Do you suffer from heartburn, reflux or burping? Perhaps you rely on a medicine to help settle your tummy. I have written on digestive disorders on several occasions previously, but this time I would like to write specifically on a little bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection is recognised as the most prevalent bacteria to infect the human population in the entire world. You may well identify the following problem, and if you do, don’t despair. It actually is possible to free from heartburn, reflux or a low grade queasiness, which affects so many people.

Helicobacter is a clever little bug

In 1982, when Australian Dr. Barry Marshall identified a new bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (HP) as an infectious agent responsible for peptic ulcer disease, it completely transformed medicine’s understanding of the microbiology and disease of the human stomach. Your stomach is protected from its own gastric juice by a thick layer of mucous that covers the stomach lining. HP takes advantage of this protection by actually living in the mucous lining. Once this clever little bug is safe in this mucous, it is able to fight the stomach acid that does reach it with an enzyme it possesses called urease. Urease converts urea, of which there is an abundant supply in the stomach (from saliva and gastric juices), into bicarbonate and ammonia, which are strong (alkaline) bases. This creates a cloud of acid-neutralizing chemicals around the H. pylori, protecting it from the acid in the stomach. This cloud is also part of the reflux and burping process that occurs, which many HP people complain of.

Contributing to the protection of HP is the fact that the body’s natural defenses cannot reach these bugs in this mucous lining of the stomach. The immune system will respond to an HP infection by sending “killer T-cells”, (white blood cells), and other infection-fighting agents. However, these potential H. pylori eradicators cannot reach the infection, because they cannot easily get through stomach lining. They do not go away – the immune response just grows and grows over time. White cells die and spill their destructive compounds onto cells lining the stomach lining. More nutrients are sent to reinforce the white cells, and the H. pylori can feed on this. Within a few days, gastritis and perhaps eventually a peptic ulcer results in the lining of your tummy. And of course, the person who suffers is often blissfully unaware, takes an antacid or an acid-blocking drug long-term, and continues to eat and drink foods which only aggravate the healing process long term. So they go back to the doctor, only to be told to stay on the medicine. After a few years, the person resigns themselves to the fact that they will always require this “medicine” to cure their condition. Yeah right, and Alice lived happily after in Wonderland.

To confirm that HP caused the gastritis and peptic ulceration, Marshall swallowed cultures of the bacteria and contracted gastritis (inflammation of the mucus membrane of the stomach). He then underwent endoscopy (internal examination of the stomach), and provided biopsies from which the suspected bug was re-isolated.

Changing medical belief and practice takes time. For nearly 100 years, scientists and doctors thought that ulcers were caused by lots of stress, spicy foods, and copious alcohol. Treatment involved bed rest and a bland and boring diet. Later, researchers added stomach acid to the list of causes and began treating ulcers with antacids when they became fashionable.Unfortunate for poor Barry, nobody believed him. In fact, he was actually treated with ridicule and disdain when he first proposed the idea that a bacteria actually lived the hostile environment of the stomach. Before 1982, the accepted medical paradigm was “no acid, no ulcer”, and that stomach ulcers only occurred when excess acid damaged the stomach wall and that all treatment should be aimed at reducing or neutralising all that bad acid. Surely you remember the advertisements on TV with the man drawing on his tummy with a felt tipped pen, telling you that the acid has to “stay down there”. These commercials generally came on after dinner, the time when your tummy is most likely to play up, I can’t help but thinking how many of those sufferers possibly have an undetected H.pylori infection. There is still a lot of drug promotion regarding this acid reflux problem. Unfortunately, many such patients today are still seen as having “too much stomach acid”, and treated with antacids or stomach-acid blockers as front-line therapy, when in my clinical experience actually the opposite applies, they don’t have enough or have an infection which needs sorting. Gastric juice is composed of digestive enzymes and concentrated hydrochloric acid, which can readily digest food or kill microorganisms. Low levels of stomach acid increase the chance an organism’s survival. It used to be thought that the stomach contained no bacteria and was actually sterile, and it took an Aussie GP to prove all the world’s experts wrong.

It seems pretty silly to treat the acid problem perpetually, without enquiring into actually why this burping, reflux and upper abdominal discomfort is occurring in the first place. Albert Szent Györgyi, (1937 Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine) said that: “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” Today it is an established fact that most cases of peptic ulcers and gastritis, diseases that affect millions of humans worldwide, result from this HP infection, and not “too much acid” in the stomach at all.

“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” Albert Szent Györgyi

HP infection and prevalence

H. pylori is believed to be transmitted orally. Did you wash your hands? Many researchers believe that HP is transmitted orally by means of fecal matter through the ingestion of tainted food or water. In addition, it is possible that H. pylori could be transmitted from the stomach to the mouth through gastro-esophageal reflux or belching, all common symptoms of gastritis. The bacterium could then be transmitted through oral contact.

HP infection remains a huge problem, is extremely common and infecting more than a billion people worldwide. It is estimated that half of the American population older than age 60 has been infected with H. pylori at some stage and the economic effect of ulcer disease in the US (as measured back in a study of 1989 data) showed that the illness cost then nearly $6 billion annually. ($2.66 billion for hospitalisation, not including doctor ‘s fees), outpatient care ($1.62 billion), and loss in work productivity ($1.37 billion).

One in five Aussies and Kiwis have HP, according to Dr. Barry Marshal, infection usually persists for many years, leading to ulcer disease in 10 % to 15% of those infected. H. pylori is found in more than 80% of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers. You can imagine what this common complaint in NZ and Australia is costing, in terms of medication, doctor’s visits and lost productivity at work. Early research on HP characterised much of the work to come, the data that emerged from the study of all these samples was quite unexpected. It showed that HP is actually a common bacterial agent and that an amazing 30-50% of the world’s population are colonised with it.

How do you know if you have the HP bug?

The infection manifests differently in different individuals. In some people, it produces more acid in the stomach, and ulcers may result. In others, stomach acid suppression or complete lack (which we call achlorhydria) may result, and these people may be at a greater risk of gastric cancer. It is unclear why some people respond one way or the other.

Typical manifestations of a Helicobacter pylori infection:

· Nausea, or a low-grade feeling of being queasy. Could be vomiting.

· Avoidance of chilli, garlic or a specific food which “does not agree” with your tummy.

