emotional state is "bound up" with their digestive and elimination processes. Bowel health contributes to emotional health, just as emotional health contributes to bowel health. For some people, music is sanity, an escape from a tormented state. Violinist Robert Gupta joined the LA Philharmonic at the age of 19. He maintains a passionate parallel interest in neurobiology and mental health issues.

Stress Affects Digestion

(NaturalNews March 24, 2010) Once you've identified the top sources of stress in your life, it's important to take action and start moving things in a positive direction. Most people are amazed at the improvement they see in their health after making just a few small but very significant changes. Here are seven simple keys for reducing the stress in your life:

Reduce Emotional and Psychological Stress

The impact of emotional stress cannot be underestimated, but this type of stress is often overlooked because it is difficult to make changes in this area. A difficult living situation, an unhappy marriage or a stressful job could be a source of major stress that is wearing down your health. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to move, get a divorce or quit your job, but it's important to look for ways to improve your situation in any case. If you're dealing with other stressors like depression, anxiety, or the loss of a loved one, you may want to seek counseling or join a support group that can offer you help.

Although it appears small on the surface, negative thought patterns have a way of chipping away at our quality of life by compounding our stress. Establishing healthy patterns of enjoying the moment, reframing, and learning to forgive can have a very positive effect on your health.

Prioritize Quality Sleep and Regular Downtime

The impact sleep can have on your life is well documented. Getting at least seven hours every night will balance your cortisol levels, improve your energy and brighten your mood. And just as important as sleep is downtime. It may take some rearranging if your schedule is packed with activities, but it's vital for your health to take time each day to relax and unwind. Taking a day off now and then and freeing yourself from a mile-long to-do list is very restorative as well. And by all means, if you can take a vacation and get away from it all, do it!

Improve Food Quality and Eating Habits

It can't be emphasized enough: food is the foundation of your health. A balanced diet of natural foods is a must. All macronutrient groups (fats, proteins and carbohydrates) should be included in balanced ratios. Avoid skipping meals or under-eating. Your body needs quality food for nourishment.

Avoid Allergens

If you have allergies, these can trigger a stress response in the body. Do your best to avoid allergens, which includes identifying food allergies so you can make better food choices. On the up side, if you deal properly with other stressors in your life, this may decrease the severity of your allergic reactions (which are, in part, a stress response of their own).

Exercise: Make It Smart and Sensible

Exercise is very healthy, but it's important not to overdo it if you're otherwise stressed. Emphasize activities like strength training, yoga, walking and swimming. Avoid overtraining or doing too much cardio, which can exhaust the adrenals.

Reduce Physical Stressors

If you get sick, injured or have to deal with chronic pain, try to get the rest and care you need so you can reduce the stress these cause on your body. Allow your body time to heal or, in the case of chronic pain, look for ways to treat the pain or the underlying cause that prevents you from living a normal, happy life.

Avoid Toxin Exposure

Most of us can't completely eliminate toxins from our lives, but we can take measures to greatly reduce the amount of toxins our bodies must deal with every day. Filter your water, use natural beauty and cleaning products, eat organic foods, avoid chemical food additives and take the time to enjoy fresh air as much as you can.

Author: Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer specializing in health and family nutrition. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent modern disease. To learn more about nourishing foods, stop by Elizabeth's blog, which explores topics like healing with traditional nutrient-dense foods, lacto-fermentation, raw milk, natural living and much, much more. www.livingthenourishedlife.com

How Soon Is Too Soon For Soda?

I am grateful that my mother never allowed "soda pop" in our home, except for "healthy" 7Up for upset stomachs. That was bad enough!

How soon is too soon for soda? In this satirical ad, the 1950's "Soda Pop Board of America" says "not soon enough!" Unfortunately, our covert, modern-day marketeers aren't quite so funny.
Small print reads: "Laboratory tests over the last few years have proven that babies who start drinking soda during that early formative period have a much higher chance of gaining acceptance and "fitting in" during those awkward pre-teen and teen years.

So, do yourself a favor. Do your child a favor. Start them on a strict regimen of sodas and other sugary carbonated beverages right now, for a lifetime of guaranteed happiness."

