Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on Digestion Challenges, should we support the Stomach, Pancreas, or Gallbladder?, How to be aware of the differences, and which Supplements are Dr Jocelin’s Favorites for each.
Tag: Digestion
The use of manuka honey medicinally is becoming far more than just an “alternative” treatment.
A type of honey native to the country of New Zealand, it’s produced by bees that pollinate the Manuka bush. And, although the conventional medical community had dismissed its value for some time, there’s now an increasing interest in its therapeutic uses by the general public, integrative healthcare providers, and researchers.
One of the big things driving the renewed interested in manuka honey is the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens – which has resulted in more interested in the development of novel antibacterial agents. There’s also a growing number of studies that support not only the antimicrobial and antibacterial benefits of this honey but additional health benefits, as well.
Studies show it’s a smart move to eat manuka honey
Several studies have shown and highlighted the antibacterial and antimicrobial effects of Manuka honey. One study investigated the use of this honey on four types of bacteria found in chronic wounds – Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. In fact, the manuka honey was found to help inhibit the growth of these types of bacteria.
A different study, published in the Journal of Wound Care, specifically looked at the bacteriological changes that occurred in sloughy venous leg ulcers that were treated with manuka honey – compared to the use of hydrogel. In four weeks of treatment, 70% of the wounds treated with manuka honey – as opposed to only 17% of those treated with hydrogel – had MRSA eradicated.
The results show the incredible potential this honey has at preventing infection by harnessing its antimicrobial properties. Other studies have not only shown that the honey enhances wound healing, but it also helps decrease pain in burn patients and amplifies tissue regeneration as well.
Additional health benefits of this healing honey
Manuka honey offers many other health benefits beyond treating and healing wounds, and most of them are a result of the honey’s antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Additional health benefits include:
Promotes healthy teeth and gums: Most Americans have some type of gum disease, and minimizing oral bacteria is the best way to keep teeth and gums healthy. Studies show that manuka honey’s antibacterial activity attacks the oral bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum inflammation.
Sore throat relief: Many find that manuka honey offers relief from a sore throat, and its antibacterial and antiviral properties can help reduce inflammation and kill the bacteria causing throat pain. It also provides a soothing effect by coating the inner lining of your throat.
Improved digestion: Digestive problems like IBS, which is associated with symptoms like irregular bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, may be effectively treated with manuka honey. It helps reduce inflammation of the digestive system and may offer significant relief.
Gastric ulcer prevention: Stomach ulcers are very common, and these sores on the stomach’s lining can cause bloating, pain, and nausea. The most common type of bacteria responsible for ulcers is H. pylori, and research shows that manuka honey may work as an antibacterial agent against this type of bacteria, helping to prevent ulcers.
No doubt, manuka honey has unique antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties that offer a variety of health benefits. Make sure to look for manuka honey with a high UMF number to reap the best results.
Be sure to pick up your Manuka Honey available in four different UMF strengths at Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip – Digestive Enzymes and Acid Reflux
Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on Digestive Enzymes, their benefits, and how they can help with Acid Reflux or GERD.
Papaya For Digestive Help!
Papain is a proteolytic enzyme found in concentrated amounts in unripe papaya fruit. It is similar to bromelain (found in pineapple) and has many of the same health benefits. However, there are a few medicinal traits unique to papain that can help improve the body’s overall health.
Papain for Digestive Issues
For instance, if you cook with red meat, you may know that papaya is a well-known fruit used as a tenderizer. This is because the enzymes in the fruit help break down the proteins in the meat. The papain in papaya does the same thing in the body. However, what makes papain a bit more special is that it doesn’t require a certain level of acidity or alkalinity within the body.
This is of vital importance for those with enzyme deficiency problems, as well as for those with low hydrochloric acid output in the stomach. It is important to understand that pepsin produced in the stomach to aid in protein digestion is activated only in an acid medium. This requires a healthy output of hydrochloric acid that is insufficient in many people—especially as they age. Since papain does not require hydrochloric acid, many people with digestive problems will be helped by daily supplementation with papain. In fact, you’ll often find papain in digestive enzyme formulas for this reason.
Papain as an Anti-Inflammatory
While papain is certainly effective as a digestive enzyme, it is also just as effective as a systemic enzyme. If papain is taken between meals, it makes its way into the bloodstream where it helps reduce pain and inflammation, as well as fluid retention following trauma and surgery. In fact, studies have shown that papain possesses strongly marked anti-inflammatory activity, and this ability is no less than that of the pharmaceutical drugs butadion and indomethacin.
We are pleased to offer two digestive enzyme blends that feature Papain as a main ingredient.
NOW® Super Enzymes is a comprehensive blend of enzymes that supports healthy digestion. Formulated with Bromelain, Ox Bile, Pancreatin and Papain, Super Enzymes helps to optimize the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and protein. Also, excellent for someone having early stage gallbladder and pancreas issues!
NOW® Plant Enzymes is a comprehensive blend of enzymes that helps to support proper digestion. This product’s combination of enzymes assists in the breakdown of fats, fiber, proteins, and carbohydrates, thus optimizing the availability of nutrients in the food you eat. NOW® Plant Enzymes also includes lactase to support the digestion of dairy products for those who are sensitive to lactose.
