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AGNI
The “General” Of Digestion
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"The ingested food can only be broken down into its basic nutrient components and
made available for the basic metabolic processes in the body
if AGNI, the digestive fire is strong."
🌸
TIMELESS SECRETS OF HEALTH & REJUVENATION
The Free Book is Below - PDF.
🌸
The “General” Of Digestion
🌸
"The ingested food can only be broken down into its basic nutrient components and
made available for the basic metabolic processes in the body
if AGNI, the digestive fire is strong."
🌸
TIMELESS SECRETS OF HEALTH & REJUVENATION
The Free Book is Below - PDF.
🌸
Tips for maintaining balanced Agni and metabolism:
The choices we make not just daily, but throughout the day influence the status of our Agni.
When Agni is strong, we are able to sustainably digest and assimilate what we consume – food, thoughts, actions and ideas. When Agni is weak, we are not able to digest what we intake. We are not what we eat. We are what we digest. Thus, a strong, balanced Agni is crucial to our health!
Each individual will require different lifestyle choices to balance Agni for their unique constitution, though there are general guidelines we can all follow:
Agni: the force behind digestion and metabolism:
We utilize energy for all physiological actions and functions in our body. In this process, our tissues are constantly being broken down and rebuilt. They receive needed replenishment for this activity from food, water and air.
When we eat, our body does not utilize all foods in the same manner. Food needs to be transformed into physical form to help in building new tissues. The energy responsible for this discrimination and transformation is called Agni.
An Ayurvedic Definition of Agni
1) Fire, one of the nine substances (Dravya), one of the five elements (Bhoota)
2) Digestive power
Agni and the 5 Elements
Agni is one of the Panchabhutas, or five elements – one of the foundational principles of Ayurvedic philosophy.
According to this theory, everything in the universe is made up of these five elements.
Agni referred to as the “Teja Mahabhuta” in the body. It governs our life, strength, health, energy, luster, Ojas (fluid of life, responsible for vigor, heartiness, immunity and more) and Tejas (radiance).
Agni represents the root of healthy life when balanced. If deranged, it causes disease.
Also, Agni keeps us alive. If Agni is extinguished, a person dies.
Functions of Agni in our body
The choices we make not just daily, but throughout the day influence the status of our Agni.
When Agni is strong, we are able to sustainably digest and assimilate what we consume – food, thoughts, actions and ideas. When Agni is weak, we are not able to digest what we intake. We are not what we eat. We are what we digest. Thus, a strong, balanced Agni is crucial to our health!
Each individual will require different lifestyle choices to balance Agni for their unique constitution, though there are general guidelines we can all follow:
- Eat 3 healthy meals a day and according to your unique needs
- Avoid consuming things you know tax your system (such as wheat, dairy, spicy food, etc)
- Eat your largest meal when digestive fire is strongest: between 10am-2pm
- Ginger tea can stimulate digestion
- Avoid cold beverages – they can extinguish the fire of our Agni
- Don’t overeat – end a meal before the “full” feeling
- When hunger strikes, don’t ignore it – you need fuel to keep the fire going!
- Get plenty of sleep so our system can rest and replenish
Agni: the force behind digestion and metabolism:
We utilize energy for all physiological actions and functions in our body. In this process, our tissues are constantly being broken down and rebuilt. They receive needed replenishment for this activity from food, water and air.
When we eat, our body does not utilize all foods in the same manner. Food needs to be transformed into physical form to help in building new tissues. The energy responsible for this discrimination and transformation is called Agni.
An Ayurvedic Definition of Agni
1) Fire, one of the nine substances (Dravya), one of the five elements (Bhoota)
2) Digestive power
Agni and the 5 Elements
Agni is one of the Panchabhutas, or five elements – one of the foundational principles of Ayurvedic philosophy.
According to this theory, everything in the universe is made up of these five elements.
Agni referred to as the “Teja Mahabhuta” in the body. It governs our life, strength, health, energy, luster, Ojas (fluid of life, responsible for vigor, heartiness, immunity and more) and Tejas (radiance).
