According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, those who are drinking diet soda on a daily basis are 48% more likely to DIE from a stroke or heart attack. Diet soda also increases the risk for Kidney disease.
If that weren't enough, artificial sweeteners cause us to crave and consume more sugar, which is directly linked to weight gain and diabetes.
"Healthy waters" are not a good substitution for diet soda, either. They also contain artificial sweeteners, which we know destroy our very important gut bacteria.
You don't drink or eat anything containing artificial sweeteners, so you're safe, right? Wrong. If your source of drinking water is from a municipality, you're ingesting artificial sweeteners because they are impossible to remove from the waste water system! The only defense against this is to continuously replenish your good gut bugs...something that takes a dietary overhaul to accomplish.
Please refer to my earlier blogs, written between April 5 and May 26, 2017, to see how to change your diet.
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Alzheimer's & Exercise
According to a recent meta-study involving the analysis of more than 150 studies, researchers have concluded beyond a doubt that older people who exercise regularly have a significantly lower risk of developing the progressive brain disorder than those who are inactive.
Kathleen Martin Ginis, the lead author of the study, reports: "After evaluating all the research available, our panel agrees that physical activity is a practical, economical and accessible intervention for both the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias."
Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't heeding the advice of the importance of regular exercise. The number of people dying from this disease has soared 55% over the past 15 years, according to a new report issued by the CDC. Alzheimer's disease is now claiming almost 94,000 lives each year and the numbers are only increasing. It currently affects 5.5 million Americans. The CDC projects by 2050, some 13.8 million people age 65 and older will be diagnosed with this debilitating disorder.
Proper diet and exercise have been shown to be very effective in both the preventative and management of this disease. One of the problems I continue to see is people's idea of a good diet. When it comes to brain health, most people have little idea of what foods are truly nourishing.
Dr. Esther
http://www.fixdhealthcare.com
Kathleen Martin Ginis, the lead author of the study, reports: "After evaluating all the research available, our panel agrees that physical activity is a practical, economical and accessible intervention for both the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias."
Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't heeding the advice of the importance of regular exercise. The number of people dying from this disease has soared 55% over the past 15 years, according to a new report issued by the CDC. Alzheimer's disease is now claiming almost 94,000 lives each year and the numbers are only increasing. It currently affects 5.5 million Americans. The CDC projects by 2050, some 13.8 million people age 65 and older will be diagnosed with this debilitating disorder.
Proper diet and exercise have been shown to be very effective in both the preventative and management of this disease. One of the problems I continue to see is people's idea of a good diet. When it comes to brain health, most people have little idea of what foods are truly nourishing.
Dr. Esther
http://www.fixdhealthcare.com
Friday, June 9, 2017
One Little Drink Won't Hurt, Right?
Wrong, according to scientists at the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund. They found evidence that as little as one small alcoholic drink a day could SIGNIFICANTLY increase a woman's risk for breast cancer.
Data from 119 previous studies, involving 12 million women and 260,00 cases of breast cancer, were analyzed. The findings involved both pre- and post-menopausal women.
Pre-menopausal women who drink an average of 10 grams of alcohol a day--equal to a small glass of wine (3-4 ounces) or an 8 ounce beer-- have a 5% greater risk for breast cancer.
Post-menopausal women's risk increases to 9%.
These figures don't even take into account women who are at greater genetic or environmental risk for developing breast cancer.
Alcohol can trigger DNA mutations and raise estrogen levels, two factors that have been linked to an increased risk for developing cancer.
The study sees no "safe" level of alcohol consumption in terms of developing breast cancer. The lead author of the study, Anne McTiernan, says, "If a woman is drinking, it would be better if she kept it to a lower amount."
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Data from 119 previous studies, involving 12 million women and 260,00 cases of breast cancer, were analyzed. The findings involved both pre- and post-menopausal women.
Pre-menopausal women who drink an average of 10 grams of alcohol a day--equal to a small glass of wine (3-4 ounces) or an 8 ounce beer-- have a 5% greater risk for breast cancer.
