The health of the digestive system has always interested me. I want to explain how the digestive system works and how important it is. The organs that make up the digestive system are: the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum and anus. The liver, pancreas and gallbladder also play a huge part in the digestive system. These organs break down the foods we eat into smaller bits so that our body can be nourished and it also provides us with energy.

To take a closer look let's describe what happens when a person eats a sandwich. The mouth chews the food to smaller bits, you swallow a bite of the sandwich (now called bolus) and the esophagus brings it down to the stomach. The stomach stores the food and liquid in the upper part of the stomach then it is mixed together with acids and enzymes the stomach produces. The muscles in the stomach first process the carbohydrates, then proteins, and lastly the fats into the small intestine. The small intestine's job is to digest and absorb the nutrients into the intestine walls where the nutrients are transported to the rest of the body through the lymphatic vessels. From the small intestine the digested sandwich moves into the large intestine, which removes more water and some nutrients. The food mixture is moved into the rectum where it stays until you feel like you are ready to use the bathroom. Then the food mixture leaves the rectum through the anus and this completes a bowel movement.

On average a person eats three meals a day. If you eat three times a day you should have three bowel movements. Bowel movements carry the toxins, cholesterol and fiber out of the body. Since we "are what we eat," what happens if we are not eating healthy and we are trapped with damaging and sometimes embarrassing side effects. Some of the effects of an unhealthy digestive system are: constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, weight gain, emotional imbalance, stomach pains and, if not taken care of, can lead to cancer.

To elaborate more on the list of discomforts of an unhealthy digestive system I will start with constipation. Constipation occurs when the feces harden and it becomes difficult to move out of your system. Diarrhea is liquid bowel movements and is also a warning that you are constipated. When I get constipated or have diarrhea I eat a Sun Bar and Nuplus. The Sun Bar is a fiber bar of fruits and nuts and helps when I am constipated. Nuplus is similar to oatmeal and is mixed with water and I take it when I feel nauseous. But overall most of my diet consists of fruits and vegetables, which help prevent both diarrhea and constipation.

"Diarrhea is the body's defense mechanism to rid itself of toxins and poisons in the gut." (De Hann, 2006) A remedy De Hann says works effectively is to, "First, buy some very ripe bananas with black spots on the skins. Bananas with black spots release pectin from the peel into the banana. Pectin is a natural medicine that binds bacteria in the gut." This is a healthier choice over Maalox or Pepto Bismol.

Why are Pepto Bismol, Rolaids, Maalox, Mylanta and other types of antacids not good for you? They are commonly used for acid reflux but have been used for nausea and diarrhea. In some cases vomiting and diarrhea are ways to get bacteria, parasites or things you are allergic to out of your body. To add to what De Hann says it is a defense mechanism to protect your body from further sickness and taking any of the above will only keep the "bugs" in your body longer making it worse. Other times vomiting and diarrhea are your body's way for telling you to eat healthier. The antacids coat the colon, which makes it harder for food and matter to go through the digestive tract, and if your small intestine is coated it cannot extract the nutrients it needs to keep you alive. Dr. Denice Moffat (2005-2012) in her studies found that the frequent and long-term use of antacids causes: diarrhea, decreased absorption of a variety of nutrients, increased risk of gastro-intestinal infections, bloating, electrolyte imbalance, impaired kidney function, and poor digestion that leads to allergies, and gas.

Dr. Moffat also writes that some antacids contain aluminum (that sometimes makes up sodium bicarbonate) especially in Maalox and Mylanta. Aluminum in antacids has side effects and can lead to aluminum toxicity in the body. Moffat's website lists the side effects that range from constipation, diarrhea, kidney stones, calcium loss, mood or mental changes and weakness. Aluminum toxicity also has effects on the body that include colic, dementia, kidney damage, liver dysfunction, Alzheimer's disease, muscle pain, and shortness of breath. If you or someone you know who are suffering from any of these ailments have them eliminate drinks in aluminum cans, cooking with aluminum foil and pans, baking products that contain aluminum and foods wrapped in aluminum foil.

The traditional Native Alaskan diet was very healthy and met the amounts needed in protein, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, iron, vitamins and minerals. The people were very active that they didn't need to go to a gym to get into shape. I want to share a story related to the digestive system. It is about a middle-aged woman who wanted to lose weight by eating sailor boy crackers whenever she was hungry. Her colon became so impacted that she had to go to the hospital. The sailor boy crackers didn't provide the nutrients she needed and the refined flour in the crackers caused her to become constipated and bloated. The crackers also don't have fiber to help with bowel movements so the waste sat there in her digestive system. The reason I told this story is to let you know that our digestive system is sensitive and needs to be healthy so you can feel good. This story is for the people whose bodies that possibly are so toxic that they might be heading down that road to cancer. Also to show that there is hope that you can change your diet to steer away from more sickness.

Joslyn Cassady, the writer of "Eating for Outsiders", states that the leading cause of death among Alaska Natives is cancer. Joslyn's study was on how the Iñupiaq people thought of how cancer started and their concept of preventing cancer. Thirty months was spent on this research and it included eight months of traveling with Iñupiaq families hunting and fishing. Joslyn and the team discovered that cancer is a new and recent disease to the Iñupiaq and was not common until the non-native people came. Another thing that Joslyn discovered was when the Iñupiaq developed cancer they thought that the doctors wanted them to stop eating their native foods and move to only white man's foods. The people were offended at that idea (Cassady, 2008). A reason for a doctors order for a cancer patient to not eat native foods is that possibly most doctors only know about the non-traditional diet (milk products, grains, canned and boxed foods and drinks, and processed meats) more than the Iñupiaq diet (meats from land, ocean and sky, plants and berries, and medicinal plants).

