Yesterday we talked about keeping your lungs clean
and clear as a whistle.
Today we'll talk about another system to keep clean
and working well: your digestion and elimination.
For so many of us who have, or have had, asthma,
we often have an allergic component to our asthma. A
lot of problems people have with allergies and food
sensitivities, not to mention chronic fatigue,
digestive disorders, and so forth, can be
traced to inefficient elimination.
The more regular you are, and the faster you are
at processing and getting rid of waste, the healthier
you are.
Enhancing your body's digestive and eliminative
abilities can also have a dramatic effect on your
energy levels and quality of sleep.
And it may protect you against various illnesses,
ranging from certain types of cancer to chronic
fatigue.
Another benefit: the faster your body can process
and eliminate what you eat, the better it utilizes
the macro- and micro-nutrients from the food...AND
the quicker it gets rid of the wastes and toxins
that collect in certain organs, such as the colon
and liver.
This is a key to losing weight, as well as
maintaining your ideal weight, once you get there.
I dated a guy in high school who used to call the
little bits of trivia you hear and then share,
"Fun facts to know and tell".
Well,here is a not-so-fun fact that I heard,
and probably shouldn't tell. But I will anyways.
Reader alert: stop reading if you are eating
lunch or something. Continue when you have
finished.
Everybody's heard of Elvis Presley, right? Brilliant
singing career (I won't even mention his, ahem,
acting), awesome smile, and he is an everlasting
icon.
Unfortunately, he came to a very ignominious end.
Everyone knows about the drugs and the terrible
lifestyle. You may not have heard this, however.
When they performed the autopsy on Elvis, they
found over 40 pounds of fecal matter and gunk
in his colon.
He basically ate, drank and drugged himself to
the point that his body could no longer process
everything, and his system went kaput.
Like I said,not so much fun.
So, when it comes to enhancing your own health,
think of yourself as young, thin Elvis - in that
hot black leather suit outfit. You know, the
one he wore during his first comeback
performance.
An excellent way to enhance the health of your
digestive and eliminative organs is through -
you guessed it - deep diaphragmatic breathing.
Breathing deeply, down into your belly, provides
a massaging effect to your organs. The stomach,
intestines and colon rely in part on peristaltic
action to move food and, later, wastes. The
massaging effect from deep breathing enhances
this effect.
Also, deep breathing introduces higher quantities
of vital oxygen into your bloodstream and cells.
So your cells have higher levels of energy and are
able to remove their waste products more efficiently
as well.
Another very important practice is getting plenty
of fiber in your diet. If you eat a lot of fruits
and vegetables, as well as whole grain products,
then you are probably getting enough fiber.
Unfortunately, most people only get about a
quarter to one half of the recommended daily
intake of fiber.
So, you could probably stand to eat more fruits,
veggies and whole grains. You can also supplement
with fiber products containing psyllium seeds,
such as Metamucil.
I like to put a tablespoon or two of Bob's
Red Mill ground flaxseed into my protein shake
each morning. This gives me plenty of fiber and
some healthy fats in one easy step.
Another easy step is to eat a salad or piece of
fruit with every meal, and eat fruit as a snack.
When you first begin to increase your fiber
intake, you may notice a dramatic, and sometimes
unsettling, change in your bowel movements.
This is because the fiber is literally scraping
and capturing a lot of the gunk trapped along
the walls of your colon.
There are also various types of "colon cleansing"
products out there. Some work internally, like
a laxative. Others work from the outside in,
so to speak.
I would adise you to stay away from the enemas
and other treatments (colon cleansers, colon
washes, and so forth) that are basically fancy
names for the enemas.
When I was in college,I worked for two summers
in a hospital, and I can tell you that the nurses
used enemas on the patients only as a last resort.
Even way back then, they knew the importance of
coaxing the bowels to eliminate naturally.
More recently, it's come to light that colon
cleansers (which have become very popular) can
actually cause infection.
Nature gave you the tools. Try a little deep
breathing, lots of water, and plenty of
water-rich foods in your diet, and you should
be good to go.
You Can Do It!
Karen Van Ness
http://www.OvercomeAsthma.com
P.S. If you're looking to lose weight, burn fat,
and improve the elimination of toxins and wastes from
your body, then the "Fire Up Your Metabolism" Program
is for you. Discover the simple but powerful movements
that improve lung function...force more energizing,
fat-burning oxygen into your system...and help tighten
and reduce your waistline. Go to
http://www.overcomeasthma.com/metabolism.html
to learn more.
P.P.S. For a good all-around breathing and relaxation
program, check out the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy
Exercise Course, Volume I. These simple but powerful
exercises help you open up your lungs, enjoy fuller
clearer breathing, and relieve tight muscles. Check it
out today at
http://www.overcomeasthma.com/dynamic_energy1.html.
Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2008
**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**
