Foreword
In my previous blogs, "The Undeniable Rationale for Holistic Self-Care" and "The Basic Functions" the importance of food choices were clearly noted. Eating is clearly one of the most significant factors affecting the function of whole 'being' and overall 'holistic health status'. The basic function of eating supplies the mind and body with much of the 'energy' and nutrients they need for work. The choices of the individual, which are made in the mind, determine quality and quantity of the 'energy' for the mind and body to use. Keep this in mind as you read the following description of the process the body uses to digest, absorb and transform the foods chosen into usable 'energy'.
The following article is a summary from the chapter in the book I am presently putting the finishing touches on, "The True Health Lifestyle: Guide for Holistic Self-Care". Forming a holistic understanding of the 'being' in regards to making food choices and the subsequent processes the body uses to handle the chosen foods are valuable to build confidence and long-term commitment to holistic self-care as a whole.
Holistic nutrition is quite simple once the reader understands the processes involved in the basic function of eating within the mind and body. "The True Health Lifestyle: Guide for Holistic Self-Care" provides the reader with knowledge and perspective to make optimal food and meal choices. The skills to evaluate foods and meals leads to long-term application of holistic self-care, peace of mind and function of the whole 'being' in order to reach the 'optimal function' state of holistic health.
Introduction
Eating is the basic function in which public interest continues to grow as it is now being commonly accepted that the types and amounts of food one consumes play the largest role in developing chronic, preventable disease.Holistic self-care was formulated from this rational conclusion, and expands greatly beyond food choices into forming and planning meals. In fact, choosing itself is a basic function; this points to the interactive and integrational aspect of the basic functions as the all affect each other mightily.
The direct correlation of food choices and health have led the holistic nutrition plan as the first step for instituting holistic self-care. Understanding the processes of the body in breaking down, transforming and using the chosen food will build a necessary foundation for implementing the holistic nutrition plan.
Eating food initiates the digestion process of breaking down and transforming the food for absorption and conversion of the 'energy' and nutrients within the food to usable forms by the body. The digestion processes of breaking down foods are simply preparing them for absorption by raising their pH by secreting alkalizing substances on the foods. This will be referred to with the blanket term of digestion, which eases the understanding of the basic function of eating.
Following the description of the digestion process, which also includes transformation and absorption, will be logical suggestions to support these processes to maximize 'holistic health status'. By choosing foods dense in 'energy' and nutrients that also lead to a higher pH within the body one can make eating true holistic self-care, regardless of present condition or 'holistic health status'. The logical suggestions include holistic self-care treatments and more importantly the optinal choices of food to perform and fulfill the basic function of eating.
Digestion is quite a significant process in terms of health implications and number of events. Improving the efficiency of one’s digestion process is paramount to improving the overall ‘holistic health status’. The conventional understanding of the digestion process has quite a few flawed assumptions, and the following outline will replace these with more logical assumptions. The majority of what we “know”, or think we "know" about the function of the human body is built on assumptions. The assumptions of body function are largely based on the perspective from which the individual views the whole 'being', which is physically represented by the body and operated by the mind and spirit.
The following explanation of the digestion process uses a holistic perspective focusing mainly on the physiology of the body. The body is a whole functioning unit in which a multitude of organs work together impacting nearly every minute function. The function of digestion involves many organs which go on to affect every cell, every drop of fluid within the whole body. One thing to recall when viewing the body holistically is the old saying, "everything affects everything".
In this specific analysis and explanation of the digestion process the body is viewed as an entire entity, whereas the conventional medical perspective generally reduces the body into systems, organs, tissues and so on. The holistic perspective may reduce the body down to parts, but maintains focus on the interactions between the many body parts; whereas the conventional perspective generally practices 'scientific reductionism'. 'Scientific reductionism' produces a wealth of information about the smallest of functions, but generally loses sight of the interactions of the rest of the body. As a result the conventional perspective has little understanding of the underlying causes and conditions that impact and determine body functions, including the digestion process.
A great deal of this viewpoint on the digestion process is based on the work of Dr. Robert Young, world renowned microbiologist and best-selling author of “The pH Miracle” book series. In his 30 years in the health field Dr. Young observes the pH of the whole body and the homeostatic mechanisms which seek to return the body to desired pH as being the most important factors impacting the ‘health status’ of the human body.