Post-menopausal women's risk increases to 9%.
These figures don't even take into account women who are at greater genetic or environmental risk for developing breast cancer.
Alcohol can trigger DNA mutations and raise estrogen levels, two factors that have been linked to an increased risk for developing cancer.
The study sees no "safe" level of alcohol consumption in terms of developing breast cancer. The lead author of the study, Anne McTiernan, says, "If a woman is drinking, it would be better if she kept it to a lower amount."
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Warning: New Disease from Tick Bites
A rare (so far) and new disease has been affecting people who live or vacation in wooded areas. It's a transmitted virus called, "Powassan."
The problem is two-fold. It's a virus and it is directly and immediately transferred to humans by a tick bite in a matter of minutes. It is highly dangerous as it is potentially fatal and can cause permanent brain damage.
The symptoms present as fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures and memory loss. The cases prove fatal in 10-15% of the cases. The most susceptible are the immunosuppressed or those who have previously contracted tick-borne illnesses such as West Nile, Dengue and Lyme disease.
The problem with this disease is that, like all viruses, it can mutate into even more significant diseases. Please, be careful when traveling in wooded areas as ticks can hide in both grasses and trees.
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
The problem is two-fold. It's a virus and it is directly and immediately transferred to humans by a tick bite in a matter of minutes. It is highly dangerous as it is potentially fatal and can cause permanent brain damage.
The symptoms present as fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures and memory loss. The cases prove fatal in 10-15% of the cases. The most susceptible are the immunosuppressed or those who have previously contracted tick-borne illnesses such as West Nile, Dengue and Lyme disease.
The problem with this disease is that, like all viruses, it can mutate into even more significant diseases. Please, be careful when traveling in wooded areas as ticks can hide in both grasses and trees.
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Friday, May 26, 2017
Drink These to get rid of Belly Bloat
This
drink will cause you to shed a bit of belly fat each night while you
sleep!
Ingredients:
1
cucumber
1
small bunch of parsley
1
tsp of freshly grated ginger
½
of a lemon
1/3
cup of water
Put
all the ingredients into a blender, blend until liquefied, and then,
drink up.
During
the day, drinking a glass of water with 1-3 tsp of apple cider
vinegar will help your digestion and optimization of blood sugar
levels. Additionally, it’s full of probiotics and will help the
gut re-populate it’s good bacteria.
Remember,
don’t drink more than one tablespoon a day, as too much of a good
thing is still, too much!
Dr. Esther
The above recipe is courtesy of James Ward, author of the book: "The Cruise Control Diet."
www.fixdhealthcare.com
The above recipe is courtesy of James Ward, author of the book: "The Cruise Control Diet."
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
A Vegetable that Flattens the Belly
Good
bacteria love fiber. However, all fiber is not created equal. Gut
microbes prefer a specific type of bacteria called, “fructans.”
These particular microbes are found in white onions, raw white
onions. There is hope. Another great tasting vegetable offers a
much higher concentration of fructans than onions without the bad
breath...it’s The Jerusalem Artichoke! Just one contains 47 grams
of fructans.
Remember, I wrote about another onion family member that is also good for feeding the good bacteria in a previous blog...Eat This in Your Salad for Fat Loss.
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Monday, May 22, 2017
Eating This Fat will Help decrease gut Fat
Fish
Oils. A recent study published in the journal, Lipid Technology,
indicates that fish fats help
your healthy gut bacteria to multiply, crowding out the bad bacteria
that cause weight gain.
Eating
fish high in fat and low in mercury, like smoked mackerel or wild
caught salmon, to promote a healthy gut environment.
If eating fish isn't appealing to you, please buy a high quality, mercury-free fish oil and take at least two a day. I recommend Standard Process cod liver oil.
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
What to Eat if You’re Craving a Snack before Dinner
A
Granny Smith apple. It’s a great source of fiber, has a low GI and
is a superfood for good gut bacteria. You will have fewer cravings,
better digestion, less bloating and a flatter stomach if you snack
with these.
