DIGESTIVE HEALTH
AUGUST 2018 Page 11
HEALTH AND WELNESS
DIGESTIVE HEALTH
According to a new, national survey of more than 2,000 U. S. adults, 72 percent said they had experienced at least one of the following symptoms a few times a month or more: diarrhea, gas, bloating, stomach pain, frequent bowel movements, unexplained weight loss and other non-specific gastrointestinal discomforts. Leaky gut syndrome is also prevalent among Americans and linked directly with certain drugs, toxins, and the wheat protein gluten.
Maybe you see yourself in this research. Some of you may be taking toxic drugs that purportedly treat the condition, but in reality, they only mask the problem. Perhaps you just deal with your daily suffering. The symptoms may be so ingrained because you have had them for so long, that you may accept them as‘ normal’ for you.
Consider homeopathy to
If you’ re never without your smartphone, you may be missing out on a more peaceful, fulfilling life.“ Both the content on your phone and the act of checking it frequently can trigger a stress response, which releases cortisol into the body,” says Dennis Buttimer, M. Ed, CEAP, RYT, CHC, a life and wellness coach at Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness at Piedmont. He said,“ Too much cortisol can lead to anxiety and eventually, chronic disease.”
Why are smartphones so addictive?“ When we check our phones, our brains release a small amount of dopamine,” explains Buttimer.“ Dopamine motivates us to take action and each time we hear a notification, we check our device. The problem is that a dopamine boost is temporary and leads to a letdown. Our brains want more dopamine, which triggers the habit of checking our phones constantly throughout the day.”
The good news is if you limit how often you use your phone, you will notice life-changing benefits, including:
1. Less anxiety and stress. With less stimulation from calls, texts, social media updates and“ urgent” emails, you may have less chronic stress and anxiety.
address the issues that your chosen drug has not resolved. Homeopathy is a form of natural medicine, considered indispensable by some and nonsense by others. You can decide for yourself.
The indications for using specific homeopathic remedies is published in a reference book called the Materia Medica. According to the Materia Medica, Lycopodium is indicated for weak digestion, diarrhea, constipation and for those who feel bloated, even after just a light meal. It is probably the key homeopathic for addressing metabolism and is indicated for diabetes as well. Bryonia, Cinchona, Arsenicum album and Antimonium crudum are all used for different gastrointestinal symptoms.
To summarize, consider trying homeopathy for your digestive issues. For ease of use in your busy life, consider utilizing complexes instead of the single remedies discussed. Complexes are made up of several single remedies which are indicated for a specific condition, in this case, it is impaired digestion.
A well-formulated homeopathic complex is believed to have many advantages over the administration of numerous homeopathic single remedies. It is more efficient to take one complex than a dozen or so single remedies to address the same condition. It is also much less expensive. Additionally, most formulations have been determined by seasoned and expert homeopaths. Finally, organs have many functions, and conditions have many
2. More clarity.“ Implementing healthy boundaries with your phone use will help you think more clearly all day long because you aren’ t bombarded with communication and overstimulation,” he says.
3. Deeper connections with others. When you put your phone away, you’ ll improve your relationships because you’ ll be present and able to focus on the other person.
4. Sharper critical thinking and creativity.“ Immediate gratification shuts the door on critical thinking and wonder,” says Buttimer.
5. You’ re more present. Smartphone overuse can significantly decrease mindfulness because it distracts us from the present moment. Suppose you’ ve had a vacation planned for months and when you arrive, you spend your time taking and posting photos on social media.“ A photo is fine, but it doesn’ t recreate the moment,” says Buttimer.“ You miss that sense of wonder and enjoyment you get when you are present.”
6. More gratitude.“ We may be grateful for our lives, but then look at social media and see someone else’ s vacation, new home or well-behaved children, and compare those things to our lives,” he says. The constant comparison can lead to discontentment and unhappiness.
7. A healthier body. Less screen time can help you sleep better and be more mindful of your meals. Getting enough sleep and eating healthfully are two of the most important aspects of your physical and mental health.