· Bloating worse after meals. Feeling worse after meals or certain foods.

· Recurring abdominal pain, intestinal cramps.

· Peptic or duodenal ulcers (over 90% of all cases have HP)

· Burping, this can be pretty bad. The person may have developed a reputation!

· Heartburn, and perhaps reliant on Quick-Eze or Gavascon, Losec, etc.

· Diarrhea or constipation after several years of infection.

· Disturbed sleep, perhaps waking up with a hollow feeling or heartburn. I have known some patients to prop up the head of the bed with a few bricks even.

· Symptoms worse at night, or worse lying down.

· Vitamin B12 deficiency. Have your practitioner test for this, you may well be deficient.

· Altered appetite, some times you may feel like eating, other times you don’t.

· After being infected for several years, you may have develop mineral deficiencies which can lead to a myriad of health problems.

· Helicobacter pylori is implicated in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

· Migraine headaches (40% of migraine sufferers are positive, and eradication subsides the headaches).

· Acne rosacea. Helicobacter pylori is suspected of causing rosacea (eradication of HP often results in a significant reduction in rosacea symptoms).

Is it any wonder how an ailing stomach is supposed to do its job, i.e., digesting and absorbing foods efficiently when a bacterial infection is causing such dysfunction? Your doctor may have initially prescribed a medicine such as Losec, Gavascon or Mylanta for your stomach, serving to block acid or dilute it. How is your tummy supposed to work at all now? Then you go back and complain that the symptoms are unchanged. What then? You can see what I mean, after many years of this infection you can feel quite unwell. I see one person or more each week like this, and have done so for many years. When I wrote an article to our local newspaper several years ago regarding HP, I received nearly ten calls. And almost al these patients had a HP infection, all were on either Losec, Quick-Eze, Gavascon or Mylanta.

Conventional HP Therapy

Please note that it is extremely important to obtain an accurate diagnosis before trying to find a cure of your heartburn or reflux. Many stomach or digestive diseases and conditions share common symptoms: if you treat yourself for the wrong illness or a specific symptom of a complex disease, you may delay legitimate treatment of a serious underlying problem, yes even stomach cancer. In other words, the greatest danger in self-treatment may actually be self-diagnosis. Always work with your health-care professional, preferably one who is experienced in gastrointestinal disorders. If you do not know what you really have, you simply can not treat it!

I have always had a great concern regarding the extensive use of antibiotic drugs required to treat HP infected individuals. The conventional medical clearing of HP from the stomach requires therapy from 10 to 14 days with multiple drugs. My concern is that prolonged or recurrent antibiotic treatment alters the normal microbial population of the entire gastrointestinal tract, eliminating many beneficial bacteria as well as HP, allowing the sufferer to develop a gut environment which may contain bugs like Candida albicans, proteus, or a whole host of other undesirables. You get rid of one problem, only to create yet another.

Triple Therapy

The use of only one medication to treatH. pylori was never recommended by Dr. Marshall. At this time, the most conventional treatment is a 2-week course of treatment called “triple therapy”. It involves taking two antibiotics to kill the bacteria and either an acid suppressor or stomach-lining shielding drug. Two-week triple therapy reduces ulcer symptoms, kills the bacteria, and prevents ulcer recurrence in many patients – but the recurrence can be as high as 75%. Complete eradication is difficult, I have had many patients who have come to me after having had triple therapy many years ago with average to poor results, and were placed on an acid blocker for many years after.I do recommend this for some resistant cases, and have been know to send some patients to a GP for triple therapy, then follow-up with natural treatment for 6 weeks. I have found that some patients may find triple therapy complicated because it involves taking 3 kinds of drugs, and as many as 20 pills a day. Also, the antibiotics and bismuth drugs used in triple therapy may cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dark stools, metallic taste in the mouth, dizziness, headache, and yeast infections, particularly in women.

HP Testing

The diagnosis of H. pylori infection has traditionally involved endoscopy with biopsies of the stomach’s mucosa. There are three ways to test for HP currently in NZ. To be honest, I only occasionally authorise a HP test these days, and generally have a “gut feeling” a person has this bug once they come into my room and complain of the above mentioned symptoms. Common sense – the patient will soon tell you if they are or are not improving, and it only takes about three to four weeks to really know what is going on. Just because the test results come back negative, you could still have this bug. You know me by now, please don’t get paralysis from analysis! If you feel significantly better after a HP treatment whether it be pharmaceutical or natural – you probably have HP regardless of what the test results say. Remember – up to one in five New Zealanders have this infection, so the odds are reasonably high you have it.

· The Urea Breath Test method of diagnosis relies on the Urea reaction being present, as mentioned earlier. This is a sound test – 90 – 95% successful in picking up the HP bug.

· Blood tests measuring HP antibody levels have been developed. However, these tests have suboptimal sensitivity and specificity (85% and 79%).

· Stool tests for antibodies – again, many factors can affect the outcome of this test, stay with breath testing. Many experts say that the fecal antigen test is bullet proof, but in my experience I have seen many “false negatives” with testing. That is, the results come back all ok, but the patient responds dramatically after HP treatment.

Natural HP Eradication

No clear indications exist for specific treatment of each and every individual case of HP associated gastritis. I have found the following treatments to be effective, and employed many different therapies over the years. Here are some treatments which I have found to work in various HP cases. Remember, recurrence rates are quite high, so you may want to persist with treatment until you feel much better, then hang in there for a few more months (lower grade treatment) to be absolutely sure. I recommend treatment in blocks of 6 weeks, then wait 2 -3 weeks, then another 6 week period of treatment. A good clinical tip for you: always treat this infection by taking something with meals, and also something in-between, or away from foods. This is designed to really drive the “kill” treatment home, and lets the treatment have access to the HP bugs in the gut with as well as away to some extent from foods and gastric juice involvement. I have a saying in my clinic: persistence breaks resistance. Remember Winston Churchill? – never give in, never give in, never give in.

· Manuka honey, which has high levels of hydrogen peroxide and has been shown in studies to be active against H. pylori. Go for the Comvita high UMF factor Manuka honey.

· Propolis works really well for some, but is dismal for others.

· Vitamin B12 – get this checked in your blood! You may well be deficient here.

