What is AutoIntoxication?

It’s the underlying cause of most illnesses such as:

• Fatigue	• Colitis	• Indigestion
• Allergies	• Arthritis	• Malabsorption
• Cardiac irregularity	• Nervousness	• Gastritis
• Toxemia	• Headaches	• Sinusitis
• Ears, eyes, nose and throat problems	• Asthma

Practically all chronic and degenerative health conditions begin with improper or poor digestion, even when digestive complaints are not apparent or bothersome.  Just like a car needs fuel, a body needs vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to run properly.  These nutrients are obtained from the foods that are eaten.  If one’s diet is high in processed, refined, junk, fast, & nuked foods, or if the same foods are repeatedly eaten, then several of these vital and essential nutrients are sure to be missing.  And, unfortunately, no nutrient can take the place of any other (for example, vitamin C cannot transform into vitamin D, if there is a deficiency).  Again, just like a car will not run on dirty gas, a body cannot perform all its functions if it is consistently fed with inferior & nutritionally void foods!

So, the bottom line is, if you want to regain your health, and live free of aches & pains, you must improve your digestion!  Here are a few points to get you on the right track:

Eat a variety of wholesome foods, such as: fresh fruits and
vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, essential fats, and lean
proteins (such as beans, peas, legumes, fish, seafood, poultry
(without the skin), venison, ostrich, buffalo, veal

Do not eat too much protein, despite what popular high-protein
diets will tell you.  Excess proteins acidify the body, stress the
kidneys, deplete calcium and speed up the aging process– and
they DO NOT lead to permanent weight loss!

Stay away from refined carbohydrates and simple sugars, such
as: white flour products (cookies, bread, pasta, cereals,
muffins and pastries), candy, white rice—instead opt for whole
grains (amaranth, teff, quinoa, millet, oats, barley, couscous,
rye, spelt, kamut, whole wheat, bulgur and buckwheat) and
choose whole grain: breads, cereals, cookies, muffins etc.
These complex carbohydrates are full of fiber, minerals and
vitamins, which the body needs, whereas  refined
carbohydrates are devoid of these nutrients and merely
promote weight gain, hypoglycemia, diabetes, blood sugar
imbalances, mood swings and premature aging!

Cut down on saturated & trans fats, found in red meat,
processed and FRIED foods.  These fats are difficult to digest
and put a lot of strain on the digestive system.  Moreover, they
are associated with heart disease, cancer and other
degenerative diseases, such as arthritis, diabetes & gout

Aim for 25-30 grams of fiber per day, by eating plenty of fresh
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and
legumes.  Animal products (milk, cheese, meat & eggs do NOT
have any fiber).  When digestion is optimal, one is expected
to have 2-3 bowel movements per day.  If  you are having
fewer than this,  then you may need to supplement your diet
with fiber.  Psyllium and flaxmeal are two options you have to
help you stay regular and toxin free!

If you have any: digestive complains, inflammations, aches &
pains, or are over 40 years of age, you most likely need to
take digestive enzymes with your meals (or at least with your
larger meals).  Digestive enzymes are natural to the body, but
as a result of increasing age, as well as poor eating & lifestyle
habits, they are often depleted.  Taking  2-3 with  meals will
have you feeling better in no time!

If you have ever taken anti-biotics (and who hasn’t??) or
regularly rely on anti-histamines or pain killers (such as
Tylenol, Advil, Excedrin or Aleve) then you most likely have
destroyed the beneficial bacteria that naturally resides in your
intestines.  This ‘good’ bacteria acts as the body’s second
immune system as it helps fight off bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Without it, bad bacteria flourish, which leaves the body more
susceptible to illness & disease.  Moreover, this good bacteria
is essential for the production of some vitamins within the body
(most notably B12) which cannot be made without it, thus
creating a vitamin deficiency within the body.  To correct for
this, it is recommended that probiotic supplements be taken,
on an empty stomach.  The added benefit of doing so is that
bloating, gas and digestive discomfort will also be eliminated!