Agni represents the root of healthy life when balanced. If deranged, it causes disease.
Also, Agni keeps us alive. If Agni is extinguished, a person dies.
Functions of Agni in our body
- Digests food
- Nourishes the Doshas (the three energies governing all functions of the body)
- Balanced Vata (Air + Ether) creates energy
- Balanced Pitta (Fire + Water) creates radiance
- Balanced Kapha (Water + Earth) creates strength
- Nourishes Dhatus (tissues of the body)
- Creates Ojas, Tejas and Prana (Subtle Doshas)
- Clears mind, thoughts and ideas
- Maintains life force
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The 5 elements of nature
The 5 elements of nature are known in Sanskrit as the pancha bhutas, or panchamahabhutas.
They form the basic building blocks of the universe, every person, animal, plant and thing is composed of various combinations of the pancha bhutas.
Each element has its own characteristics and properties:
Earth, Water and Fire are tangible things that can be touched or seen; they exist as matter.
Space and Air are intangible yet they exist everywhere around us, even though we cannot see it.
Earth, Water and Fire are therefore easier for us to understand than Space and Air because they have more concrete forms.
However, all five elements are equally important and interrelated.
The 5 elements of nature are known in Sanskrit as the pancha bhutas, or panchamahabhutas.
They form the basic building blocks of the universe, every person, animal, plant and thing is composed of various combinations of the pancha bhutas.
Each element has its own characteristics and properties:
- Prithvi or Bhumi (Earth) — represents solidity, stability and grounding.
- Apas or Jal (Water) — represents fluidity, adaptability and change.
- Tejas or Agni (Fire) — represents energy, passion and transformation.
- Vayu (Air) — represents movement, expansion and communication.
- Akasha (Space or Ether) — represents emptiness, consciousness, and intuition.
Earth, Water and Fire are tangible things that can be touched or seen; they exist as matter.
Space and Air are intangible yet they exist everywhere around us, even though we cannot see it.
Earth, Water and Fire are therefore easier for us to understand than Space and Air because they have more concrete forms.
However, all five elements are equally important and interrelated.
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| Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation.pdf |
🌸
CHAPTER 4
Most Diseases Start
in the Digestive System
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Page 60 - 61
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CHAPTER 4
Most Diseases Start
in the Digestive System
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Page 60 - 61
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To comprehend the next, even more fundamental reasons we become weak, age or fall ill, we will need to take an in-depth look at our digestive system. The digestive system represents not only the physical “engine” of the body, but also the center of emotions and the seat of the subconscious.
If you wish to understand and deal with the most influential, yet least tangible basis of a physical illness, you have to include its mental and emotional counterparts. Although the body and mind appear as separate entities with completely different purposes, they are intrinsically one and they function as one.
All events on the physical level, like eating food, cell metabolism, removal of waste or exercising the body, occur at the same time on the mental and emotional planes as well. Consequently, no emotional or mental event can be kept secret from the body.
The mechanisms behind the disease process are obscure to most, even to the majority of medical practitioners. Very little is known about the origins of most chronic diseases prevalent today. You may know of the risks that can contribute to an illness you are suffering from, but how diseases manifest from its cause to its effect (symptom) remains elusive unless you begin to see the body and mind from a more holistic view. By learning how our digestive system works, and in what way it can lead to illness in the body and mind, will be of tremendous help in our journey of healing.
[Whenever I am referring to disease or illness I actually mean "toxicity crisis"] To provide you with a clearer and more comprehensive picture of the disease process, I have included some of the basic insights of Ayurvedic Medicine which is the most ancient and complete system of natural health care. Once you know how to “create” illness, you will also know how to reverse it. Such is the purpose of this chapter.
60
AGNI - The “General” Of Digestion
Whenever food enters your mouth and touches the taste buds located on the surface of your tongue, your salivary glands begin secreting saliva. Saliva is needed to lubricate the food and to pre-digest cooked starches.
At the same time, your pancreas and small intestine receive instructions to prepare for the release of the appropriate kinds and amounts of digestive enzymes and minerals required to help break down the food into the smallest nutrient components.
