Digestive Disorders

Digestive Disorders and forever living recommended products

What are digestive disorders?

Symptoms of digestive disorders

The general symptoms of mild digestive disorders are familiar to us all – abdominal pain, loss of appetite, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and flatulence. More serious ones include blood in the vomit or stools, weight loss and yellow skin or eyes.

It is estimated that some form of digestive disorder affects more than 100 million people in America. For some people, digestive disorders are a source of irritation and discomfort that may cause them to drastically limit their lifestyles and frequently miss work. For others, the disorders may be extremely crippling and even fatal.

The most common cause of disruption to digestion and the absorption of nutrients is damage to the lining of the intestine or another part of the digestive tract. Some common digestive disorders:

Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. It leads to vomiting and diarrhea, usually with abdominal cramps and colicky pains, a slightly raised temperature and perspiration. Traces of blood are sometimes found in vomit or stools. It is caused by bacterial or virus infection, usually from half-cooked or reheated food.






















Gastritis is irritation of the stomach lining. It may be either acute (caused by something a person has eaten or drunk) or chronic (long-term and not linked to a specific incident). It also causes pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Ileitis,
also known as Crohn’s disease, is inflammation of the lower part of the small intestine. The cause is not known. Parts of the intestinal wall thicken and infection or ulcers may develop. It causes chronic diarrhea, which is associated with poor appetite, fever, weight loss and abdominal pain. Sometimes ileitis may be mistaken for acute appendicitis.




Colitis is long-term inflammation of the colon (large intestine), which causes ulcers to form. It can cause frequent bloody diarrhea, with fever, poor appetite, loss of weight and anaemia.

The Gastrointestinal Tract

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a long muscular tube that functions as the food processor for the human body. The digestive system includes the following organs: mouth and salivary glands, stomach, small and large intestines, colon, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Irritations or inflammation of the various sections of the GI tract are identified as gastritis (stomach), colitis (colon), ileitis (ileum or small intestines), hepatitis (liver), and cholecystitis (gallbladder).

The GI tract is not a passive system. Rather, it has the capability to sense and react to materials passed through it. For a healthy digestive system, every person requires different food selections that match their GI tract capacity.

The Digestive Process

The GI tract breaks down foods by first using mechanical means (e.g., chewing) and then via the application of a host of complex chemical processes (from saliva to colon microbes). Since the GI tract is the point of entry for the human body, everything eaten has an impact on the body. The food eaten and passed through the GI tract contains nutrients as well as toxins. Toxins can include, but are not limited to, food additives, pesticides, and specific foods that induce a reaction from the GI tract.

The process of digestion is accomplished via the surface of the GI tract using secretions from accessory glands. The two glands providing the majority of digestive chemicals utilized by the GI tract are the liver and the pancreas. The function of the liver is to control the food supply for the rest of the body by further processing the food molecules absorbed through the intestines. The liver does this by dispensing those food molecules in a controlled manner and filtering out toxins that may have passed through the GI tract wall.

Another very important function of the GI tract is as a sensory organ. By rejecting foods through objectionable taste, vomiting, diarrhea, or any combination of these symptoms, the sensing capacity of the GI tract can protect the body. The surface of the GI tract has a complex system of nerves and other cells of the immune system. The surface of the GI tract, or mucosa, is part of a complex sensing system called the mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT). The immune sensors in the MALT trigger responses such as nausea, vomiting, pain, and swelling. Vomiting and diarrhea are abrupt defensive responses by MALT when it senses foods with a strong allergic or toxic component. This kind of food intolerance is responsible for many digestive problems. The GI tract is "hard-wired" to the brain via hormonal, neurotransmitter-mediator chemical communication.

The GI tract is a muscular tube that contracts in a controlled rhythm to move food through the different sections (peristalsis). Strength and timing variations in contractions can cause cramping (very strong contractions) and diarrhea (very frequent contractions). When the contractions are slow and irregular, constipation may occur. Motility Disorder is the general term used to describe problems with peristalsis.