· After antibiotic treatment is finished, (triple therapy) it makes sense to rebuild the gut flora with lactobacillus species. They won’t cure the condition, however. (A 2002 trial demonstrated that a mixed acidophilus preparation failed to eradicate the H. pylori infection in the patients upon whom it was tried).

· DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) – you can get this in capsules or liquid.

· Aloe Vera helps to heal the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal tract.

· Berberine is found in the herb Goldenseal, and it may be used as a natural herbal antibiotic.

· Eat grapefruit seeds, for some this is very effective long term. The extract is even better.

· Digestive enzymes may also be useful – especially with achlorhydria (low stomach acid)

· Gum mastic is a natural substance from the sap of the Mediterranean evergreen tree, Pistacia lemniscuses. Mastic gum has been shown to be effective in protecting the digestive system, healing peptic and duodenal ulcers, and eradicating H. pylori from the gut. I use this a lot, and give two capsules twice daily in between meals.

· Bismuth. It displays anti-inflammatory action (due to salicylic acid) and also acts as an antacid and mild antibiotic. Don’t freak out – It can also cause a black tongue and black stools in some people who take it, when it combines with trace amounts of sulfur in their saliva and gastrointestinal tract. This discoloration is temporary and absolutely harmless.

My favourite HP treatment regime? I would have to say gum mastica between meals, and with meals a preparation of Bismuth,deglycyrrhizinated licorice, grapefruit seed extract and goldenseal. I often recommend aloe vera and activated charcoal as well.

Do you get that annoying heartburn, and want to try and find a cause and ultimately a cure? Consult your naturopath or nutritional-friendly doctor who can check you out carefully and thoroughly and who will actually treat the cause, not the symptom. They should generally recommend a course of treatment and a specific diet designed for the individual, with promising results for many patients. And what a relief, to be free of heartburn, bloating and that “awful feeling in the tummy” again!

This is another article about yeast infection symptoms in stomach. Someone just started her diet on Monday and taking 2 caprylic acid pills after each meal and 1 dong quai after each meal. She also has been taking a multi-vitamin. She had broccoli, sunflower seeds, cabbage, and a roast. She is also been taking fresh garlic, lemon and drinking clove tea. On Tuesday, she had fish (perch), some cauliflower (not much), little bit of cabbage, and some eggs. After she ate the fish, around where her liver is, her tummy started making growling noises which wasn’t hunger. She usually gets those if she is going to have diarrhea.

She didn’t have diarrhea though, just 2 bowel movements were regular. She ate some chicken and black olives today and her tummy did the same thing again after eating the chicken (boneless, skinless). About an hour after eating, she had a bowel movement. She is assuming it is because of the vegetables. Also, since late last night, her symptoms have been about 20% worse. She has never done this before, so she doesn’t know if this is die-off or not. She needs a quick explain as the noises in her stomach are bothering her.

My answer is that the cauliflower and the cabbage will drive out the yeast, not to mention the supplements. I noticed to a rumbling around when this yeast is breaking up. It produces gas. It sounds good to me. If, however, you are getting rumbling every time you eat, then your digestion could be in short supply of enzymes. Mine was doing that every day, not related to the yeast, well indirectly, but when my doctor put me on digestive enzymes it stopped. He found out that I wasn’t digesting protein at the time. And I am feeling well in that respects.

What is an ulcer? Basically, an ulcer is an external or internal sore or lesion that is a sign of necrosis (death of the tissues at a cellular level). Most ulcers that plague people are called “gastric” ulcers which are internal in nature. However, there are several kinds of ulcers and they include: decubitus ulcer, peptic ulcer, serpent ulcer, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, bed sore, and canker sore (herpes).

Internal ulcers usually occur on the mucous membranes (the internal skin) in the gastrointestinal tract.

Peptic ulcers occur where the lining of the stomach have been eroded away due to extreme acidosis. Like peptic ulcers, duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, and ulcerative colitis occur in the digestive tract or gastrointestinal tract. However, gastric ulcers in the stomach are the most common ulcers.

The symptoms of internal ulcers include inflammation (chronic burning), stomach pain, and bleeding (from the rectum). Internal ulcers are the result of ACID, too much acid in the body. And where does this acid come from? Answer: degenerate diet and lifestyle!

Eating meat, dairy, and starches all contribute to acidosis, for meat converts into URIC ACID, dairy converts into LACTIC ACID, and STARCH converts into CARBONIC ACID.

And lets not forget about the acidic beverages Americans greatly consume which plays a major role in acidosis – soda pop (which has a pH of 2 – GREATLY ACIDIC!), orange juice (processed and boxed); milk, Kool Aid; coffee and hot cocoa, various fruit punches, beer (devil’s brew), wine and other spirits to name a few.

And then there’s stress! Stress makes the body acidic. Stress is very detrimental to human health, but many people are under it due to being misaligned or disconnected with God, Nature and the Universe predicated upon finances (the lack thereof), job insecurity and/or unhappiness, marital/relationship problems, living a lie or chronic lying; debt (credit cards, behind on the home mortgage or car note, etc.); living unrighteous (fornicating, adultery, scheming, stealing, etc.), legal situations and litigation (usually as the defendant); and unemployment to list just a few of the things that causes stress.

You see, when you have to digest or process so much stuff in life, it usually results in digestive problems, that’s why gastric ulcers are the most common form of ulcers.

Stress creates too much acid in the body. Stress and a very poor diet will undoubtedly lead to stomach or digestive problems and many times this will lead to headaches, bilious or migraine headaches. And what do most people take for headaches? Answer: drugs in the form of aspirin. Aspirin converts into ascetic acid and literally eats up your red blood corpuscles (just like white vinegar does). Aspirin is so caustic on the internal lining in the stomach and digestive tract that it literally burns a hole in the lining of the digestive tract causing gastric ulcers which eventually leads to internal bleeding which many times is manifested in blood in the stools.

And eating and drinking acidic things does not help the situation, but only exacerbates the situation. This is why people with “acid reflux” usually are prescribed “antacids.” An antacid is an “anti” acid or that which counteracts acid. And what counteracts acid? Answer: ALKALINITY! Although the antacids are alkaline in nature, they break down into the body as acids and further the problem. Antacids only “mask” the problem (acidosis, ulcers), but does not heal the problem.

So now we have an idea of what causes ulcers, what can be used to heal ulcers?