Just please make certain that the apple is organic as you need to eat the skin...that's where all the good bugs live. If you eat the skin of a conventionally grown apple (or any fruit), you will be eating pesticide residue. That kills the good bugs on the apple skin and in your gut.
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Monday, May 15, 2017
Eat This in Your Salad for Fat Loss
We hear a lot about the importance of probiotics for the gut, but there is
something else equally important, prebiotic fiber. Prebiotic fiber
is a super-food for your good gut bacteria. Without it, your gut
won’t be able to sustain good bacteria growth.
The
vegetable that takes fat loss to a new level is: raw leeks. These
taste like onions, but are sweeter. If you don’t like the taste of
onion, try just a little to see how you like them and then you can
increase the amount, gradually.
Adding
prebiotic fiber plus probiotic foods (fermented) to the diet will,
over time, make a huge difference not only in fat loss, but in your
energy levels and your mood.
Eating
organic leeks, raw vegies (red, green leaf or spring lettuces, carrots,
tomatoes, cucumbers, cruciferous vegies) and fermented foods gives
you a synbiotics diet...a combination of pre- and probiotics. The
foods our bodies really want and need for true balance, well-being
and health.
You can read more about the importance of a balanced synbiotics diet in the book or pdf. : The Cruise Control Diet by James Wood.
Dr. Esther
www.fixdhealthcare.com
www.fixdhealthcare.com
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Eating to Increase the "B" Gut Bacteria
In my last post, we discussed the differences in good (B) vs. bad (F) bacteria. This is what you need to do to ensure the growth of the good bugs in your gut and its continuing health.
Stop eating simple carbohydrates
Stop drinking all soda
Stop using artificial sweeteners
Stop eating conventionally grown food
Stop using anti-bacterial products and/or medications...unless you're truly ill with a diagnosed bacterial infection
Start eating organically or locally grown food
Start eating freshly fermented foods (no canned or pasteurized)
Start eating pre-biotic foods
Start eating foods high in probiotics
Dr. Esther
Stop eating simple carbohydrates
Stop drinking all soda
Stop using artificial sweeteners
Stop eating conventionally grown food
Stop using anti-bacterial products and/or medications...unless you're truly ill with a diagnosed bacterial infection
Start eating organically or locally grown food
Start eating freshly fermented foods (no canned or pasteurized)
Start eating pre-biotic foods
Start eating foods high in probiotics
Dr. Esther
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
"Just Eat Less and Exercise and You’ll Lose Weight"
How
often have the “experts” preached that to those who have
been yo-yo dieting their whole lives? People say that and people end up
feeling as though they’re losers or just don’t have enough
will-power, or worse, have been convinced that they’re simply
addicted to food.
Well,
guess what? None of the above is an absolute. Those physicians who
have bothered to take the time to read their own research will never
say those things to you. Instead, they’ll tell you the truth:
You
can diet and count calories (or, points) till the cows come home, but
if you’re missing one thing, you’ll never be able
to lose your belly fat, let alone sustain any fat loss. Why? Because
you have to generate the right kind of bacteria in your gut in order
to lose fat and keep it off.
When
you eat, the bacteria in your colon digests the food. There are,
literally hundreds of different kinds of gut bacteria, but for ease
of understanding, we’ll divide them into two major categories:
Bacteriodetes and Firmicutes. I’ll desginate them B
and F.
If
you have excessive amounts of F in your gut, no matter how many
calories you cut from your diet, you’re going to gain weight over
time. F bacteria thrive on simple carbohydrates, you know, all the
sugary stuff that most of us eat all the time. Including, pasta,
rice, grains, white sugar, white flour, dried fruits and fruit juices
as well as soda and so forth. The F bacteria turn those calories
into fat that ends up in the buttocks, hips, thighs and
abdomen. The B bacteria don’t absorb the simple carbs and pass
them out of the body, unused.
The
solution is to stop focusing on calories and focus on growing the B
bacteria and ridding the body of the excessive F.
