10 Things To Know About Your Gut & Probiotics

Until a couple of years ago, my understanding of the bacteria that live in our digestive systems could be summed up in two sentences – “If you take antibiotics they’ll kill some of the good bacteria along with the bad and you’ll get diarrhea. So eat some probiotic foods, like yogurt, to restore the good bacteria.”

That’s true as far as it goes, but I’ve now learned that those bacteria, which many people call “gut flora” and scientists call “gut microbiata,” do so much more than prevent diarrhea. Although the study of gut flora is still in its infancy, many scientists now refer to it as a separate “organ” of the body, one that plays key roles in everything from digestion to immunity to mental health.

Why are the good bacteria in your digestive tract so important? Research is beginning to show that “good” bacteria play dozens, if not hundreds, of roles in maintaining our health.

Here are five:

1- Bacteria in our intestinal tracts produce B vitamins and vitamin K. These vitamins play important roles in energy metabolism (producing energy from food), maintaining the health of the nervous system, and clotting blood.

2- Bacteria in the large intestine digest fiber and use it to produce chemicals that feed and protect the intestinal lining. This lining plays key roles in preventing infection, boosting immunity, and reducing inflammation. If the lining breaks down, chemicals that should never leave the intestines end up in the bloodstream, which can lead to inflammation or an overactive immune response.

3- Gut floral produce most of the body’s serotonin, a key neurotransmitter. Scientists are beginning to see connections between the health of the gut and the health and functioning of the brain.

4- Intestinal bacteria produce enzymes that metabolize drugs, hormones and toxins. In addition, they produce chemicals that “communicate” with the liver regarding production of enzymes used in detoxification.

5- Gut bacteria may play a role in obesity. Some animal studies, and now a few human studies, have shown that animals or humans deficient in certain bacteria may be more prone to gain weight.

Can We Improve Gut Flora

Can we “improve” our gut flora? And should we even try? Yes! Although scientists are hesitant at this point to “prescribe” actions people should take, the research to date suggests that people can change their gut flora in ways that are likely to benefit their health.

Here are five things we can do:

1- Eat probiotic foods regularly. These include yogurt and fermented foods, such as kefir and sauerkraut. You can buy high-quality yogurt and kefir at the grocery store, but you can make them too. We make both, and it’s fun, cheaper, and not too difficult,

2- Eat fewer processed foods. Processed foods lack many of the nutrients that contribute to a healthy “climate” in the digestive tract. In addition, they tend not to contain the kinds of healthy bacteria found in more natural forms of food. (For example, think of a processed cheese product vs. real cheese. The former doesn’t contain any bacteria when it leaves the factory, but the latter contains plenty of “good” bacteria – and it tastes delicious!)

3- Eat foods high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables are great for your health in so many ways. When it comes to your gut health, plant fiber feeds the bacteria in the large intestine, and they in turn produce chemicals that protect the intestinal lining.

4- Take antibiotics only when necessary. If your doctor says, “Let’s wait a day or two to see if you need antibiotics,” don’t insist on getting some right away! Antibiotics can significantly alter the gut flora, killing off beneficial bacteria and providing an “opening” for harmful bacteria to move in and “set up shop.” When you do take antibiotics, eat probiotic foods (take steps during and after treatment to re-establish a healthy gut microbiata.

5- Consider taking probiotic supplements. Scientists, physicians and government agencies have not issued official guidelines on probiotic supplements. The research on the benefits (or drawbacks) just isn’t clear yet. So right now there’s no clear “right” or “wrong” answer to the question, “Should I take a supplement?” I’ve done some research on probiotics, and my husband and I take a supplement fairly regularly (probably 4 or 5 days a week). We buy several different brands that contain different bacteria, and we alternate them (because it’s hard to figure out which bacteria are the best ones to take!).

What is a Detox? Ten Reasons To do A Juice Feasting Cleanse

Why Cleanse?
Why do people do a juice cleanse?
Doesn’t your body detox itself its a waste of money to do a juice cleanse?
Juice cleanses screw up your body?
What toxins does the juice cleanse remove, why cant these companies that sell juice cleanses tell you the name of the toxins that are being removed?

I am sure you have heard all these questions and even you yourself have wondered what is the point of a juice cleanse. I am here to tell you its not a hoax, its not a waste of money, and its not useless.

