evious versions at the Internet Archive. Yahoo! is not affiliated with the authors of this page or responsible for its content.
Have you sprung a leak?



by Barb Jarmoska
A
rthritis. Asthma. Food allergies.
Fatigue. Digestive disorders. Crohns.
Cystic acne. Eczema. Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Inflammatory
bowel disease. Sjogrens syndrome. Psoriasis.
Fibromyalgia.
Diabetes.
Thyroiditis.
Multiple sclerosis. Alopecia. Abdominal
distention. Chronic diarrhea. Osteoporosis.
Depression. Autism. Acid reflux. Rashes/hives.
Schizophrenia. Multiple chemical sensitivities.
Migraines. At first glance, this very extensive list
of health challenges appears to be completely
unrelated. Such is not the case.
Linked to the leak
The one thing that each of these health
challenges can have in common is the significant likelihood of a tie-in to an often-
undiagnosed problem known as leaky gut syndrome. The name may sound a bit
foolish, but leaky gut is an apt description for what is medically classified as hyper
intestinal wall permeability.
Ponder for a moment the process of digestion and absorption. How does the
beta-carotene in your cantaloupe, the magnesium in Swiss chard, the amino acids
in broiled salmon and the essential fats from that handful of walnuts make its way
to the cells where these nutrients are needed?
The answer to that question may seem fairly simple, but in truth is incredibly
complex. Your digestive system provides the most intimate contact with your
environment. End-to-end, your digestive tract is a 25- to 35-foot-long hose
responsible for turning the food you eat into microscopic particles that your cells
May 2008
Considering the Options 2
Growing season has begun
in Central Pennsylvania.
Stop by Freshlife today for
choice herb and perennial
plants, along with a gor-
geous selection of hanging
baskets.
Salmon Pasta Salad 3
A perfect, hassle-free, aller-
gy-free recipe.
Always a leak? 6
If you think youve healed
your leaky gut, should you
attempt to try your trigger
foods again?
E = essential nutrients 8
Now is the perfect time to
give that glow back to your
lackluster winter skin.
Fading the scars
10
Theres a natural way
to fade scars from cuts,
scrapes and stretch marks.
(Continued on page 4)
Have you sprung a leak?
The impact of leaky gut syndrome
Freshlife . on the Golden Strip . Williamsport . PA . 570.322.8280 . www.freshlife.com Options
Page 2
May 2008


























by Kate A. Griffith
F
inally! It feels like spring in central Penn-
sylvania. As I write this article, a warm
breeze is blowing on my neck from the
open window behind me. Spring is in the air
... and the plants have arrived at Freshlife! The
front porch of the store is adorned with gor-
geous hanging basketsjust in time for Moth-
ers Day!and flats of fresh herbs and peren-
nials.
The selection of hanging flower baskets in-
cludes lovely lobelias, voluptuous verbenas and
tempting mini-tomatoes (yesmini-tomatoes
in a hanging basket). All of the baskets are suit-
able for sun or part shade, and will thrive right
through the summer. At $15.99 each, a hang-
ing basket from Freshlife is sure to brighten
Mothers Day, and much of the summer!
Make 2008 the year you finally achieve your
goal of planting your own kitchen garden, full of the herbs you love to cook with. Freshlife has a stunning selection
of the finest herb plants, including lavender, one of the most popular herbaceous perennial. Herbs for sale include
rosemary, basil, lavender, thyme, lemon thyme, peppermint, tarragon, chives, parsley, sage, oregano, eucalyptus,
pineapple sage, cilantro and dill. These plants in 3.5 inch pots are an absolute steal at $1.99 each. Buy six or more
to take advantage of the discounted price of $1.49 per plant.
We also have a nice, early variety of perennials, including forget-me-nots, foxglove, columbine, bee balm, Irish
moss and sweet woodruff. Our selection of these hardy plants will grow as the days grow longer and warmer. The
4.5 inch perennial pots are $4.99 each. Rememberperennials grow back each year! The more you plant this year,
the more youll have next year.
If you have any questions about our plants, be sure to ask for Freshlifes resident green thumb, Barbara Cody.