The Soda Pop Board of America
1515 W. Hart Ave - Chicago, IL

- Promotes Active Lifestyle!
- Boosts Personality!
- Gives body essential sugars!

Calcium Bentonite Clay Pulls Out Toxins

Many of my colonic clients are following heavy metal detox protocol with their doctors. Calcium Bentonite Clay is used to draw metal out of the tissues. I recommend this clay for colon cleansing, as well. It's magnetic properties pull toxic waste that is deeply embedded in the mucosa layer of the bowel. The article below addresses a powerful means to rid the body of mercury contamination.

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that is toxic to vertebrates, including humans. Even in very small amounts, it can cause severe damage to your neurological functions and multiple organ systems. Mercury is hiding in many things we come in contact with daily; everything from our food to the fillings in our teeth, and even our light bulbs. It seems to be everywhere. It was recently reported that HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) has been contaminated with mercury. Since such a vast number of processed foods contain HFCS, any time you eat any pre-packaged food, you're most likely eating mercury right along with it. But mercury isn't just in junk food. Even healthy foods can be hiding mercury. Unfortunately, it is reported to be abundant in fish, one of the foods considered to be most healthy for us to consume. Calcium Bentonite Clay, thankfully, is a safe, natural way to help remove mercury from our bodies and protect ourselves from the ravages of this contaminant.

Calcium Bentonite Clay, also known as Living Clay, can be used both internally and externally to cleanse and detoxify the body. Calcium Bentonite Clay has a very strong negative ionic charge. When it comes in contact with any substance that has a positive ionic charge (such as metals, toxins, bacteria, etc.) it attracts it like a magnet, and the two become bound together. The clay both adsorbs the positive-charged ion (attaches it to its surface like VELCRO®), and absorbs it as well. As the clay passes through your system, it attracts and binds the metals and toxins, which are then eliminated from the body along with the clay.

In conjunction with taking clay internally, external applications are also very effective and helpful in removing mercury. Clay baths are often used as a part of successful chelation therapy. Calcium Bentonite Clay has a uniquely strong ability to pull toxins and metals out through the pores of the skin, binding to them and removing them from the body. And unlike many other chelation methods, clay is natural, safe and much gentler to the system.

To help rid your body of mercury, the best approach is the double fisted, internal/external approach. Take the Calcium Bentonite Clay internally (approximately 2 ounces of liquid clay once or twice a day) and take clay baths twice a week (using approximately 1-2 cups of dry powder clay per bath). Be sure you're using a pure, natural Calcium Bentonite Clay that has a pH of at least 9.0 for best results.

The author of this article, Cheryl McCoy, manages the website www.AboutClay.com, an information and educational resource for the various uses of healing clay. She discovered the amazing benefits of Living Clay several years ago and has been an ardent advocate for this clay ever since. She may be contacted at Info@AboutClay.com.

Say No to Soy

Many people come to me for colonics feeling bloated, with or without the passing of gas. One of the first questions I ask is whether they are eating any soy. The answer is commonly "Yes!" When these same people avoid soy for an experimental 30 days, almost everyone returns with drastically reduced bloating and gas, or none at all. It's mainly the soy milk and the tofu that seems to cause more problems than not. Naturally fermented soy products such as miso and tempeh are excellent choices of vegetarian protein that digest easily, and nourish the body with health promoting enzymes and friendly bacteria.

Soy has become a big part of the human diet post World War II. Many people were fed soy-based formulas as infants, and are now discovering that they have developed allergies or intolerance to soy. An inability to properly digest soy products is common. Numerous books on the subject of soy are available. The Whole Soy Story is particularly thorough and balanced in it's presentation.

Soy is the cheapest protein available, and it is a major component of most animal feeds. Cheap soy protein allows chickens to grow fast, and produce a maximum amount of eggs during their peak laying cycles. If you are allergic to eggs, it could be that you are really allergic to the soy protein that researchers have found to be present in egg yolks. (Please note: The linked to research is pro-soy. The researchers believe that soy is a health food, and their studies on soy protein appearing in egg yolks was seen as a way to get more soy protein into people's diets.)

