Noooo!!!!! Not More Poop!!!

Noooo!!!!! Not More Poop!!!

OK, I KNOW that many of you are taking a peak and a sniff now when you eliminate your waste material! It's OK, I have planted a seed of curiosity and have given you some interesting topics of conversation! Well, I'm not done yet. There are some of you who truly have healthy intestines, but many of you don't and you don't even realize it. I want to just give you some additional things to think about while you are flushing away that information.

1. Partially digested food leaves the stomach and goes to the small intestine. Stomach acid and digestive enzymes determine what type of "bugs" are in there and the rates at which they grow. The benefits of having healthy levels of all of this stuff is well developed villi (finger like projections that are binding sites for nutrients) in the intestine. (It is the villi in Celiac disease that becomes damaged and creates a laundry list of problems.) So, what do you think happens if you are not making enough stomach acid or enzymes? Things get out of wack and you develop problems. I will talk more about this later.
   
2. Healthy pooh consists of 3/4th water and 1/4th dry solid matter. The recipe for this is the following:
   
   
   • 30% bacteria
   • 10-20% fat (this is primarily produced from bacteria, some from cells and unabsorbed dietary fat)
   • 10-20% inorganic matter
   • 2-3% protein
   • 30% undigested food roughage
   
   You should be making this concoction 24/7 and flushing it daily. You must be properly hydrated to make "poops to be proud of". Your hydration can be checked on your next office visit.
   
3. The brown color comes from bilirubin which is a combination of bile from the gallbladder and old red blood cells. This should answer the age old question "What color should my fecal elimination material be?" Next, "Should it have an odor and where does that come from?" In general, there should not be much of an odor. I know that at this very moment you are thinking of someone who's pooh could make your eyes tear. Odor is created based upon what you eat and bacteria eating what you eat. Remember you are not just feeding yourself, but millions of other critters too! Your intestinal flora is your own personal chemical factory. (They also make vitamins, but that is not as much fun to talk about!)
   
4. Antacids (Tums, Priolsec, etc.) will cause an overgrowth of yeast and bacteria.This happens because these medications decrease stomach acid. Stomach acid is what kills off the bugs that enter on your food and in water. It also provides an opportunity for parasites to get past the stomach and set up residence in the intestine. When you have an overgrowth of bugs (no matter what type), they produce toxins, instead of the nutrients that WE need. Antibiotic use most bacteria, except for the strains that are resistant. The resistant strains just get stronger because the good guys (bacteria) that help to maintain balance got wiped out. There is nothing to keep them in check. By the way, all of these critters love simple sugars. Things like pancakes, candy, bread. You get the picture. By the way, this also includes gluten free products that are now available. Just because It is gluten free or came from Trader Joe's does not mean that it is healthy, so beware.

At this point you should be wondering what symptoms you might notice if things get askew. The more common ones are abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain. Some that are not so commonly known are food intolerances, skin rashes, poor exercise tolerance or shortness of breath. Memory problems, fatigue, joint and/or muscle pain may not be due to the aging process, but to your bad "poop making factory". Don't accept your age as an excuse to not feel great! Fevers from unknown causes can be another flag that something is wrong with your equipment. Look at the list of conditions that often have an underlying cause from trouble in the gut.

• Childhood hyperactivity
• Itchy skin
• Eczema
• Acne
• Chronic Fatigue
• Celiac Disease

This is not a complete list, I just included the more common ones that I see daily in the office. Wouldn't it be nice to flush with the confidence that all is well from the inside out!!

Inspiring the way you live,
Dr. Mikell Suzanne Parsons

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You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dr. Mikell Suzanne Parsons is a doctor of Chiropractic, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition and Neurology. Currently she is founder of the Natural Path Health Center in Fresno, California where she continues to specialize in chiropractic, nutrition and chiropractic neurology. Visit The Natural Path Center website - http://www.naturalpathfresno.com

To Your Health
July, 2009 (Vol. 03, Issue 07)

Portrait of a Healthy Mom

It may sound impossible, but many women actually find the time and clarity to eat right, exercise consistently and maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle even with children, a job, a spouse and myriad other responsibilities. How do they do it? By learning simple, effective ways to prioritize their own health and wellness.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Being a mom is tough, especially when it comes to finding time to exercise, eat right and just plain relax while doing all the other things moms do every day. In short, moms are continuously challenged to treat themselves with the same care and concern they selflessly dedicate to their children, their spouse and countless others. Finding the time is one of the biggest challenges, but it's an absolute necessity for your sake and the sake of your loved ones. Here are four ways to stay healthy - physically and emotionally - in the midst of the chaos:

1. Make the world your gym. This might sound strange, but it's great advice, especially when you're running around with your head cut off and can't possibly see yourself making it the gym for an hour a day, three or four days a week. "I don't have the time" is no excuse for not exercising, not when there are so many ways to get a great workout with limited equipment and time. At home, you can increase your metabolism (which promotes weight loss) and tone your muscles with simple body-resistance exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, squats, etc.) in as little as 10-15 minutes a day. If you're with the kids at a park, bring a few cones and set up a sprint course for you (and them) to run. Even riding the swings can be a heart-pumping, muscle-toning activity. Commit yourself to exercise and you'll find a million easy, enjoyable ways to do it, no matter where you are or how little time you seemingly have.

2. Plan ahead - way ahead. This is a great suggestion in general, but with respect to ensuring proper nutrition for you and your family, it's essential. Why wait until the last minute and end up rushing to prepare breakfast, get lunches ready or whip up dinner after work? In the end, not only do your kids likely suffer from a higher percentage of prepackaged, processed, microwaved foods, but so will you. To combat this all-too-common trend, plan weekly meals. On the weekends, shop for the week, paying particular attention to purchasing a variety of healthy, easy-to-prepare foods you can turn into quick meals. Anything that can be prepared beforehand and/or in large quantities is perfect - leftovers are a great way to ensure good meals during the hectic week. And involve your children in the process; it will take some of the work off your shoulders while teaching them the value of good nutrition.

3. Give yourself a break. Sometimes finding time to do nothing is just as important as finding time to exercise, eat right or do something. Just because you've finally found an "extra" 20 minutes in your day doesn't necessarily mean you've got to fill it with an activity. Taking a few moments to unwind, de-stress and get away from it all can do wonders. If the kids are asleep or otherwise occupied, kick off your shoes and relax in your favorite chair with soft music and aromatherapy (or complete silence, if that's possible); if the house is still bustling, a casual walk around the block can be just as freeing. This can also be a great time to review your day and work through any negative emotions or stresses in a calm, relaxed atmosphere.

4. Put yourself on your list of priorities. This is a no-brainer, but it's the key to accomplishing all of the above. One of the very qualities that makes moms so special - selflessness - can also be their downfall. To avoid this, make sure you're on your priority list (and not at the bottom); this doesn't mean being selfish or putting yourself ahead of your children or your other responsibilities; it's really about identifying when you need your time - and then taking it without feeling guilty. If you're convinced that sacrificing your own health and wellness to ensure the same for your children is acceptable, think of it this way: By giving to yourself, you'll be giving to them, too. By exercising, eating right and maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle, you'll be in an infinitely better position to provide for them in every way. And isn't that what being a mom is all about?