Does gut health, intestinal bacteria drive obesity and metabolic disease?

Health, fitness and quality of lifestyle…what does this all mean to you?

You probably already know the answer…

The bacteria within your intestines are key to a good digestive health.

Is gut health key?

Do healthy bowels (intestines) plays a major role in overall health and detoxification?

Dear Friend,

Recent studies have shown bad bacteria causes inflammation in the gut, which causes metabolic abnormalities, people need to eat more and this develops insulin resistance.

Intestines neutralize and break down toxins ingested with foods (good intestinal bacteria)

Even if your goal is just to become aware with understanding the basics, it becomes very clear at least why gut health affects your overall health (both physical and mental)…

Gut health provides three crucial functions for normal health:

• Gut breaks food down to nutrients
• Gut facilitates absorption of nutrients into blood through intestinal walls
• Gut prevents foreign and toxic molecules from entering bloodstream

Studies have shown changes in gut flora can increase the rate at which you absorb fatty acids and carbohydrates.

And this includes how foods are stored in calories as fat…

Yes, it means a woman with bad gut flora could eat same amount of foods as a woman with a healthy gut, extract more calories and still gain more weight.

Bad gut flora can even directly contribute to metabolic syndrome by increasing production of insulin (leading to insulin resistance)…

And by causing inflammation of the hypothalamus (leading to leptin resistance).

You can choose to eat quality organic foods, make sure you have low exposure to toxins and work at being healthy with the most positive attitude…

Still if your gut health, which includes digestion, nutrient absorption and gut-detoxification are not functioning properly, your overall health deteriorates.

How many times have you heard…you are what you eat?

More accurate would be you are what you absorb and assimilate…

You see, over two-thirds of neurotransmitters are made in your gut.

Why is the gut your second brain?

Because the majority of serotonin (90-95 percent) is made in your gut…

What if your gut is inflamed or not functioning optimally?

Production of serotonin is significantly lowered and end result could be depression.

Bear in mind that an inflamed gut effects the brain which can mean increased risk of depression and dementia.

Do you think poor gut health may be the root cause of most of your current health problems?

Do you suffer from type 2 diabetes, weight gain or struggle to lose weight?

May be its insulin resistance and obesity?

What about poor digestion, food cravings, poor immune system?

One possible mechanism for how changes in the gut flora are linked to different species of bacteria which seem to have different effects on appetite and metabolism.

Candida, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue…the list is endless, right?

Point is this…your immune system revolves around the gut…

Poor gut health can mean different ailments with horrendous symptoms.

Poor gut health may be linked to symptoms like:

• IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome)
• Diffuse or localised abdominal pain (contractions, spasms, heartburn)
• Bloating and gas
• Changes in digestive transit, bouts of constipation or diarrhoea (or both alternately).

There are so many different factors and reasons which can have short term or long term effects which are condition related to the digestive system.

Some may not last long and could be symptomatic to other factors.

Some food types as such can result in constipation and diarrhoea.

You want to become aware when changes happen in terms of some are long lasting, life changing and need proper care with professional support to help manage the condition.

Conditions related to poor gut health can be:

• Acute Diarrhoea
• Allergies
• Bad breath
• Bloating
• Candida
• Changes in brain function
• Coeliac Disease
• Constipation
• Crohn’s Disease
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome)
• Fibromyalgia
• Food intolerances (sensitivity to grains and dairy)
• Foul smelling excretion
• Headaches
• Gallstones
• Haemorrhoids (piles)
• Heartburn (acid reflux)
• Indigestion
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Leaky gut syndrome
• Skin problems (rashes)
• Ulcerative Colitis

Digested food should take between 24-36 hours from eating to elimination.

What causes gut health problems?

There are hormones and lots of other factors which can play their part in your gut health.

Non-steroidal or anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen relieve pain and inflammation by actually blocking an enzyme called cyclo-oxygenase.