Healing ulcers naturally

The best remedy for healing ulcers, especially gastric (stomach) ulcers is a diet rich in natural green foods – eating plenty of green cruciferous vegetables and drinking vegetable juice daily or as often as possible. Green foods are very healing! Parsley, kale, spinach, broccoli, cilantro, Roamine and green lettuce, watercress, asparagus, etc. are some of the best green foods available. And remember, green foods are naturally antacid without any adverse or negative side effects such as Tums or Rolaids and other OTC (over the counter) drugs.

Cabbage juice is probably the best instant healing remedy for ulcers. I usually tell people suffering from ulcers to drink 2-4 ounces of cabbage juice daily.

One day Stevie Wonder called me and asked me to help a friend in dire need of help and healing from ulcers. Stevie’s friend was in Philadelphia, PA, a very long distance from California and needed help right away. I told the person to overdose on cabbage juice and watch the instant results. Two weeks went by and then I received a call from this person who was so elated and grateful and who told me the cabbage juice regimen worked wonders. His ulcer problem was gone! I told him to stay on that drink for preventative measures and to keep eating raw and green as long as he could.

Aloe vera juice is also excellent for healing of ulcers. Two ounces of aloe vera juice should be added to each glass of drinking water. Aloe vera is very soothing to internal sores (ulcers) and also helps to stop internal bleeding.

The herbs White Oak Bark, Witch Hazel Bark, Goldenseal Root, Cranesbill (Alum Root), Shepherd’s Purse, Solomon’s Seal, Dragon’s Blood, Cayenne Pepper, and Manjistha help to stop internal bleeding, especially when used in combination with each other. However, Cayenne may cause irritation due to its natural heating effect and therefore should be used sparingly.

The herbs White and Black Willow Bark, Meadowsweet, Birch, Peppermint, Wintergreen, Spearmint, and Balm of Gilead can be used (as a tea) in place of anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin.

Stress reduction and elimination are mandatory in healing ulcers. The herbs Kava Kava, Valerian Root, Chamomile, Jatamansi, Blue Vervain, Lavender Flower and Passionflower are great nervine herbs that help in stress reduction and elimination.

Yoga/deep breathing exercises, transcendental meditation, crystal therapy, positive thinking, aromatherapy (essential oils of Lavender, Bergamot, Neroli, Valerian, and Davana); Tai Chi, massage therapy, colon therapy, relaxation, deep sleep, living righteously and standing on and for truth can all help to reduce or eliminate stress – Guaranteed!

DHERBS.Com provides five formulas that can physically help an ulcer sufferer. Our Ulcer Buster formula, Nervine formula, Bio-Salicin (Headache & Pain) formula, Digest-Aid, and Electric Greens Cell Food formula used during a short duration (in conjunction with a green foods diet and cabbage juice therapy) can help an ulcer sufferer rid him/her self of ulcers in a matter of days.

Ulcers are a degenerative disease which means they are a preventable and reversible disease and can be prevented or reversed through proper diet and lifestyle.

This health article is compliments of http://www.DHERBS.Com and Djehuty Ma’at-Ra, The People’s Herbalist

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The moment people put food in their mouths everything changes and they start to think that they have done their duty regarding nutrition, and that the process of digestion is automatic and completely beyond their control and therefore no need for concern. This thought of course is a huge mistake. As a chef please allow me to tell you to eat properly, you need to understand a little something about the digestive process.

Let me begin by explaining a few key points I think you should know right from the beginning. First the alimentary canal is a fascinating, miraculous mechanism, which can deal simultaneously with different foods, subjecting them to various and sometimes very opposing processes.

Secondly, the digestive system quite frankly and sincerely is all about your mouth, oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine and colon. Each of these gets their help and support from the salivary glands, pancreas, liver and gall bladder. Now here’s a simple break down of each one of them and how it works. Let’s begin with your mouth

YOUR MOUTH

While I’m sure you thought the mouth s mostly for tonsil hockey, permit me to redirect your thoughts for a moment by conveying a simple truth about the digestive process. It begins in the mouth and okay I agree and I admit there are other uses for the mouth, but let’s stick with my focus of the digestive process. As you chew your food, it gets mixed with saliva, which is secreted by the salivary glands. Your saliva softens your food and makes it easy for you to swallow, and it also initiates the breakdown of starches into dextrin. Why? Because saliva contains a starch-digesting enzyme called ptyalin. But when you eat starchy foods such as bread, potatoes and rice swallowing in a hurry, the enzyme does not have enough time to convert starch to dextrin, and therefore descends to the stomach unchanged.

This of course interferes with the efficiency of your stomach, which by the way does not contain starch-splitting enzymes, and can cause fermentation along with flatulence. Remember starch is not acted upon again until it reaches your small intestine. Also cellulose which is found in vegetables must be broken down by thorough chewing. Why? Because there is no enzyme that acts on it. Remember if cellulose is not broken down in your mouth, instead of benefiting elimination, it will producer gas, putrefaction and bloating. To complete efficient digestion food must be masticated thoroughly. Now let’s review…

YOUR STOMACH

Of course from you mouth, your food goes down the esophagus to your stomach. Your esophagus is a thin tube which pushes food down by rhythmic, motions known as peristalsis. These peristaltic motions continues throughout the digestive tract, and are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, and is affected indirectly by the condition of your central nervous system alone with stress, or a lack there of. Peace and the ability to maintain peace of mind is important to proper digestion, because enzymatic secretions of the intestines are influenced by mood. Remember earlier when I mentioned indigestion and flatulence? I’m sure if you’re one of the millions of people with acid reflux eating in a relaxed, pleasant and unhurried atmosphere, chewing everything thoroughly is near to impossible. Trust me I know what I’m talking about as I was one, who praised God for that little purple pill a few years ago, and now today I’m completely rid of it, and attempting to help you accomplish the same, should you need to do so. And just in case you haven’t heard, a recent discovery by a group of expert dieticians correlated tension, worry and apprehension with indigestion, heartburn and stomach pains. Now tell me something, if you have heartburn and or Acid Reflux would not you agree with this? I’d be willingly to bet the answer is a big fat yes.