Almost all commercial eggs, including those that are organic or marketed as "Vegetarian" or "Omega 3" are from chickens fed high concentrations of soy. If eggs are a part of your diet, most likely so is soy protein!

Lots of family farms raise chickens on a soy-free diet. Check your local area, or purchase online. Search "soy free eggs" for numerous leads.

Ten Reasons To Get A Colonic

1. Internal poisons can cause wrinkles, blemishes, psoriasis, eczema and liver spots.
2. Impacted waste disturbs mental function and hastens dementia.
3. A toxic colon can cause acidosis, bloating and yeast infections.
4. Decreased bowel activity can cause foul breath and bad teeth.
5. An unhealthy colon can be related to arthritis and joint pain.
6. A congested lower bowel can cause back pain, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and diverticulitis.
7. An inactive colon can cause weight gain and slow weight loss.
8. Toxins, such as phenol, ammonia, indol, scatole, cresol, cadaverin, botulin, butyric acid, neurin, sepsin, and many other highly active poisons, found in a low functioning colon, can increase the risk of cancer by at least 75%.
9. Waste in the colon putrefies, creates gas, and slows elimination.
10. A toxic bowel can weaken and cause stress to the heart.

Click Oasis Colonics in Portland, Oregon for prices and information .

Junk Food Turns Rats Into Addicts

Most colonic therapists, including myself, observe a direct correlation between a diet of whole, natural foods with lots of fresh vegetables, and the body's ability to thoroughly and efficiently release toxic waste from the bowel. Cleansing the colon is not the same as cleaning out the pipe under the sink. Rather than getting in there to clean it out by force, we assist the body itself to release built up toxic waste in the manner designed by nature. Colon hydrotherapy is a simple and completely natural process.

I recently discovered an interesting study which indicates how serious is our need for eating whole, healthy foods on a regular basis. Below are a few quotes from an article in Science News. Click HERE to read the article in it's entirety.

Junk food elicits addictive behavior in rats similar to the behaviors of rats addicted to heroin, a new study finds. Pleasure centers in the brains of rats addicted to high-fat, high-calorie diets became less responsive as the binging wore on, making the rats consume more and more food. The results, presented October 20 at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting, may help explain the changes in the brain that lead people to overeat.

“This is the most complete evidence to date that suggests obesity and drug addiction have common neurobiological underpinnings,” says study coauthor Paul Johnson of the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida.

After just five days on the junk food diet, rats showed “profound reductions” in the sensitivity of their brains’ pleasure centers, suggesting that the animals quickly became habituated to the food. As a result, the rats ate more food to get the same amount of pleasure. Just as heroin addicts require more and more of the drug to feel good, rats needed more and more of the junk food. “They lose control,” Kenny says. “This is the hallmark of addiction.”

By Laura Sanders, Science News

Health Freedom in the United States ~ Threatened?

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who is a major supporter of the dietary supplement industry, recently and adamantly opposed legislation entitled the “Dietary Supplement Safety Act (S-3002) introduced by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona. Hatch worried that the bill's passing would lead to a pre-market approval process for supplements which the government now considers a food -- not a drug. Such approval could increase costs for the dietary supplement makers, and limit their availability to the public, and essentially give the FDA full control over the nutritional supplement industry.

Pharmaceutical interests are obviously behind this latest effort to legislatively force more Americans towards expensive prescription drugs, and away from natural ways of preventing degenerative disease. Due to overwhelming opposition this bill is now dead, but concerns for the future of free access to dietary supplements still loom.

Health freedom in the U.S. continues to teeter on the edge of a cliff, as do other basic freedoms we take for granted. The fact that our government is pushing authoritarian regulation under the false pretense of protecting consumers is a travesty against a free people.

"Not at all attractive, to my way of thinking." ~Mary Poppins

Minimize the Discomfort of Excessive Gas

According to Dr Louis Estes in his book Raw Food and Health, “Cleansing the colon is the number one way to ensure bloodstream and cellular cleanliness. Remember that the colon is the central waste station of the body, the trash can for all our junk. Colon Hydrotherapy is like taking out the trash. Cleansing the colon empties any gas and waste that may be present and creates a now-empty five-foot long receptacle for the toxins of the body to pour into...Additionally, due to the process of gas diffusion, Colon Hydrotherapy lessens the gas pressure and enables our cells to continually purify.”

