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Strengthen Your Gut Naturally
with Omega 7 from Sea Buckthorn
By Taryn Forrelli, N.D.
DAMAGED MUCOUS MEMBRANES = COMPROMISED DIGESTIVE
HEALTH
 In
the center of the human body, spanning more than 100 square meters
from the mouth to the anus is a mucous membrane-lined hollow tube that
evolved millions of years ago: the gut. Its primary function is to
absorb from the environment the nutrients, water, and electrolytes
necessary to maintain life, while serving as a barrier to toxins,
pathogens, and allergens. However, scientists now understand that the
gastrointestinal tract also plays a major role in immune health,
detoxification, cholesterol metabolism, and even emotional balance.
How strong are American’s guts? Not very! An
estimated 65 million people suffer from digestive disorders, including
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis,
peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
And, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in both men
and women. All of these conditions have two things in common:
inflammation and damage to the gut mucosa.
Considering what most people put down the tube every
day, the gut is a rather remarkable organ, but its function can be
easily compromised by our dietary choices, mental and emotional
stress, prescription medications, alcohol, tobacco, environmental
toxins, infection, and nutrient deficiencies. These offending agents
irritate the delicate mucous membranes, leading to inflammation and
further damage to the gut mucosa. This vicious cycle then predisposes
us to the aforementioned disease conditions. Consequently, the key to
gastrointestinal health and overall good health is to reduce
inflammation and to keep those mucous membranes STRONG! Medications
prescribed for digestive ailments and inflammation serve only as a
temporary Band-Aid ® and, in most cases, have long-term side effects.
However, using nature’s gifts, mucous membranes can be repaired and
strengthened safely and effectively.*
OMEGA-7’S FROM SEA BUCKTHORN:
TIME-TESTED GUT REPAIR AND STRENGTHENING*
Thousands of years ago, the ancient Greeks, Chinese,
and Tibetans used a plant called sea buckthorn to treat afflictions of
the skin, digestive tract and other mucous-membrane containing
organs.* Today, using our modern analytical tools, we now understand
why it was such an effective therapy.
Sea buckthorn is remarkably high in antioxidants, nutrients,
and fatty acids that have an affinity for healing the digestive tract,
most notably
omega-7 fatty acids (also known palmitoleic acid and
cis-vaccenic acid). Most people haven’t heard of omega-7’s, mainly
because they are rarely found in the foods we eat (macadamia nuts
being the only other known plant source), but they are the principle
constituents of the cell membranes that make up the skin and the
mucous membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital
tract. They therefore play a crucial role in maintaining the structure
and integrity of the gut. Not surprisingly, those who suffer from
inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis have low levels of
omega-7 in their colonic mucosa.
In addition to
omega-7’s, sea buckthorn also provides a rich source of
powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents including
carotenoids (pro-vitamin A), mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols
(vitamin E), phytosterols and beneficial omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty
acids. Together with omega-7 fatty acids, these compounds deliver
proven benefits to gut mucosa while providing a wide range of benefits
to the cardiovascular, immune, and integumentary system.
In numerous animal models, sea buckthorn has been
shown to prevent and repair ulceration of the digestive tract caused
by common stressors like noise, radiation, vibration, and acidic
environments. These impressive findings have prompted further research
examining this effect in humans.
In one clinical study involving 30 subjects
diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease, sea buckthorn supplementation for
one month was deemed an effective treatment for 96.7 percent of cases
and had a 76.6 percent cure rate. Its restorative effects on oral and
vaginal mucosa have also been studied in humans and are equally
impressive.
SUPERIOR EXTRACTION METHODS, SUPERIOR RESULTS
Sea Buckthorn’s incredibly valuable omega-7 and
other fat-soluble compounds are found in the berries and seeds of the
plant (representing up to 10% of the phytochemical makeup). Using them
medicinally requires that they be extracted and concentrated from
these parts. The most commonly used method for extracting oils from
plants like flax, olives, and other medicinal herbs is to use solvents
like hexane or acetone. This approach presents numerous problems
including: toxic solvent residue left in the extract, damage to the
plant’s valuable constituents, and environmental contamination, to
name a few. But there is an alternative. With the innovation of
supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, it is possible to obtain a
very pure, concentrated extract of sea buckthorn with all of its fatty
acids and nutrients optimally preserved and no chemical solvents for
the body or environment to contend with. I always recommend using
supercritically extracted herbs and oils whenever available.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR A HEALTHY INFLAMMATION
RESPONSE IN THE GUT
 To
complement the beneficial fatty acids and nutrients found in sea
buckthorn, a complete gut strengthening and repair program should
enlist the help of additional herbal allies shown to promote a healthy
inflammation response both in the gastrointestinal tract and
throughout the body. Doctors and researchers now recognize that a
healthy inflammation response is critical to the health of joint,
musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, brain, immune, and metabolic systems.
Not unlike sea buckthorn, modern science has begun to validate the
traditional wisdom of using common herbs and spices like ginger,
rosemary, turmeric, green tea, and holy basil to promote a healthy
inflammation response.* In addition, they contain nature’s richest
sources of antiulcerative compounds, so unlike pharmaceutical
anti-inflammatory medications. These herbs work to heal the
gastrointestinal tract while promoting a healthy inflammation response
in the gut. This perfectly balanced response is truly a poignant
testament to the wisdom of nature!
The
Supercritical Omega 7 by
New Chapter provides these support herbs for a healthy
inflammation response in the gut and also contains a supercritical
extraction of Omega-7 from Sea Buckthorn.
For more product information about Supercritical Omega 7 by New
Chapter, click here.
The statements contained in this
article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information contained here is not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure, or prevent any disease. Suggestions and ideas presented in this
document are for information only and should not be interpreted as
medical advice, meant for diagnosing illness, or for prescriptive
purposes. Readers are encouraged to consult their health care provider
before beginning any cleanse, diet, detoxification program, or any
supplement regimen. The information in this document is not to be used
to replace the services or instructions of a physician or qualified
health care practitioner.
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