Mad Dogs and Vegetables

You may be looking at the title thinking that your beloved Gut Guru has lost the plot... but do not worry! There really is a connection to be made between dogs, vegetables, and... how did you guess? Of course, it all comes down to poo.  

 

There was a wonderful little article in the BBC the other day about the tax on dog food for guide dogs. It discusses the type of dog foods guide dogs must eat, and, unlike racing hounds, guide dogs require a relatively low protein diet as they do not expend as much energy.

Apparently eating too much protein would cause the dogs to develop irregular toilet habits, causing difficulties for the blind owner. Therefore the dog food they need to eat is high in fibre and vegetable goodness!

So the real question is, for us as colon therapists: how much protein is too much? 

For dogs, the answer is clear: the less they move, the more vegetables they need in their diet. And vice versa. Racing dogs just need to eat meat to be successful. So what about us humans? 

If we are not running around for a living should we be consuming so much protein? We are not all athletes so should our protein intake correlate to our lifestyle to avoid irregular toilet breaks?

But then again, we need animal protein for body maintenance and repair. 

Please share your thoughts and advice.

Spanish Fever - Part Two

On the 3rd night at Health Retreat Spain we caught up with some guests who came to the retreat at the end of February, and they are now back, eight weeks later, for a top-up. They are both from the UK, and having become friends in February, they have decided to come back again now at the start of May.

 They are spending a week here. Their plan is to eat for the first couple of days, then do just juice for three days, and then go back to sampling the gorgeous food at the end of the stay. So, we asked them what they were expecting to get this time from the stay that they did not get the first time.

Alyn, who is a make-up artist from Manchester, said: "The first time you get here, everything is new. I went the whole way with Carol and Andy on food and exercise and juicing and this made a big difference to me. I have stayed on vegetarian foods and juices since then, without any effort. I feel good. Now I am back here because the atmosphere and the energy here enable to to spend time with yourself, and to process stuff. This time I am taking from it what I need in my life right now."

 Louise agreed: "The beauty of this place is that no one is forcing you to do anything. You can take it as far as you personally want to, do as much or as little as you wish. I am here for me".

Many people come here to become more active, and a walk is always on offer at 10 am. Andrew told us not to miss this morning's walk, so we went along. Down a hill, up a hill, down and up - and this was the most gorgeous view that one could imagine.

 Leading by example is a big thing here. Listening to "office conversations" of admin staff actually makes this all a lot more real. Where else would you hear this - "I haven't bought any dairy for three weeks now...we don't even drink a quarter of what we used to.... last night we went out and there was prawn cocktail and pork on the plate and I did not even manage to get through a quarter of it..." This is not for the show, and this is where the real change lies.


 Six years ago Andrew and Carol would have laughed at anyone who would tell them that a diet could make a difference to their health. In fact, Andrew remembers walking out of a personal development seminar when the seminar leader suggested that going vegetarian could improve health. He only agreed to stick with it for a month because Carol wanted to try it. Now, six years later, Andrew is a firm believer that health, diet and lifestyle cannot be separated or compartmentalised.


What will you discover on your path to a healthier lifestyle at Health Retreat Spain?

An Ecuadorian Dream

A secluded spot, in the tranquil village of Vilcabamba, engulfed in natural beauty, you will find one of the most unexpected wonders; Madre Tierra Resort and Spa. As well as the magnificent atmosphere and environment, this resort also has an eco-friendly policy, using water pumps and solar panel heaters. They also produce a large crop fruit and vegetables, organically grown on their grounds, which they use in their restaurant. 

“We operate all year round, and are committed to the values of peace, community, art, health, and sustainability. (Approximately 80-­90% of our income goes to supporting our local Ecuadorian staff and other operating and overhead costs.)”

Visitors arrive from all over the world for a variety of reasons. Many of these turn out to be kindred spirits ranging from students and teachers of the arts, new science, deep ecology and environmental activism to ones who seek to lead a more peaceful and sustainable lifestyle free from the pressures of life in North America, Europe or Australia. The resort is not situated in the jungle (though the jungle is a reachable distance away) so there is no need to worry about mosquitoes and other nibbling creepy-crawlies. You do not need to worry about visas and vaccination which makes the visit even simpler and much more relaxed. It truly feels like home to home; ensuring that it really is an easy stay the facilities are modern and comfortable.

Does this sound and look like paradise to you? Well currently this beautiful establishment is recruiting and they are looking for a new colon hydratherapist! It’s such a unique and exciting opportunity; we could not wait to share the news! 