Restricted Eating Times
While we all know that fasting offers many health benefits, there is new research showing that intermittent “restricted eating times” can also have health benefits.
So what is “restricted eating times”? You choose 8 hours of the day to eat as usual choosing good healthy options (no binge eating!). Then you take 16 hours to not eat. This gives your body a break allowing it to work on healing, detoxing, and rest.
Unless you’re succumbing to gluttony during the eight-hour eating period, you’ll most likely end up eating fewer calories each day. But more importantly, because you will tend to use up all of your body’s available glucose during your fasting hours, you force your body to start burning fat for energy, which results in weight loss. And finally, as a result of moving your body into a fat burning state, your insulin levels will drop—since it’s no longer needed at the same levels—while at the same time, growth hormone and noradrenaline levels are increased, which yet again increases your body’s breakdown of fat for energy.
This is a good way to have a balanced approach to reducing calories and encouraging weight loss. And again, remember that as with most diets, this is ideal for 4-12 weeks as a reset. Then resume normal balanced eating throughout the day with good grass fed low grain fed meats, lots of fresh organic veggies, some fruit, some carbs preferably complex carbs, and an occasional sweet treat!
GERD, Acid Reflux, and Digestive Enzymes
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), otherwise known as acid reflux, affects an extraordinary number of adults worldwide. According to the journal Gut, between 18 and 28 percent of the adults in North America suffer from the disease, as do 9 to 26 percent of Europeans and up to 33 percent in the Middle East. Those numbers appear to be rising. The medical community’s response is to put you on an acid blocker; however, that is a symptomatic approach. Those medications when taken long term come with serious side effects including increased risk of dementia, heart attacks, kidney disease, stomach cancer, and strokes. Wouldn’t you prefer to dig into the root and get rid of it if it at all possible?
The natural understanding of acid reflux is that it is caused by the body compensating for a lack of digestive enzymes. Those amazing enzymes do 75% of the work of digesting or breaking down your food in order to absorb the nutrients from them. So having acid reflux is also a sign of malabsorption in many cases. There is a very easy way to support your body and give it the help it needs to head back to “normal function” which is taking Digestive Enzymes with each meal each day to replenish the deficiency. I have personally seen many people see such an improvement, they have been able to come of medications!
So if you or someone you know and love are suffering from acid reflux, then why not give digestive enzymes a try to see if they also work for you? We offer excellent ones from both Solgar and Now. In addition, probiotics along with the digestive enzymes can increase their effectiveness by replenishing the good gut bacteria and further aiding in the digestive process as well as preventing opportunistic infections which some studies are showing can be a contributing factor to acid reflux.
Come in today and ask us to show you our digestive enzyme and probiotic (both refrigerated and shelf stable) selection!
Digestive Health
Digestive Health is the Secret to having overall good health. One of my favorite ways to flush the digestive tract is using Robert Scott Bell’s method for gut reset – take 1-2 Tbsp Sovereign Silver with 1-2 Tbsp Aloe Vera Juice. Drink this combination 1 hour before meals (3 times daily) to allow it to absorb into the gut and begin its healing process thereby reducing inflammation and many resulting gut issues. Then each evening take a 90 billion probiotic such as the Dr. Formulated ones we carry in the refrigerated section. After doing this protocol for 2-8 weeks depending on the severity of your issues, begin supplementation with L-Glutamine (an essential amino acid for bowel nourishment), digestive enzymes (to assist your stomach in breaking down the food – where 75% or more of the food content is broken down), and necessary minerals such as SpectraMin (an Ionic Trace Mineral Complex).
Spiders and Peppermint Oil
Peppermint Oil has many uses from helping the digestive system and stomach aches to relieving headaches, but did you know that you can use it to repel spiders? To make a spider-repellent spray, place about five drops of peppermint oil in a 16-ounce spray bottle. Fill the bottle with water, add a shot of dish soap, and shake the mixture well. Apply the spray around doors and windows, around the outside perimeter of your home, and in any dark corner where spiders may be hiding.
Gut Health
Your gut is key to your overall health. Did you realize that? It is the center of our immune system, digestive system, and even part of our emotions!
According to the Bible in Genesis 43:30, we are told “And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.” Here we see an example as the bowels being the center or seat of emotions. Our Creator knew that so much was driven out of our gut or digestive system, and we can see that in various Scripture verses.
Then from a physical standpoint, we can understand that our immune system is based out of how healthy and how many “good bacteria” we have in our gut. We often support this army of “good bacteria” with probiotics for reinforcements.
We also know that it is part of our digestive tract and can affect things such as acid reflux, allergies, and bowel movements. You may not realize this, but There are actually more nerve cells in the overall digestive system than in the peripheral nervous system!
I share all these facts about our gut to encourage you to take time to maintain a healthy digestive system. How do you do that? Begin by eating foods rich in nutrients such as pasture raised non-gmo meats, fresh vegetables, non-gmo grains, probiotic laden dairy foods, etc. Add in supplements like Digestive Enzymes to help break down your food in your stomach, probiotics to support the “good bacteria”, and L-Glutamine to reduce inflammation of the intestines. Exercise to keep the body moving as well as regular bowel movements to eliminate toxins and waste products are also important.