YOUR SMALL INTESTINE

Your small intestine is a very coiled tube with a total length of about 22.5 feet (6.5 meters). It extends from the stomach exit (pyloric valve) to the entry of the colon. The first 10 inches (25 cm) of the small intestine is called the duodenum. Its job is to receive pancreatic juice from the pancreas and bile from the gallbladder. Bile by the way emulsifies fats and provides the alkaline medium necessary for pancreatic juice to function. In addition, the intestine itself secretes enzymes (sucrose and lactase) which metabolize sugar and milk sugar. All of these juices have the ability to break down various types of foods so that they can be absorbed into the body through the intestinal linings. It’s most important that the flora in the small intestine is kept in a healthy, flourishing state.

YOUR LIVER

Your liver is the largest gland in your body, and it’s located in the upper right portion of your abdomen. It weighs 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) and comprises two lobes. It receives blood supply from both the hepatic artery and portal vein, which also provides it with huge amounts of the oxygen it needs for the many tasks it must perform. One of the chief functions if the liver is the production, of bile, which as mentioned before is either stored in the gallbladder or enters the duodenum directly to help emulsify fats. You cannot digest fatty foods without bile, and that leads me to another very important point regarding your liver, which is inadequate fiber. If you are like most Americans, you eat only about 10 to 20 grams of fiber a day when most experts believe that 20 to 35 grams are ideal for long-term health. Among fibers healthful benefits is its role in moving toxins out o your body. Insoluble fibers, from flaxseed for example, absorbs water in your digestive tract this speeds up transit time (the time it takes materials to move through your intestine) to move waste products out of your body.

Without adequate fiber, up to 90 percent of cholesterol and bile acids will be reabsorbed and recirculated to the liver. This taxes your liver and reduces its fat burning abilities. No matter what the cause, a sluggish, overworked liver does a poor job metabolizing fat, and you gain weight. So to help you change all that I recommend this simple little plan which is very effective. Start with a cranberry juice – water mixture and psyllium or flaxseed as a potent source of phytonutrients such as anthocyanins, catechism, luteins, and quercetin. These powerful phytonutrients act as antioxidants, providing nutritional support and cofactors for the liver’s cytochrome p-450 phase I and phase II detoxification pathways. You will also find that these nutrients also seem to digest fatty globules in the lymph. The above cocktail fiber blocks the absorption of fat, increases fat excretion, and binds toxins so that they are not reabsorbed into your body. Another simple cocktail which is excellent is lemon and hot water. This mixture also benefits bile formation, which is essential for optimal fat metabolism and helps regenerate the liver. It also promotes peristalsis, the movement in the bowels that keeps waste moving along the digestive tract and out of the body for elimination. Again cranberry juice-water mixture and plain water will assist your liver in diluting and expelling the increased body wastes from the two-phase detoxification process. Water helps empty stubborn fat stores because our liver is more efficient at using stored fat for energy when your body is well hydrated. Remember earlier I mentioned flaxseed oil? Well by including flaxseed oil, the process will take advantage of its metabolism-raising action and its ability to attract and bind to the oil-soluble poisons that lodge fatty acids in flaxseed oil also stimulate bile production, which is crucial to the breakdown of fats.

For another key point, take into consideration eggs which are the highest dietary source of several sulfur-based amino acids, including taurine, oysteine, and methionine. These are needed by the liver to regulate bile production. This nutrient-rich food is also a superb source of phosphatidylcholine, a nutrient needed for over all liver health and to make lecithin, which helps prevent cholesterol oxidation harmful to the liver and other organs.

If you’re worried about eggs and heart disease, take note: a dietary analysis published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association in 1999 followed nearly 40,000 men and 80,000 women over a period of eight to fourteen years. The study found no evidence of any association between egg consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke in healthy men or women, so enjoy up to two eggs a day. And for my final tip on your liver, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and Kale are very high in sulforaphane, a substance your liver uses in converting toxins into nontoxic waste for elimination.

YOUR COLON

The digestive process is concluded in the colon. The colon, or large intestine, which is larger in diameter than the small intestine, receives the food after digestion and prepares it for elimination. The colon adsorbs water from the fluid mass which arrives from the small intestines and converts it to semi-solid faeces.

Eliminated faeces contain the unabsorbed parts of foods such as cellulose, inorganic matter, toxic substances and dead bacteria, and the residues of digestive secretions. Gases and the waste products of protein metabolism are responsible for the typical odor. Note: A high fiber diet and healthy intestinal flora can prevent the offensive putrefactive odor of faeces, and speed up the digestive process.

THE ASSIMILATION PROCESS

Assimilation is the final stage of food utilization. Food factors are assimilated (become part of the body) in the cells, where they are used for maintenance, repair, new growth and energy. Check your food before you eat! Is it fit to become a part of you? Is it natural, wholesome and nutritious, or refined, processed and denatured. One thing is for certain if you have a sensitive stomach it won’t be hard and or long before you know about it. Having said that, please allow me to offer to you the 10 Tips for Sensitive Stomachs.

Top 10 Tips for Sensitive Stomachs

1. Oranges, grapefruits, melons, bananas and potatoes are best eaten separately, as a small meal all on their own, simply because of their special structure. However eating melons and cantaloupe at the same meal can, cause severe indigestion.

2. Cooked animal proteins and vegetables, or cooked starches with vegetables, are easy on sensitive stomachs.

3. When sugar and protein are combined together, they form waste enzymes which will rot the protein in your stomach and inhibit its metabolism.

4. Cheese and fruit combinations are fine ONLY if you combine some sour fruits in the mix, for example limes, lemons grapefruit and oranges.

5. Pineapple and papaya can be combined with lean animal protein (cheese, chicken, fish) because pineapple contains bromelain and papaya contains papain, two powerful protein-digesting enzymes.

6. Fruits and vegetables are not compatible at the same time and at the same meal.

7. Drinking right after your meal, or two hours later, will dilute your digestive juices and can impair your digestion, which can cause stomach pains and heartburn. During your meals, soup and milk are the least troublesome beverages.

8. Fruits (not acid fruits) are best eaten alone because they are highly alkaline.

9. Hot condiments, such as chili, paprika and even mustard, increase gastric juice secretions, irritate the stomach lining and can lead to ulcers.

10. In general, grains combine very well with dried and fresh vegetables and fruits.

While the above ten tips are very important, its also really important to understand a few additional factors which can and will contribute to your sensitive stomach one way or another. That being said, please also bear in mind the following.

