Incorrect dietary habits and or an overgrowth or infestation of unfriendly microorganisms in the intestinal tract can cause many of the health problems that can affect the small and large intestines (Cabot, p.105). The problems of irritable bowel syndrome, spastic colon, constipation, ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease and offensive gas, often all share these common factors to a varying degree.
Our Western lifestyle through the use of technology has altered our foods so that it no longer promotes the friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract, rather it nourishes the destructive bacteria. Stress also plays a large role in the function of the intestinal tract because it can reduce the circulation of blood to the absorbent areas of the bowels.

The proper functioning of the liver and pancreas is also important because dysfunction of either organ can lead to poor digestion of food and reduced assimilation of nutrients. Therefore, even though you may be consuming a reasonably good diet, you can suffer from malnutrition because the essential nutrients are not being absorbed from the stomach (Nichols, p. 65)

Gas:

Gas is a problem that is mainly caused by foods not being digested properly, resulting in fat becoming rancid, carbohydrates becoming fermented and protein becoming putrefied. This can cause abdominal pain, bloating, rumbling, belching, and passing gas-and a good deal of embarrassment ( Jensen, p. 32).

It takes an incredible amount of synchronized effort, with each part playing a distinct role, to enable the digestive system to work optimally. Gas can be caused if foods are not digested well. Because we eat too fast, our foods are cooked and have no enzymes available and/or because we eat while sometimes being emotionally upset. Therefore, the stomach cannot break the food into small enough pieces to allow digestive juices to penetrate thoroughly. As a result, food passes into the intestines with its central portions undigested. Some of this undigested food will ferment and putrefy, causing unpleasant-smelling intestinal gas and discomfort (Nichols, p. 407).

Sometimes as you improve your diet and take good quality supplements that will help you digest your foods better, such as friendly bacteria and enzymes, gas can become a problem in the process of detoxification. As the waste is being loosened up, you might experience foul smelling gas leaving the body. This will not last long providing some of the recommendations in this article are followed.

Short term relief:

• Drink a glass of water flavored with fresh organic lemon juice one half-hour before meals. Fresh lemon juice is a traditional tonic for stimulating the appetite and increasing salivary and gastric secretions for better digestion of foods (Cabot, p. 109).

• Use peppermint oil to bring relief from pain caused by gas. Most pharmacies sell peppermint oil. Put a few drops of the oil in water and drink for instant relief. Peppermint oil “is medicinally useful for reducing such disorders of the gastrointestinal tract as spastic colon, irritable bowel syndrome, and spastic diarrhea. Pepppermint taken after a rich meal will reduce gas and indigestion” (Better Nutrition, p. 46).

• Stock up on ginger root, anise, fennel and caraway seeds. Buy fresh organic ginger and put a few thinly sliced pieces in water mixed with a tablespoon of fennel, anise and caraway. Boil for five minutes and drink this healing tea. “Ginger has been found to calm the stomach, improve digestion,... increase circulation,...These improvements may benefit conditions such as colitis, constipation, irritable bowel, malabsorption...and many other digestive disorders” (Nichols, p.354). Fennel treats indigestion, gas and spasms of the digestive tract and increases peristalsis. Caraway and anise are stimulants that reduce spasms in the gastrointestinal tract.

• Take some activated charcoal. Charcoal will absorb gas and toxins and remove them quickly from your system. Activated charcoal can be bought from any health food store. However, activated charcoal is indiscriminate in what it absorbs. Therefore, it should not be taken with food or medicines as it would absorb them, too, and it should not be taken over long periods of time. It is, however, good for instant relief of gas and toxins (Baker, p. 90).

Long term remedies:

• Maintain a healthy population of microorganisms in your intestinal tract. It is important to be aware that your intestinal tract may be harboring excessive populations of unfriendly microorganisms such as candida albicans, bacteria, viruses and parasites. Therefore, you should consider taking friendly bacteria supplements daily as listed below:

1. Lactobacillus acidophilus helps the body to remove the food that is stuck to the sides of your intestinal walls. It acts as the small intestine’s cleaning crew. When the acidophilus has been fully reestablished in the small intestine, it will help maintain clean intestinal walls so that food can be properly absorbed.

