Let’s Talk Fibre - AIM Herbal Fiberblend 6 Take the Edge off Stress

CELL FOOD Let’s Talk Fibre

AIM Herbal Fiberblend

By Charlotte Meschede - Nutritionist

Regular bowel habits begin in infancy, so making sure your baby does not have these issues from the beginning is imperative. If you do have imbalances in your bowel habits, then it is never too late to start correcting the problem.

If there is one tip I could give everyone after my more than 40 years of experience in the nutritional field, then it is to simply LOOK AFTER YOUR GUT. Many people ignore bowel and gut health until it is too late. I’ve had many patients over the years that come in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with seemingly otherwise good health, except for gut issues.

of soluble fibre, is that it ‘traps’ cholesterol that is present in food and prevents it from being absorbed, so therefore having enough soluble fibre in your diet is also crucial to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

Soluble fibre will also entrap bile, which is produced by the liver to aid in the breakdown of fats. The body uses cholesterol to make bile, so in this way, fibre has another indirect way of managing cholesterol levels.

If foods have sufficient soluble fibre, which then absorbs water and expands in the digestive system, then a feeling of satiety or fullness is much more easily attained. One could also therefore say, that soluble fibres help to prevent excess hunger and are important in managing and maintaining a healthy weight.

How does fibre help?

Dietary fibre is the part of the plant that is resistant to enzymatic digestion. These indigestible parts are in the form of cellulose and noncellulose polysaccharides such as pectic substances, gums, mucilages and lignin. In other words, they are still mostly carbohydrates but are indigestible carbohydrates so are referred to generally, as fibre. The role of these fibres is to encourage the movement of the fecal mass along the bowel and result in elimination. There are also 2 categories of fibre: insoluble fibre and soluble fibre.

Soluble fibres, as one can see by their name, dissolve in water and form mostly gel-like substances. This creates a softer bulk within the colon. Another function of soluble fibre is that it slows down the absorption of sugar from the gut so is vitally important in keeping blood sugar levels more stable. A second and just as important function Medical research, especially that related to gut functioning, has focused much on the microbiome, which refers to the multiples of bacterial colonies that occupy the digestive tract. Having the correct balance of a variety of bacteria in the gut has been found to be critical to maintain health in many aspects. Only some soluble fibres are

known as pre-biotic fiber because the bacteria cause fermentation to produce short chain fatty acids, which keep the beneficial bacteria in sufficient numbers.

Insoluble fibres are completely resistant to digestive enzymes in the gut and do not actually even absorb water. These fibres are very slowly fermented and may remain completely intact until they are expelled from the gut. The main function of insoluble fibre is to stimulate the lining of the gut, which then creates mucus, facilitating the passage of the food bolus through the colon. Therefore, both soluble and insoluble fibre are important to healthy bowel movements.

An important distinction to make at this point is the one between a laxative and bulk-forming compound. Soluble fibre is a bulk-forming compound and insoluble fibre acts by stimulating the muscular lining of the bowel to contract. Laxatives are usually stimulants which cause smooth muscle contraction in the gut forcing evacuation of its contents. Laxatives can be both natural and pharmacologically produced. Both can be habit-forming and once you start relying on stimulation of the gut to prevent constipation, it is difficult to go off them.

How does AIM Herbal Fiberblend fit into the picture?

AIM Herbal Fiberblend is a combination of the following components: • Psyllium is a soluble fibre as it absorbs water and forms soft bulky stools. • Black walnut hulls reduces intestinal parasites and improves bowel movement. • Hibiscus flower, Witch-hazel, Irish moss and Marshmallow root extracts help to lubricate the intestinal tract. • Shavegrass expels parasites. • Licorice root and Mullein soothe stomach cramps and fights inflammation. • Cascara Sagrada and Yucca roots are herbs that stimulates evacuation from the bowels; promotes peristalsis. • Rosehips has a calming effect to reduce stress. • Oat extract and Passionflower calm the nervous system, soothe a sensitive bowel and soothe stomach cramps. • Pumpkins seeds and Violet cleanse and expel parasites. • Slippery elm bark acts as a mucilage, a sticky substance with adhesive qualities. • Capsicum promotes cleansing of circulatory and digestive systems.

