Colon and raw food diet

The raw and living food diet is about eating whatever you want, whenever you want!

You can lose weight, start to heal your body, increase your energy, and look and feel younger within days of eating raw.

There are numerous benefits to eating a raw and living food diet.

Some of these benefits include helping people who are challenged with diabetes, fibromyalgia, acne, migraines, back pain, neck and joint pain, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia, colitis, diverticulitis, candida, arthritis, allergies, depression, anxiety, mood swings, heartburn, gas, bloating, skin diseases, obesity, chronic fatigue, cancers and many more.

How probiotics can help your autistic child

It's well documented that many autistic children suffer from digestive issues. What you may not know is that things like constipation, diarrhea, and yeast can cause problems elsewhere in the body. Your immune system, your brain power, even your behavior can be affected.

If the digestive tracked is all blocked up (or can't keep anything in), it means that your body can't absorb all the nutrition it needs from the foods you eat. Without the proper vitamins and minerals your child's body cannot function at it's best.

It's important to make sure your children get enough fiber in their diet, which help can calm their digestive distress. Another great way is to offer them something called probiotics. Probiotics are a "good" bacteria that keep your digestive system running smoothly. Then the rest of your body can improve how it absorbs and uses the nutrition you provide for it. You can find probiotics in many different forms like capsules, flavored chew ables, and even in yogurt for those that aren't on a casein free diet. Check the labels to make sure the ingredient list complies with your dietary restrictions (if you have any) and that it contains at least one billion active/live cultures in each serving. This may seem like a lot, but it's actually the typical number for most probiotic supplements.

Within a few weeks of starting the probiotics, you should notice a positive change in your child's bathroom habits, and their mood!

As always, it's a good idea to talk to a health care professional before starting any supplement regimen, so make sure to get some advice from your pediatrician.

This article is a reprint of http://www.examiner.com/x-20961-Orlando-Autism--Parenting-Examiner~y2009m9d6-How-probiotics-can-help-your-autistic-child The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Sep 6, 2009‎

Study IDs patients likely to have colonoscopy discomfort

A British study of 109 patients found women were more likely to report abdominal discomfort during colonoscopy, along with those who had a difficult procedure or preceding gastroscopy, and people with irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers said they were surprised by the "relatively high levels of discomfort" reported but suggested it may have partly been driven by the fact people were asked about discomfort every two minutes during the procedure.

This article is a reprint ofhttp://www.smartbrief.com/news/dhsb/storyDetails.jsp?issueid=109FD8C3-35A1-4414-A6B5-0B1FA5613622©id=3B72C200-6D21-4039-8749-4332CD9A5853 The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Sep 4, 2009‎

What's IBD

IBD encompasses two main diseases, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. However, there are important differences between the two conditions. Crohn's disease can show up in any portion of the digestive tract from the rectum up to the esophagus, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. IBD is a chronic disease that typically causes inflammation and pain in the intestines, but especially the colon. The degree of inflammation varies between individuals but is characterized by intestinal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, pain, weight loss, and sometimes fever. IBD does not remain static over time. People experience flare-ups and then periods of relative calm.

The Importance of Colon Screenings

There are several reasons people don't get the colon screenings they should. People say they are inconvenient, the preparation prior to the test can be unpleasant, and many simply don't understand the importance of regular colon screenings. The fact remains, regular colon screening for both men and women is the best way to monitor colon health and to catch any problems such as colon cancer early.

This article is a reprint of http://menshealth.about.com/b/2009/09/07/the-importance-of-colon-screenings-3.htm The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Sep 7, 2009‎

For more information on colonoscopy visit www.colonoscopy.org

Colon Cancer Stopped in Its Tracks in Swiss Study

Gene-based treatment could block tumors, prevent recurrence, researchers say

Swiss scientists report that they may have found a way to stop colon cancer in its tracks by tinkering with a genetic pathway that allows cells to communicate with one another.

The treatment potentially could help prevent colon cancer from reaching advanced stages and moving to other organs.

The research, published Aug. 27 in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, showed that blocking a communications pathway known as Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) could block tumors because they rely on the pathway to grow.

"Previous works hinted at the possible role of HH-GLI in colon cancer, but this was denied by other studies, so its involvement was never entirely clear," lead researcher Professor Ariel Ruiz i Altaba of Geneva University, said in a news release from the journal's publisher. "In this study we have proven that HH-GLI is essential for the development and growth of colon cancers."

The research could lead to new anti-cancer treatments
that may help prevent colon cancer from metastasizing to other areas of the body, even after a patient appears to have recovered.

"Recurrence is a major problem in cancer treatment," Ruiz i Altaba added.