So yes your body does detox itself daily. Or I should say your body is supposed to be detoxing itself daily. Your body works like a well oiled clock. Every few hours in the day a different organ in your body is attempting to detox itself. Have you ever wondered why when you wake up in the morning one of the first things that happen is you go poop. That is because your intestines detox between the hours of 3 and 6am. Problem is our eating habits and lifestyles have changed dramatically. We consume lots of dairy, meat, processed and nutrient deficient foods. We don’t sleep enough, we don’t exercise and get our bodies moving.

The body becomes overloaded with toxins due to various internal and external forces such as unhealthy foods, stress, sleeping habits and harmful environments.

It’s important to flush these toxins out of the body regularly to make sure that the body’s systems are running properly.

Common signs of excess toxins in the body are fatigue, excessive weight gain, skin reactions (rashes and acne), constipation, and bad breath to name a few.

There are two main sources of toxins that affect the body on a daily basis:

Environmental Toxins: These are toxins outside of the body. They include things like pesticides, carbon monoxide, the perfume or cologne you wear, your cleaning products and other chemicals people come in contact with on a daily basis.

Metabolic Toxins: These are toxins on the inside of the body. This can happen through a variety of mechanisms, but the main thought here is something that has been eaten and absorbed into the cells through digestion. The dairy and meat you eat have growth hormones given to the chickens, cows and etc, they also contain antibiotics. Something to keep in mind is that 85 percent of the antibiotics in the world are used on the foods you eat. There is also the fluoride that is added to your water, linked to dementia and Alzheimer. We have all heard about GMOs cant forget those, not to mention preservatives like salt, MSG, and all those long complicated names that you see written on the ingredient lists of foods. We can write a novel about the toxins that are inside your body at this moment just from the foods you have eaten.

What is a detox? You can detox in a variety of ways, but the main purpose is simple – to get the toxins out of the body, best way is by doing a juice cleanse. WHY? A juice feasting cleanse gives your digestion a break by flooding your system with nutrients it needs to reset, reboot and heal. A raw juice is be absorbed by your digestive system within 15 minutes, compared to other foods you eat that can take anywhere from 24 to 36 hours. Anytime you eat your body can use up to 80 percent of its energy on digestion, and that is not good. Hence why you might feel tired after eating complex foods like meat, dairy and processed. When your body is using 80 percent of its energy trying to digest the food you just ate, other organs that are meant to be detoxing are not.

Other ways to detox after your cleanse are through dieting, exercise, inhaling fresh air, and consuming more water, fruits, and vegetables. Juicing can have dramatic effects on your overall health and how you feel.

10 Reasons to do a Tailored Juice feasting cleanse and Detoxify the Body

1. Youthful energy

Remember the vibrant, non-stop energy you had in your youth? Detox programs can help to get some of it back. One of best benefits from detoxification of the body is increased energy levels.

Cutting out harmful chemicals like sugars, hydrogenated oils, fatty foods, and dangerous energy drinks while replacing them with water, vegetables, and fresh fruits, can cause a dramatic spike in the body’s natural energy levels.

Things you will notice in your day-to-day life:

Wake up and feel energized to start the day
Experience less midday energy crashes
Have a greater desire for new experiences instead of time on the couch

2. Improves mental clarity

There is a direct connection between cognitive and digestive health. Once you improve your overall health, you will notice the mind becoming clearer. Foods labeled as inflammatory not only affect your organs and gut, but the brain as well. Most people overlook the important fact that inflammation from foods happens in the brain as well as the body.

Once you clear your plate of sugar and fatty foods, you will notice clearer thinking and an improved mood as a result of the detoxification process.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Less brain fog, especially midday
Better focus and attention to detail on daily tasks

3. Strengthens the immune system

If you feel like you’re constantly catching a cold or the flu, juicing and juice cleanses will help. When the body detoxes, it is freed up from the toxin burden on major organs and can operate like it was designed to.