Dr. Young’s foundational theory is that the human body has an alkaline pH by design, while nearly all of its functions form acidic pH. Dr. Young’s foundational theory implies that we must limit the impact from the acidic functions and acidic byproducts of these function by supplying the whole body with alkalinity in order to reach optimal ‘health status’. Using Dr. Young’s theory provides a foundation for evaluating the digestion process in order to make logical assumptions which lead to logical conclusions and advice to address and improve the underlying causes and conditions of digestion and health as a whole.
Use the following explanation and conclusions to empower yourself and take control of not just digestion issues but the multitude of health issues resulting either directly or indirectly from inefficient digestion. Inefficient digestion is an underlying condition of many, if not most health issues and can be improved with a commitment to nourishing the self with proper selection of health promoting foods. Become familiar with how the digestion process occurs and keep this in mind when going about your life and seeking to become healthy, vital and full of energy.
The Digestion Process
1. Food, like everything, has mass and occupies space, therefore it is considered matter.
2. Eating food is a basic function which supplies ‘energy’ and nutrients to the 'being'. The first step consists of disorganizing the matter chosen to be eaten. Disorganization of the matter is a necessity for proper absorption and use by the human body. Matter cannot be destroyed, only disorganized then transformed into 'energy' with unusable byproducts.All matter is formed by 'energy', this discovery lead to the nobel prize in physics, and helps form our understanding of the digestion process.The process of disorganizing the food leads to transformation of the food into nutrients and 'energy' with unusable byproducts to be eliminated.
3. Enzymes in the mouth result from the disorganizing of the matter by the chewing process. The presence of the matter itself stimulates the salivary glands to secrete sodium bicarbonate onto the matter. Sodium bicarbonate attempts to alkalize the food in the mouth, explaining why the pH of the mouth rises following the swallowing of food. Enzymes in the digestive process are generally the acidic byproducts of disorganizing and transforming the matter we call food.
4. Sodium bicarbonate is intended to ‘coat’ the food being chewed in order to protect the stomach. The alkalinity of the sodium bicarbonate will raise the pH of the food so as to prepare it for transformation and absorption, which occurs in the stomach and small intestines.
5. Once the food is adequately chewed, hopefully 10 to 20 seconds per bite, it is then swallowed into the stomach. The stomach also secretes sodium bicarbonate onto the now significantly disorganized matter; the stomach cells draw sodium, chloride, water and carbon dioxide from the blood to form this alkalizing compound. However, the acidic byproduct of sodium bicarbonate formation and secretion by the stomach cells is HCl or stomach acid.
6. The stomach acid should not actually touch the food which is now disorganized matter in a capably functioning stomach. The stomach acid will fall to the far, low sides of the stomach and efficiently be absorbed into the stomach tissues. However, when the individual is chronically acidic as a whole, simply regrets to adequately chew thick and dense foods, or makes poor choices of food the stomach acid may not remove efficiently from the stomach and linger in the stomach which may damage the matter and 'energy' being moved into the small intestine or spleen.
7. A portion of the food in the stomach, which is hopefully of sufficient quality and amply disorganized will be absorbed by some stomach cells and taken into the spleen for eventual distribution into the ‘energy’ pathways of the whole body. The quality of the food is determined by the ‘energy’ content which the matter contains. All matter has ‘energy’, in forms of electrons which give energy, and protons which in the long run use considerable energy in the human body making them undesirable. Living matter, like fresh fruits and vegetables are dense with electrons and supply the body with ‘energy’; while ‘dead’ foods like those processed and heated to very high temperatures generally are proton dense, with fewer electrons and a variety of other damaging ingredients that leave the body ‘energy’ deficient.
8. The matter and 'energy' not taken to the spleen for the ‘energy’ pathways will continue to be adequately disorganized and passed into the first section of the small intestine. However, animal foods, processed food and drink along with heavily cooked nuts and seeds are not generally adequately disorganized by this point in the digestion process; which complicates efficiency from here on. When this occurs, the undigested or non-disorganized matter cannot be absorbed by the next section of the small intestine and will be slowly moved into the 3rd and final section of the small intestine and eventually into the colon for elimination via the stool.
