Keeping Your Digestive Tract Healthy

            Your digestive tract does more than just make sure your food is digested properly.  It is responsible for housing about 70% of your immune system.  One of the best ways to make sure you keep your immune system and your digestive tract healthy is by feeding it with healthy, organic foods high in Vitamin C.  Most of the time when you think of Vitamin C, oranges and orange juice come to mind.  But did you know that broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, cauliflower, kale, bell peppers, and even potatoes are high in Vitamin C.  And remember, there are many other citrus fruits like kiwi, grapefruit, lemons, and limes, plus melons, strawberries, apples, guava, and papaya too. 

             Any of these would make a great breakfast smoothie, a mid-day fruit bowl, a delicious lunch salad or tasty soup, or a delicious plant-based stir-fry or stuffed potato.  Whatever choice you make you will be fueling your immune system.  Or maybe you’re eating all these nutritious fruits and vegetables but instead of fueling your body you are eliminating all those nutrients because your body is unable to absorb all that Vitamin C along with the other vitamins and minerals in these healthy, organic foods.  Did you know that was possible?  Did you know you could be eating all these foods and yet your body can still be nutrient deficient?

            Nutrients are mostly absorbed in the small intestines.  Despite its name, the small intestines is actually anywhere from 20 to 25 feet in a scrunched, coiled length.  Because of all the folds in the small intestines it is possible for food particles to get stuck inside them.  If that happens, the small intestines will be unable to absorb the nutrients in the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins you eat.  If you’re wondering how you can clean out those nooks and crannies, think fresh-water algae.  Yep, you read correctly, think algae - think Chlorella. 

Chlorella is often called a green ‘Superfood’ because it is so nutrient dense.  It contains all nine ‘essential amino acids’, plus it is a major source of B Vitamins, Zinc, Phosphorus, Vitamin A, Magnesium, and Iron.  Chlorella contains 60% protein, 12%-15% lipids, 10%-15% polysaccharides, 9%-18% dietary fiber, 1%-4% chlorophyll, unsaturated fatty acids, as well as immunostimulators, minerals, and carotenoids.  But like all those Vitamin C rich foods, if the small intestines is unable to absorb all these nutrients, what good is it to eat or supplement with them?  Well chlorella has an answer to that question.  You see, chlorella has the ability to draw out heavy metal pollutants from the digestive tract.  In addition, can move into all those folds and curves and, in about 28 days, clean out any foods particles that have gotten stuck in there.  Talk about some funny looking ‘poop’ but I promise, your body will thank you.  Chlorella is a supplement that you can take on a daily basis because of its nutrient value.  You can buy it in the ‘broken-cell wall’ capsules or as a powder that you can add to your morning smoothie. 

Stay healthy and enjoy the journey.

References

Aditi, A., & Graham, D. Y. (2012). Vitamin C, gastritis, and gastric disease: a historical review and update. Digestive diseases and sciences, 57(10), 2504–2515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-012-2203-7

Brennan, D. (2020). Chlorella:  Are There Health Benefits?  Retrieved from the Nourish by WebMD website at https://www.webmd.com/diet/chlorella-health-benefits

Masojidek, J. and Torzillo, G. (2014). Mass Cultivation of Fresh Water Microalgae, as posted on the ScienceDirect website at https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/chlorella

Paniagua-Michel, J. (2015). Microalgal Nutraceuticals, as posted on the ScienceDirect website at https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/chlorella

Vitamin C (2022).  Retrieved from the Harvard T.H. Chan – The Nutrition Source website at https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-c/

Wessels, D. (2019). What are the health benefits of chlorella?  Retrieved from the Medical News Today website at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320067