The first most common cause of digestive trouble is swallowing food too quickly. This eating habit indicates anxiety, impatience and nervousness. Eating too quickly reduces saliva production in the mouth cavity, which is a major cause of tooth decay. One of the functions of saliva is to keep the mouth and teeth free from harmful substances and microbes.
There are other reasons why chewing food properly is actually essential for our wellbeing. According to fascinating research conducted at the Gifu University in Japan, chewing could actually improve memory by reducing the release of stress hormones.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated that the hippocampus, which helps control blood levels of stress hormones, is stimulated by the act of chewing. As a result, the simple act of chewing properly lowers both stress and stress hormones. So chewing your food well can actually reduce anxiety levels.
The Japanese researchers also found that when teeth were missing or in a state of disrepair, older people tended to chew less. Subsequently, this led to increased stress hormone levels. The conclusion from this study is that good dental health and the ability to chew properly appear to be important factors in preserving our memory as we age and in protecting ourselves against the harmful effects of stress.
After passing through the esophagus, the food enters the stomach and mixes with gastric juices. Gastric juice is composed of hydrochloric acid, enzymes, mineral salts, mucus and water. The action of the acid kills most of the harmful microbes and parasites that are naturally present in fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy products and other foods.
The hydrochloric acid also breaks down some of the noxious substances that may accompany the food. Special enzymes begin to act upon proteins that may be present in the food. Once saturated with enough acid, the food is forced in small jets into the duodenum.
The duodenum is the portion of the small intestine just beyond the stomach. The first part is called the cap because on x-ray it looks a bit like a cap. Thereafter, the duodenum makes a C-turn going from the right to the left side of the abdomen.
There is an opening in the duodenum connecting with the bile and pancreatic duct. It is through this opening – the ampulla of Vater – that pancreatic and bile juices enter the intestine where they are necessary for normal digestion.
The pancreatic juices contain digestive enzymes, minerals and water to help break down starches. The bile which is squeezed into duodenum via the common bile duct aids in the digestion of fats and protein foods. The duodenum participates in this very important step of the digestive process by releasing specific hormones and digestive juices.
Ayurveda calls the entire activity that takes place in this part of the digestive system AGNI or, "digestive fire." AGNI “cooks” the food further in order to make its nutrients available for the cells and tissues at a later stage (see illustration 3).
The small intestine has a total length of approximately 6 meters (18 feet). It is responsible for absorption of nutrients, salt, and water. On average, approximately 9 liters of fluid enters the jejunum (upper part of the small intestine) each day, a major portion of which are secreted digestive fluids.
The small intestine absorbs approximately 7 liters, leaving only 1.5 to 2 liters to move on to the large intestine. The absorptive function of the small intestine is brought about by an intricate array of cells within its lining (intestinal folds and villi) that will absorb and secrete salts and nutrients as well as water in order to
61
maintain normal salt and water balance within the body. In a healthy person the absorptive function is so efficient that with a normal diet over 95% of ingested carbohydrates and proteins are absorbed.
If you wish to understand and deal with the most influential, yet least tangible basis of a physical illness, you have to include its mental and emotional counterparts. Although the body and mind appear as separate entities with completely different purposes, they are intrinsically one and they function as one.
All events on the physical level, like eating food, cell metabolism, removal of waste or exercising the body, occur at the same time on the mental and emotional planes as well. Consequently, no emotional or mental event can be kept secret from the body.
The mechanisms behind the disease process are obscure to most, even to the majority of medical practitioners. Very little is known about the origins of most chronic diseases prevalent today. You may know of the risks that can contribute to an illness you are suffering from, but how diseases manifest from its cause to its effect (symptom) remains elusive unless you begin to see the body and mind from a more holistic view. By learning how our digestive system works, and in what way it can lead to illness in the body and mind, will be of tremendous help in our journey of healing.
[Whenever I am referring to disease or illness I actually mean "toxicity crisis"] To provide you with a clearer and more comprehensive picture of the disease process, I have included some of the basic insights of Ayurvedic Medicine which is the most ancient and complete system of natural health care. Once you know how to “create” illness, you will also know how to reverse it. Such is the purpose of this chapter.