9. The food which is amply disorganized in a liquid form will once again be alkalized in the 1st section of the small intestine by sodium bicarbonate secreted by the pancreas. The disorganized matter may also be addressed with bile secreted from the gallbladder to assist the final disorganization process of the more dense fat molecules. High quality fats like organic, cold-pressed oils and organic raw, soaked nuts and seeds will be efficiently disorganized and prepared for absorption and transformation. However, repeated ingestion of poor quality foods like animal products, dairy and heavily cooked nuts and seeds may impair the function of the gallbladder, which can lead to a cascade of digestion issues from bloating, to bad breathe and gas.
10. The food should now be in complete liquid form as it enters the 2nd section of the small intestine for absorption by the intestinal villi. All food is not absorbed equally though, as foods like glutenous grains, dairy products and the majority of soy products harm the intestinal villi. Glutenous grains warp the actual villi which absorb the 'energy' and nutrients from foods. Dairy products coat the villi with mucus rendering them ineffective and soy prevents the villi from absorbing many necessary nutrients. In addition many chemicals regulalry found in processed foods, like synthetic vitamins, artificial sweeteners, additives and preservatives also damage the intestinal villi of the the 2nd section of the small intestine.
11. The 'energy' and nutrients absorbed by the intestinal villi will be taken to the crypts of the small intestine, where disorganized matter is ultimately transformed to red blood cells. Fresh low-sugar fruits, low-starch vegetables and high quality oils, nuts and seeds are efficiently transformed to fully functional red blood cells.This is essential to body function becasue the red blood cells have the ability to once again transform into any and all body cells. Another portion of the food, consisting of nutrients like fats, carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients like antioxidants and fiber may be taken directly into the blood. From the blood these nutritents can be used for a multitude of functions ranging from neutralizing the poor food choices to nourishing organs, glands, tissues and cells. The remaining electrons that were not absorbed in the stomach, along with alkaline minerals like sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium can be absorbed directly into the blood as well. This nourishment will be used to fund the ‘energy’ for the nervous system and multitude of pH mechanisms of the body which neutralize the protons of poor food choices and the acids inevitably resulting from body function.
12. The poor choices of animal foods, dairy products, glutenous grains and the large majority of processed food and drink will also be absorbed into the blood to some degree. Once in the blood, these poor food choices may stimulate the white blood cells and lymphatic system to address them and remove them to prevent further damage. Therefore, it is best to replace the poor choices with a considerable amount of fresh, low-sugar and low-starch fruit and vegetables with quality oils, nuts and seeds which enable the body to regenerate its 70 trillion cells with strong and healthy red blood cells.
13. The food or matter consumed, was disorganized and hopefully fully alkalized prior to absorption. However, the foods which are not absorbed consisting of poor choices and the fiber from the good choices are eventually moved into the colon. As previously mentioned the thick and dense or inadequately chewed food choices may not immediately make it to the colon and may sit in the 3rd section of the small intestine. In combination with mucus-forming dairy and intestinal villi warping gluten this undigested, non-transformed matter may create bloating, indigestion symptoms like acid reflux and heartburn as well as gas and unpredictable bowel movements.
14. The portion of poor choices and fibers will be moved through the colon for elimination via stool. Elimination enables the body to remove the poor food choices as efficiently as possible, but this process needs assisted with generous amounts of alkaline minerals, including salt, fibrous foods and alkaline water.
Holistic Self- Care Conclusion- The Holistic Nutrition Plan
The choice of foods eaten is the first and most important aspect which impacts the digestion process; but lack of willingness and fear of change renders the improvement of food choice a significant process to nearly all individuals. Therefore, addressing food choices will follow the use of simple and effective treatments intended to improve the efficiency of digestion. Also note that many other symptoms may be addressed as well with these natural and holistic self-care strategies.
The digestion process will likely increase in efficiency and become symptom free when consistently supplied with the alkaline minerals to produce generous amounts of the sodium bicarbonate repeatedly mentioned in the process. The alkaline minerals are found in alkaline water and the good food choices of fresh low-sugar fruits, non-starchy vegetables and organic cold-pressed oils, and raw nuts and seeds. However, supplementation is often times necessary and immediately noticeable.
A large percentage of digestive issues can be quickly addressed by increasing and improving water consumption, sea salt consumption and alkaline mineral supplementation. In addition, following the principles of food combination can greatly alleviate digestive issues. Keeping meals simple, drinking water regulalry and with meals (no other types of liquids w/ meals) and chewing slowly and thoroughly are the basic food combination principles.
