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Science & The Spirit
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CHURNING ISSUE
Health Helps Part 16
By Dane and Vicki Griffin
People talk about having "cast iron"
stomachs, and we often treat our digestive organs like an old
iron furnace. But in reality, our digestive machinery is complex
and very delicate.
During the average person's lifetime, some
90,000 pounds of food and 55,000 quarts of fluid are processed
by our digestive systems. This machinery was custom designed by
our Creator for maximum efficiency and endurance. Unfortunately,
about one out of every four people has some kind of digestive
problem.
The indigestion question
Indigestion can be cause by frequent eating,
overeating, eating too fast, eating highly salted or spiced
foods, or simply eating too much food. Studies with pilots show
that goods high in salt and protein, like meat, cheese and chips,
tend to upset the stomach, while starchy foods like bread,
cereal, and potatoes can have a calming effect. Another common
cause of stomach problems and ulcers is the sue of aspirin and
other anti-inflammatory drugs. Also at the top of the gastritis
and ulcer-causing list are tobacco, coffee, sugar, and alcohol.
Even aspartame can cause stomach upset. By the way, chronic
indigestion and ulcers are a significant cause of depression and
personality disorders.
Stomachs in a stew
Stomach cancer is on the rise in the United
States, and researchers are beginning to discover that a poor
diet of lifestyle can be the culprit. One recent hospital study found
that patients who smoked and who had diets high in saturated fat
and cholesterol were more likely to have stomach cancer. Several
recent studies have linked esophageal cancer1 with the eating of
pickled vegetables. Other ways to increase your risk of throat
cancer include eating highly salted foods, drinking tea or
alcohol, smoking, drinking soups or drinks at very hot
temperatures, and eating very few fruits and vegetables. It is a
well know fact that black pepper increase the risk of stomach
cancer. Now new research on capsaicin, or red hot pepper, brings
some new "heat" to the topic. A study conducted in
Mexico City showed that consumers of red pepper were at a high risk
for gastric cancer. On the other hand, those with a diet high in
fruits and vegetables had less risk of digestive cancer.
Better never than late
Snacking and late-night eating can really set
off some gastrointestinal fire-works. Eating between meals can
delay the digestive process for hours, causing indigestion and
fatigue. Do you think you need those snacks? Try switching to a
high-fiber diet, and you may find that your cravings disappear.
Many studies have shown that late-night eating increases the
risk of cancer, and even results in higher cholesterol. Also,
nighttime eating may reset the body clock and give you an
"owl," or late, pattern of sleeping rather than the
"lark" pattern. Late-night eating can also cause gastro esophageal
reflux, a condition where gastric acid backflows into the
throat. This results in sore throat, wheezing, coughing, and
hoarseness. Going to bed with a stomach full of food is a sure
way to "fire up" your digestive organs!
Taming troubled tummies
Some wonder cures for upset stomachs include raw
cabbage juice, charcoal tablets, ginger tea, aloe, slippery elm,
mint tea, catnip tea, and plantain bananas. Frozen bananas
whizzed in a blender (yum!) can also have a healing effect on an
unhappy tummy.
And don't forget to eat on a regular schedule!
Our loving Creator designed us to need regular meals at set
times. He tells us through King Solomon, "Blessed are
though, O land, when ... they princes eat in due season (at
proper times), for strength, and not for drunkenness."2
Next time you're tempted to pull our that snack
remember that what— and when—you eat can make a huge
difference in your health and well-being!
Part 1
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4
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10
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Copyright © LifeStyle Matters, Inc.
1. Cancer of the throat.
2. Ecclesiastes 10:17
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