Atkins Diet
The new Atkins Diet is not your father’s Atkins — the New Atkins Diet Revolution, created in 2002, is a streamlined version of the original diet, and not an all-the-meat-and-fat-you-can-eat fest. More »
Lose Weight Fast
You’ve heard it time and again: fad diets don’t work for permanent weight loss. But what about those times when you really need to lose some weight fast? More »
101 Optimal Life Foods
In the first part of 101 Optimal Life Foods, Grotto categorizes the 30 health problems into seven major health challenges and explains how to overcome them by selecting specific foods. More »
Beyond Lactose Intolerance: Common Foods You May Not Digest Well and Not Even Know It!
Intolerability of lactose is a non-ability to break into the sugars, especially milk. If you have feeling of gassy or cramping sensation after you eat something that has milk in its contain or drink milk, the reason can be milk sugar that your body cannot digest.
What can happen if you don’t digest special kind of sugar?
The sugar doesn’t get absorbed where it should (in small intense), so it becomes food for bacteria later. Undigested sugar ferments in the large intense where stools are formed. This kind of sugar that becomes food for bacteria calls FODMAPs.
FODMAP is an abbreviature which stands for oligo-di-mono-saccharides and polyols. Dr. Peter Gibson, a gastroenterologist, made the FODMAP list of products for treating people who have irritable bowel syndrome.
The common thing for all of them is that they are fermented somewhere in gastrointestinal tract, in the large intestine or in the far end of the small intestine.
What is the rapid fermentation? It can be:
FODMAPs are hard digested sugars which feed harmful bacteria that are in the gut. These products can contain: fruits and honey, milk, beans, lentils.
Bloating
Heartburn
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramping
Gas
Constipation
Depression
Brain fog
Fatigue
Headache
The most famous FODMAP is lactose, but there are many other products that can update this list.
The one thing that should be remembered is that everyone is different. What does it mean? When you digest one kind of sugar you can find out that it is better to avoid another. Your family members or neighbour can have different bacteria and enzymes in the gut, so they may have different experience with same food.
FODMAPs can hide in the most unexpected places.
Beans and lentils. Simple sugars are the oligosaccharides. These sugars have to be broken up with difficulty. This group of food includes different kinds of beans and lentils.
Alpha galactosidase (a-gal) is the one enzyme that human gut doesn’t have but bacteria do. This enzyme is important for digesting one of the active ingredients of beans which calls “beano”.
Wheat, onions, and cabbage. These products contain fructan. It can be found in Jerusalem artichokes, scallions, cabbage and cauliflower, onions and avocados.
Milk sugar. A milk sugar and a disaccharide are lactose. All cow, sheep and goat’s milk contain lactose.
Fruit, honey and agave have fructose, a fruit sugar, and it is a monosaccharide. If you eat more of it than the small intestine can absorb, it will become food for bacteria. Please note: our small intestines digest only 20 – 25 grams of fructose for one time. Every high-fructose fruit has its own category. For example, sweeteners contain fructose like honey, agave, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Xylitol, apples, and peaches which all contain Polyols, sugar alcohols. Other examples of sugar alcohols are maltitol, and sorbitol. They taste sweet but are not absorbed as sugar, but are usually used in diabetic candies, chewing gums and sugar-free mints. Those who avoid sugar usually take xylitol, a FODMAP polyol and a very popular sweetener. If you have troubles with such sugar alcohol as xylitol, use those products which contain erythritol (Body Ecology Lakanto). It is is a four-carbon polyol and it is well absorbed.
Apples, peaches, and pears are natural sources of polyols. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much sugar we avoid, we will still have digestive issues. There can appear such problems as a bloated belly, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
When we eat, food should be digested well. If it doesn’t happen then it means the trigger food still will be consumed. All depends on dose of taken sugars. It means that you will react at one kind of food at the same day, but not another one. Of course it can depend on the dose of the a trigger food that is consumed. Next time no trigger food can be consumed.
Of course it would be easier for you to avoid some problems with discomfort if you know what kind of food can be root of it.