A basic overview of food combination principles also includes the following: Eating fruits with other like fruits only, eating nuts and seeds with each other only and combining animal foods with low-starch vegetables are the key specific combination principles to be aware of and commit to when addressing most digestive issues. Becoming aware of food combination principles leads the individual to evaluate many processed foods and traditional dinners as a set-up for indigestion, pushing one toward understanding the importance of holistic nutrition.
Acupuncture may help many by improving the ‘energy’ flow to the various organs and glands which function in digestion. Chiropractic adjustments to the spine can also improve ‘energy’ flow to the these areas; many chiropractors can also perform a specific maneuver to address a hiatal hernia, which may initiate swift improvement of many symptoms for many people. Applied kinesiology has been shown to help many by improving ‘energy’ flow to digestive areas, and small maneuvers can help specific areas of the intestines to work efficiently and eliminate the undigested matter which affects many people. The average person is believed to have upwards of 5 pounds of this undigested, rotting and fermenting food in the 20 plus feet of digestive tubes.
Many long-term, or simply overlooked digestive issues may not be completely addressed with the aforementioned strategies. Therefore some individuals may also require short term supplementation of specific enzymes with probiotics to help digest and move the non-transformed matter into the colon for elimination in stool. Of note, supplementation of enzymes and probiotics must be short-term!
In complement to the aforementioned advice one can use cleansing herbs, fiber supplementation, exercising by rebounding, low-impact aerobics, yoga, qigong and body work like massage therapies and shiatsu to assist moving the non-transformed matter through the intestines and out of the body.
This brings us to the absolute most important aspect in addressing all digestion issues: the food chosen by the individual for consumption. Foods like glutenous grains, all dairy products, and most soy products directly damage or inhibit the intestinal villi from efficient absorption of the matter ingested. Animal products and the large majority of processed foods and supplements will also inhibit absorption, and likely sit in the intestines and spoil, rot and ferment leading to a variety of symptoms.
The institution of a holistic nutrition plan is the logical result of rationally evaluating the digestion process. A holistic nutrition plans is not a ‘diet’; striving to disassociate holistic nutrition from ‘diets’ because of their many negative connotations and the generally perception of diets as being aimed at short-term weight loss. Holistic nutrition plans are long-term living strategies and encompass the entire lifestyle and may result in bodyfat loss but are specifically aimed to improve ‘holistic health status’ of the whole ‘being’; mind, body and spirit. The mind enacts and enables the holistic nutrition plan which greatly impacts the appearance and function of the body; all while playing a significant role in the state of spiritual fulfillment and peace.
"The True Health Lifestyle: Guide for Holistic Self-Care" fully details holistic nutrition with chapters dedicated to showing the reader how to practically assemble an individualized holistic nutrition plan. Holistic nutrition is an essential aspect of holistic self-care and is an invaluable way to eat and drink stress-free, never counting calories, carbs or anyhting else every again.
Enacting a holistic nutrition plan starts with the sincere commitment to nourishing the whole ‘being’ by replacing the poor choices with fresh low-sugar fruits, low-starch vegetables, cold-processed organic oils, and organic, raw nuts and seeds as well as fatty fish to address the underlying causes and improve digestion. Properly balancing the preparation of these foods is intrumental as well; lightly and medium cooked or raw are the basic preparations.
Holistic nutrition plans are quite simple and seeks to avoid constantly reducing foods to the nutrients that compose them by using simple evaluation of food in order to make the optimal choices consistently. When individuals on the holistic nutrition plan make the optimal choice, they must be honest with themself and move on to the next meal with a positive attitude; never preoccupy the mind with concern and negativity as a whole. Holistic self-care begins with the mind, and holistic nutrition focuses on the mind for lasting improvements in body and spirit as well.
The optimal manners and sources used to fulfill the basic functions are explained and detailed in the text, "The True Health Lifestyle: Guide for Holistic Self-Care", by Sam Suska.- The principles of holistic self-care, along with practical tips for implementation are outlined in the text, “The True Health Lifestyle: Guidebook for Holistic Self-Care”, by Sam Suska.
- Continue to follow this blog for holistic self-care principles, practical tips and release date for the holistic self-care text authored by Sam Suska.
- Sam Suska currently offers holistic lifestyle coaching and holistic personal training to interested clients in the Pittsburgh area through True Health Services. For details about True Health Services, visit http://www.truehealthservices.org/
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