The resort has been under new management from 2010 and the new owners are looking to grow ‘their family’. The company takes pride in creating a homely atmosphere and that is reflective in the staff attitude. If you would like to be part of this friendly, family oriented and homely environment, this is the perfect opportunity. 

For more information on this opportunity please visit the RICTAT website at:

http://www.colonic-association.net/therapists-wanted.html

If you wish to take your mind, body, soul and gut to a friendly and happy place where you will be looked after, or for more information visit the Madre Tierra website at 

http://www.madretierra.com.ec/

Spanish Fever

Meet Carol and Andrew West - two people who leave their life behind in the UK, get in a van with all their worldly possessions which include some books, videos and a chocolate labrador, go to Spain which, as we all know, is tumbling down under the weight of its debt, start a health business from scratch, make it profitable and open and 26-bed vegan retreat two years down the line? What are they on?

Well, Carol is member of RICTAT, colon hydrotherapist, raw chef, juice guru... this was our  - Kat's and my - excuse. We just had to check it out. The place: Obsidian Retreat in Benissa, Spain, about one hour's drive from Alicante Airport. Alicante is less than two hours' flight from the UK, so getting here from anywhere back home is not difficult at all all year round.

The time: 4-7 May, 2012

The retreat is in a traditional Spanish hotel about 40 minutes' walk from Benissa, or a couple of minutes by car. Most people come here to kick-start
a healthy lifestyle, to delete junk out of their system, to do some gentle exercise, such as walking, yoga or rebounding, or to rewire their brain with some clever mindset classes. There is one tomorrow afternoon, so more about it in the next blog.



Breakfast is usually a juice. For lunch, there is a choice of a juice or a salad, and the same for dinner. Every Friday there is a themed gala dinner. Yesterday the theme was "French Food". Amazing salads, pate, mushrooms, ratatouille, potatoes au gratin, apple strudel for desert - all lovingly prepared by Obsidian's own chefs under Carol's guidance. Kat and I got here just in time for that glorious feast.

Visit us

The rooms are very comfortable, the pool is lovely, the atmosphere is calming and soothing. Yesterday we spent some time in the sauna and the Jacuzzi. We will be doing the same today, but having pre-warmed out systems with a shot of pure ginger juice.Wicked! Our livers feel very exited about this all and look forward to a bit of junk dumping, in the nicest possible way.

Galina says: I have only been here for a day and a half, and I already feel more grounded and positive. I am definitely going to suggest the retreat to my clients. It's so close to home and so well run that I think that it will be more beneficial than Thailand, Turkey or Mexico, where these things usually take place. Financially, it will be a fraction of the price of the journey. A week here will definitely reboot you for  a good few months.

Kat says: The friendly atmosphere mixed with peace and quiet is just what I needed, The perfect place for relaxing together with tasty food and yummy juices all of which are prepared for you so even if you've never juiced before or are already a juice convert there's plenty of variety for you to enjoy and new recipes to try. I'll be recommending that my clients visit Obsidian Retreat as the intimate feel and personal service together with the convenient travel time makes it a fabulous sunshine retreat.

Tomorrow we'll try to grab some time with Carol and Andrew and figure out what the secret of their runaway success is.... Do't go away!

To learn more about these fabulous people watch this space and in the mean time click here to visit the beautiful website.

Oh so... healthy chocolate?

My perennial challenge is to bring it all down to poop… as you know! So today I’ll take the most unlikely suspect of all – chocolate. Can chocolate, the sinful, the hidden, the guilty pleasure possibly become the King of Poop?

Oh yes it can! But not just any chocolate – ‘ohso’ probiotic chocolate.

This perfectly sized bars of chocolate, not only gives you the much appreciated feel-good effect, but also makes sure your gut stays healthy and full of the good bacteria it needs. It is definitely a welcome change from the sugar-laden, overpriced and over-billed probiotic yogurt drinks that have been abundantly stocked on the shelves in the supermarkets over the last few years.

Now you're probably thinking that eating a bar of chocolate a day is more likely to do you more harm than good - but ‘ohso’ isn't your regular chocolate bar. It's made with 53% Belgian Chocolate, which is dark chocolate making ‘ohso’ not just very tasty but also a source of powerful antioxidants which helps strengthen the body’s own natural defenses, whilst also providing vitamins D and E, plus many B-complex vitamins. I hear you all cry ‘Where have you been all my life!?’ My reaction was pretty similar! A chocolate I can proudly eat without feeling guilty!? Am I dreaming?