All good juice cleanses will provide a healthy amount of vitamin C, which has been conclusively shown to improve the immune system and protect against diseases. Also you will be getting all the nutrients, phytonutrients and minerals your immune system needs to fight anything that comes its way.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Get the common cold less often than co-workers and friends
Recovering faster from illnesses when they happen

4. Aids in weight loss

It’s easy to see how cutting out processed foods, dairy, meat, sugars and fatty foods from the diet will impact weight quickly. Toxins affect the body’s natural ability to burn fat and lead to weight gain. When foods are not digesting properly, losing weight will be more difficult. Juicing gives your digestive system a vacation. The juice you drink will be absorbed by your digestive system within 15 minutes, where the food you normally eat can spend 24 to 36 hours in your digestive system.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Yoga pants will fit better
Juice cleanses do help you loose fat cells
Gradual steady weight loss over time

5. Slows the aging process

By reducing the amount of toxins and free radical damage done to the body, you will notice benefits in both the short-term and the long-term. Free radicals are incomplete electrons that are devastating to your health and aging processes, but when you eats more vegetables and fresh fruits, they will combat these free radicals with powerful antioxidants.

The antioxidants will keep the body looking younger and healthier while slowing the aging process.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Less wrinkles on your forehead and around the eyes
Less bags under the eyes when you wake up

6. Clearer skin

Environmental and diet-based toxins can have very visible results on the largest organ in the body – the skin. Detoxifying the body can help with acne, will strengthen nails and hair, and will help provide a natural healthy glow. As toxins leave the body though the skin (your biggest eliminative organ), a slight increase in acne or even patchiness to the skin is common.

Don’t worry though, it will clear up after a few days and when it does, you will be left with healthy, vibrant skin that you will love.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Improved skin color and overall complexion
Nails and hair will grow a little faster than normal
Acne will become a rare occurrence, if ever

7. Helps curb sugar and carb cravings

It is a fact that sugar and carbohydrates are biologically addictive. Sugar has even been reported to be 8 times more addictive than cocaine. There’s a reason why it’s so hard to give it up, and thankfully a sugar detox can help with this. There really is no better way to kick these craving than to cut it out for awhile. The problem is that this can induce headaches and sluggish feelings that come with withdrawal.

That is why replacing the process sugars and bad carbs with healthy organic cold pressed raw juice is important. Yes the Fruit does have sugar but those sugars come with enzymes that help break them down and make them healthy do your body.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Cravings for fruits and vegetables
Bad feelings if you consume sugars and bad carbs again

8. Improves digestive health

When detoxing, the body is getting rid of the excess waste stored in the gut and fat cells. The primary way this happens is through the increase in fiber that comes with the raw juice. Yes you heard us say it, Raw juices do have fiber, its all about the machine you use when you juice those fruits and vegetables. The fiber helps cleanse the colon and drag out any of the toxins that get built up over time. It also improves the functionality of the liver and kidneys that are responsible for processing the foods that you eat.

In this way, the body will be able to better absorb the vitamins and nutrients from your food.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Becoming regular
More instant energy from food

9. Establishes healthy habits

Doing a juice cleanse for 10 days and longer will make a huge impact on your life, and will help you make healthy choices and decisions for the days following. The key to making clean eating and being healthy work for you is establishing lifelong habits that you can stick with. That is why detox programs should be the first stepping stone to living a healthier life.

When you cleanse the body and replace the old foods with healthier food choices, you can train yourself into making your health a priority in your life.

Things you will notice in your day-to-day life:

Thinking about how a specific food is going to impact long-term goals
Waking up and thinking about healthy decisions first thing in the morning

10. Restores balance to the body’s systems

The body is a complex group of intertwining systems that work together in order to achieve optimal health. The nervous system, digestive system, and hormonal system are trying their best to keep you healthy and reproduce your genes. That is what the body is made for!

Detoxing and getting rid of these harmful toxins will bring balance back to your overall system and make you feel like you’re in a brand new body!

Things you will notice in your day to day life

Becoming happier with yourself
Improved mood and outlook on day-to-day living

Cinnamon Ginger Anti-inflammatory Tea

For years, people have recommended drinking ginger ale when sick to help reduce nausea, and throughout history ginger root has been coveted as a powerful medicinal spice. While there are several ways to prepare and eat ginger, my favorite way to experience the benefits of this spice is by making ginger tea with cinnamon.

