What are the signs of good elimination?
Stool Color: The stool should be light brown. Temporary discoloration will occur with foods like beets or taking chlorophyll, not to be alarmed.

Consistency and Length: Stool should be the length of a banana (1ft) and be soft. Many people produce small, hard, pellet like fecal matter. This is not sufficient. When eliminating take a mental inventory of what you ate 24 hours ago and ask yourself is this about the amount of food I consumed? What we take from our food are the amino acids, minerals, basically nutrients that are microscopic.

Frequency: At minimum people should be having one bowel movement a day. Thirty minutes after meals is common because digestion starts in the mouth and peristalsis (natural wavelike movement of the colon) is triggered so food may move down the alimentary canal and out the rectum. Keep in mind you are eliminating what you ate roughly three meals ago, not what you just consumed. Sitting on the toilet to regulate or trigger movement is useful but never sit longer than 5minutes if nothing is happening to not encourage hemorrhoids.

Gas and Odor: Gas is the natural by-product of digestion but an abundance of gas is not normal and balancing your flora with probiotics is essential. Once people eliminate after colonics a common comment is that their stool has a "foul" smell. Bacteria that putrefy the fecal matter in the intestines is churned up and expelled causing a stronger odor that regular elimination. Cleansing your colon is as necessary as bringing out the garbage in your house.

Sink or Float: A healthy stool should leave the body easily and gently submerge. If there is not enough daily fiber in the diet the stool will plummet to the bottom of the toilet. If the stool floats it may mean too much fiber or too much undigested fat! Now we can start thinking about liver cleanses.

How do I achieve 2 to 3 bowel movements a day?
Peristalsis/Hydration: One needs peristaltic action to move food through the digestive system. This natural wavelike motion of the large intestine works to move food through within a 24 hour period.

Hydration is the number one way to stimulate peristalsis. Drinking plenty of water is key. Using herbal supplements that are natural to jump start a sluggish colon may be necessary. But know the difference.

1. Laxatives act on the nerve endings of the colon and after time will cause a dependency to move food through the colon. Examples of herbal laxatives are senna, cascara sagrada or purgative herbs and of course pharmaceutical laxatives sold over the counter.



2. Stool softeners act to hydrate and keep water in the colon to soften stool.



3. Colon cleansers are what people should use to move fecal matter through without forming a dependency, irritating the colon and eliminate food in a manner that allows the food to digest in the small intestine. Products like get regular tea and colon cleansing programs found at health food stores will work.

Laxatives not only cause dependences, they irritate the colon causing one to eliminate without taking the time to digest and get the nutrients one needs from their food leading to malabsorption and malnutrition.

Bulk: the colon needs bulk in order for it to move 2 to 3 times a day. Fiber! Fiber should be 50% soluble and 50% insoluble. Flax based fiber is best for it is naturally 50/50. It is important to avoid fibers that are predominately soluble. A good example of a 100% soluble fiber is psyllium. Psyllium absorbs 40 times its weight in water. When you take psyllium it can absorb most of the free water in the colon, which leaves the colon dehydrated which in turn reduces peristalsis. This is why so many people become clogged and constipated when they use a psyllium based fiber supplement. So make sure when taking psyllium you are drinking plenty of water. A flax fiber, which is balanced 50/50 (soluble/insoluble) gives the user many benefits. It absorbs toxins and creates proper bulk in the colon without dehydrating it! Flax is also rich in omega 3 fatty acids which help as an anti-oxidant and assist with cellular membrane structure.

Lubrication: is critical. There are many good oils, flax, borage, and fish which are effective in lubricating the lining of our colon for a smooth and gentle elimination. These oils are also supplying the body with essential fatty acids, omega 3 and lipase the enzyme secreted by the pancreas to assist the break down of fats.

How does the body eliminate toxins?
Toxins enter the blood stream from the intestines and are carried to the liver. The liver filters colon toxins and sends them to the kidneys, lungs and skin for elimination.

How can I achieve maximum digestion?

1. Food Combining
   1. Read The Body Ecology Diet.
2. Eat small portions the size of your fist.
3. Repeatedly chew your food. You should on average chew your food for 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Set your utensils down between mouthfuls

Back to top