Food allergy is sometimes the primary cause of GI tract problems. Chronic diseases can have their origin in food allergies. The dysfunction, discomfort, and disease associated with the GI tract can be the result of local immune responses to food selections or combinations of foods. Food selections are a result of personal tastes, social fads, ethnic culture, religion, and, to a larger degree, local or seasonal availability. Food selections made in modern affluent society are based on a developed taste for a rich diet centered on meats and dairy products loaded with fats, high concentrations of proteins, and fat-soluble toxins. Advertising and misinformation about healthy diets have overshadowed human nutritional needs.

Chewing, swallowing, and peristalsis comprise mechanical digestion, in which food is broken down into tiny particles, mixed with digestive juices, and moved through the digestive tract. Digestive enzymes break down large food molecules into small molecules that can be absorbed into the blood or lymph in the process of chemical digestion (Anatomical Chart Company® 2002; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins).

TREATMENT FOR DIGESTIVE DISORDERS

See your doctor if there is a large amount of blood in vomit or motions, if you or a person for whom you are caring suffers prolonged or severe vomiting with abdominal pain or diarrhea or if you notice a rapid deterioration in a baby or elderly person who is vomiting or has diarrhea.

FOREVER LIVING PRODUCTS RECOMMENDED FOR DIGESTION DISORDERS

Aloe Vera Gel

Imagine slicing open an Aloe leaf and consuming the gel directly from the plant. Our Forever Aloe Vera Gel™ is as close to the real thing as you can get.

The miraculous aloe leaf has been found to contain more than 200 compounds. A product of our patented aloe stabilization process, our gel is favored by those looking to maintain a healthy digestive system and a natural energy level.

The first to receive certification by the International Aloe Science Council, this rich cocktail of pulp and liquid authenticates this product just as nature intended. Taken daily, either alone or mixed with pure fruit juice, it is one of the best health drinks available!

• The power of aloe – from the inside out
• The first of its kind to be certified by the International Aloe Science Council
• Beneficial for maintaining a healthy digestive system

Forever Active probiotic

Microbes are live microorganisms that exist in our bodies and play a role in our general health and well being. While some microbes are bad, the majority are beneficial. These “good bacteria” are called “probiotic,” meaning “for life” in Greek. Forever Living Products® recognizes the important role that beneficial microbes play in human health and the need for probiotic supplementation. Designed to promote a healthy digestive system, Forever Active Probiotic® is a small, easy-to-swallow beadlet that helps overcome imbalances created by our food and lifestyle choices, which can inadvertently lead to a reduction in the amount of naturally occurring probiotics. Forever Active Probiotic® works primarily in the intestines where it assists with the process of food digestion, helping to release nutrients for absorption, and contributes positively to normal human growth and development by helping to maintain a balanced and healthy system.

As probiotics themselves are quite fragile, Forever Active Probiotic® uses an exclusive, patented encapsulation technology that protects the probiotics then releases a unique combination of six beneficial strains of microbes only after they reach the desired destination of the intestines. The probiotics in Forever Active Probiotic® are derived from Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera; the species are:

Lactobacillus Acidophilus
Bifidobacterium Longum
Bifidobacterium Lactis
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
Lactobacillus Plantarum

Forever Active Probiotic® is the only shelf-stable, 6-strain probiotic on the market today that requires no refrigeration. And what’s great about Forever Active Probiotic® is that it works in tandem with our patented aloe vera. Aloe acts as a “prebiotic,” which fosters the growth of and provides the ideal environment for the probiotic to function. So whether your goal is to promote a healthy digestive system or enhance nutrient absorption and immune function, add Forever Active Probiotic® to your daily supplement program.

• Promotes a healthy digestive system
• Enhances nutrient absorption and immune function
• Unique combination of 6 beneficial strains of microbes
• No refrigeration needed