The Importance Of Waste Elimination Although “What is normal for one is not normal for another,” there are certain universal truths that apply to all living beings. One such truth is that when we eat and drink foods and liquids, we must rid ourselves of the waste material that the body cannot use during digestion and therefore must eliminate. Constipation has plagued mankind for as long as mankind has opted to eat improperly by choosing wrong food types, wrong food combinations, and wrong food preparations. Our dilemma stems from misinformation. This misinformation has passed from generation to generation and has caused habitual enslavement to incorrect eating and undue harm to our well-being. I remember growing up in an environment where constipation was not a stranger. On the contrary it was an expected visitor, evidenced by the castor oil and other over the counter laxatives in the medicine cabinet, stashed there to remedy the condition. In most of the households in my neighborhood, there was always the pervading scent of overcooked beans swimming in some form of pork—fat back or ham hocks. White rice or white potatoes took turns or shared spaces on dinner plates piled with too many starches and not enough green or raw vegetables. Remembering the bad eating habits of his youth, a minister with whom I recently had a conversation recounted the day that his mother failed to cook the customary pot of white rice. The children, long-faced and wide-eyed, questioned, “Mama, what happened to the rice?” “You didn’t cook any rice, Mama.” Their father, who was just as disappointed but did not want to appear so—inquired, “Honey, what happened?” “You must cook rice for the children; they want it!” The whole family moaned and groaned with such opposition that she was compelled to prepare the rice, and never again did she make the mistake of excluding it from the dinner meal. She would have faired better with brown rice but being accustomed to the white, her family probably would not have liked it. The minister added that his family thought irregularity was normal. Some years ago, my college girl friend from Detroit lived with me while awaiting completion of an apartment in which she was to move. She had previously suffered from chronic constipation. Going for as long as two weeks without having a bowel movement, she would throw up in order to rid herself of the built-up waste. During the month that she stayed with me, she abstained from meat and ate the foods that I ate. Although I ate fired (cooked) foods at that time, I also included plenty of raw foods in the form of fruits, nuts, and salads. After a few days, she noticed a change in her bowels; she began having at least one movement a day. The improvement was memorable; so much that when she moved into her apartment and I would visit, I was pleased to see the refrigerator stocked with foods conducive to promoting regularity. My friend, who was studying to be a nurse, was delighted—actually, overjoyed to discover the difference that diet can make in elimination. I contend that one reason some people are so grumpy and unhappy is because of constipation. Although I have not personally experienced it in many years, I have seen the discomfort it causes in others. The look of misery and the pain of suffering can take over the individual’s countenance and can render that individual practically immobile. A case in point is my husband who is a businessman and constantly on the go. On the occasions whenever he allows his busy schedule to prevent him from eating properly, he suffers the consequences and seeks my help. On one occasion, I noticed that he was slowing down to a snail’s pace and lying around with that uncomfortable look on his face. He mentioned having difficulty trying to eliminate. After a number of unsuccessful trips to the bathroom, he finally said, “Baby, I hate to ask you, but I need you to give me an enema.” At the end of the procedure, he commented on how great he felt and breathed a big sigh of relief. Constipation does not discriminate; young and old are subjected to the ills of this debilitating monster. My husband is in the older generation, but my granddaughter, who was a year old when she fell victim, proves that age is not a factor. Congestive constipation was the culprit that stung her in the first year of life and prevented her from sitting straight, crawling properly, and enjoying toddlerhood to the fullest. A transformation occurred when I replaced the cow’s milk in her diet with almond milk; fresh fruit and vegetable juices along with mashed avocados and bananas assisted in flushing out her system, turning her into an energetic and smiling child—where before she was listless and weary. No doubt she was too exhausted trying to pass a decent stool to smile. Even her doctor noted the change. Some of you will not be surprised by the stories cited here. You may have your own story of obstruction. Understand, however, that you do not have to live with the problem. It is not a given; it does not have to be a way of life. You can throw away the unnatural laxatives and eliminate waste from your body naturally. A good beginning is before breakfast. Breakfast means breaking the fast. Before you breakfast, try drinking warm water with fresh squeezed lemon juice; wait about thirty minutes before taking any solids. This helps to loosen the slime in your colon and get it moving. Fresh fruit juices are cleansers, but drink them on an empty stomach, and like with the lemon water do not eat anything solid for thirty minutes to an hour in order to give them a chance to go through your system unimpeded by solid foods. Even if you consume animal flesh, you can improve your digestibility and ability to eliminate by including as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. Include nuts, but eat them sparingly if your diet consists of meat and cooked foods, because nuts are high in calories and can add unwanted pounds. Constipation is a villain that should be and can be eradicated. Victims unite! Arm yourselves against the enemy by eating well, by drinking well, and by exercising frequently. Through these measures you will build a fortress that will guarantee you freedom from stress, and uncomfortable blockage. Take control and put a stop to this unnecessary evil—this intruder that robs you of your right to exist in an uncomplicated environment without strain and pain. Yes, the elimination of waste is very important. You can make it difficult or you can make it easy; the choice is yours.