1. Starches require an alkaline medium, which is supplied partly by your mouth and by your intestines. Fats and oils will be digested slowly, mostly in your intestines, and do not interfere much with either protein or starch digestion.

2. You’ll find that sugars are the quickest food to digest; some are even absorbed in your stomach, while most will be absorbed through the intestines.

3. This is good news which simply means that proteins and fats, or starches and fats may be eaten together, as their digestion does not interfere with each other.

4. Proteins and starches are a poor food combination because proteins need an acid medium and starches an alkaline one. These digestive processes are chemically opposed, so when they are eaten together, they stress your system by producing fermentation, flatulence and indigestion.

5. If you’re a young and healthy person with a strong digestion and plenty of stomach acid, you’ll not be affected by protein-starch combinations. However, if you’re an older person or someone with a weak digestion, it will be normal for you to easily develop indigestion, particularly if food is not thoroughly chewed.

6. If you’re like me and you really enjoy a great hamburger with fries, you should be warned. While these two combinations include protein and starch, the potatoes ferment in your stomach and stress it, while waiting for the steak to be digested.

Its really important to remember that correct food combinations are regarded by many nutritionists and chefs as the simplest, most effective way to prevent such common problems as stomach acidity, heartburn, bloating, dyspepsia, headaches, allergies and nervousness. Also people with an extremely sensitive digestion may find the common practice of combining high sugar foods with protein distressing. When you eat a sweet dessert after a juicy steak, for example, the sugar is held up in the stomach until the steak has been digested. In the meantime, for 3 to 5 hours the sugars ferment and bloat, causing indigestion and heartburn. Sugary desserts are best avoided.

If you don’t remember anything in this article, please remember correct food combinations may be the key to easing long-time distress and embarking on a new chapter of personal well-being. All the Best for now!

Skipping one meal or several can lead to intestinal distress later on. Honey and cinnamon can help to ease the pain and discomfort of gas naturally. These two ingredients can also assist with nausea during pregnancy.

Tea with Honey- An Established Natural Remedy for Nausea

Honey and cinnamon have been used for years for various ailments. They have properties that have allowed them to become extremely popular in communities that cook with the spice and natural sweetener. You can easily make a tea with cinnamon and honey. Have this in the mornings when you wake and start the day.

Ease Nausea and Gas with Cinnamon

A tea made with cinnamon leaves and sweetened with honey will help with gas. It will also help with nausea. If you are feeling nauseous at any time of day, you can take a little of this beverage to ease the discomfort and get back to your regular routine. If you are pregnant or on medication or any sort please speak with your doctor about this and any other herbal remedy you are considering before using it.

Honey and cinnamon are embraced by several cultures because of their medicinal properties. These substances also each have a unique flavor that makes them useful in all sorts of meals. They are said to help heal stomach ulcers and improve gut health.

Prevent Indigestion

Indigestion can be experienced by people of any age. Usually, doctors won’t become overly concerned about a patient who is suffering from indigestion, unless they are also suffering from stomach cramps, bleeding and other symptoms that may cause them to think that you may be suffering from a serious problem.

If you frequently suffer from indigestion, there is something you can do to help prevent this from occurring. You can also get rid of the discomfort once it occurs. To keep indigestion at bay, you may take two tablespoons of honey before your meal. Make sure that each tablespoon of honey is lightly sprinkled with ground cinnamon.

Relax for the Day Ahead

Adults and children sometimes become anxious and worried when they have major tasks to accomplish on a particular day. Have a cup of tea made with honey and cinnamon before you tackle an assignment or a major presentation. It will help.

This remedy works for both adults and children. If you are rushing in the mornings and are feeling nauseous, take this blend quickly to ease your feelings of unease. You will feel more relaxed and will be better able to concentrate on the day ahead of you. Children who frequently suffer from an upset stomach will also appreciate this natural remedy.

How do you figure out when to take all your different supplements – especially when some of them need to be consumed on an empty stomach? And what do you do if some of your supplements are not compatible with each other? Read on for some guidelines, tips, and a real-life example.

Here are some tips to help you figure out your supplement schedule:

• Take the supplements that are absorbed the fastest, first.
• If a substance does not specify that it needs to be consumed on an empty stomach, then it’s probably okay to take it together with other substances.
• If a herb is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach, is it because the empty stomach is a pre-requisite for adequate absorption – because food interferes with its absorption? Or, is it because it’s a substance that needs to have a clear surface to apply it’s healing properties? Supplements like slippery elm, aloe vera juice, and marshmallow root fit into the latter category and therefore can easily be taken together – since they’re all trying to accomplish the same thing.
• When a supplement says “take on an empty stomach”, that means 20 minutes before food, or 2 hours after food.

Now that you know the basic guidelines, sometimes you still need to experiment a bit to find the best schedule to achieve maximum potency and effectiveness from your supplements. Let’s take a look at an example, so you can see how this plays out in real life.

Supplements for Colitis

Krista suffers from colitis, so she needs to take the following products to repopulate her gut with good bacteria, relieve gas, bloating and diarrhea, eliminate heartburn, and heal the mucosal lining of her intestines:

• Probiotics (beneficial bacteria for the GI tract – empty stomach for the powders – 3x/day)
• Psyllium husk powder (for diarrhea control 2x/day)
• Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) – before or after a meal for heartburn relief
• L-Glutamine (empty stomach for diarrhea control – 3x/day)
• N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG) – empty stomach for intestinal repair – 3x/day
• Slippery Elm (empty stomach for healing mucosal lining of intestines 3x/day)
• Aloe vera juice (empty stomach for healing intestinal mucosal lining)
• Multimineral & Multivitamin (3x/day for whole-body health and replace nutrients lost through malabsorption and fecal loss)

Krista’s problem is that she doesn’t know which ones she can take together, how far apart they need to be taken from each other, or how to fit them all in around mealtimes. Since she’s taking a lot of supplements – and many of them three times a day – you can easily see why she’s so confused.

She’s especially confused since the probiotics state on the bottle that any herbs should be taken at least 2 hours apart from the probiotics – since many herbs have antibacterial action and thus will kill the good bacteria in the probiotics.