To heal the gut will take a foundational approach. It should improve repopulate digestion and the beneficial microorganisms of your inner ecology.
There are programmes that are designed to increase energy, cleanse toxins, improve digestion, and conquer infection, among them there is the Body Ecology Core Programs.
If you figure out what food is hard to digests you can find a key to the digestive success. But of course it will take time to find out what food you can fully digest.
In the conclusion we can say that if you don’t digest some kinds of sugars, then they will be food for harmful bacteria in small intestine. The most had digesting sugar are those which call FODMAPs, they cause rapid fermentation which can be a result of gas, fatigue, heartburn, diarrhea, and other similar symptoms. But of course you can easy digest one sugar and have difficulties with others.
If you eat food that digests well and easy it will help you to heal the gut and balance your inner ecology with help of beneficial bacteria.
Natural Diverticulitis Treatment: A High-Fiber Diet May Not Be the Answer
It begins with a pinching pain in the left lower abdomen. Around the pelvic bone and sometimes a little beneath, a throbbing and painful sensation begins to build. This pain can even extend into the lower back.
If you are a woman, you may think that the pain is related to your menstrual cycle. Or, whether you are a man or a woman, you may wonder if you have moved your bowels properly.
Then you feel nausea, and a slight metallic taste develops in the mouth. You may lose your appetite, and you may even begin to feel feverish.
These are the classics signs and symptoms of diverticulitis.
In every human being, this last bit of the colon winds its way down the lower left side of the abdominal cavity. This region is called the sigmoid colon. It is where most cases of diverticulitis develop.
Diverticulitis is an infection that happens in the large intestine.
Up to 65% of people 85 years or older suffer from the condition of diverticulitis – an infection of the large intestine. Treating diverticulitis naturally starts with balancing the intestines with healthy bacteria, found in probiotic beverages.Diverticula are pouches that form within the intestinal wall. They look like small balloons hanging from the exterior of the colon. These small pouches can sometimes become infected and inflamed. When this happens, it is called diverticulitis.
This is because the final portion of the colon is narrower than the rest of the large intestine. Sometimes the equivalent of a traffic jam can happen in the sigmoid colon.
Since the 1920s, the incidence of diverticulitis has risen. This has happened concurrently with the development of refined foods and flours, all which can gum up the intestines, give rise to the balloon-like diverticula, and promote intestinal infection.
- Some researchers speculate that 65% of those who are 85 years old or older are affected by diverticulitis. Other researchers suspect that this number is greater.
- Over half of Americans over 60 have developed small pouches in their intestinal wall. Not all of these people will go on to develop an intestinal infection, or diverticulitis.
Physicians routinely recommend a high-fiber diet that is full of roughage, or insoluble fiber, in order to keep things moving along. While this can be helpful, in some cases a high-fiber diet may actually promote intestinal infection.
High-fiber diets are also high-residue diets. High-residue means that a lot of material is left behind after the small intestine has done its digestive duty. This material, or residue, travels down to the large intestine, where it becomes food for the microbes living there.
How well the small intestine digests food is a big indicator of how healthy the large intestine is. For this reason, not everyone reacts in the same way to the same high-residue foods. Signs that your diet may be too high-residue:
- Lower abdominal bloating
- Gas
- Constipation or diarrhea
Several common greens, vegetables, and roots are high-residue. Many legumes, or beans, are high-residue. Popular grain replacements that are used in baking, such as coconut flour and almond meal, can also be high-residue foods.
Because diverticulitis is an infection in the intestines, your doctor will suggest rest, antibiotics, and sometimes prescribe medication to relieve the pain. Often, the conventional treatment requires several days of bed rest while waiting for the infection to subside.
An infection of the diverticula is an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. All bacteria compete for space in the intestinal tract. The more friendly bacteria that are present in the gut, the less prone you are to developing an infection.