60
AGNI - The “General” Of Digestion
Whenever food enters your mouth and touches the taste buds located on the surface of your tongue, your salivary glands begin secreting saliva. Saliva is needed to lubricate the food and to pre-digest cooked starches.
At the same time, your pancreas and small intestine receive instructions to prepare for the release of the appropriate kinds and amounts of digestive enzymes and minerals required to help break down the food into the smallest nutrient components.
The first most common cause of digestive trouble is swallowing food too quickly. This eating habit indicates anxiety, impatience and nervousness. Eating too quickly reduces saliva production in the mouth cavity, which is a major cause of tooth decay. One of the functions of saliva is to keep the mouth and teeth free from harmful substances and microbes.
There are other reasons why chewing food properly is actually essential for our wellbeing. According to fascinating research conducted at the Gifu University in Japan, chewing could actually improve memory by reducing the release of stress hormones.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated that the hippocampus, which helps control blood levels of stress hormones, is stimulated by the act of chewing. As a result, the simple act of chewing properly lowers both stress and stress hormones. So chewing your food well can actually reduce anxiety levels.
The Japanese researchers also found that when teeth were missing or in a state of disrepair, older people tended to chew less. Subsequently, this led to increased stress hormone levels. The conclusion from this study is that good dental health and the ability to chew properly appear to be important factors in preserving our memory as we age and in protecting ourselves against the harmful effects of stress.
After passing through the esophagus, the food enters the stomach and mixes with gastric juices. Gastric juice is composed of hydrochloric acid, enzymes, mineral salts, mucus and water. The action of the acid kills most of the harmful microbes and parasites that are naturally present in fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy products and other foods.
The hydrochloric acid also breaks down some of the noxious substances that may accompany the food. Special enzymes begin to act upon proteins that may be present in the food. Once saturated with enough acid, the food is forced in small jets into the duodenum.
The duodenum is the portion of the small intestine just beyond the stomach. The first part is called the cap because on x-ray it looks a bit like a cap. Thereafter, the duodenum makes a C-turn going from the right to the left side of the abdomen.
There is an opening in the duodenum connecting with the bile and pancreatic duct. It is through this opening – the ampulla of Vater – that pancreatic and bile juices enter the intestine where they are necessary for normal digestion.
The pancreatic juices contain digestive enzymes, minerals and water to help break down starches. The bile which is squeezed into duodenum via the common bile duct aids in the digestion of fats and protein foods. The duodenum participates in this very important step of the digestive process by releasing specific hormones and digestive juices.
Ayurveda calls the entire activity that takes place in this part of the digestive system AGNI or, "digestive fire." AGNI “cooks” the food further in order to make its nutrients available for the cells and tissues at a later stage (see illustration 3).
The small intestine has a total length of approximately 6 meters (18 feet). It is responsible for absorption of nutrients, salt, and water. On average, approximately 9 liters of fluid enters the jejunum (upper part of the small intestine) each day, a major portion of which are secreted digestive fluids.
The small intestine absorbs approximately 7 liters, leaving only 1.5 to 2 liters to move on to the large intestine. The absorptive function of the small intestine is brought about by an intricate array of cells within its lining (intestinal folds and villi) that will absorb and secrete salts and nutrients as well as water in order to
61
maintain normal salt and water balance within the body. In a healthy person the absorptive function is so efficient that with a normal diet over 95% of ingested carbohydrates and proteins are absorbed.
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Illustration: The Digestive System
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Illustration: The Digestive System
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Specific regions of the small intestine are adapted to perform specific functions. For example, the duodenum plays an important role in coordinating how the stomach empties and at what rate bile needs to be secreted into the intestine to optimize the digestive process. The duodenum is also a major site for absorption of iron.
The jejunum is a major site for absorption of the vitamin folic acid, and the end of the ileum (lower part of the intestine) is the most important site for absorption of vitamin B12 and bile salts. The blood takes up all the nutrients and moves them to the liver for further processing.
