From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: rec.food.veg
Subject: Re: Vegan dilemma concerning pancreatic enzymes.
Date: 19 Aug 92 23:42:12 GMT
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <anne.714256021@menaik> anne@cs.UAlberta.CA (Anne J.R. Nield) writes:
>>The colon cleans itself out daily.  "Hardened feces" might be a problem
>>in cases of severe constipation sufficient to cause bowel obstruction
>>(needless to say, this is extremely rare).  There aren't any feces left
>>(let alone "hardened" ones) after an evacuation.
>You might not believe this until you've experienced it.  It is truly
>amazing what can emerge from one's body after several days of virtual
>fasting.  I won't gross the entire net out with the details....

It's OK; I saw _Alien_.  I've also fasted enough in my life to know
what effect it has on my bowel movements, which is essentially to
radically reduce them.  On the other hand, I wasn't taking herbal
laxatives at the same time.  Wow, there's nothing like the
feeling of an irritated colon to put a glow in my cheeks.
(The wrong cheeks.)

>>What kind of wonders?
>Skin clears up, mouth tastes fresh, hair shines, super energy, general
>goodwill toward humankind feeling, yearning for healthy foods, no
>interest in caffeine and other assorted junk, lighter, more "transparent"
>feeling, sounder sleep -- and everyone you know demanding to know what
>you've done because you look terrific.

This is either a description of an expensive cosmetic or a religious
conversion, I don't know which.

>>If it's enhancing your health, it's because it's an expensive placebo.
>Now this sounds like a true "medical science" reaction if ever I heard
>one.  My doctor also assures me that this does me no good whatsoever.

He sounds reputable.  You should keep him.

>He also assures me that (based on all the tests) I am in unusually
>good health.  Probably has nothing to do with diet, lifestyle, etc.
>Coincidence.  Right.  (Actually, it's positive thinking....)

Now THIS is a "typical" response.  A shame it doesn't make any sense.
I'm sure your good health is due in part because of your diet and
the way you care for yourself.  It does not follow that everything
you choose to do contributes to your health.  A herbal "colon blow"
is at best worthless, and can be dangerous.

>>given the faulty thinking on which such a regimen is conceived, 
>>nothing much would persuade me that it's necessary for health.
>No-one said it was "necessary" for health.  It seems to be helpful
>to many people, and regular cleansing/fasting is encouraged by many
>societies and disciplines.  "Faulty thinking" by whose standards?

"Faulty thinking" because of the claim that such a regimen removes
"impacted feces", for one.  People don't walk around with "impacted feces".
The colon keeps itself clean naturally.  That's just the way it works.
This whole "health-thru-a-clean-colon" phenomenon seems to be a peculiarly
human adaptation of the primate's predilection to play with its feces.
And Freud would have a field day.

>>Sometimes disabusing people of notions which don't make sense from
>>a physiological point of view is considered "flaming".  So be it.
>
>Thoughtful of you.  "Disabusing people of notions which don't make
>sense" sounds a trifle egotistical -- especially since the original poster 
>didn't ASK for opinions on whether what he was doing made sense to
>other people.

That never stopped me before.  I will frequently comment when someone is
following a regimen I know to be dangerous or worthless.  Frankly, it's
not doing him any favors to keep quiet--he's going to come out of this
multi-week regimen with less money, or less health or both, not to mention
compromised ethics if he decides to use the porcine enzymes.  The crackpots
pushing this stuff aren't going to tell him anything different from your
radiant report.  Well, it's doing him a favor to get an opinion from someone
who knows about human physiology.

>It makes sense to HIM, based on his experience, and

Bodies don't work like that.

>he was asking a very specific question about a particular aspect of
>what he is doing.  Your response to that I found interesting and helpful.

Any time.

>The rest of it makes no sense to ME and I choose not to
>be disabused.  But thanks anyway....

Ignorance is bliss; 'tis folly to be wise.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Newsgroups: rec.food.veg