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Aug4
Probiotics: Bacteria for Your Digestive System
Filed under: gastrointestinal system, health and nutrition; Tagged as: Bladder Cancer Recurrence, Cholesterol Levels, Colon Surgery, Digestive Health, Gastrointestinal Tract, Gum Disease, Harmful Bacteria, Healthy Digestive System, Helicobacter Pylori, Intestinal Infections, irritable bowel syndrome, Sweet Acidophilus Milk, Symptoms Of Lactose Intolerance, Urinary Tract Infections, Vaginal Yeast Infections26 CommentsYour digestive tract contains billions of bacteria and other microorganisms. In fact there are more than 400 types of “friendly” bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. These friendly bacteria, called probiotics, promote a healthy digestive system by reducing the growth of harmful bacteria.
There is a growing public and scientific interest in probiotics. Researchers are studying whether probiotics taken as foods or supplements can help treat or prevent illness. There is encouraging evidence that probiotics may help:
- Treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics
- Enhance and boost the immune system
- Promote and improve digestive health
- Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections
- Treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Reduce bladder cancer recurrence
- Shorten the duration of intestinal infections
- Help alleviate symptoms of lactose intolerance
- Prevent and treat inflammation following colon surgery (pouchitis)
- Prevent eczema in children
- Reduce cholesterol levels
- Play a role in reducing the development of allergy in children
- Decrease Helicobacter pylori colonization of the stomach
- Prevent cavities and ease gum disease (Only a small number of studies have shown this)
Some researchers believe probiotics may improve general health. Each type of friendly bacteria has a specific health benefit to the body. With over 400 different types of probiotics identified, researchers are just starting to uncover the health roles and benefits of each.
Food Sources
Currently, foods that contain probiotics are primarily dairy products but sources include:- Yogurt with active culture (Pay close attention to the expiration date because these live bacterial cultures can diminish with time)
- some soft cheeses
- Fermented milk such as sweet acidophilus milk
- Kefir
- miso
- some juices and soy drinks
- sauerkraut
- many pickles
Probiotics are affected by prebiotic food. Prebiotic food does not generally contain bacteria but promotes the growth and proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract which enhances the effect of probiotic bacteria. Prebiotics have also been shown to increase the absorption of certain minerals (such as calcium and magnesium) and may reduce the risk factors involved in colorectal diseases.
Prebiotic foods include Jerusalem and regular artichokes, oats, honey, many fruits (in particular, bananas), goat’s milk and human breast milk which may explain the enormous benefits to a newborn.
Probiotic Supplements
Probiotic supplements are available in a variety of forms, such as freeze dried powder, capsules, wafers and liquids. A good probiotic will contain at least 10 billion live bacteria and should be from one or more of the Lactobacillus family in a single dose. -
Jun10
Nourish Your Body with Aloe
Filed under: Aloe Vera, Immune System, gastrointestinal system, health and nutrition; Tagged as: acid indigestion, aloe, Aloe Gold, Aloe Vera, arthritis, blood-sugar regulation, colitis, constipation, diarrhea, digestion, gastrointestinal, GI tract, heartburn, IBS, Immune System, inflammation, irritable bowel syndromeNo CommentsAloe Vera is known primarily for its topical benefits on a scrape or burn. However, it is actually enormously beneficial when ingested. It’s like moisturizing your body from the inside out. Used on a daily basis, Aloe can help reduce the damage which occurs in the gastrointestinal system much like it helps heal a skin lesion.
How many people do you know who complain of heartburn, gas, acid indigestion, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea, to name a few? All of these ailments are related to the GI tract. Many things such as medication (antibiotics for example), affect the health of the GI tract and its ability to function properly by fighting off harmful bacteria and eliminating waste. When the gastrointestinal tract is damaged or stressed it effects the entire body.
For years people who consumed Aloe have testified to the its healing qualities and now there is more and more scientific research that supports those claims. Aloe has been added to hand and body lotion to help add moisture and heal the skin which is “epithelial tissue”. The GI tract is also lined with epithelial tissue and therefore aloe also heals and keeps it supple. Just like the skin, when the GI tract is dry and “cracked” it’s susceptible to infection.
Aloe is reported to aid in
- digestion
- blood-sugar regulation and cleansing
- detoxification
- healing by stimulating cell replication
- reducing inflammation in joint and muscle tissue associated with arthritis
- strengthening the immune system
Even consuming aloe daily may require several weeks to notice significant improvement and any continuing gastrointestinal issue should be addressed by a doctor.
There are many Aloe products on the market. Before selecting one, check to be sure it’s bioactive and that it has a good ratio of aloe to water. Univera’s Aloe Gold®* has 200 parts aloe to 1 part water. For added defense, active botanical compounds – Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and green tea extract are added to help support the growth of beneficial intestinal flora. Most aloe on the market has been heat processed thereby destroying the polysaccharides and therefore many of the benefits. Also much of the value of aloe is lost in about 6 hours after it is harvested. This aloe is processed near the fields in order to capture those active elements.
*Aloe Gold® with ACTIValoe® from the Aloe inner gel fillet is the only Aloe Vera product with guaranteed purity, potency, and biological activity. -
May29
Your Body is Screaming for Water!
