Constipation

Constipation and IBS: Why Am I Constipated?

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 No Comments by Dr. Albert Snow

Most people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) also suffer from constipation and IBS.

Even though constipation itself isn’t actually an IBD and the most common symptom of IBD is diarrhea, there are some people who are predisposed to both diarrhea and constipation. They are called “swingers,” as they tend to swing from one state to the other, which causes some confusion. This is because once the diarrhea is treated, you also have to manage the constipation.

Genetics is the most common root reason for constipation. If you are a person who is genetically predisposed to being chronically constipated, it means that your body doesn’t absorb or manage both the magnesium in your food and any magnesium you get from a multi-vitamin.

Magnesium is nature’s stool softener and is considered nature’s tranquilizer for those who are always stressed about their constipation and IBS condition. It is this magnesium that properly regulates the amount of fluids found in your stool so that your stools are soft enough, but not too soft to easily pass through your GI tract. Moreover, magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer that helps with proper muscle contraction and expansion by loosening your bowels and helping those suffering from a common condition referred to as, “tight-ass.”

There are several things you need to know regarding magnesium. If your body doesn’t manage fluids properly, then you will have to consume magnesium on a regular basis. However, magnesium is not addictive. Most people don’t mind regularly taking magnesium, as long as they receive natural and consistent bowel movement without any other side effects.

Milk of Magnesia is a very “crude” form of magnesium that leads to “violent” effects. Instead of using Milk of Magnesia, visit a good health food store and ask for high absorption magnesium and then start taking 1-2 tablets daily to find out what works best for you in treating constipation and IBS.

It is a well-known fact that fiber is also helpful in treating constipation and IBS.

However, before you start consuming fibrous food, you have to be careful if you think that a lack of magnesium might be an issue. If you don’t address this condition first, you won’t be able to move your bowels, and fiber just piles up in your colon. In other words, if you suffer from chronic constipation, it is better to first try magnesium.

In most cases, constipation can be managed using the right kind of fiber, which is insoluble fiber. Psyillium is considered the best option here. Of course, you can use magnesium and psyllium together, too, if you think that’s best for your body.

This last fact about constipation will really surprise you. The human body generally has 3 bowel movements in a day. So, after you eat a meal, you have to eliminate all the waste collected from yesterday’s meals. While babies and animals do this very well, adults don’t naturally do as well. If you are one of those who thought that going once a day or every other day was good enough, you are wrong. Preventing yourself from having regular bowel movements can have negative effects on your health.

Prevent your constipation and IBS by ensuring that your body receives the magnesium and fiber that it needs for regular and healthy bowel movements.

Want to PERMANENTLY cure your IBS, IBD, Crohn’s, diverticulitis, or other bowel disease? Schedule a consultation with me to get your treatment started.

Tagged Albert Snow, constipation, constipation and IBS, Dr. Albert Snow, holistic gastroenterologist

The Benefits of Probiotics and Colostrum

Monday, June 20, 2011 1 Comment by Dr. Albert Snow

Commonly people don’t realize that there is a very real connection between probiotics and colostrum. In this article, we will take a look at why probiotics and colostrum work well together and why you should consider using them in conjunction. Through using probiotics and colostrums, it is possible to find relief from issues like chronic diarrhea, a bleeding rectum or colitis pain.

Exactly what is colostrum anyway? This is a very common question. In short, colostrum is a substance that is derived from the breast milk of a nursing mother. This milk is powerful source of probiotics, and the combination of both colostrum and probiotics together can be used to build a stronger and more robust immune system.

Many people are surprised to learn that probiotics are essentially useless without using colostrum as well. Essentially probiotics can exist in your system without doing any real good. Oftentimes people don’t realize that probiotics without colostrum is a losing proposition both for your health and your wallet. The reason for this is that colostrum is vital for allowing probiotics to cling to the inner surface of the GI tissue. When used in conjunction with colostrum, the probiotics will remain in your gut permanently.

Taking antibiotics during your lifetime is another issue altogether. Antibiotics will kill off the friendly bacteria whether you have taken colostrum or not. If you have taken antibiotics, then you will need to start all over again from scratch with a new round of probiotics with colostrum.

If you were breastfed, then you have developed a mucosal lining in your body. In fact, this mucosal lining is so powerful that it can last for an entire lifetime. However, that is only the case if you are able to steer clear of antibiotics. Those who were not breastfed will need to take colostrum and probiotics in conjunction. All of this leads up to the fact that individuals who were fed soy formulas and other formulas, for example, were put at significant health disadvantage.

