This is a guest article written by Robert L. Lawrence, MEd, DC, DACBN

Your digestive system is more than a tube you put food in one end and waste out the other. Your digestive tract is home to more than 400 different species of life forms totaling about 100 trillion bacteria. These bacteria, yeast and fungi play a critical role in your overall physical, emotional and nutritional health by supporting a myriad of bodily activities, chief among them being supporting a properly functioning immune system.

Probiotics, or “good” bacteria, make a home in your intestines. About 80% of your immune system is also in your intestines. Comprised of various special cells, mucus layers and chemicals, your intestines, when functioning properly, are the first line of defense for your body against foreign invaders. They are responsible for protecting you from food borne and air borne pathogens and toxins so it makes sense to have a properly functioning intestinal tract to help protect you. There’s an old saying, “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” This is your gut. Unless it is functioning well you are prone to a number of maladies and your body certainly isn’t happy.

Rest

Your digestive system, like the heart and lungs, works almost constantly, preparing food for absorption and elimination in addition to protecting you. That requires high levels of activity and energy. It stands to reason that your digestive system can get “tired” from all this activity. If you couple that with poor food and drink choices, antibiotic residues, high stress levels and environmental toxins your gut can get rather sluggish. It needs some time off, it needs to rest.

To accomplish a rest period, reduced food intake for short periods of time is in order. This reduces the amount of time and effort the gut needs to digest food and allows it more time and energy to devote to house-cleaning. For two days eat nothing but chicken soup, preferably home made. Chicken soup is nourishing, containing adequate levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins, while at the same time being very easy for the gut to process. Two days of “resting” sets the stage for removing unwanted physiological trash generated and stored by the body.

Remove

Perfect Cleanse from Garden of Life is a whole new way to cleanse to maintain optimal cell, tissue, and organ function. It’s a natural and easy to use, 10 day internal cleanse system for use in the evening that will not disrupt every day activities.

Perfect Cleanse consists of three easy step

Dr. Lawrence has been in practice since 1983. A former instructor at the National University of Health Sciences, he has also served as a consultant in Functional Medicine and Diagnostic Laboratory Testing. Dr. Lawrence has completed an extensive post-doctoral course of study on “Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice” through The Institute of Functional Medicine. He holds degrees in Science Education, Chiropractic Medicine, Clinical Nutrition and is a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition. In addition to his private nutrition practice in Lake Worth, Florida, he serves as the Director of Physician Communication for Garden of Life/Original Medicine. He may be contacted at drlawrence@foundationsclinic.com

Your digestive system might be over-run with too many undesirable bacteria, yeast and fungi cells which can disturb normal gut activity. A simple but effective way to remove and eliminate those unwanted organisms is to fight fire with fire using a different, friendly type of yeast, S. boulardii.

S. boulardii from Original Medicine is a professionally formulated probiotic for occasional yeast imbalance. S. boulardii has been shown to be effective at helping to maintain a healthy intestinal lining, which is an integral part of the body’s normal immune defense.S. boulardii produces an enzyme that interferes with the ability of some undesirable yeast and bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, Candida albicans and Candida krusei from adhering to the lining of the intestine. If you prevent the undesirable cells from sticking to the gut lining they will gradually reduce in number.

Fungal Forte from Original Medicine is useful at helping the body remove and restore acceptable levels of gut organisms by creating an environment in the gut that is inhospitable to excessive unwanted organisms. Fungal Forte supports fungal balance, especially needed when taking antibiotics or drinking chlorinated water, which may change the optimal microbial balance essential for good health. Fungal Forte helps maintain a balanced, healthy gut environment. It contains a synergistic blend of ingredients, including wild oregano, caprylic acid, enzymes and standardized olive leaf extract.

Replace

Scientists know that a well functioning gut depends on adequate levels of probiotics, friendly gut bacteria that help support normal immunity and good health. In order to maintain a normal gut flora balance, now that you have rested the gut and removed large amounts of unwanted toxins, yeast and bacteria, you need to replace the probiotics in your gut.

MultiProbiotic from Original Medicine is a unique, high potency probiotic blend of 11 different strains of friendly bacteria that supports a healthy immune system and normal absorption and assimilation of nutrients in the gut. MultiProbiotic contains 8 billion colony forming units (CFUs) per capsule at the time of manufacture. This assures your body of plenty of friendly faces to help maintain order in a difficult environment. MultiProbiotic thrives in the toughest digestive environments and is undeterred by stomach and bile acids.

Repair

Resting, removing and replacing will allow the normal recuperative powers of the body to help repair damage caused by having an altered gut environment. The toxins given off by the dysbiosis (altered gut flora) can produce a myriad of symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, itchy skin, mental decline, respiratory issues and many more. By eating a healthy, whole food diet, getting adequate rest, sleep and drinking clean water your gut will, over time, return to the high functioning organ it was meant to be.

Robert L. Lawrence, MEd, DC, DACBN