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Pam Pirotte
Pam Pirotte was raised in Wichita and received her Masters in Nursing from WSU. She was a nursing educator as well as a bedside nurse until 1986, when care in the home became her focus. Pam considers this the most rewarding field available to nursing personnel. The relationships are positive and precious. “People appreciate us for keeping them in their own homes.” Pam lives with her husband, donkeys, ducks, chickens, geese, goats, dogs and cats, near Leon, Kansas. Saint Raphael Home Care is located at 903 West 18th, Wichita, KS 67203, and Pam can be reached at 316-269-5400.
Senior Living
2007-11-01 10:18:00
How to get your bowels in tip top shape
Why is bowel health in the news lately?
The research community is coming to recognize that bowel health is essential to the well being of the entire body.

Some voices in the health care field say that the intestines are the seat of disease resistance. There are common assaults to bowel health to which most of us are subject: Chlorination, which kills bacteria in our water supply, also kills the good bacteria which should populate the bowels. Antibiotic therapy for earaches, acne, respiratory infection, bladder infection, kills the good bacteria which should populate the bowel. Refined sugar intake promotes the growth and overgrowth of yeast parasites in the bowel—which is a bad thing. Yeast overgrowth has been linked to a whole list of health problems. High fat intake has been linked to cancer of the bowel.

Sometimes a symptom of poor bowel health, sometimes a cause of further health problems, constipation is a very bad thing.

For many years it was commonly held that bowel movements happened when they happened and that was all normal. Even a person who only had a bowel movement once a week was normal.

The bowel gurus are now saying oftener is better. Food shouldn’t remain in the digestive tract for more than 24 hours. Three bowel movements a day is great. At least one large bowel movement is essential. Old intestinal contents harm the intestines themselves. Some say that an overstuffed large intestine causes toxins to leak across the bowel wall into the bloodstream and cause arthritis.

So how do you get your bowels in tip top shape? Eat whole foods. If it’s white, don’t eat it. Drink plenty of water—chlorine removed. Take probiotic supplements to restore healthy bowel bacteria. Take good quality multi-vitamins and multi-mineral supplements. Folic acid has been shown to be protective against colon cancer.

A high fiber diet has also demonstrated protection from gastro-intestinal cancers, 32 grams of fiber a day is recommended. A high fiber intake lowers the risk of developing: heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, or gastro-intestinal cancer.

Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Examples are: oats, dried beans, barley, flax seed, oranges, apples, carrots, psyllium, or broccoli.

Insoluble fiber increases bowel movements and promotes regularity. Examples are: whole wheat, bran, all fruit skins, beets, spinach, blackberries, or kiwi. Get your bowels into good shape. Keep them that way. Then, the rest of yourself has a jump start toward functioning at its very best.

 

 
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