In order to help treat diverticulitis at home, it is important to:
- Quickly restore balance within your gut. You can do this by consuming the right type of probiotic. The Body Ecology Innergy Biotic is designed to rebuild the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
- Do not consume any vegetables. Because veggies are fibrous, and therefore potentially high-residue, they may aggravate the condition.
- Avoid fiber that may cause additional irritation. Many colon products and probiotics contain inulin or an FOS, which can aggravate the condition. Body Ecology fermented beverages are a safe source of good bacteria that can effectively treat a gut infection of diverticulitis.
- Avoid all forms of sugar, even natural sugars. Sugar affects the immune system’s response time. Sugar also feeds pathogenic bacteria.
- Make sure your bowels are moving. Constipation or sluggish bowels will predispose the area to remain infected and slow down the healing process. If you are not having a complete bowel movement, take 4 capsules of LivAmend concurrently with your probiotic formula, which will prompt the bowels to empty.
While diverticulitis is a condition that can be easily managed, it can also become life threatening if the wall of the intestine actually perforates, or bursts.
A perforated intestine is most likely to occur when the infection rages out of control and when there is severe constipation or bowel impaction. As soon as you suspect diverticulitis, manage your diet and increase the amount of probiotics that you consume. You will be amazed at how quickly you may be able to get relief!
What to Remember Most About This Article:
Diverticulitis is an infection in the large intestine, where small pouches are formed along the intestinal wall. Without regular bowel movements, the risk of developing inflammation and an infection in the large intestine is greatly increased. Cases of diverticulitis have risen since the 1920s, mainly due to the increased consumption of refined foods and flours.
Although many doctors prescribe a high-fiber diet to treat diverticulitis, a high-fiber diet could actually promote intestinal infection by leaving extra material behind in the small intestine after digestion.
To improve diverticulitis naturally, you can use the following tips at home today:
- Restore balance to your gut by drinking probiotics.
- Don’t eat any vegetables, which are high in fiber and could aggravate the condition.
- Avoid high-fiber products that could further irritate the intestine.
- Eliminate all sugar from the diet, even natural sugars.
- Keep your bowels moving to prevent constipation, which will slow down the healing process.
Don’t Make These 2 Common Mistakes with Your Thyroid!
Did you know…?
Thyroid medications are among the top 10 medications prescribed each year.
Thyroid disorders are now more common now than ever before!
The thyroid is an endocrine gland found in the neck. As an endocrine gland, it plays an important role in the hormonal system along with other endocrine glands such as the pituitary, which is located in the brain, and the ovaries or the testes.
The thyroid produces two hormones, T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine).
- Most of the thyroid hormone that is active in the body is T4.
- The thyroid synthesizes thyroid hormones from the mineral iodine and the amino acid tyrosine.
Did you know that thyroid disorders are more common than ever before? Thyroid dysfunction could be caused by a weak immune system, environmental toxins, and even hormonal imbalances.TSH is something that doctors often look at when diagnosing a thyroid disorder. TSH, also called thyroid-stimulating hormone, is a signal produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. It sends out the message: “Hey, make more thyroid hormones!” When TSH is elevated, this can indicate a thyroid disorder.
The most common thyroid disorders are:
- Hypothyroidism, the underproduction of thyroid hormones.
- Hyperthyroidism, the overproduction of thyroid hormones.
- Goiter, the enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Several mechanisms play a role in the genesis of thyroid dysfunction. These range from environmental toxins to immune and hormonal imbalances.
Common Mistake #1: Supplement with Iodine
How many times have we heard that any thyroid disorder can be helped with iodine?
How many of us believe that the only cause of goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid, is iodine deficiency?
Why do so many practitioners in alternative health, such chiropractors, acupuncturists, and naturopaths, suggest iodine for thyroid health?
This is because iodine is important for thyroid function and the production of thyroid hormones. However, most of us in the United States get the iodine that we need to avoid hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. While high doses of iodine can be useful, such as when working with fibrocystic breasts, taking supplemental iodine can make some cases of hypothyroidism worse! (1)
In cases of hypothyroidism that are autoimmune, meaning the body’s immune system is attacking its own tissue, supplemental or high dietary iodine can actually cause what is known as a flare-up.