Eat only when you are hungry!  Overeating puts an added
burden on the digestive system and may increase the amount
of undigested food particles (& toxic waste) within the body

Eat slowly in a calm & serene environment.  Turn off the TV.,
put down your book, and sit down to eat.  Create a pleasant
atmosphere so that you can enjoy each bite of your meal.  Not
only is this a good way to take a break from your hectic day,
but it will also improve your body’s ability to breakdown and
assimilate the foods you have eaten.  When we are in motion,
we activate our sympathetic nervous system, which is not
responsible for digestion, on the other hand, when we are calm
and relaxed our para-sympathetic nervous system takes over,
which is in charge of digestion.  Remember this the next time
you eat standing up, or worse yet, running around!

Chew your foods well—poorly chewed food puts added
strain on the digestive organs and increases your susceptibility
to develop food allergies, leaky gut syndrome, heartburn, acid
reflux and a myriad of other digestive problems.  Good
chewing on the other hand increases the assimilation of
nutrients and makes you feel satisfied with smaller amounts
of food!

Do not drink too much liquid with your meals, doing so will only
dilute your gastric juices and slow down the digestive process.
It is best to drink 1 to 2 cups of water 30 to 60 minutes before
meals, and wait an hour after meals before drinking anything.
If you must, take small sips of water (or juice etc) between
bites—but try to keep this to a minimum

Eat several small meals throughout the day, rather than two
larger ones.  Eating small meals puts less of a burden on
digestion, regulates and maintains blood sugar levels, and
prevents you from overeating later on.  In fact, doing so will
keep you energized throughout the day, and may even lead to
beneficial weight loss (for those interested)

If you are already experiencing digestive discomfort, you may
want to simplify your meals ~ try to eat NO MORE than 4-5
things at a time (this includes proteins, carbs, vegetables etc).
Too frequently our meals are made up with a VERY long list of
ingredients, which can disrupt digestion.  This also means
reducing the spiciness of meals.

Here are a few basic food combining rules to further enhance
digestion:
~ Never combine starches (grains, pasta, rice or root
vegetables-potatoes, squash, rutabaga  turnips, carrots,
parsnip, beets etc) with proteins (beef, pork, lamb, turkey,
chicken, fish, seafood, eggs)
~ Eat proteins with non-starchy vegetables (broccoli,
cauliflower, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, cabbage, lettuce,
radish, tomato, pepper, Brussel sprouts)
~ Eat starchy foods with non-starchy vegetables
~ Eat fruit 30 minutes before meals or 1 to 2 hours after. And
eat all melons alone, even without other fruit

**Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fruits & vegetables are all
digested in different parts of the body(mouth, stomach, &
small intestine) with different digestive enzymes.  Combining
too many different types of foods at one meal confuses and
counteracts the activity of these various enzymes, and
thereby prolongs the digestive process, this may  result in
bloating, gas, fermentation, discomfort and undigested or
partially digested foods.  To prevent this from occurring,
follow the food combing rules and keep your meals simple!

Practice systemic under-eating.  Overeating, even on healthy
foods, is one of the main causes of degenerative diseases &
premature aging.  It has been proven time and time again,
that people who live the longest are those who stop eating as
soon as they are no longer hungry (and before they are full).
Another benefit of eating less, is that foods will be better
digested and assimilated, which translates to a reduced risk of
developing degenerative diseases!

Respond immediately to the call of nature to empty the
bowels.  Doing so will ensure proper peristalsis

Get sufficient exercise—yes its true, even your digestive
system needs to be exercised in order to function properly!
Peristalsis is best, & most regular, if light aerobic exercise is
regularly enjoyed!

Learn stress management techniques such as deep breathing
exercises, meditation, yoga or tai chi, as pent up stress
inhibits digestion and disrupts the normal functioning of
the colon!