GAS in the pit is the pits!

Here is a list of recommendations to minimize this unhealthful and annoying plague:

• Cleanse and detoxify with colon hydrotherapy and enemas;
• Do detox cleanses geared to the intestines and the liver;
• Use Calcium Bentonite Clay for effective detox;
  
• Annihilate parasites!
• Minimize complex carbohydrate foods;
• Avoid eating soy products, except miso and tempeh
  
• Exercise and keep moving!
• Maintain stress-free lifestyle: good luck!
• Avoid environmental toxins;
• Combine food properly;
• Avoid "grazing" all day long, late night eating, overeating, and overlapping meals.
• Chew!
  

As Buckwheat Zydeco says, "Chew, Chew boogaloo!"

Vitamin D Prevents Bowel Cancer

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal found that high levels of vitamin D help to lower the risk of developing bowel cancer. The study, which was the largest of its kind, evaluated nearly 2,500 people with and without bowel cancer to see how vitamin D plays a role in preventing the disease.

Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, and Imperial College London, compared 1,248 bowel cancer patients with 1,248 control group patients. Observers were able to make a clear connection between bowel cancer and low vitamin D levels, indicating that maintaining higher blood serum levels of vitamin D may help to prevent it.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk ~ Jan 22, 2010

Colonics for Colonoscopy Preparation

Colon Hydrotherapy is an effective preparation for the routine Colonoscopy procedure that the doctor prescribes every 5-10 years after the age of 50. A series of colonics effectively cleanses the bowel without the fuss and mess of the standard liquid drink prep.

Danbury Hospital offers colon hydrotherapy as an alternative method to cleanse the bowel in preparation for the colonoscopy screening procedure. Danbury Hospital is a teaching facility associated with numerous and prestigious medical schools, such as The Yale University School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center. Danbury Hospital is the only hospital in Connecticut to rank in the top five percent across the nation for overall clinical performance five years in a row: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Rather than drinking the cramp producing "flushing" liquid, that makes you run in more ways than one, consider scheduling a series of colonics for your colonoscopy prep.


Link here to Oasis Colonics in Portland, Oregon for prices and info.

Colonoscopy on TV ~ Prevents Colon Cancer

On Wednesday morning, CBS' "The Early Show" host Harry Smith had his own colonoscopy televised live from the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. As he put it, his goal was to “demythify” the procedure for the men and women who know they should get the test but are just too squeamish to make it a priority.

It’s been 10 years since Katie Couric had a colonoscopy on national TV. She has been advocating for these potentially life-saving cancer screening exams since her husband, Jay Monahan, died of colorectal cancer in 1998 at the age of 42. Couric’s televised procedure inspired thousands of Americans to get screened – researchers from the University of Michigan documented a 20% increase in the number of colonoscopies performed in the nine months following her broadcast.

Watch Harry's Colonoscopy on CBS News Video HERE

Colon Cleanse To Rid Heavy Metal Poisoning

Modern science has discovered that poisoning from aluminum, heavy-metals and hundreds of chemicals is rampant. It is becoming increasingly clear that we must incorporate lifestyle changes that involve regular cleansing rituals and a living foods diet.

Research reveals that environmental pollutants are a major cause of hormonal imbalances, cancer, thyroid problems, neurological disturbances, learning disabilities, memory loss, depression, food allergies and parasites.

There is tremendous value in colon cleansing and kidney/liver flushes. If we are going to do more than merely survive in our toxic world, we must become conscious consumers and gardeners who will reverse the poisoning, and start the healing of our troubled planet.

Enemas, Colonics "Closed" and "Open" ~ Difference?