No doubt colostrum is good for you. Colostrum works to repair a variety of different gastrointestinal issues. It is common for individuals who take probiotics for issues such as colitis or chronic diarrhea to find that these probiotics are not achieving their desired results. If this is the case, the answer is often to use colostrum in addition to probiotics. This is an ideal treatment for ulcerative colitis, and other gastrointestinal ailments.

The good news is that you can find colostrum readily available at your local health food stores as well as reputable online retailers. Through doing so, you will get rid of issues like chronic diarrhea, and a stronger, healthier digestive system will emerge.

The Role of Fiber in Digestive Health

Friday, June 17, 2011 No Comments by Dr. Albert Snow

Fiber and digestive health is a very interesting subject.

Contrary to conventional (mis) understanding its role in assisting constipation is perhaps it’s least important. It’s most important benefit is as a source of nutrition for the bacterial culture that makes up the mucosal lining–maintaining it. Subsequently the mucosal lining protects the gastrointestinal wall–preventing inflammatory diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome–colitis–Crohn’s disease.

The most common cause of constipation is a magnesium deficiency. If you do not address that 1st- the fiber is likely to just back up on you. * Rule #1- if you have any kind of inflammatory bowel disease such as IBS- Colitis- Leaky Gut ect- DO NOT TAKE ANY KIND OF BOWEL CLEANSER OF FIBER SUPPLEMENT-YOU WILL DEFINITELY MAKE YOU PROBLEM WORSE.

Tagged antibiotic, antibiotics, Colitis, Crohn's Disease, holistic gastroenterology, holistic medicine, IBD, IBS, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Leaky Gut, Leaky Gut Syndrome, probiotic

In your opinion, what are the top three things you can do to prevent colon cancer?

Thursday, June 16, 2011 1 Comment by Dr. Albert Snow

Replace the mucosal lining.

2. Replace the mucosal lining.

3. Replace the mucosal lining.

When the people trying to find a cure for colon cancer stop making it so complicated they will find a cure for colon cancer. The real precursor for colon cancer is IBS-Colitis-Ulcerative Colitis- Leaky Gut Syndrome & Crohn’s Disease. Instead of consulting with a oncologist after you have colon cancer- find a Holistic Gastro-enterologist BEFORE you have colon cancer.The real cure is prevention–replace the mucosal lining.

Tagged antibiotic, colon, colon cancer, Colostrum, Crohn's Disease, holistic gastroenterology, holistic medicine, probiotics

What Should You Do If You Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Friday, June 10, 2011 No Comments by Dr. Albert Snow

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, the good news is that your condition is curable. This means that regardless of whether you have colitis, leaky gut syndrome, or Crohn’s disease, there is definitely hope that you will get better. It is important to note that these issues were caused by injury to you gastrointestinal tract. In fact, your own digestive acids caused this injury. If you have been thinking that you inherited your inflammatory bowel disease or that it is some sort of auto-immune disease, it is time to change your thinking and realize that your condition can indeed be treated and cured.

The amount of suffering that you are experiencing is directly related to the amount of damage that has been caused by your stomach’s digestive acids. You can compare the various gastrointestinal issues with first, second and third degree burns. So how do you treat this damage?

The first thing to realize is that drugs are not going to help you recover. Many doctors prescribe drugs like steroids to fix inflammatory bowel disease. However, these drugs will never heal your issues. They may temporarily cover up the problem, but often, prolonged use of medication just leads to surgery.

The fact of the matter is that medication is part of what caused your problems in the first place! Medicines breach the protective lining of the GI tract. Once this important mucosal lining is no longer protecting your intestinal tissue, digestive acids can penetrate and cause harm. As soon as the intestinal wall has been eroded by acid, you will start experiencing the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. You will see disturbing things like blood in the toilet, diarrhea and mucus in your stool. Over time, the acid will continue to harm your tissue.

It is crucial to receive the proper treatment to heal your body. This is done through reversing the problem and rebuilding the gastrointestinal tract. The mucosal lining must be replaced. At this point, your stomach acid will no longer be able to damage your tissue. Also your intestinal wall must be rebuilt. Drugs are not necessary to achieve this goal. Instead, you can rebuild through the use of nutritional supplements that contain organic compounds that are the same as what is naturally in the body. A naturopathic doctor can help you to achieve this goal. The end result will be a permanent drug-free solution.