Ginger is known for a wide variety of health benefits, including:

Anti-inflammatory
Pain Relief
Anti-Nausea
Immune-Boosting
Anti-Fungal
Cancer-fighting
Antioxidant

Plus, it’s absolutely delicious! I usually drink ginger tea at night after dinner to help prepare myself for bed. Ginger is a warming spice, so it’s great for warming yourself up on colder nights.

If ginger isn’t enough of a health boost for you, consider the health power-punch of this drink once cinnamon is added!

Cinnamon is also known for a variety of health benefits:

Antioxidant
Anti-Inflammatory
Diabetes Fighting
Supports Heart Health
Supports Brain Health
Antimicrobial
Antibacterial
Anti-viral

Wow! Sometimes I have a hard time believing how insanely powerful this ginger tea can be with cinnamon added.

Making ginger tea at home is very easy. And it can be stored in refrigerator for 2 weeks.

Start by cutting about an inch-long piece of ginger off the root and peeling it. Then chop it into coins and place in a pot with about 2 cups of water. Add in the cinnamon stick.

Bring the water to a boil and then turn down the heat and let the tea simmer for about 20 mins.

Remove from the heat and let cool for about 15 minutes after that. This step is very important, as the cinnamon stick must cool for the nutrients to be extracted.

Filter the tea through a fine mesh or colander to remove the ginger pieces and cinnamon stick.

At this point, you will have very strong tea, so I usually dilute it by at least half with fresh water before drinking. Whatever I don’t drink right away I pour into a jar and keep in the fridge. I’ve never pushed the limits on how long it will keep, but I know it stays good for at least 2 weeks.

If you want your tea to be a little sweeter, you can add some raw honey to it while it’s hot.

This ginger tea has become my new favorite tea.

Ginger and cinnamon are both powerful anti-inflammatory agents, among a myriad of other wonderful health benefits. This ginger tea with cinnamon is a perfect addition to a healthy diet, and can protect against colds, the flu, cancer, diabetes, and more!

Improve your Digestion

Love. A woman’s hands forming a heart symbol on belly.; Shutterstock ID 44072719; PO: aol; Job: production; Client: drone
15 Ways to Improve Your Digestion

The health of your gut is directly related to your overall well-being. I
like to think of your gut as your second brain – it’s that important to keep it healthy! It seems more of my clients are coming to me with complaints related to their digestive systems including constipation, gas, bloating, diarrhea and heartburn. Luckily, your digestive health can be easily kept healthy and even improved with a few simple lifestyle adjustments.

If you’re experiencing digestive troubles, implement some of these simple ways to improve your overall digestive health. It will make a huge difference to the way you look and feel. When you’re experiencing sluggish digestion, this can have an impact on other areas of your health like your skin as well.

1. Increase the amount of fruit and vegetables you consume: Eating a range of fruit and veg will provide your system with heaps of soluble fibre to keep your digestive system moving the way it should. Juicing is a great way to get all those nutrients and minerals your body needs.

2. Increase the amount of whole foods in your diet and decrease the amount of processed foods you consume: Processed foods are difficult for the body to digest and can cause blockages within your digestive tract. The more real food you eat, the more your gut will love you.

3. Start your day with a tonic of freshly squeezed lemons with a tablespoon of ACV (Apple cider vinegar) in spring or filtered water: This is alkalizing and helps to clean the stomach of any residual debris, while also kick-starting your digestive system first thing in the morning.

4. Listen to your body and what it needs. Your body is always talking to you, so if you’re having a difficult time “knowing” what works for you, consider doing a short cleanse.

5. Eat more fibre (fruit and vegetables are a great source of this!) as this helps your bowel movements to happen regularly: You should poop at least once a day, ideally up to three times a day.

6. Skip non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs if possible: As regular use of these can cause peptic ulcers in the digestive tract. Great for inflammation is ginger, turmeric and green vegetables.

7. Be careful of use of other drugs that also create digestive problems: Especially including antibiotics which strip your gut of all the good bacteria that your body needs to maintain good immunity.

8. Don’t overeat, but always eat when you feel hungry: This all comes down to listening to your body’s needs.

9. Use herbs which aid digestion: Such as peppermint, fennel, and ginger. Also consume ginger to help settle an upset tummy.