The researchers used cyclopamine, a product derived from plants, to block the pathway in mice with cancer shortly after their tumors disappeared. The mice lived up to one year and remained tumor-free.

Colon and rectal cancer kill an estimated 50,000 Americans each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

More information

To learn more about colon cancer, visit the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

This article is a reprint of http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/08/28/colon-cancer-stopped-in-its-tracks-in-swiss-study.html The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Sep 8, 2009‎

Aspirin: New Weapon in Colon Cancer Fight?

There is good news in the fight against the second deadliest form of cancer, colorectal cancer: a treatment could be as close as your very own medicine cabinet.

Dr. Jennifer Ashton appeared on "The Early Show" Wednesday to discuss the new findings.

Nearly 50,000 Americans will die of this disease this year alone. But the new research finds something as simple as Aspirin could help those diagnosed with colon cancer live longer.

Fifty-four year old former fire chief Thomas Reinecke thought his abdominal pains were caused by stress, but a colonoscopy revealed he had colon cancer.

"I felt like my whole world caved in on me. I wasn't expecting that and wasn't quite sure how to react or how to handle it," he recalled.

Reinecke wanted to get back to battling fires, and saving lives and now, a new study shows simple Aspirin could help that fight.

"Aspirin may turn out to have a significant benefit in terms of improving survival for colon cancer patients," explained Dr. Alfred Neugut from New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

The study looked at over 1,200 colon cancer patients; those who took Aspirin after their diagnosis reduced their risk of dying from the disease by 29 percent.

Most colon cancer tumors produce an enzyme called COX-2, which triggers the cancer cells to grow. The theory is Aspirin may work by blocking COX-2 and preventing cancer growth.

"We should remember aspirin has side effects. We'll wait and see if it becomes part of the standard treatment for colon cancer," Dr. Neugut added.

Today, Reinecke is finishing his chemotherapy, excited that something cheap, and found in most medicine cabinets could help make him well. "If Aspirin will help, I'll be the first one on board for that," he said.

The study looked at patients whose cancer had not yet spread. So future research will likely try to determine if Aspirin can help people with more advanced disease.

Asked if this means everyone with colon cancer should start taking an Aspirin a day, Ashton explained that it's really too early to make an across-the-board recommendation. This study was an "observational" study meaning researchers merely observed what patients were already doing, such as taking Aspirin for headaches.

On average, the patients in this study took two adult aspirins a week. But the findings really need to be confirmed in a drug trial where patients would be randomly assigned to either take Aspirin or a placebo in order to verify the results and make sure it was the Aspirin responsible for longer survival rates and not something else.

And there are side effects to remember. Aspirin is a powerful medication and can potentially have serious side effects, such as bleeding and stomach irritation. And it's also unclear how it may interact with other medications commonly used to treat colon cancer. So patients should definitely talk to their doctors about weighing the risks vs. benefits.

This article is a reprint ofhttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/12/earlyshow/health/main5235996.shtml The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Aug 12, 2009‎

Battling bacteria

Probiotics show promise in some colitis sufferers

While we’ve all been hit with a bad case of diarrhea and severe cramping after eating something that we probably shouldn’t have, imagine having to live with these debilitating symptoms in a prolonged and recurrent manner for years or even decades. Such is the plight of those often young individuals affected by inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD. This edition of HealthWatch looks at new research suggesting that replacing the bad bacteria in the colon with the good shows promise for at least one form of this condition.

What is IBD?

IBD encompasses two main diseases, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease. However, there are important differences between the two conditions. Crohn’s disease can show up in any portion of the digestive tract from the rectum up to the esophagus, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. IBD is a chronic disease that typically causes inflammation and pain in the intestines, but especially the colon. The degree of inflammation varies between individuals but is characterized by intestinal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, pain, weight loss, and sometimes fever. IBD does not remain static over time. People experience flare-ups and then periods of relative calm.

How prevalent is IBD?

Twenty to 30 per cent of IBD cases occur in people under age 20. The overall incidence in Canada is among the highest worldwide. There are currently more than 200,000 Canadians living with the condition, of which 112,000 people have Crohn’s and 88,000 suffer from ulcerative colitis. What’s more, the numbers have increased, possibly due to environmental factors that may affect the immune system. In addition, recent increased awareness among physicians and the public may be leading to more patients being diagnosed and at an earlier age.

What causes IBD?

There isn’t one universal cause for IBD; rather, several elements come into play, including genetic factors. When it comes to flare-ups, certain harmful types of bacteria such as c. difficile may contribute by triggering an immune system response that leads to intestinal inflammation. It has also been hypothesized that certain drugs – such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and antibiotics – along with previous infections and acute stress can trigger IBD flare-ups; however, the research on this is controversial and the evidence is weak.

