I am very excited to announce the release of my first book, To Feel Well: Improve Your Digestive System. I decided while in naturopathic medical school that I wanted to not only practice naturopathic medicine but also become an author and spokesperson. After over 18 months of writing, editing, and re-editing, my first book has finally arrived. It will be available at most local bookstores and health food stores in the Okanagan towards the end of November. You can also order the physical book or an e-version online at www.tofeelwell.com, www.okanaganinstitute.com, or www.drbrentbarlownd.com. In this week’s column I wanted to let you know what the book is about and how you could use it to benefit your health.
To Feel Well: Improve Your Digestive System is the first in a series of books designed to empower you to pursue and achieve optimal health and wellness. This book focuses on the naturopathic medical approach to improving health through better digestion, absorption and nutrition. It explains how the digestive system works, how to identify gastrointestinal dysfunction, and how to improve digestion with natural treatments.
It is surprising how many symptoms and medical conditions begin with problems in the digestive system. The good news is that many of these medical ailments; like auto-immune conditions, mental-emotional disorders, cardiovascular diseases and certain skin conditions, can be successfully treated and improved by therapies that support the digestive system.
Nutrition has been receiving more and more attention in recent years. We are constantly reminded to “eat well for health” by media, government and the health food industry. However, in focusing our efforts on what we eat, the importance of digestion and absorption has often been overlooked.
Digestion and absorption are as important, if not more important, than the food we eat. You can put all kinds of expensive “health food” into your mouth, but if it doesn’t get broken down in your gastrointestinal tract and absorbed into the bloodstream, all that good stuff just goes right through you.
Good nutrition is limited by the effectiveness of digestion and absorption, which is one of the main reasons for writing this book. The digestive tract is also one of the body’s main lines of defense against the outside world. Everything you put in your mouth must be either absorbed into the body or excreted in your stool. The digestive tract plays a huge role in defending the body against substances it doesn’t want to incorporate.
In Traditional Chinese Medical Philosophy the digestive system is King. For thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Doctors have believed that if digestion and absorption are not working well, other health consequences will almost certainly follow. Most naturopathic physicians share this belief, and I utilize this philosophy in my daily practice. This means that it is extremely important to assess and treat digestive system disorders prior to, or in conjunction with, other health concerns. As the digestive tract heals, other health issues improve and the entire body benefits.
I recommend that you use the information in this book to start taking control of your healthcare. It is always best to work with a professional who can guide you through the process in a safe and effective way. To feel well, start with your health’s foundation. Find a good Naturopathic Physician and begin working on your digestive system.
If you would like to order a copy of the book or schedule a consultation with Dr. Barlow contact his office at 250-448-5610 or visit his website at www.drbrentbarlownd.com.