The problem is cyclo-oxygenase enzyme performs important functions in protecting the stomach from corrosive effects from its own acid…

And is responsible for strengthening the activity of immune system.

Poor gut heath or a malfunctioning gut can cause intestinal inflammation, damaging the lining of intestine causing intestinal permeability.

This process can turn on an autoimmune response in the body…

Research shows women with long term or chronic use of NSAIDs, 65% develop intestinal inflammation and up to 30% develop ulcers.

Frequent use of antibiotics may decrease beneficial, protective gut bacteria (good flora).

Gut health is your body’s first line of natural defense, yet frequent or over use of antibiotics may be damaging your gut’s lining.

And without regular tests and monitoring (or own healthy intervention), your body’s unique diversity of trillions of beneficial bacteria won’t automatically be recovered after it’s lost.

Chronic and persistent stress levels weaken your immune system’s response to infection.

Your brain and intestines are controlled by many of the same crucial hormones (which is why gut is referred to as second brain).

This connection is referred to as the gut-brain axis…

Communications between gut-microbiota and gut-brain axis in stress response.

Overuse of alcohol has a negative impact on just about every system in your body.

Alcohol can irritate liver, stomach and intestines and suppress hormones which protect against inflammation which may contribute to leaky gut syndrome.

Research on grains and the negative impacts of gluten is well documented now…

Gluten-free grains have an abundance of amylose sugars, which may cause inflammation.

The anti-nutrients in gluten-free grains (lectins and phytates) bind to intestines and make nutrients inactive in the body,

Grains may cause a wide variety of inflammation with low grade damage to gut and health.

Different combinations of macronutrients in different ratios can have dramatic effects.

Bottom line: Your body needs carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water for nutrition, healing and to build, restore, repair body tissues and structures. 

How to repair and restore gut health…

It’s difficult to be told you must avoid all the bad foods…

Your goal (if possible) is to become aware of what negatively affects GI tract such as inflammatory foods, infections and gastric irritants like alcohol, caffeine or medication.

Inflammatory foods: gluten, dairy, corn, soy and sugar may lead to food sensitivities.

Infections may be a result from parasites, yeast or bacteria.

Some parasites like Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp can cause disease directly, while other organisms can cause disease by the toxins that they produce. 

To get to bottom of the cause (no pun intended) comprehensive stool analysis is key to determining the levels of good bacteria as well as any infections that may be present.

Removing infections may require treatment with herbs, anti-parasite medication, anti-fungal medication or even antibiotics.

Is it as easy and straight forward as replacing “bad” foods with “good” foods?

You’d need to know which foods are beneficial to your overall gut health, right?

You’d need to be able to identify which macronutrients have been depleted by medication (anti-acid medications), diseases or aging…

And be able to add back essential ingredients for proper digestion and correct absorption in order to restore an optimal level of good gut bacteria with correct digestive enzymes.

Probiotics and l-glutamine require proper digestion…

Consuming foods high in soluble fiber is also very important.

Other key nutrients include zinc, omega-3 fish oils, vitamin A, C and E…

Your gut is home to approximately:100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion) microorganisms.

Your gut contains 10 times more bacteria than all cells in your entire body which includes over 400 known diverse bacterial species.

Organisms living in your gut determines how your body stores food you eat, how easy or difficult it is to lose weight and how effective is your metabolism functions…

If you’d I’d like to go into more detail on gut health, feel free to check out other articles…

Gut Health

Antibiotics can kill good bacteria naturally found in the gut…

How do the bugs in your gut keep you healthy.

If gut health is poor, the result could be impaired immune and nervous systems.

And it can also wreak havoc with hormonal function throughout the body…

Dear Friend,

Several recent studies have found intriguing links between gut microbes, helping our bodies digest and absorb nutrients and protect against inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis).

This mass of microbes which live in the gastrointestinal tract affects our overall health.

Microbes are especially influential in the gut, which is host to two-thirds of your body’s immune cells.

