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!).

Roots Of Western Medicine

Western medicine largely adheres to the doctrines of the French Scientist Louis Pasteur, who lived from 1822 to 1895. Pasteur’s theories were based on the theory of “germ warfare”, which basically hypothesizes that the germs from the outside are what makes us sick and create disease. Based on and because of this idea is why pretty much all beverages and many foods sold in grocery stores today have been pasteurized, or heated to very high temperatures to destroy any potential harmful germs.

But Pasteur has a little known contemporary and intellectual adversary: fellow french scientist Antione Beauchamp, who lived from 1816 to 1908. Beauchamp believed the exact opposite. His theory was based on the the idea that “the terraine is everything”. In other words, it is not just the germs from outside that cause illness, but a compromised immune system or some predisposing characteristic that allows the germs to flourish in the body and cause illness. For instance, why is it that two people get coughed on directly in the face by same person on subway, but only one person gets the flu? Dr. Robert Young gives a great analogy to this by pointing out that is you throw seeds on concrete, they cannot grow. But if you throw the seeds on fertile soil, they grow and flourish. Same goes for germs and sickness.

Dr.T.Colin Campbell’s findings in The China Study support Beauchamp’s theories and also brings back what the founding fathers of medicine had said back 431 B.C, “Let food by thy medicine and medicine by they food”. Campbell discussed how when two experimental groups were exposed to the same amount of a carcinogenic substance, the group consuming the higher levels of animal protein and dairy was the one that developed diseases such as cancer, and the group consuming the lower level of these foods did not. As Beauchamp theorized, the first group had the right “terrain” for sickness to develop.

Under Beauchamp’s theory, we can hypothesize that there really is only one disease: an acidic body that releases acidic waste and toxins, compromising immunity. The body then becomes fertile terrain for sickness, disease and harmful bacteria and germs. All the various diseases are symptoms of general toxicity in the body, but not the root cause itself. So cancer, diabetes or any named disease is not the root cause, its that the body itself is acidic causing inflammation and that causes diseases varying on where the weakness in your body is.

This is why at institutions like the Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute and the Hippocrates Health Institute, there are many cases where symptoms of diseases such as cancer subside when clients are put on a raw plant based diet and juice feasting cleanses. These institutions do not perform chemotherapy or radiation on specific areas of the body, but rather treat the body holistically and work to raise the alkalinity of the entire body. As Renowned food expert and journalist Michael Pollan said in 2007 “Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants”.

Of-course, we can see how Pasteur’s theory is much more profitable for the pharmaceutical industry as pill after pill in introduced to cure something or another, as flu shots and more vaccinations are introduced, as radiation, chemotherapy and other cancer drugs, penicillin, other antibiotics and the like make the industry trillions and trillions of dollars. That is not to say that some of these things don’t have an important purpose clearly some do and have saved lives, while others have not and have only made people sicker and sicker and sicker.

But if we keep our bodies clean of toxins and excessive waste, balanced at a more alkaline pH and keep our immunity strong, we may need these medicines far less and we ourselves may have much more control over our own health.

So how can you do that? EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. Sounds simple doesn’t it. Raw Food scares people but dont let it, start slow and start today. Make half your consist of raw vegetables when you eat that piece of meat. Explore with salads, try zuchinni pasta instead. Raw Juice and juicing is one of those simple things you can start to do to help your body function at the capacity its meant to. Wether you have just one raw juice a day, juice cleanse or do a juice feasting cleanse your body will thank you.

Importance Of Vitamin D for your health

sun1Vitamin D is making the headlines more and more – barely a week goes by without another study linking to a reduced risk. Research has linked the vitamin to a reduced risk of depression, breast cancer and colds and chest infections.

But what is it, how much do we need, and why is it so vital to our health?

Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, both needed for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. Vitamin D is involved in the activation of macrophages – the hunter-killer cells that engulf and destroy invading viruses, bacteria and even fungi. Vitamin D receptors are also present on other immune cells which fight infection and regulate our allergic responses and inflammation.

The nutrient is also involved in the production of antibiotic-like proteins in the cells lining the respiratory tract. Known as defensins, these proteins stick to bacterial walls and open up holes so bacteria become leaky and implode. Defensins are also active against viruses. It’s therefore not surprising people who have low vitamin D levels – especially in winter – are more prone to colds, influenza, bronchitis and even pneumonia.

And it doesn’t stop there. There are so many more health benefits to making sure you get your vitamin D in daily.

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The Seeds That is “Perfect Protein”

If you’re looking to improve digestion, balance hormones and improve metabolism, then hemp seeds may just be the superfood you’re looking for.

For a long time, hemp seeds we’re ignored for their nutritional benefits because it’s botanical relationship to drug/medicinal varieties of Cannabis.

However, hempseeds do NOT cause any psychotropic reaction and instead may provide significant health benefits with it’s unique nutritional profile.

hemoHemp Seed Nutrition Profile
Here is what we know about the therapeutic benefits of hemp.

Excellent 3:1 balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which promote cardiovascular health.
High in gamma linolenic acid (GLA), an essential omega-6 fatty acid found in borage oil and egg yolks that has been proven to naturally balance hormones.
“Perfect protein” not only containing all 20 amino acids, but also each of the 9 essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce.
Rich in soluble and un-soluble fiber which naturally cleanses the colon and reduces sugar cravings
Hemp seeds are also a rich source of phytonutrients including:

Minerals · Calcium (145mg per 100 grams) · Iron (14mg per 100 grams) · Magnesium (483mg per 100 grams) · Manganese (7mg per 100 grams) · Phosphorus (1160mg per 100 grams) · Potassium (859mg per 100 grams) · Zinc (7mg per 100 grams)

Vitamins · Vitamin A (3800 IU mg per 100 grams) · Vitamin B1 (0.4mg per 100 grams) · Vitamin B2 (0.11 mg per 100 grams) · Vitamin B3(2.8 mg per 100 grams) · Vitamin B6 (0.12 mg per 100 grams) · Vitamin D (22.77.5 IU mg per 100 grams) · Vitamin E (90 mg IU mg per 100 grams)

Our Alfalfa Raw Juice Called POWER

Power:
Alfalfa, ginseng, kale, orange, pineapple

Alfalfa in Arabic means “The king of all foods.”

Not only does the alfalfa plant contain a full spectrum of important vitamins, but it is also loaded with extremely important minerals such as biotin, calcium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium, and many others.

Alfalfa is rich in protein as well as vitamins A, C and K. It is a nutritious whole food, packed with antioxidants and minerals including magnesium, calcium and iron. Heavy in phytoestrogens, alfalfa is used in the treatment of menopause symptoms to combat estrogen deficiency. It is also a popular tonic for flushing the body of toxins.
alfala