The ingested food can only be broken down into its basic nutrient components and made available for the basic metabolic processes in the body if AGNI, the digestive fire, is strong. AGNI is fueled by bile,
62
without which none of the other digestive juices would be sufficiently effective to break down food into its nutrient components. Bile is alkaline. When food that is saturated with hydrochloric acid enters the small intestine, it first needs to be mixed with bile before digestive enzymes can act on the food. An intestinal pH-value of high acidity would block enzyme secretion and become a major stumbling block for proper digestion of food.
And in order for them to become activated, pancreatic enzymes must combine with bile before passing through the ampulla of Vater. To allow for that, the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct merge together before leading into the duodenum. When bile secretion in the liver is unimpeded by stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts of the liver, good digestion is almost guaranteed, provided food is fresh and wholesome.
The combination of a nutritious diet and a strong AGNI is the ideal partnership to make sufficient amounts of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, glucose, fructose, trace elements, etc., available throughout the body. This, in turn, produces healthy blood, vital tissues and a youthful body. The quality of the blood and the tissues of the body, including those that make up the skin, mostly reflect the condition of the liver and small intestine.
The jejunum is a major site for absorption of the vitamin folic acid, and the end of the ileum (lower part of the intestine) is the most important site for absorption of vitamin B12 and bile salts. The blood takes up all the nutrients and moves them to the liver for further processing.
The ingested food can only be broken down into its basic nutrient components and made available for the basic metabolic processes in the body if AGNI, the digestive fire, is strong. AGNI is fueled by bile,
62
without which none of the other digestive juices would be sufficiently effective to break down food into its nutrient components. Bile is alkaline. When food that is saturated with hydrochloric acid enters the small intestine, it first needs to be mixed with bile before digestive enzymes can act on the food. An intestinal pH-value of high acidity would block enzyme secretion and become a major stumbling block for proper digestion of food.
And in order for them to become activated, pancreatic enzymes must combine with bile before passing through the ampulla of Vater. To allow for that, the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct merge together before leading into the duodenum. When bile secretion in the liver is unimpeded by stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts of the liver, good digestion is almost guaranteed, provided food is fresh and wholesome.
The combination of a nutritious diet and a strong AGNI is the ideal partnership to make sufficient amounts of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, glucose, fructose, trace elements, etc., available throughout the body. This, in turn, produces healthy blood, vital tissues and a youthful body. The quality of the blood and the tissues of the body, including those that make up the skin, mostly reflect the condition of the liver and small intestine.
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Toxic Body, Toxic Mind
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Page 62 - 63
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Toxic Body, Toxic Mind
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Page 62 - 63
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If AGNI is depleted due to various reasons, which are explained below, even the most wholesome of foods can become harmful for the body. Much of the ingested food will remain undigested. In that form, it is not able to pass through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream.
The food becomes a target for destructive bacteria and starts fermenting and putrifying. These bacteria produce toxins and gases that can be strongly irritating to the intestinal lining. Since less and less food is absorbed and utilized in the body, more and more waste is generated, increasingly congesting the gastrointestinal tract.
At this stage, food starts turning into poison. Today, one third of the Western civilization is diagnosed as suffering from intestinal problems, yet the real figure is much higher. It is estimated that over two thirds are afflicted with all kinds of intestinal trouble.
The small intestine, having the diameter of a large toe, is the most hidden organ in the body and has no direct contact with the outside world. The mental counterpart of this “unseen” part of our body is what we may refer to as the seat of the "unconscious.”
Its stored memories and hidden beliefs exert a strong influence over our thoughts, emotions, desires and behavior. It is not surprising that traditional medicine considers the origin of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is the general term used for most intestinal diseases, to be psychosomatic, i.e., caused by the mind. In other words, if you feel frequently upset, angry, worried or simply unhappy, you are not only prone to suffering from “mental indigestion” but also from physical indigestion. Imbalances of the small intestines are characterized by holding on to things in our insides, regardless whether these relate to undigested food or unresolved problems.