The gastrointestinal tract (pathway for digestion), deals with a constant stream of food-related foreign microbes, when harmful microbes are found they’re eliminated. 

The gut flora promotes normal gastrointestinal function, provides protection from infection, regulates metabolism and consists of more than 75% of our immune system.

Did you know your gut contains 10 times more bacteria than all cells in your entire body?

In fact, is gut health critical to your overall health?

 There are over 400 known diverse bacterial species…

Scientists only recently begun to understand the full extent of gut flora’s role in health and disease.

And other key factors within gut flora which promotes normal gastrointestinal function…

Research is seeing how gut flora provides protection from infection, regulates metabolism and more than 75% of your immune system.

Dysregulated gut flora has been linked to diseases ranging from autism and depression to autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes.

Recent research has shown gut flora and health of the gut in general play a significant role in obesity and diabetes.

Nearly every patient with a blood sugar issue has been diagnosed with leaky gut or a gut infection and some other chronic inflammatory gut condition.

Scientists now know the composition of these organisms living in your gut determines to some extent how your body stores foods you eat.

How easy or difficult it is for you to lose weight and how well your metabolism functions…

Does processed foods screw up our gut and makes us fat and diabetic?

Research suggests healthy gut bacteria are crucial to maintaining normal weight and metabolism.

Unfortunately, lifestyle choices directly contribute to unhealthy gut flora:

• Antibiotics and other medications (birth control and NSAIDs)
• Foods high in refined carbohydrates, fats and sugar
• Processed foods (especially foods 50% sugar and 50% fat combo)
• Foods low in fermentable fibers
• Dietary toxins (industrial seed oils) 
• Chronic stress
• Chronic infections

Research shows infants that aren’t breast-fed and are born to mothers with bad gut flora are more likely to develop unhealthy gut bacteria.

And these early differences in gut flora may predict overweight and obesity in the future.

It’s interesting to note the diabetes epidemic has neatly linked with increased prevalence of factors which disrupts normal gut flora.

How to maintain and restore healthy gut flora…

First step in a healthy gut is to avoid all of the above suggestions.

As you probably already know that’s not always possible.

Especially in the case of prolonged or chronic stress and infections.

If you’ve been exposed to some of these factors, there are steps you can take to restore your gut flora:

• Remove all processed foods, especially highly refined foods from your nutrition
• Eat plenty of fermentable fibers (starches, sweet potato, yam, yucca, etc.)
• Take high-quality probiotic or foods for restoring healthy gut flora
• Treat any intestinal pathogens (parasites) which may be present
• Take steps to manage your stress, (relax and get plenty of sleep)

Find the most effective way to get your daily dose of good gut health.

Eat healthy and feel free to refer to other articles on probiotics. Everything from mood to weight to overall health and performance comes back to your intestinal tract,.

Quite literally, your gut is the epicenter of your mental and physical health.

If you want better immunity, efficient digestion, improved mental clarity, focus on your gut health and enjoy more energy with better quality of lifestyle…

Gut Health

Are probotics on your radar, especially if you suffer from compromised immune or digestive problems?

You probably know someone who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, celiac disease or irritable bowel conditions…

You may know at least one person with a serious even life-threatening allergy…

Dear Friend,

These health problems often go back to a compromised immune system.

Scientists have found foods we eat are causing these problems.

The good news is there may be a solution, keep reading to find out why…

Probiotics are live good bacteria and yeasts which support your health, especially your digestive system.

We usually think of bacteria as something which causes diseases, right?

Your body is full of bacteria, good and bad.

Probiotics are called good or helpful bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.

Food choice is vital because most women don’t have enough healthy gut flora.

In your gut, you have good flora which creates a barrier between gut and blood stream.

This barrier blocks bacteria and other harmful elements which you eat from entering your blood and rest of your body.

In fact, 80 percent of the body’s immune function occurs in the gut associated lymph tissue which are found in the walls of intestines.