Filed under: gastrointestinal system, health and nutrition; Tagged as: allergies, asthma, constipation, energy, fatigue, glycogen, headaches, health, high blood pressure, insomnia, nutrition, waterNo CommentsOne of the most critical nutrients the body requires is water and it’s probably one of the most overlooked parts of our diet. Every bodily function is dependent on our body being hydrated. Water flushes toxins out of vital organs and joint tissue, carries the nutrients to your cells, provides hydration for the tissues such as nose, throat, etc. and contributes to the production of vital energy.
Glycogen, which is the body’s main source of stored energy, is produced through a process which combines water with glucose. If there is not enough water, extra amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream, which increases your blood sugar level and ultimately is stored as fat.
One of the primary functions of the liver is to metabolize stored fat into energy. The liver needs the kidneys to filter toxins, wastes, ingested water, and salts out of the bloodstream in order to function properly. If you are dehydrated, the liver must compensate for the kidneys inability to filter out this debris. As a result, the liver metabolizes less fat and therefore more is stored.
Water is also a great natural appetite suppressant. It actually decreases hunger cravings. However, do not drink large quantities of water before a meal, because that will actually dilute the digestive enzymes and prevent proper digestion.
The amount of water you need depends on your diet, your health, your weight, the climate you live in and even the elevation. Some estimates say that you should get 1/2 your body weight in ounces each day through drinking water. Obviously our diet provides water also and therefore it’s important to choose foods that are not calorie laden or are actually diuretics such as caffeine, soda pop or alcohol.
Besides just drinking water, our skin is another method of providing hydration to our bodies. How many times have you worked out or been outside working or just had a long hard day and then took a shower. It refreshes you partly because you’re re-hydrating. The health of your skin is a great indicator of your body’s hydration level.
While water isn’t a cure-all, certainly there is indication that dehydration may be implicated in the following ailments.
- Headaches
- Joint & Back Pain
- Anxiety & Depression
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Fatigue & Insomnia
- Allergies and Asthma
- Constipation
The evidence is certainly compelling - water is the source of life. So instead of drinking water as an afterthought, put it at the top of your daily routine. It could quiet your body’s screams.
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May10
What is Your Stomach Saying to You?
Filed under: gastrointestinal system, health and nutrition; Tagged as: aloe, Aloe Gold, Antibiotics, Bacteria, Cancers, carnosine, cranberry, Flora, Gall Bladder, Gall Stones, gastrointestinal, gastrointestinal system, H.Pylori, heartburn, Picrorhiza, probiotics, Ulcers, zincNo CommentsHow many people do you know with heartburn or stomach issues? It seems like it runs rampant through our society. Now, no one calls it an epidemic because it’s just heartburn, right? Well, some resesarch shows that many illnesses stem from an unhealthy gut. Some of the issues are
- heartburn
- stomachaches
- ulcers
- pancreatitis
- gall bladder issues like gall stones
- constipation
- some cancers
and the list goes on – these all take place in our gastrointestinal system. Some of them relate back to the way we eat and the balance of the flora in our system.
Things like fatty meats, alcohol, cigarette smoke, grease from various foods (potato chips, pizza) cause stress on our system. Then to make it more difficult for our system to handle all this we take antibiotics which kill all the good flora in the system. Now this is not to say that there aren’t times when it’s necessary to take antibiotics but as most of us know, antibiotics have become overused in the past few years. Also what do you do after you take the antibiotics? Do you stop to think about recreating some healthy flora so that you can digest all the foods, etc you’re putting in there?
There are several things that can help create a healthy system. Aloe is an amazing product. It is very healing (but it doesn’t happen overnight, so give it a chance). Not all Aloe is created equal. The one I’ve found that is the best is Univera’s Aloe Gold (it tastes good, has ACTIVE Aloe and has 200 parts aloe to 1 part water) Also probiotics are important in mantaining the health of the gastrointestinal system. Univera’s new product Aloedopholus contains both aloe and probiotics. With probiotics and aloe many people can maintain a healthy system. Check them out at www.metabolicplan.com
What happens when things get out of control in your sytem?
There have also been many studies in recent years on H.Pylori after the discovery that a large number of ulcers are caused by this bacteria. In the studies, scientists found that most of the people had low levels of zinc and when they were given zinc, they not only recovered from the H.Pylori but it seemed to help prevent a reoccurrance. Further studies showed that a zinc-carnosine compound was even more effective. In a small study of people with H.Pylori, scientists found that those given strong antibiotics along with a proton-pump inhibitor did not fair as well as those given the zinc-carosine compount. In fact the zinc-carnosine group had a 100% cure rate.
Cranberry juice is also very effective in staving off the onset of H.Pylori. And Licorice has been found to kill the H.Pylori bacteria even in cases where it has become antiobiotic resistant. Of course, licorice can raise one’s blood pressure so caution is advised.
Finally there is new research being done on a perennial plant that grows in the Himalayas called Picrorhiza. It has already been shown to speed healing in other areas and has been used to combat Hepatitis A.
With this arsenal of natural products, we should be able to keep our gastrointestinal system functioning happily and prevent some of the bothersome issues as well as H.Pylori. Keeping a healthy gastrointestinal system will undoubtedly affect our overal health in a very positive way.
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