When Should You See a Holistic Gastroenterologist?

Thursday, June 9, 2011 No Comments by Dr. Albert Snow

If you are suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, it makes sense to see a holistic gastroenterologist as soon as possible. These professionals can assist you in ways and offer solutions that are beyond what traditional medical doctors can offer.

If you are wondering whether or not you have inflammatory bowel disease, it is important to note that this term covers a wide array of conditions like colitis, leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis and Crohn’s disease. While medical doctors may prescribe various medications to treat these issues, the fact is that these drugs will not fix the problem. In fact, your condition will likely continue to get worse even while you take these drugs. While you might find that some of your symptoms temporarily abate, the fact is that your gastrointestinal problems will continue to get worse.

So what is a holistic gastroenterologist exactly? This type of professional is a naturopathic doctor. Naturopathic doctors focus on using natural remedies whenever possible, as opposed to conventional medication. While the paths recommended by traditional MDs often result in surgery, a holistic gastroenterologist will seek to heal your issues without medication. In most cases, surgery can be avoided altogether.

There are subtle differences that a naturopathic doctor will focus on to see exactly what is wrong with your digestive system. While issues like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are both types of inflammatory bowel disease, they can be treated differently. Based on your unique situation, a holistic gastroenterologist will put together a treatment plan that will suit your particular issues.

You will even find that there are differences in recommended foods depending on whether you see a naturopathic doctor or a traditional medical doctor. For example, a holistic gastroenterologist will recommend a low fiber diet without produce, nuts or seeds for those that are currently experiencing issues. If patients eat roughage, it can aggravate the condition and cause extreme issues like blood in toilet. However, once a patient is thoroughly healed, he or she can proceed to eat any type of food that he or she wishes. If you are seeking to permanently end your inflammatory bowel condition, it only makes sense to seek the help of a holistic gastroenterologist.

Permanently Healing Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Friday, April 22, 2011 1 Comment by Dr. Albert Snow

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, the good news is that with proper treatment from a naturopathic doctor, you can permanently repair your body. The goal is to rebuild the “software” of your digestive system. In this case, the word “software” refers to the mucosal lining- which lines & protects the intestines. It is also essential to rebuild the intestinal walls which I call the “hardware.” This wall is made up of skin, fat and muscle. By using nutritional supplements that contain the ingredients of what the intestinal wall is made of- a naturopathic doctor can permanently repair the hardware of your digestive system.

No matter if you have inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, leaky gut syndrome or Crohn’s disease, this information applies to you. The longer you go without the proper treatment, the more damage will be done to your colon. However, once you start to use naturopathic medicine to repair your body, you will find that you no longer need any sort of treatment in the long run.

One great thing about Holistic Gastroenterology is that there will be no need for constant medication for the rest of your life. Once you are fixed, you are fixed. That means that you will feel healthy and you will no longer spend time or money on things like IBS or Colitis treatments. Naturopathic medicine only provides benefits – you will not experience any side effects like you are sure to with prescription medicine that would be given to you by a traditional gastroenterologist.

Your inflammatory bowel disease has been caused by medication that you took at some point in time prior to your symptoms showing up. This medication breeched the mucosal lining and, as a result, acid leaked through to erode the walls of your intestines. As the acid eats away your vital tissue, symptoms like IBS, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease and Colitis result, leading to issues like diarrhea, blood in toilet, and bleeding rectums.

Drugs simply cannot rebuild human tissue. A naturopathic doctor will assist you to rebuild your muscosal lining as well as the intestinal wall by using nutritional compounds that are both natural and organic. Since these substances are natural, they can actually rebuild the tissue in your body rather than just covering up and masking symptoms. Further, once your tissue is rebuilt, it will be as good as new. The bottom line is that inflammatory bowel disease can only be effectively treated with naturopathic medicine.

Exploring Holistic Gastroenterology

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 No Comments by Dr. Albert Snow

Oftentimes those who suffer from conditions like IBS, Colitis, Leaky Gut Syndrome or Crohn’s Disease, go directly to a doctor who practices traditional medicine and don’t even consider seeing a naturopathic physician. However, the truth is that no matter how many traditional physicians you see, you will find that there is no effective medical treatment for any of the gastrointestinal ailments described above. These doctors can endlessly offer you tests, screenings, and medications, but you will find that you are left with the same ailments.