In any autoimmune condition, when a flare-up occurs, tissue destruction is at an all-time high.
The only time you would want to supplement with iodine is if there is a true iodine deficiency, or if you are certain that your hypothyroidism is not autoimmune.
Common Mistake #2: Thyroid Hormone Replacement Can Fix Hypothyroidism
When doctors diagnose hypothyroidism, they see that thyroid hormones are low and that TSH is high.
In cases of non-autoimmune and autoimmune hypothyroidism, hormones replacement may be necessary. But if you have an immune disorder, like autoimmunity, wouldn’t you also want to treat that as well?
Doctors often do not run antibody tests when looking at TSH and thyroid hormone levels. Antibodies are what the immune system produces against invaders, a sort of tagging system.
In autoimmune hypothyroidism, there can be antibodies, or tags, that are made against certain enzymes or proteins involved in thyroid hormone production.
- Running the right antibody tests is a good first step towards the diagnosis autoimmune hypothyroidism.
- Even if an antibody test comes back negative, this does not exclude autoimmunity. Sometimes, the body is too weak to produce antibodies.
- Even if your thyroid has been removed, you can still have autoimmune hypothyroidism.
- Autoimmune hypothyroidism is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the United States, and it is grossly misdiagnosed.
Doctors do not routinely test for thyroid antibodies because low thyroid hormone in the body essentially means the same thing: you need more thyroid hormone.
Once labs come back and verify that the pituitary gland is pumping out extra hormones (TSH) to stimulate the production of more thyroid hormone, then a prescription for Synthroid or Armour is written. Both Synthroid and Armour are thyroid hormone replacement medications.
In order to treat autoimmune hypothyroidism, which is the most common form of hypothyroidism, it is absolutely necessary to address the immune system. If autoimmune hypothyroidism is not fully addressed, the patient never feels better, and the condition will continue to advance.
Whatever form of hypothyroidism you have, it may be in your best interest to take thyroid hormone medication. However, if TSH levels continue to rise, it is time to consider autoimmune hypothyroidism.
Achieving a healthy digestive tract and stable blood sugar levels are both essential when healing an autoimmune hypothyroid condition.
An effective program that supports the healing of autoimmune hypothyroidism will include:
- Regulation of blood sugar.
- Gut support and leaky gut repair.
- Reduction of stress and inflammation.
The seven principles laid out in The Body Ecology Diet give us the tools to do this.
- When we remove food toxins from the diet, such as sugar, grains, and processed oils, we begin to take the steps that will heal an imbalanced immune response.
- When we practice harmonious food combination and listen to the messages from our body, we no longer overburden our system with inflammatory agents.
The Core Program, which contains Vitality SuperGreen, InnergyBiotic, Assist Full Spectrum Enzymes, andStevia Liquid Concentrate, supports the repair of the intestinal wall and the restoration of a robust inner ecology.
When treating the thyroid, ask more questions and, if necessary, go beyond iodine supplementation or thyroid hormone replacement.
What to Remember Most About This Article:
Thyroid disorders are more common than they have ever been before. The most common disorders include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and goiter. The thyroid can be negatively affected by environmental toxins, an unhealthy immune system, and hormonal imbalances.
When it comes to diagnosing and treating thyroid disorders, there are two big mistakes that are often made:
1. Supplementing with iodine. While iodine is important for thyroid function, most of us get all of the iodine we need to prevent hypothyroidism. The only time that it is necessary to supplement with iodine is if you are suffering from a true iodine deficiency or if you have hypothyroidism that is not autoimmune.
2. Using thyroid hormone replacement to treat hypothyroidism. In some cases, hormone replacement may be necessary, but autoimmune hypothyroidism is often misdiagnosed. It is also the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the US. To treat autoimmune hypothyroidism, the immune system must be addressed, which starts with healing the digestive tract. Removing toxins from the diet can help to heal the immune system and release the toxic burden on your system.