Gut flora is first line of defense in this immune tissue…

And if it’s out of balance your immune system won’t be able to function properly.

Why is this imbalance a problem for women?

The problem is in the foods we choose to eat…

You see, processed foods we eat, many of which contain genetically modified ingredients or antibiotics damage the gut flora.

The antibiotics women take for their health also kill good bacteria in the gut’s lymph tissue.

Almost all doctors prescribe antibiotics, often when not needed…adding to this problem.

Add this combination between foods with antibiotics and your gut flora is imbalanced.

The only way to correct this problem is to get a dose of healthy bacteria…

Probiotics are living, beneficial bacteria.

When you consume probotics, they enter the gut and quickly start multiplying.

And help improve the immune system.

Probiotics from a variety of sources…

Fermented foods like sauerkraut, and cultured yogurt all add probiotics to your system.

Just bear in mind when you eat foods with probiotics within them, most of the bacteria are destroyed by your stomach.

Also, no food can contain all strains of beneficial bacteria you need.

That’s why many women are turning to probiotic supplements…

Probiotic supplements offer many probotics benefits, research has shown probiotics can delay and fight against cancer.

Bad bacteria in your gut produces nitrosamines which is a carcinogen…

Now, this is where good bacteria works to destroy these nitrosamines.

This process helps slow or stops the growth of cancer they can cause.

Some probiotics may stop the return of cancer once it has been successfully treated.

Probiotics benefits also may assist in increasing antioxidants in your body…

Antioxidants are compounds found in foods which neutralise or ‘mop up’ molecules called free radicals that can harm cells.

Damage caused to cells by free radicals is linked to certain diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The best sources of antioxidants are found in fruits and vegetables.

There has also been some research into the way probiotics help limit belly fat storage.

In 2010, one study tested a group of overweight women with a probiotic or a placebo.

Those who were given the probiotic reported 5 percent belly fat loss in 12 weeks.

These are just some of the probiotic benefits you can experience…

Probiotics have helped limit allergy problems, improve digestion and reduce inflammation.

Yogurt contains live cultures, the only problem is most are killed by stomach acids and not all probiotics are created equal.

In fact, many supplements don’t contain a full range of probiotics…

What is considered a good probiotic?

You want to look for probotics which contains many different strains of good bacteria.

Here are some guidelines to help you with your research:

• Lactobacillus Plantarum improves cardiovascular and digestive health
• Lactobacillus casei improves leaky gut and cardiovascular health
• Lactobacillus Acidophilus improves cholesterol levels and digestive health
• Lactobacillus Rhamnosis reduces diarrhea, supports weight loss and limits stress
• Lactobacillus Bulgaricus improves problems with lactose intolerance
• Bifidobacterium Longum supports weight loss and fights cancer
• Bifidobacterium Breve supports the growth of other healthy bacteria

Some intriguing new research has found the same bacteria colonies which affects our digestive health could also be influencing our mental health.

Several studies have shown changing gut bacteria changes stress and behavior as well.

Take a closer look at actual number of live colony forming units (CFUs) in particular pay attention to expiry dates connected via CFU numbers.

You want probotics supplements which keeps all the bacteria alive at least until the expiration date and protects bacteria from stomach acid…

Microencapsulation is one of the best options because this gives each bacteria cell a small protective layer of lipids to protect against stomach acid.

This means your digestive system gets more of the bacteria it needs for better health.

You want a good probiotic and you need the right amount, right?

Now, this is the tricky part because there is no right amount of probiotics dosage…

Every woman’s gut flora needs a different level.

Your best option is to research probiotics which serves your overall health.

As a general guide, researchers suggest a minimum of ten billion CFUs of regular probiotics and four billion CFUs if the probiotic is microencapsulated.

There’s been lots of research looking at using probiotics to maintain digestive health.

Recent research has found the right kind of gut bacteria could alter the way we process food and store fat…

Probiotics