And just in case all the above isn't enough to persuade you to at least try these little bars of heaven - there's more. The good bacteria needed to promote healthy gut function lasts 3x longer in chocolate. Completely proves my theory that there’s virtually nothing you can’t fix with a bit of chocolate! So this chocolate is making sure as much of the good stuff gets to your tummy, where it is very much needed.
Is there science behind it? Yes there is, and, even better, it’s on our side.

And finally, for all of us who feel that chocolate is a constant cause for calorie caution, each of these wondrous bars contains only 72 calories - less than half the calories in a bag of Maltesers!

Move aside all you other evil chocos and smelly probiotic pills, and make way for the super bar!

The most important question is… where can I get mine?

http://www.ohsolovesyourtummy.com

Touché!...or is it Tushé?

Another insanely successful man, music industry giant Simon Cowell, unveils his greatest pampering secrets in his new (ostensibly unauthorized) biography.

Now, although he is a bit of a diva, and takes things a tad too far, some of his madness does have supporting method.

Let us start at Simon’s bottom.  Simon supposedly uses only black quilted toilet paper. 

This may seem like the typical behaviour of a money mad show off, but I think we can learn something from him. Mr Number One shows an attitude towards Number Two that many of us should adopt. Pooping is not the most glamorous of activities, but it is necessary, and if it is necessary why not enjoy it! His derrière just like the rest of ours, has to sit on a toilet and be wiped clean by something before it can be popped back into a pair of undies. So this mundane task should be turned into a form of t.l.c- why do we give our faces so much pampering attention, and not our bottoms? Black toilet paper does not do it for me, but if I could get Dali printed toilet paper, I may spend more time sat on the thrown (feeling like it’s a little less of an embarrassing activity), and feel extra special when its time to wipe my tush! To make the point more clearly, why not make some element of your toilet ritual and environment more glamorous? See if it changes your attitude to pooping. Definitely, tushé....

Simon's face undergoes quite an ordeal! Apparently he is hooked up with Botox twice a year, and carries around at least 2 suitcases full of lotions and potions whenever he travels! However, along with the external resurfacing, he does also work on his face from the inside, injecting vitamins, drinking super-smoothies and eating loads of fruit and veg. Lots of vitamins = healthier body = healthier skin = more youthful appearance!

Now to the gut, the proverbial Mum. I imagine Simon’s gut speaks to him regularly, and I think he is well acquainted to it, and listens to it closely. This is very clear in the fact that he has regular colon hydrotherapy treatments. He knows his gut struggles to process all the nonsense he puts it through, so to show he cares, and understands, he also pampers his gut. In turn, I imagine, his gut treats him much better as well; processing foods better, and therefore gaining more from his super smoothies and air freight delivered fruit!

Lesson: don’t be a diva, but do pamper yourself; butt, face and gut!

If you are into gut health as much as us and Simon Cowell, why not join the fastest growing organisation for colon hydrotherapists? 

The most successful people in the world listen to their gut

On last weeks ‘The voice’ Will-I-Am declared at several points that he was listening to his gut for advice on who to choose for the final spot on his team. He also said that his gut was his mother, a slightly bizarre statement but hey the message was clear; he knew his gut instinct was the one he should follow.

One of Oprah’s coveted life-lessons is ‘always listen to your gut’ – she believes it is an instinct that all animals listen to, but humans have forgotten and sometimes actively ignore.

Take a look at Mark Zuckerberg. His gut told him that students would love a service to connect them seamlessly to each other at their campus. And each of his product decisions, from the newsfeed to photo tagging, also came from gut decisions.


Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Warren Buffett, Richard Branson. They all learned very early on to listen to their initial instinct.


So, what does it mean to listen to your gut? Obviously your gut does not boom with an omniscient voice guiding you through tough decisions, (although Will-I-Am’s gut appears to have a very distinct voice, the voice of his mother), but its does make its presence known… when you get ‘butterflies’ your tummy is talking to you, telling you that ‘this may not be a good idea’ or possibly ‘this is a very exciting situation to be in’. Or it could be an even subtler message, not quite a fully formed voice, what some may call intuition.

I remember the last time my gut spoke to me (it tends to make its presence known on a daily basis), it told me to take my umbrella as I was leaving the house to meet a friend, but did I listen? Oh no! I arrived drenched from head to toe… I should have listened to ‘my mother’.

When was the last time your gut spoke to you? And what did it say? Does it have a voice or is it just a sensation or feeling?