So, as you can see, AIM Herbal Fiberblend is a combination of soluble and insoluble fibres as well as a mixture of herbs that have beneficial effects on the gut. It is also wise to include plenty of plant foods in your daily diet to ensure a variety of natural fibres as well as supplementing with AIM Herbal Fiberblend. Using a probiotic like AIM FloraFood will also enhance the action of Herbal Fiberblend in ensuring an adequate good bacterial population in your digestive system. Supplements can never or should never replace wholesome, healthy food.

My advice to everyone is not to leave it too late to fix your gut! Although it is better late than never, when it comes to gut health, you only have one digestive tract and there is no such thing as a digestive tract transplant, so take action NOW and make sure your gut health is supreme!

References:

https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/what-is-fiber-andwhy-is-it-important-for-gut-health/#what-is-it J Food Sci Technol (May–June 2012) 49(3):255–266 DOI 10.1007/s13197-011-0365-5

Take the Edge off Stress

It should come as no surprise that 2020 was a banner year for sales of natural supplements that help people to manage stress.

Independent distributors of AIM nutrition will likely have noticed not only increased sales of products that help support the immune system but herbal supplements such as GinkgoSense and Composure. Both contain herbs with unique properties for calming stressed out minds and bodies.

Members who primarily order products for their own use would do well by others by letting them know about the benefits of these exceptional supplements. If there ever was a time for herbal ingredients that help to manage stress, this year is it.

GinkgoSense

When this AIM standard was first introduced back in 2001, GinkgoSense became a regularly ordered staple in the AIM lineup. Nineteen years later, when AIM Quality Assurance introduced GinkgoSense reformulated, the key and namesake ingredient, Ginkgo biloba, remained at the forefront of this dietary supplement that supports memory and vision health. One of the new ingredients is a herb that literally helps your body to adapt to stress.

Adaptogenic Ashwagandha

Commonly known as Indian ginseng, ashwagandha belongs in the unique category of adaptogens, herbs that help the body to resist the possible effects of adverse situations that create stress.1

When you are under stress, your body increases the production of cortisol, the primary stress hormone that the adrenal glands release to keep the body on alert for possible dangers. One of the adaptogenic effects of ashwagandha is helping to prevent the adrenal glands from releasing cortisol when you don’t actually need it. You just need to stay calm, and ashwagandha adapts to your need.

Composure

Sometimes a name says it all: Composure. And like AIM’s selection of soothing herbs, this state of being calm and in control of yourself is desirable in the middle of difficult circumstances. Whenever you are assailed by life’s stressors, you automatically struggle to regain your composure. Taking Composure eases the struggle.

When the stress of it all gets to be too much, the calming combination of herbs in Composure can help you to relax and reduce tension, both physical and mental.

It’s a fact that chronic stress is detrimental to a person’s wellbeing. Having natural support from Composure’s time-tested herbs on hand can help to interrupt the cycle of stress so prevalent during troubling times. Take passionflower as an example. As one of the botanicals in the Composure formulation, passionflower has been used for centuries as a natural way to calm and soothe nerves. One of the constituents of this herb is passiflorine, a phytonutrient that reportedly promotes calmness and induces sleep. 1 bit.ly/Ashwagandha_Cortisol

I really liked the corporate training presentation in 2020 about our new GinkgoSense, which I love. I am so amazed at what it has done for my stress levels. I keep telling folks what a great product it is and that they must try it. Thanks for this brilliant change. Because I struggle to swallow too many capsules, I open two capsules of GinkgoSense and put the powder in my Garden Trio drink every morning. The taste is quite good. This product (GinkgoSense) is amazing.

Charlotte Thompson Chairman’s Club Director Dundee, Ohio