Celiac disease is a malabsorption syndrome and chronic digestive disorder. The intestine is not able to absorb vital dietary nutrients from foods containing gliadin, an alcohol-soluble portion of gluten. This condition which is often hereditary means the sufferer has a serious intolerance to wheat (including durum, semolina and spelt), rye, oats, barley, and related grain hybrids such as tritaclae and kamut.
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis which is characterised by joint degeneration and loss of cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis which is also an autoimmune disorder. In this case the body's immune system attacks its own cartilage and tissue surrounding the joints.
Some detoxification experts advocate fasting, while others do not. It is known that the components of any well-designed detox program will stimulate the body to cleanse itself, but people who are underweight, are undernourished, have weak hearts, have blood sugar issues or are ill should avoid fasting. Some studies have shown that restricting food intake can actually lead to bingeing.
Hemorrhoids are extremely common in industrialised countries and it is estimated that fifty percent of persons over fifty years of age have symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease. Although most people may begin to develop hemorrhoids in the twenties, the symptoms do not become evident normally until in ones thirties!
Subfertility - Natural treatments
Tips for a healthy, natural conception
There can be many reasons why a couple find themselves having trouble conceiving. To optimise your chances of conceiving we have prepared a list of things you can take into consideration as you prepare to get pregnant. These may well increase your bodies ability to conceive. We do however recommend that you see a natural health practioner or undertake one of our consultations, as each couples situation is unique and special when trying for a baby and experiencing difficulties.
- To provide your body with the ‘building blocks’ necessary to create a healthy baby, you should eat healthy, nutritious whole foods. This means buying fresh, unrefined foods that have been fed or grown organically, and therefore have a plentiful supply of nutrients.
- To avoid the toxins that come through your water and food supply, such as agrochemicals and heavy metals, you need to use a water purifier and buy organic foods whenever possible. This is especially important with annual products, which may have been fed hormones or antibiotics, or been exposed to polluting chemicals, as these collect in the animal’s fatty issues and organs.
- Limit sugar (and all sugar substitutes), coffee (also decaffeinated) and alcohol as these contribute to nutrient loss. Eat plenty of vegetables (raw and cooked), while grains and protein providing foods, but avoid saturated fats (animal and heated). Avoid chemical additives and highly processed foods where possible. Read your labels carefully, and buy fresh produce whenever possible.
- Drink dandelion tea (or coffee), which is an excellent detoxifying herb through its action on the liver, and eat plenty of garlic which also helps to eliminate toxins. Better still, consult a medical herbalist for an holistic approach to detoxification and reproductive health.
- To avoid chemical oestrogen mimics in the environment, which can contribute to reproductive disease and fertility problems in both sexes, you should, again, eat organically fed animal produce and avoid keeping or heating foods in plastic wrap. To protect the nutritional content of your food, you should also avoid using pre-prepared and packaged foods, or foods that have been microwaved.
- Take a comprehensive nutrient supplement, including the complete range of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. These are required for proper fertility and healthy embryonic growth. The antioxidant nutrients (vitamins A, C and E, zinc and selenium) can help you to detoxify and eliminate heavy metals and chemicals. A hair analysis can give you information on nutrient status and heavy metal residue in your body.
- Limit exposure to drugs. This includes social drugs such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, which have all been linked to reproductive and foetal ill-health, and medical drugs except it they are medically prescribed and where they cannot be safely replaced with a natural alternative.
- Avoid breathing in petrol fumes, or using household cleaning materials which are based on ammonia or any solvents. Studies have shown that oven cleaners, mould treatments, paint, glues and all solvents can affect the health of sperm or eggs. Now is not the time to renovate your house or have it treated for pests.
- Have a thorough and comprehensive screening for genitor-urinary infections in both partners.
- If your exposure to non-ionising radiation is high consider minimising it: use your mobile phone and microwave as little as possible, and keep it away from your body. Further exposure comes from computer screens. Turns the monitor off when not in use, hang an anti-radiation screen in front of it, and place a cushion stuffed with Epson Salts on your lap. These absorb radiation, and, as they do so, the crystals will break down into a powder, when they need to be replaced.
- To avoid the most toxic, ionizing form of radiation, which can affect eggs and sperm for up to 3 years, avoid X-rays for as long as possible before conception, and only fly if really unavoidable, as one flight exposes you to the equivalent of a full body X-ray.
- Exercise for at least two hours per week, and try to normalize your weight (this should be made easier by eating healthy foods).
- For stress, which can be a problem for those who’ve been trying to conceive for a while, an effective remedy is to lie down in a quiet place, with no interruptions, and direct breath to each part of your body in turn. Then you can create pictures in your head of the positive outcome of an easy conception, successful pregnancy and birthing, and a beautiful, healthy baby. If stress is an ongoing problem, it can affect your nutritional status and fertility, so if this simple self-help remedy does not fully address the issue, seek other forms of stress relief/management of professional help.
All of these measures should be in place ideally for four months before a conception, as this is how long it takes for sperm to generate, and eggs to mature, during which time they are vulnerable to toxicity and nutrient deficiencies.