Experimenting With Your Supplement Schedule

First of all, Krista needs to keep in mind that even our food can contain natural antibacterials (like garlic, onions, etc.) and Natren has had to set a time limit that applies to a wide variety of substances at all strengths/potencies. For example, if you’re taking Wild Oregano Oil or Olive Leaf extract, then you definitely cannot consume the probiotics sooner than 2 hours, as you’d be wasting your money. However, other supplements (and foods) are far less potent against bacteria. Therefore, she may be okay to implement one of the following supplement schedules.

The main difference between the two schedules below is whether she wants to take her probiotics before every meal, or whether she would like to take just one large dose before bed. This is where the experimentation comes in. Her body will definitely prefer, and do better on, one or the other. She will have to test each of them for a week at a time and see which schedule benefits her body the most.

Schedule #1

Before a meal:

• take the Probiotics in powder form
• wait 20 minutes, then take the NAG, L-Glutamine, Slippery elm and Psyllium (these supplements can be taken together because, although they all require an empty stomach, they are compatible with each other), then eat, and take the Multivitamin/Multimineral with your food
• after the meal take the DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice)

Before bed:

• take the Probiotics in powder form
• wait 20 minutes, then take the Aloe vera juice

OR

Schedule #2

Before each meal:

• take the NAG, L-Glutamine, Aloe vera juice, Slippery elm and Psyllium (these supplements can be taken together because, although they all require an empty stomach, they are compatible with each other)
• wait 15 minutes, then eat, and take the Multivitamin/Multimineral with your food
• after the meal take the DGL (or in this case, you can also take it before the meal, if you prefer, since you’re not consuming the probiotics at this time)

Before bed:

• Take 1 – 2 teaspoons of each Probiotic powder

Krista will need to experiment with both schedules and see which one gives her better results. The probiotics may work better for her in multiple doses and may not be affected much by the other substances, or, they may work better taken on their own in a large dose. Again, the only way to find out is to test and experiment.

The reason people need to experiment with their supplements is because everyone’s body and condition (or pathology) are different. Some people are highly sensitive and responsive to certain herbal medicines and not to others. And some people need aggressive supplementation no matter which herb it is, whilst others are highly sensitive to all supplements.

When you’re dealing with a supplement like high-potency probiotics, for example, some people’s bodies respond most favorably when they’re taken in powder form on an empty stomach. And other bodies prefer controlled-release capsule probiotics taken with food. Again, the only way to find out is to experiment.

You’ll also get a ‘gut feeling’ as to which supplements you should take and when. Our own body wisdom trumps any manufacturer’s instruction sheet, so definitely follow your intuition first. If you’re skilled at listening to your gut, or following your intuition, you can ask your body directly when and how it wants the supplement. Either place your hand over your gut, whilst holding the herb in your other hand, and ask. Or, place the palm of your hand above the herb and wait for guidance. This is how some medicine women/men receive plant wisdom. They simply hold their hand above the plant and the knowledge flows into them about how to prepare the plant, which parts to use and how to take it.

If you’re not quite at that level of fluency with your body wisdom, then in the meantime, follow the supplement scheduling tips above, combine it with your own intuition, and experiment.

Do you feel green with envy every time you see those Hollywood celebrities or athletes with sexy, washboard abs? Don’t feel too bad, because it’s possible for ordinary and average girls like you to tone those stomach muscles and potentially develop six pack abs.

To have a great body and get your flat belly to show nicely, you got to follow the right diet and proper exercises, girl! Be careful not to fall in the trap of the so-called “fad diets” and of doing more than 20 crunches per session. When it comes to diet, it’s important that lean protein and healthy carbs and fats consists your meal. Get rid of junk foods and say hello to unprocessed and organic foods. Include dairy in your diet and minimize estrogenic foods and soy products. Make sure your daily calorie intake is adequate so as not to lose energy. Eat more fiber and drink plenty of water every day. Keep your metabolism steady so try to avoid stress and anxiety. Get your beauty sleep and stay cool. When it comes to working out, do abdominal exercises plus full body exercises. Concentrate on exercises that give the most resistance and develop correct body positioning. Go for cardio workouts like walking. Start off with a 10-minute walk a day then increase the time as you go along.

So now, work towards awesome abs. With a little discipline you can achieve this. Have a healthy diet, follow the right workout program and enjoy your routine. Truth be told: Girls want to have fun…and a six pack!

I’m currently on N.O. Xplode and I notice that the label says that I should consume it on an empty stomach.. is it okay if I take them together with my pre-workout meal, which consists of a protein shake?

Ok.. I think its about time I address this issue before it gets outta hand. N.O. Xplode needs to be consumed on an EMPTY STOMACH, which means the last meal you have had must be at least 2 hours before that. So, NO, its not okay to consume it together with your protein shake as you’ll only reduce it’s effectiveness.

I’ve lost count on the emails and text messages and phone calls I’ve received over the past few weeks from my friends who need help with BSN’s supplements – N.O. Xplode in particular. To all those who have had N.O. Xplode actually EXPLODE in their faces while mixing… didnt I tell you NOT to shake it in the shaker, but to STIR it with a spoon? To those of you who have had Xplode stain their clothes, explode in their gym locker, mess up their kitchen, and explode in their car (ok.. this was me.. haha) – honestly, you guys are an amusing bunch.

Well, I must admit, it can be tricky to those of you who dont time or monitor your meals as closely as I do. For example, my meals are always roughly 3 hours apart, and I will only drink large amounts of water 2 hours after any meal cos it takes about 2 hours for the contents of your stomach to clear – petty things that I sometimes take quite seriously.

I have a friend who wakes up in the morning, has 2 slices of bread and heads to the gym immediately to workout.. how is he supposed to squeeze N.O. Xplode into his schedule then, cos he needs to consume it on an empty stomach? That was exactly his question to me when he started supplementing with Xplode.

Then there are those of you who eat whenever you’re hungry, and sometimes skip meals altogether, or just grab a quick bite just to fill your stomach before your workout.. once again – how do you squeeze Xplode into your schedule since it must be consumed on an empty stomach before your workout?

A bit tricky, but it just needs a bit of getting used to.

For the past few months, I’ve been consuming a protein shake before my workouts as well. There is scientific research which suggests that taking protein before lifting weights may be just as important, if not more so, than taking it right afterwards.