How does a doctor arrive at a diagnosis? Why might diagnosis be delayed?

IBD is one of those conditions in medicine that is not black or white. One of the grey areas is diagnosis, which may be delayed due to the fact that symptoms can point to other conditions, such as bowel infections. For this reason, a doctor may arrive at a diagnosis of IBD in part by elimination of other causes. Ultimately, a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may be performed to view the lining of the colon and do a biopsy.

Treatment

Current treatment for IBD focuses on suppressing or at least modulating a person’s immune system response. Medication typically consists of aminosalicylates – aspirin-like drugs – steroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics – drugs that specifically target one’s immune system.

The study

Sood A, Midha V, Makharia GK, Ahuja V, Singal D, Goswami P, Tandon RK. The probiotic preparation, VSL#3 induces remission in patients with mild-to-moderately active ulcerative colitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. Jul 21, 2009.

Why was this study undertaken?

While cortisone and other immunosuppressant drugs are the focus of treatment, they are potentially risky, with both immediate and long-term side effects. Specifically, given what is believed about the causes of flare-ups, the idea has been that by restoring the balance between bad and good bacteria, patients with flare-ups settle down more quickly; and by keeping the good bacteria in charge, the likelihood of a relapse drops significantly.

So what happened in this study?

In this randomized, placebo controlled study of 154 adults with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, half received a daily regimen of a probiotic called VSL#3 and the other half received a placebo powder of similar appearance. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that survive the stomach and make their way down to the colon; VSL#3 is a mixture of eight strains and was provided at a daily dose of 3,600 billion bacteria in sachets of powder to be taken twice a day mixed in either water or yogourt.

What were the findings?

The results were quite promising and pretty consistent with the other research in this area, often conducted in children. One third of the group that was given the probiotic experienced a greater than 50 per cent improvement in their symptoms in addition to other measures of how active their UC was; only 10 per cent of the placebo group got that much better. The benefits were sustained to the 12-week mark and thus appeared to promote remission. Of note, one third of the patients in the probiotic group found that their symptoms were getting worse and did not complete the study although almost half of the placebo group felt the same way and failed to get to the end.

Should UC sufferers take probiotics?

This study, supported by the makers of VL#3, requires confirmation in larger government-sponsored trials before being advocated for widespread use. On the other hand, these supplements appear to be genuinely helpful for some UC sufferers and, while not cheap, are likely to be safe, so there’s probably no harm in giving them a try. VL#3 can be ordered online and might be reimbursed by some insurance companies.

n The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is sponsoring the All that Glitters Gala at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the CCFC at 514-342-0666.


The material provided in HealthWatch is designed for general educational purposes only and does not pertain to individual cases. It should not replace necessary medical consultations with your own doctor or medical professional.

This article is a reprint of http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/HealthWatch+Battling+bacteria/1962642/story.html The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Sept 4 , 2009‎

Colorectal Cancer Attitudes Vary by Ethnicity

Men and people of South Asian descent are more likely to have unfavorable perceptions of colon cancer screening, research from the UK shows.

The findings point the way toward strategies to get more people screened, Dr. Taina Taskila of the University of Birmingham, a researcher on the study, told Reuters Health.

For any type of cancer, she noted, it can be difficult to encourage people to get screened and increase awareness of potential symptoms. "It's one of the most feared of all illnesses and people ... don't want to know about it if they don't have to," she said.

Survival from colorectal cancer is much more likely if the disease is detected early, but most cases are found relatively late, Taskila and her colleagues note in the British Journal of Cancer.

The UK launched a national program in 2006 to screen all men and women 60 to 69 years old with a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), in which the stool is tested for blood. But studies looking at "uptake" of screening have found fewer than 60 percent of eligible people are getting tested.


Attitudes toward colorectal cancer screening are a key determinant in whether a person actually gets the test, the researchers add. To better understand why people might be reluctant to undergo screening, they surveyed 11,355 people about their attitudes toward both FOBT and colonoscopy, as well as whether they had symptoms that could indicate colorectal cancer.

While other researches have investigated attitudes toward screening, Taskila noted in an interview, this study is the first to look at whether having symptoms influences these attitudes.

Overall, the researchers found, 14 percent of the people surveyed had a negative perception of colorectal cancer screening in general, with 13 percent saying they felt FOBT was "very unacceptable" or "unacceptable," and 55 percent saying the same of colonoscopy.

Negative attitudes were more common among men, older people, and people of South Asian heritage.

This article is a reprint of http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8417962 The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Aug 26, 2009‎