The Traditional Food Guide states that eating fiber, "Helps lower bad cholesterol, cleans out the intestines of waste, helps protect against gall bladder disease, colon cancer and hemorrhoids, and helps prevents constipation. (DeCourtney et al, 2008)". Don Colbert (2007) announces that "most Americans eat an estimated twelve grams or less of fiber daily. But the recommended goal is twenty-five to thirty grams a day." Fiber is beneficial to the body's health. He also suggests making the switch slowly from a low-fiber diet to a high-fiber diet because you could experience bloating or gas.

The Iñupiat people are blessed with an arctic plant called sargigruaq or Stinkweed. Della Keats was a well-known traditional healer who "prescribed broth boiled from the leaves for 'sour stomach'—heartburn, colds and respiratory troubles" (Purely Alaska, 2011). The Traditional food guide restates the potent power of stinkweed, "Stinkweed teas are used to fight infection from colds, the flu, a sore throat, and upset stomach (DeCourtney, 2008)."

Della Keats grieved "at the rising rates of cancer among the Iñupiat." In her words she also points out that, "They die from it . . . Lots of them. They don't have cancer in the old days. Fresh air and eat and never drink. Happy life. Long sleep. Do the work and go to bed early. Only tuberculosis being sickness in the early days." She mentions that it is a "different diet" a mixture of "white man's food." I too am heartbroken from seeing so many of my family members or members of the community pass away from cancer but there are ways to steer away from cancer.

Inland of Barrow you can find salmonberries by traveling on a boat or Honda. You can also take a short trip to Atqasuk to pick them. In Anaktuvak Pass you can pick blueberries or barter with someone you know there so they send some to you in exchange for something else. Salmonberries and blueberries are a great source of fiber, vitamin E, A, C, and K and are also low in sodium. If they are not available you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables from the store. I avoid eating fruits in cans or plastic containers because they are in corn syrup that has more sugar than you need and the cans are heated at a high temperature to melt the metal cover to the can. The nutrition of a can of fruit cocktail, according to Self Nutrition Data (2012), doesn't have a good source of vitamins or nutrients and is considered moderately inflammatory. It is a better choice to get fruits in their natural state because you have the natural sugars, and it has more fiber and nutrients than processed fruits. To note other sources of fiber are in whole-wheat bread, brown rice, and beans.

The Traditional Food Guide says that eating protein will, "Build your body's natural defense system so you are better able to fight infection" (DeCourtney et al, 2008). With a high natural defense system you have a better chance of avoiding colds, the flu, including the stomach flu and infections. In the Alaska Native diet you can find protein in caribou, moose, ptarmigan, salmon, seal, seal oil, walrus, and bowhead whale!

What do you need to do to have a healthy digestive system? Drinking water plays a huge role in maintaining the digestive tract! About 80% of an infant's body and about 70% of an adult's body is made of water. If you don't have enough water, your body works harder to move waste along the digestive tract. Compare this to a bike with rusted wheels, brakes and chain. If the bike isn't taken care of, the brakes and wheels won't work and the chain could bust. Even though a person may eat native foods daily the other foods, activities and habits may interfere with their health. Drinking alcohol, smoking, and lack of exercise put stress on the body's organs and overworks them. These habits are like the rust on the brakes and wheels of the bike. If you want to be healthy, not smoking, not drinking alcohol and exercising will get you there.

Going back to the traditional native living or choosing healthier foods and habits would provide a route for a healthier life. By adding more grams of fiber into our diet and drinking more water are two ways to eliminate constipation, diarrhea, bloating, stomach pains and excess gas from our life. We learned that our digestive system is delicate and needs to be taken care of and when it is taken care of it will in turn take care of us. Stinkweed is a traditional remedy for a "sour stomach" or heartburn. Eating the animals hunted in Barrow is a good source of protein, which will build your body's defense system and will help you fight infection.

Cassady, Joslyn. "Eating For Outsiders": Cancer Causation Discourse Among The Iñupiat Of Arctic Alaska." International Journal Of Circumpolar Health 67.4 (2008): 374-383. Arctic & Antarctic Regions. Web. 29 Aug. 2012.

Colbert, Don. The Seven Pillars of Health. Lake Mary: Siloam, 2007. Print.

De, Haan Roger L. We Don't Die...we Kill Ourselves! Our Foods Are Killing Us! Huntsville, AL: Milestones Pub., 2006. Print.

DeCourtney, Christine A., Desiree M. Simeon, and Karen M. Mitchell. Traditional Food Guide: For Alaska Native Cancer Survivors. 2nd ed. Anchorage: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, 2008. Print.

"Della Keats: Pride of Her People." Purely Alaska: Authentic Voices from the Far North. Ed. Susan B. Andrews and John Creed. Kenmore, WA: Epicenter, 2011. Print.

Moffat, Dr. Denice. "Antacid Side Effects | Natural Health Techniques." Natural Health Techniques - Dr. Denice Moffat. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. http://naturalhealthtechniques.com/specificdiseasesantacids_problems_associated.htm

"Self Nutrition Data Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Fruit cocktail, (peach and pineapple and pear and grape and cherry), canned, extra heavy syrup, solids and liquids." Conde Nast Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis – NutritionData.com. Conde Nast, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1896/2

Weyer, Edward Moffat. The Eskimos; Their Environment and Folkways. Hamden, Conn.: Archon, 1969. Print.