10. Drink liquids before and after meals, not during: This is the best way to avoid diluting your digestive juices.

11. Take your time and really chew your food: It might seem silly, but most people don’t chew their food enough! Your body can use energy for other things if you chew your food instead of relying on acid and enzymes. Aim to chew at least 30 times per mouthful.

12. Eat slower so your body has time to digest everything: Eating slowly means you won’t have too much air coming into your body when you swallow.

13. Avoid using laxatives: Your body becomes reliant on them and they are habit forming. Instead, try these 7 Ways to Heal Constipation Naturally.

14. Stop smoking a& drinking alcohol: These habits cause ulcers & heartburn.

15. Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a specialist (gastroenterologist): You may want to get a referral from a friend or relative. Remember that they are there to diagnose and treat, prevention lies in your hands.

Gut Flora, Its importance

Approximately eighty percent of our immune cells are located in the gut. Many of us have less-than-robust probiotic or ‘good bacteria’ in our intestines due to many factors such as overexposure to antibiotics, high-consumption of sugar, refined flour, and processed foods, overuse of anti-bacterial soaps, etc.
Gut Flora is now being referred to as a separate “organ” of the body. Why are gut flora important? Research is beginning to show that “good” bacteria play dozens, if not hundreds, of roles in maintaining our health. Here are five:

-Bacteria in our intestinal tracts produce B vitamins and vitamin K. These vitamins play important roles in energy metabolism (producing energy from food), maintaining the health of the nervous system, and clotting blood.
-Bacteria in the large intestine digest fiber and use it to produce chemicals that feed and protect the intestinal lining. This lining plays key roles in preventing infection, boosting immunity, and reducing inflammation. If the lining breaks down, chemicals that should never leave the intestines end up in the bloodstream, which can lead to inflammation or an overactive immune response.
-Gut floral produce most of the body’s serotonin, a key neurotransmitter. Scientists are beginning to see connections between the health of the gut and the health and functioning of the brain.
-Intestinal bacteria produce enzymes that metabolize drugs, hormones and toxins. In addition, they produce chemicals that “communicate” with the liver regarding production of enzymes used in detoxification.
-Gut bacteria may play a role in obesity. Some animal studies, and now a few human studies, have shown that animals or humans deficient in certain bacteria may be more prone to gain weight.

You can change their gut flora in ways that will benefit your health. Here are five things we can do:

-Eat foods that include natural probiotics (good bacteria). These include yogurt and fermented foods, such as kefir and sauerkraut.
-Eat fewer processed foods. Processed foods lack many of the nutrients that contribute to a healthy “climate” in the intestines. In addition, they tend not to contain the kinds of healthy bacteria found in more natural forms of food. (For example, think of a processed cheese product vs. real cheese. The former doesn’t contain any bacteria when it leaves the factory, but the latter contains plenty of “good” bacteria – and it tastes delicious!)
-Eat foods high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Plant fiber feeds the bacteria in the large intestine, and they in turn produce chemicals that protect the intestinal lining. (Another drawback of a diet heavy in processed foods is that it’s generally low in fiber.)
-Take antibiotics only when necessary. If your doctor says, “Let’s wait a day or two to see if you need antibiotics,” don’t insist on getting some right away! Antibiotics can significantly alter the gut flora, killing off beneficial bacteria and providing an “opening” for harmful bacteria to move in and “set up shop.” When you do take antibiotics, take steps during and after treatment to re-establish a healthy gut microbiata.
-Consider taking probiotic supplements
-Eat Fermented foods. Traditionally fermented foods are found in different cultures throughout the world. These foods include sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) and other fermented vegetables, kimichi, tempeh, natto, kombucha, and fermented raw dairy such as yogurt, and kefir.

yes

Healthy-Gut-Flora-MEME-complete-1
Probiotics yes

Its Cold and flu Season

1Many parents have asked us what is a healthier alternative to other drugs out there when their children are sick. This line is superb, and works like a charm. They have many different kinds of bottles from fever, to wet cough, cough and cold, earaches, eczema, teething and many others. They even have an adult line for headaches and such. @orangenaturals

They are ?#?homeopathic? remedies, natural and safe for all children.

We even know one grown up who took fever ones instead of her ?#?antibiotics? and her got rid of her ammonia. Power of natural ??herbs?.

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