The large intestine or "colon" ranges between 4 - 6 feet in length. An enema merely flushes out the lower end of the colon where the waste matter (feces) collects. The average enema uses only about two quarts of water, while a colonic hydrotherapy treatment uses 15 to 30 gallons of water to flush out the entire lower bowel. Warm, purified water is introduced at the rate of one cup to two quarts at a time according to the body's comfort and tolerance. The fecal matter is expelled . This action can soften and wash away impactions lining the colon or "lower bowel".
For a description of the differences between "Open" and "Closed" Colon Hydrotherapy systems click here.

The closed-system colonic equipment used at Oasis Colonics allows water to gently irrigate the colon in a slow, comfortable manner. During a colonic, the body's own natural peristalsis propels the waste material out by means of wave-like muscular contractions. The colon cleansing "machine" is NOT a type of internal vacuum cleaner or waste extractor, nor is it a pressure hose. It's function can be understood as a super technologically advanced "enema bag" that administers water into the colon while simultaneously monitoring temperature and pressure ensuring safety and efficacy.

CLICK HERE, and scroll down, to see a picture of the Colon Hydrotherapy equipment used at Oasis Colonics in Portland, Oregon.

VITAMIN D is crucial to our health!

For many folks, like us here in Portland, consistent, year-round sun exposure isn’t possible because we live in areas where vitamin D synthesis can’t occur for four to six months out of the year. Cold temperatures and cloud cover require us to look for vitamin D from dietary sources or supplementation.

Vitamin D has two forms: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 is made in plants. We see this form often added to commercially produced milk. It is important to note, however, that Vitamin D3 is the preferred form of vitamin D. It is made when cholesterol in our skin cells reacts with sunlight.

Read more about Vitamin D3 from Jordan Rubin in his Extraordinary Health newsletter ~ Issue 86.

Colonics: Forbidden Medicine ~Thomas Dorman, MD

Article from The Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients ~~ Colonics: Forbidden Medicine ~~ Thomas Dorman, MD

I invite all of you who have an interest in Oasis Colonics to read Colonics: Forbidden Medicine by Thomas Dorman, MD
from Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, July 2004.
Click Townsend Letter to read article.

And while you're here, if you haven't yet done so, be sure to read my archived post Colon Hydrotherapy Explained for an intro to colonics .

Blueberry Fiber Alleviates Intestinal Inflammation

It's common knowledge that blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins.

Now new research shows that blueberry fiber is very healthful, and can alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations. The protective effect is even better when the blueberries are eaten together with probiotics.

Blueberries are rich in polyphenols, which have an antimicrobial and antioxidative effect. The combination of blueberries and probiotics reduced inflammation-inducing bacteria in the intestine at the same time as the number of health-promoting lactobacilla increased.

ScienceDaily--Feb. 9, 2010 Blueberries Counteract Intestinal Diseases

Eat Well, Cleanse More

I continually observe that people who follow a healthy diet are able to release toxic waste more deeply and thoroughly during their colon hydrotherapy sessions.

The following is a list of dietary recommendations from The Nourished Kitchen blog:

• Stay Natural & Unrefined. Eat only natural, whole foods in their unrefined state.
• Avoid Modern, Processed Foods. Avoid processed, packaged, refined foods even those sold as "natural" foods. If you're great-great-great-great-great grandmother wouldn't recognize it, don't eat it.
• Sour, sprout or soak. If you eat grain, beans, legumes, nuts or seeds, make sure that you properly prepare them to maximize your body's ability to assimilate their nutrients.
• Love healthy fats. Enjoy wholesome, healthy, unrefined natural fats liberally - and especially on your vegetables.
• Brew mineral-rich stock. Make homemade, mineral-rich broth and stock weekly, and consume it daily.
• Eat grass-fed, pasture-raised and wild-caught. Eat meat, including offal, and make sure it's from a trusted source that relies on traditional methods of raising their animals: on fresh pasture.
• Keep dairy raw and fresh. If you eat dairy, keep it raw or, at the very least, make sure it comes from grass-fed animals and is not subject to ultra-high-temperature pasteurization.
• Get Your Good Bacteria. Consume naturally fermented, probiotic foods and beverages daily.
• Get involved. Grow your foodshed and give back to the community. Fight for farmers and consumers rights and against the industrialization of our food supply.
• Maximize nutrient density of your foods by preparing and consuming them with time-honored tradition.