When you lift weights, the bloodflow to your working muscles increases dramatically and this helps ‘push’ any circulating amino acids into the muscle cells. But you need to have adequate amino acids circulating in your blood to optimize this effect. This is why you should eat some protein (protein is made of amino acids) before working out. This will support faster muscle growth.. and who doesn’t want that?

Ok, so for those of you who are a little confused and find it difficult manipulating your time, having your protein shakes AND supplementing with NO-Xplode, here’s what I suggest you do:

(1) 60 minutes before your workout, have your protein shake – mixed with water, and not milk. (milk takes longer to digest, and you want it to digest quickly to make room for Xplode).

(2) 30 minutes after your protein shake, take your NO-Xplode (however many scoops you usually require). Your pre-workout protein shake would have cleared/digested as it’s only liquid, and wont take up to 2 hours like an ordinary meal for you to achieve an empty stomach.

(3) If you’re also supplementing with Cellmass, consume 1 serving immediately after your workout. Cellmass is BSN’s post-workout creatine supplement to replace creatine stores lost during training, speed up recovery, volumise muscle cells, increase muscle density/hardness, and lotsa other funky stuff.

(4) 30 minutes after consuming Cellmass, consume your post-workout protein shake/meal.

*The above schedule was derived from the facts available at http://www.bsnonline.net

I hope this clears the confusion people.. Good luck! Drop me a note here if there are any specific questions you’d like answered on N.O. Xplode. Will try my best to help.

Take a look at your belly. Are you proud of it, or is it a constant source of embarrassment?

If you have a flat stomach, congratulations. You are one of a small minority of people who can wear the clothes they want to wear without worrying about having to ‘hide’ a big, ugly-looking gut. If you are in the majority, you wish you could lose your belly and look trim and smart again.

Well, your wish may have just been granted. As you will see shortly, not only can you make a big difference to the size of your belly but you can also greatly boost your health and significantly increase your energy levels at the same time. And all this can be done safely, simply, quickly and cheaply. But first, let’s look at exactly what causes a big belly. It probably isn’t what you think.

Most people believe that a big gut is just ‘fat’. This is plain wrong. A big gut develops when the large intestine (known as the colon), which is actually a muscle, loses its strength through years of ‘abuse by junk food’ and drops down from its original position and pushes against the abdominal wall, making the abdomen bulge out. Adding to its weakness is the collection of old, rotting and fermenting undigested waste matter which has taken up long-term residence in the colon (large intestine) instead of passing ‘through and out’ as it was supposed to. The body has to then coat this matter in mucous to protect itself from toxicity. Some of this toxic matter can be literally years old. This stuff weighs down the colon which then also pushes the belly outwards.

Here are just a few of the health issues which have been linked to a toxic, clogged colon:

o Constipation
o Water retention
o High blood pressure
o Fatigue
o Gas and bloating
o Headaches
o Bad mood
o IBS, Crohn’s Disease, Colitis and other diseases of the bowel
o Ulcers
o Heart disease
o Skin problems

Most people are carrying several pounds of toxic waste matter inside them, day in, day out. The average figure is between six to twelve pounds! In some people this figure is far higher. Doesn’t it make absolute sense to clear it all out, to dump all this health-ruining garbage? Not only will it make your belly shrink but there are numerous other huge health benefits which have been reported including:

o A boosted immune system (70% of your immune system is in your gut)
o An end to constipation
o Weight loss
o Allergy relief
o More energy
o Improved nutrient absorption
o A clearer mind

and many, many more potentially life-changing benefits.

In my experience the most effective and reputedly the safest way to cleanse the entire intestinal tract is by using an oxygen-based colon cleanser. Other types of cleanser (we’re not talking about enemas, drugs or laxatives here) use fiber, or herbs. Fiber cleansers ‘scrub’ the intestines whereas herbal cleansers use micro toxins to make the body purge valuable water to flush the waste matter out. Oxygen cleansers are different.

Oxygen-based colon cleansers work by gently producing oxygen along the entire digestive tract. This oxygen then dissolves the waste matter, turning it into carbon dioxide, waste and water. The waste is then easily passed out. The oxygen produced can even reach the bladder and kidneys, which an added advantage.

Oxygen cleansers have another two great advantages over other types of colon cleanser. Firstly, the oxygen can reach into all the folds and fissures of the intestinal wall (something which other types of cleansers cannot do) ensuring a much more thorough cleansing. Secondly, the oxygen helps the ‘good’ bacteria in the gut to thrive and kills the ‘bad’ bacteria.

Do yourself a huge favor. Treat your body to a program of oxygen cleansing. Your waistline will improve. Your health will improve. You’ll be glad you did.

Plenty of people I know have been so obsessed about getting flatter lower abs without even knowing why they want it in the first place or, more importantly, why they need to have it. Certainly, flat abs are more than just pretty to look at. There are several advantages to having a flat, sexy tummy, and it is important that you know all of them. That way, you can start working on getting yours today with the right frame of mind and even maintain the way you look for more worthwhile reasons.

Here they are:

1. Good state of health. Having flatter lower abs is indicative of a generally healthy lifestyle. It shows that you give importance to your body and you look after it very well.

2. High self-worth. If you care enough about the way your abs look, then you’re on the right path. Who cares what others think. Valuing the way you look is more important than receiving praise from others.

3. Easier to make clothes fit. Avoid “spilling” flab over your expensive jeans or showing off the bulge through your shirt. With flat abs, you won’t have to worry about fitting into your favorite clothes ever again.

4. Builds self-confidence. Having a flat tummy could help boost your confidence. Flatter lower abs will make you feel better about yourself and, trust me, once you do, you will feel like you can do anything.

5. Less prone to injury and muscle strain. A well-developed core means that you’re less likely to incur any injuries. That’s because you’re stronger, more balanced, and even dexterous.

6. Typically attractive. While some really don’t consider washboard abs as a primary measurement for hotness, they sure are a plus. Flat or well defined ab muscles are undeniably eye-catching and attractive.

7. Ultimately lead to a happier, longer, healthier life. Having developed abdominals definitely brings a lot of perks to your health – better blood flow, decreased chances of getting debilitating diseases like heart conditions, diabetes, and even cancer.

Flatter lower abs present a whole array of advantages that not even you can say no to. If it makes your quality of life better and if you could live longer, I say why not aim for it.