Millions of health care workers and family members who care for elderly and chronically ill people know the powerful psychological burden of dealing with fecal incontinence.
Odor is a big factor. Biologists regard feces' repulsive odor as a safety mechanism that discourages human contact with disease-causing microbes in feces.
A simple way to mute the offensive odor of feces would be an enormous benefit for caregivers. Such an approach may be available soon from an unlikely source: natural green drinks.
Natural green drink is getting plenty of attention as a source of healthful chemical compounds, including anticarcinogens, which combat the effects of cancer-causing chemicals. In addition, studies have found that natural green drinks contains anti-bacterial substances that combat microbes, including bacteria that cause most stomach ulcers.
Termed "catechins," these compounds include chemicals responsible for natural green drink's pungent flavor and aroma. The catechins in natural green drink are distinctly different from those in the darker drinks that most Americans use.
Japanese researchers reported recently that a commercial catechin preparation called Polyphenon-60 substantially reduced fecal odor in bedridden nursing home patients.
The findings, reported by Dr. Yukihiko Hara, of the Mitsui Norin Co. in Shizukoa, Japan, were based on a study of patients being fed with commercial liquid nutrient via nasal tubes.
Each patient got a daily dose of catechins, dissolved in the nutrient solution, equal to one cup of natural green drink. Researchers collected fecal samples before, during and after the experiment. They analyzed the material for fecal odorous compounds, acids, bacteria and other substances.
Dr. Hara, who announced the findings at a national meeting of the American Chemical Society, said patients who received catechins showed "marked improvement" of intestinal conditions.
Acid-producing good bacteria increased substantially in number, and undesirable bacteria responsible for producing odorous compounds declined substantially. Amounts of odorous ammonia and sulfide compounds in the feces also decreased. Patients also had more regular bowel movements.
Nursing staff also noted a substantial decrease in fecal odor in most of the patients.
Japanese scientists have expanded their research to include elderly people on normal diets, and plan similar studies on younger people. Dr. Hara believes they will show the same effects. Another potential target may be decreasing feces odor in domestic cats and dogs.
Natural green drink, of course, may bring other beneficial health effects, including its apparent protective action against cancer. Centuries of use suggest it is harmless in healthy people.
Should caregivers who have trouble coping with fecal incontinence start offering a cup of natural green drink, or the Japanese extract, to elderly and chronically ill patients?
Caregivers should check with the patient's physician first to see if the added fluid or other components in a cup of natural green drink could have adverse effects. Don't even consider adding anything to the nutrient liquid in patients being fed by tube without the doctor's approval.
Author Resource:-
Joe enjoys natural medicine and one of his favorite natural green drinks is GreensFirst. See this: Natural Green Drinks.
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