2. Bifidus helps to clean the sides of the walls of your large intestine. It draws fluid into the waste so that it will more easily move the waste out of your body. It is your large intestine’s cleaning crew.

3. L. Bulgaricus, L. salivarius and other friendly bacteria taken in supplemental form can help with food absorption and assimilation in the large and small intestines (Nichols, pp. 236-237).

• There may not be sufficient hydrochloric acid. Friendly bacteria will help balance stomach acid. Also, a useful technique to increase stomach acidity during a meal is to sip a little bit of water mixed with 2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar and the juice of half a lemon. Some people find that this practice improves their digestion and reduces gas and abdominal bloating (Cabot, p. 109).

• It is important to take digestive enzymes with any cooked meal. Lack of enzymes due to cooking (heating) our foods makes it impossible to fully breakdown proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The pancreas becomes stressed in the process of taking over the burden of producing extra digestive enzymes for all cooked meals. Taking plant based enzymes as a digestive aid helps break down any cooked meal without stressing your pancreas. Adding enzyme supplements to your diet can significantly improve the effectiveness of your digestive system. A good digestive enzyme supplement should be microblended with a mineral rich whole food.

• Fiber is essential for digestive system health. Grind some organic flax seed (1 to 2 heaping tablespoons) daily and sprinkle them on sandwiches, salads, rice, or add them to fruit smoothie drinks or just mix with water and drink with a meal.

• Avoid coffee, which can cause symptoms of indigestion. Both regular and decaffeinated coffee should be eliminated.

• If you suspect that you may have intestinal yeasts, bacteria and parasites, raw garlic is the best natural antibiotic substance. Slice one to 2 cloves and swallow at night with a glass of water (don’t chew to avoid the odor). Garlic is able to deactivate bacteria, parasites and yeasts. If you suspect you have a large overgrowth of yeast, even higher doses of garlic may be required. However, do not continue to use raw garlic long term. Use raw garlic for short periods of times, 2-4 weeks at the most.

• Use turmeric daily (can be taken with garlic at night) which is known as an aid for digestion and a liver tonic.

• Substitute any oil you are currently using with virgin coconut oil to help with fighting intestinal germs. When you consume coconut oil, the body transforms its unique fatty acids into powerful antimicrobial powerhouses capable of defeating some of the most notorious disease-causing microorganisms. Even the super germs are vulnerable to these life saving coconut derivatives. Coconut oil is, in essence, a natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-protozoal food (Fife, p. 57).

Coconut oil’s anti microbial effects come from its unique composition of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA). Coconut oil is composed of 48 percent lauric acid, 7 percent capric acid, 8 percent caprylic acid, and .5 percent carproic acid. These medium-chain fatty acids give coconut oil its amazing anti-microbial properties and are generally absent from all other vegetables and animal oils with the exception of butter (p. 58).

• Avoid refined sugars and carbohydrates as this is fuel for harmful microorganisms especially yeasts.

• Drink spring water between your meals, as it helps to soften the food in your intestinal tract. Drinking spring water between meals also helps the friendly bacteria clean the inner walls of your intestines.

All the former options should bring encouraging results but you have to be patient because cleansing must come first, then healthy new tissue rebuilding can take place leading to a healthy digestive system.

References:
Baker, Sidney. (1997), Detoxification and Healing. Connectiuct: Keats Publishing, Inc.
__________. (1999). “Ginger, Peppermint and Aloe”. Better Nutrition. May, 1999, pp. 46-48.
Cabot, Sandra. (1999). The Healthy Liver & Bowel. Australia: Hero Productions.
Fife, Bruce. (2001). The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil. Colorado Springs, CO: Health Wise.
Jensen, Bernard. (1981). Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management. Escondido, California:
     Bernard Jensen.
Nichols, Trent, & Faass, Nancy. (1999). Optimal Digestion. New York: Avon Books.

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