Shell be happy to share planting tips.
This month in Options, I invite you to consider how digestive dysfunction could be at the root of many com-
mon health problems, many of which seem to have nothing to do with digestion. Youll learn the top four trigger
foods and how eliminating them for a short time can be very telling. Youll also discover the healing potential of
three different enzyme formulasLacto, GlutenEase and Digest Gold. If your body is not up to the challenge of
digesting dairy, wheat and other foods, these vegetarian enzymes are a powerful healing tool. You will also learn
about one of the secret tools in my familys medicine cabineta safe and effective essential oil blend for healing
and fading scars, and Therese Bowen, Freshlifes personal care coach, shares some of her top recommendations for
Mothers Day gifts. Options
Page 3
May 2008
Salmon Pasta Salad
Gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free,
corn-free delicious!
Served as an entr�e or side dish, this delightful
pasta salad will be a hit with everyone and is a
perfect way to use up leftover grilled salmon.
Salad
2 cups cooked quinoa elbows (al dente)
4-8 oz. grilled Alaskan salmon (chilled)
1 cup diced celery
1/4 cup thin-sliced Vidalia (or other sweet
onion)
Celtic salt to taste
Toss gently by hand in a large bowl.
Dressing
1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
Zest and juice of 2 lemons
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. dried tarragon
Whisk these ingredients together and pour
over salmon and pasta. Mix together gently with
spatula.
Apple-Walnut Brownies
Perfect for those who prefer fruit to chocolate.
1 1/4 cups wheat-free, gluten-free all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup sucanat
2 eggs
1/4 cup apple juice
1 large apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9-inch
pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour mix,
xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and cin-
namon. Set aside. In a mixer, cream the coconut oil
and sucanat. Add the eggs and apple juice. By hand,
stir in the apples and nuts. Spoon batter into the pre-
pared pan and bake for 35 minutes or until a tester
comes out clean. Options
Page 4
May 2008
(From Page 1)
can use for energy, maintenance and repair. Your intestinal tract provides a barrier between what you come in
contact with and what actually enters your body.
Spread out flat, your digestive system would cover a tennis court. Because of the large surface area and constant
exposure to all manner of substances, this system is your bodys first line of defense. About 85 percent of your
immune capacity is directly dependant upon these critical digestive organs with a mucous lining that repairs and
replaces itself every 3-7 days.
Think about it. When you take a bite of food, digestion begins in your mouth where the process of slowly
and thoroughly chewing the food causes the release of enzymes that begin the process of breaking down the
nutrients before that bite even hits your stomach. (Gulping and/or failing to chew your food thoroughly always
compromises digestion.) Your stomach acts like a chemical and mechanical blender, churning and mixing the food
with hydrochloric acid, water and enzymes; creating the liquid substance known as chyme.
When chyme comes in contact with the lining of the next section of the gut, the challenge of leaky gut can arise.
After exiting the stomach, digested food enters the small intestine, where the all-important task of sorting and
selection occurs. The function of the small intestine (which, at 15- to 20-feet long, is hardly small) is somewhat
paradoxical. The small intestine must allow nutrients to pass through its wall into your bloodstream while at the
same time preventing the passage of toxins, parasites, microbes and molecules that are too large to be properly
absorbed. Nutrients are absorbed through hundreds of small, finger-like folds called villi. The villi are each covered
with millions of micro-villi. Imagine an expensive terry cloth towel with hundreds of small, finger-like loopsnow
add millions of smaller threads projecting from each loop. Although that is not an accurate image of a towel, it is
precisely the structure of your intestinal lining. Each of these trillions of villi and micro-villi should be covered with
thin mucus and friendly bacteria, both of which are necessary to their proper function. A healthy intestinal lining
allows only properly digested nutrients to pass through this barrier that is about the thickness of your eyelid.
The problem of leaky gut arises when the intestinal wall lining becomes inflamed, begins to break down and can
no longer do its job properly. When the guts ability to function and filter is compromised, it literally starts to leak.
What is supposed to be a microscopically fine sieve or tea strainer now becomes a colander. Particles that should
be filtered out now pass directly in