The medications that will be prescribed to you may temporarily mask your symptoms. This means that as long as you take the medicine, you may feel some temporary relief from issues like misc. Leaky Gut Syndrome symptoms, diarrhea, loose stools and blood in the toilet. Yet, unfortunately, while you are taking this medicine, your problems will actually be getting worse.

So what is a Holistic Gastroenterologist and what exactly does this type of professional do? First of all, it is important to note that a Holistic Gastroenterologist is indeed a naturopathic physician. The goal of naturopathic treatments is to use natural remedies to fix your ailments. This means that the remedies that you are given will actually heal your GI tissue instead of just covering up the symptoms. Not only will you be able to stop taking medicine, but you will also avoid any type of gastro-intestial surgery.

When you find a good naturopathic physician, he or she will spend a lot of time listening to your symptoms and seeking to understand your ailments. At this point, the doctor will have a good idea of whether you have a condition like leaky gut syndrome or perhaps it may appear that you have symptoms of Crohn’s Disease.

A Holistic Gastroenterologist and a traditional MD will have different viewpoints on a variety of issues. For example, if you have a diverticulitis attack, a regular doctor will have you consume lots of fiber. However, in the view of a Holistic Gastroenterologist, fiber is actually a very bad food for diverticulitis. In fact, an ideal diet for this ailment is a low fiber diet with no raw produce, nuts, seeds or corn. If the tissue in your GI tract is already inflamed, sending roughage through it will increase your symptoms. A naturopathic physician will recommend that you wait a few months after you have healed to eat a high fiber diet without experiencing any side effects. Then you can eat whatever you want.

A Holistic Gastroenterologist will know that you are better when your symptoms have subsided. It’s all about the IBD symptoms- when they are gone- the problem is gone. That’s body language! As a result, you will save time, energy and money on diagnostic tests and screenings. If you are seeking to heal your inflammatory bowel issues, this type of naturopathic physician will prove to be tremendously beneficial.

Why am I constipated?

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 No Comments by Dr. Albert Snow

Constipation itself does not qualify as an Inflammatory Bowel Disease- although many people with IBD do suffer with that as a complication to their condition. The most common symptom for these conditions is diarrhea. Typically the person with both is genetically predisposed to constipation & we call them “swingers” as they oscillate from one to the other which makes things really confusing. Once the diarrhea from IBS – Colitis ect. is fixed, the constipation will still likely need to be managed ongoing.
By far the most common reason for constipation is genetic. If you are chronically constipated it is because you don’t absorb & properly manage the magnesium from your food & also from what you would get in a multi- vitamin.
Magnesium is nature’s stool softener (as well as nature’s tranquilizer- for those of you who are stressed about your constipation!). It does this by properly regulating the amount of fluid in your stool -making it soft enough- but not too soft -to easily pass. It also is a natural muscle relaxer that allows proper muscle contraction/expansion -loosening the bowel,helping people with a common condition called – “tight-ass”.
Of course we all know that fiber helps with constipation. But- we must be careful- if you are a “magnesium person” & you don’t address that 1st- then you won’t move your bowel & the fiber will just “pile up” in your colon like a traffic jam. So if your problem is chronic you should try the magnesium first.
For many people it can be managed with the proper kind of fiber- insoluble. Psyillium is considered the best.
You certainly can use them both- together if that is what works for you.
Lastly there are several things that you should know. Magnesium is not addictive -although if your body does not manage the fluid properly itself then you will need to use it ongoing- which most people don’t mind when they are getting safe -natural & consistent satisfaction & it has many other “side benefits”.
Lastly – this is going to surprise many of you- when you realize that YOU ARE ACTUALLY CONSTIPATED.
The body is designed to have 3 bowel movements a day. When you eat a meal- you should then eliminate the waste from yesterday’s meals. Babies & animals do this very well -adults- not so much.So those of you who thought once a day or once every other day ect. was good enough- well you were wrong. Over the long haul this has many negative effects on your health.
Very lastly- yes- Milk of Magnesia is magnesium- but a very “crude” form- which causes a “violent” effect. Go to a good health food store & ask for ” high absorption magnesium”- then experiment with 1-2 tablets a day- whatever works for you.

Tagged constipation, magnesium, Psyillium