How to break your smartphone addiction: symptoms related to their underlying causes. Therefore, in using the clinical homeopathy approach, different single remedies are selected to address these various functions and conditions.
However, don’ t just rely on medication, whether it is chemical or homeopathic. Make lifestyle changes to support your digestive health. Eat a balanced diet by choosing a variety of foods from each food group, especially fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as certain yogurts and fluids. Eat food free of preservatives and toxins whenever possible. Go for the fresh foods. If you have digestive issues, consider eating small meals four or five times a day instead of two or three large meals. Drink an adequate amount of good clean water to maintain hydration and discourage constipation.
Get moving. Even slow activities such as stretching and walking promote good digestive health. Exercise is not only to help you lose or maintain weight. Slow down and chew your food thoroughly. Thorough chewing helps with the breakdown of food and continued digestion. Take your time when eating; eating fast, even if your food is pureed, can contribute to indigestion, heartburn, and gas.
Hippocrates, considered by many as the Father of Medicine said,“ Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Food is your lifeline, and the health of your digestive system helps determine what will help make you healthy or make you ill. Take care of your digestive
Sometimes we focus so much on saving women from unfortunate situations in this world, that we forget about the men. Men deserve justice as well. Men are hurt and need healing too. Maybe if we focus on helping the men first, the healing of women will follow. Damon Thomas has a heart for focusing on the men. Damon is a father, author, TV host, and motivational speaker. He is currently living in Atlanta, but he was born in Philadelphia. He had a stable upbringing from his parents, but a few personal experiences inspired him to reach out to young men by mentoring and educating them through life’ s pivotal moments. He stresses the importance of helping men overcome emotional experiences.
Damon dedicates his life to discussing the need for awareness, education, and resources for male survivors of abuse( sexual, domestic violence, etc.) and the issues that too often stem from abuse including drug addiction, trust issues, and communication barriers. Also, he is developing an upcoming program series called The Men of Courage Show. This series will be a place for men to discuss abuse and trauma through interviews of male survivors. Dr. Maurice Lee, John Palomino and
Start with moderation, advises Buttimer. You’ ll be more successful if you don’ t take an all-or-nothing approach.
• Monitor how often you reach for your phone. Consider downloading an app that tells you how many times each day you check your phone.
• Turn off notifications. The constant alerts can create unrest and even fear(“ What could this call be about?”). When you turn off the distractions, you can focus on completing the task at hand.
• Set your phone aside during meals. When you nix the distraction, you can savor your food and pay attention to your body’ s cues so you don’ t overeat.
• Enjoy phone-free mornings. You want to start your day with clarity and it’ s hard to do that when you are
MEN OF COURAGE SHOW
La’ marc Bishop are the co-hosts for this program.
The Men of Courage Show is a program that will embrace both reality and substance. The show is designed to delve into the lives of everyday people who’ ve experienced trauma but have accomplished incredible goals and achieved success, despite the demons of their past. This show will become the informational and communal safety net for persons seeking answers and solutions to their greatest personal challenges. While The Men of Courage Show is not intended to replace professional expertise in many areas of need, its goal is to serve as the conduit and portal for individuals to find solace through true and accurate solutions. With a team of professional counselors, each guest is offered free services to fit their personal needs of growth in life.
If you are interested in finding out more about The Men of Courage Show, please visit the website at, www. menofcourageshow. com. The website also has a form to fill out if you are in need of help. There are offices in Atlanta, Georgia and outside of Los Angeles, California. You are not alone.
7 REASONS TO BREAK YOUR SMARTPHONE ADDICTION
bombarded by news, texts and alerts. Instead, enjoy a cup of coffee, read a book, pray or meditate, or fix a healthy breakfast. You’ ll have a better day when you start your morning on the right foot.
• Limit screen time 30 minutes to an hour before bed. You’ ll sleep better when you limit the light from your screen and overstimulation from your phone’ s content.
Once you’ ve implemented these small changes, take on a bigger challenge, such as going phone-free one day a month or enjoying social media-free weekends.“ Think progress, not perfection,” says Buttimer.
For more information on Living Better, go to www. piedmont. org / livingbetter.