Nothing from the outside has direct access to this most hidden part of the body.
The cerebral cortex of the brain, which controls thought, is intimately connected with the digestive process. Hence, not only foods, but also thoughts need to be properly “digested” or processed in order to become useful for us, and to not cause us any harm. Undigested thoughts have a poisonous effect on the body as a whole and, particularly, on the digestive system.
Fear, anger, shock, trauma, anxiety, etc., may be locked up in the cellular memory of the intestines for a long time and without any obvious indications of their presence. Once they have reached a certain point of concentration they may suddenly erupt and alter one’s personality in a negative sense.
63
The mind/body connection also works in the reversed order. When you eat highly processed, refined and denatured foods and/or when you eat while your AGNI is low, you begin to accumulate toxic waste in your intestines.
The presence of toxins in the intestinal tract may give rise to nervousness, hypertension, nervous laughter or an emotionally volatile condition.
As a generalization it can be said that toxins in the intestines are the physical counterparts of negative thoughts.
Through the mind/body connection, negative thoughts and feelings translate into poisons and vice versa. Normally, the immune system, two thirds of which are located in the intestines, takes care of both physical toxins and mental toxins (negative thoughts and feelings).
The immune system acts as both our physical and mental healing system. However, the immune system can easily become overtaxed by overexposing it to non-nutritious foods and negative thoughts (often called stress). This may make someone susceptible to disease, ranging from a simple cold to cancer.
The food becomes a target for destructive bacteria and starts fermenting and putrifying. These bacteria produce toxins and gases that can be strongly irritating to the intestinal lining. Since less and less food is absorbed and utilized in the body, more and more waste is generated, increasingly congesting the gastrointestinal tract.
At this stage, food starts turning into poison. Today, one third of the Western civilization is diagnosed as suffering from intestinal problems, yet the real figure is much higher. It is estimated that over two thirds are afflicted with all kinds of intestinal trouble.
The small intestine, having the diameter of a large toe, is the most hidden organ in the body and has no direct contact with the outside world. The mental counterpart of this “unseen” part of our body is what we may refer to as the seat of the "unconscious.”
Its stored memories and hidden beliefs exert a strong influence over our thoughts, emotions, desires and behavior. It is not surprising that traditional medicine considers the origin of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is the general term used for most intestinal diseases, to be psychosomatic, i.e., caused by the mind. In other words, if you feel frequently upset, angry, worried or simply unhappy, you are not only prone to suffering from “mental indigestion” but also from physical indigestion. Imbalances of the small intestines are characterized by holding on to things in our insides, regardless whether these relate to undigested food or unresolved problems.
Nothing from the outside has direct access to this most hidden part of the body.
The cerebral cortex of the brain, which controls thought, is intimately connected with the digestive process. Hence, not only foods, but also thoughts need to be properly “digested” or processed in order to become useful for us, and to not cause us any harm. Undigested thoughts have a poisonous effect on the body as a whole and, particularly, on the digestive system.
Fear, anger, shock, trauma, anxiety, etc., may be locked up in the cellular memory of the intestines for a long time and without any obvious indications of their presence. Once they have reached a certain point of concentration they may suddenly erupt and alter one’s personality in a negative sense.
63
The mind/body connection also works in the reversed order. When you eat highly processed, refined and denatured foods and/or when you eat while your AGNI is low, you begin to accumulate toxic waste in your intestines.
The presence of toxins in the intestinal tract may give rise to nervousness, hypertension, nervous laughter or an emotionally volatile condition.
As a generalization it can be said that toxins in the intestines are the physical counterparts of negative thoughts.
Through the mind/body connection, negative thoughts and feelings translate into poisons and vice versa. Normally, the immune system, two thirds of which are located in the intestines, takes care of both physical toxins and mental toxins (negative thoughts and feelings).
The immune system acts as both our physical and mental healing system. However, the immune system can easily become overtaxed by overexposing it to non-nutritious foods and negative thoughts (often called stress). This may make someone susceptible to disease, ranging from a simple cold to cancer.
🌸
| Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation.pdf |
🌸
🌸
