Newswire.net - DECEMBER 5th 2012, Scottsdale, AZ - The holidays promote overeating, over-drinking and even overspending. On the flip side, many of us are embarking on new habits and diets as we learn the importance of balancing our systems. Great health and vibrant energy start with a healthy digestive system.

The nutrients in your food provide both the energy that fuels your life, and the building blocks needed to continuously maintain your physical body in its peak condition. The gastrointestinal tract impacts overall health. The digestive system is where vitamins, nutrients and minerals are absorbed, hence the importance of having a healthy gut tract to get the correct nutrition. Conditions such as depression, cancer and autoimmune conditions are all linked to imbalances of the gut tract.

In the past few decades, the average American diet has changed to a high sugar, low fiber diet. This is especially prevalent during the Holiday season. This type of diet is extremely detrimental to sustain the healthy bacteria that live in our digestive tracts.

“According to the American College of Gastroenterology there are 2.5 million Doctors’ visits per year in the U.S. and hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on laxatives.”

A healthy digestive system is necessary to maximize the nourishment from the food you eat and can lead to a person’s better overall well-being. It's your digestive system that extracts the nutrients from food and absorbs and assimilates them into your body.

These healthy bacteria, known as probiotics, are necessary for us to sustain life. Not only is it necessary to have enough probiotics in the gut tract, but also the balance of certain strains of probiotics is necessary for good gut health.

“The American College of Gastroenterology also states the probiotics function to:

- Booth your immune system by production antibodies for certain viruses.

- Produce substances that prevent infection.

- Prevent harmful bacteria form attaching to the gut wall and growing there.

- Send signal to your cells to strengthen the mucus in your intestine and help it act as a

   barrier against infection.

- Inhibit or destroy toxins release by certain “bad” bacteria that can make you sick.

- Produce B vitamins necessary for metabolizing the food you eat, warding off anemia caused by    

   deficiencies in B-6 and B-12 and maintaining healthy skin and a healthy nervous system.”

It is no surprise that depression has increased dramatically in the last few decades because serotonin, a powerful hormone that gives us a feeling of well-being, is created in the gut tract. With the changes in the American diet, less serotonin is produced thus creating depressive conditions. This does not happen overnight, but trends over a period of years until the person has coping difficulties. Often times, they are prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) to combat the depression. Taking the prescription can help the person feel better in the short term, but the cause of the problem is remains unless gut tract repair takes place.

About 70% of our entire immune system exists in the gut tract. People with compromised immune systems likely have an imbalance in the gut tract. The same is true for people with autoimmune diseases such as ulcerative colitis, crohns disease, Celiac’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Many doctors are making the connection that these conditions should not be treated by pharmaceuticals alone, but realize they need to take steps to repair the gut. Often times, when the gut is repaired, the patient can wean off their medication or even discontinue their medication.

Just as destruction of the gut tract does not happen overnight, it may take up to 18 months to repair it. This is a complicated process and many different treatments working together help the process. Herbs, Orthomolecular medicine (nutrients), homeopathy, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy and of course probiotics can help reverse gut damage and restore it back to health. Be sure and seek the advice of a physician that is licensed in these medical modalities before starting any program.

Good, healthy digestion is crucial to provide you with great levels of energy and vitality, productivity and creativity. It will help ensure your longer-term prospects for lasting health and longevity. The better functionality your digestive system has, the better use your body can make of the nutrients in your food, thus, the healthier you will be. Remember, during the holidays, “moderation is key”, the better nutrients and vitamins you put in your body, the more you will promote positive energy and superior immunity. To read more about this topic and informative solutions to many other health issues and naturopathic treatment please visit http://www.chambersclinic.com, this content has been provided by Dr. Keith Chambers of:

Chambers Clinic, LLC

(480) 389-3265 ‎

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Source: EmailWire.com