If you want to know how to do that, successfully, you might want to read my next blog.
Dr. Esther
Monday, May 8, 2017
Blueberries...a Wonderful Source of..
Microbes!
Yes, blueberries are not only high in anti-oxidants, they are a
terrific
source of good bacteria. We know that research has proven that the
right germs/bacteria/microbes/probiotics in the correct amount can
help take us from fat, sick and bloated to lean, fit and healthy.
It’s
best to eat organically grown blueberries (and, all fruit and
veggies, actually) because they’re safe to eat lightly rinsed.
Conventionally grown produce unfortunately carries pesticides and
herbicides that can’t be totally eliminated by washing. And, when
you try washing away the chemicals, you also wash away the good
bacteria. Lightly rinsing organic fruit ensures the
naturally-occurring probiotics remain without the worry of ingesting
any harmful chemical residue.
If
you’re looking for a healthy, tasty treat that can help eliminate
unwanted body fat, look no farther. Don’t be afraid to eat them by
the handful...anti-oxidant, probiotic and fiber all in one fruit,
what could be better?
Dr. Esther
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
A Question From a Reader About Fascia
I had a question about a product called the, "Fascia Blaster." The reader said that she wasn't aware that, "...fascia was even a thing." Since fascia is one of the most important methods of nerve information transmission in the body, I thought it was important to talk about.
This particular device is advertised to get rid of cellulite, trigger points, muscle aches and help to realign the vertebrae. I can tell you that devices claiming to do these have been around for decades. If they worked....well, you finish the sentence.
However, fascia is extremely important. It is the tissue that surrounds all our muscles that gives them shape, helps their function and is the method of nerve information transmission from the lower motor neurons...the nerves that serve our musculoskeletal system. It is highly sensitive to hormonal imbalances, muscular trauma and inflammation.
You've heard of fibromyalgia and fasciaitis. Those conditions occur when imbalances in the body (especially inflammation of the gut) send incorrect signals to the muscles. We can tell when someone has an inflammatory diet because the fascia surrounding the thighs become inflamed and painful. If not addressed, this condition continues to affect the fascia of other muscles. Thus, fibromyalgia becomes chronic. If you have this condition and expect medication to fix the problem, I'm afraid you might not be satisfied with the result.
The function of your fascia is a direct result of the health of your microbiota. Please read my blog postings of the past few weeks to understand this relationship.
Dr. Esther
This particular device is advertised to get rid of cellulite, trigger points, muscle aches and help to realign the vertebrae. I can tell you that devices claiming to do these have been around for decades. If they worked....well, you finish the sentence.
However, fascia is extremely important. It is the tissue that surrounds all our muscles that gives them shape, helps their function and is the method of nerve information transmission from the lower motor neurons...the nerves that serve our musculoskeletal system. It is highly sensitive to hormonal imbalances, muscular trauma and inflammation.
You've heard of fibromyalgia and fasciaitis. Those conditions occur when imbalances in the body (especially inflammation of the gut) send incorrect signals to the muscles. We can tell when someone has an inflammatory diet because the fascia surrounding the thighs become inflamed and painful. If not addressed, this condition continues to affect the fascia of other muscles. Thus, fibromyalgia becomes chronic. If you have this condition and expect medication to fix the problem, I'm afraid you might not be satisfied with the result.
The function of your fascia is a direct result of the health of your microbiota. Please read my blog postings of the past few weeks to understand this relationship.
Dr. Esther
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Do You Suffer With Heartburn? Be Careful!
Many
people deal with heartburn, occasionally. It’s considered no big
deal and they reach for the antacid. If advertising is any
indication, those drugs are used by millions and counting. The
problem is, it is a very big deal.
Heartburn
is caused by the bacterium, H. pylori, as well as insufficient
hydrochloric acid content in the stomach, not excessive acid as the
ads indicate. Antacids kill the good bacteria, allowing for H.
pylori overgrowth. The result? Bad bug overgrowth= fat deposits
around our middle. Lowered stomach acid (higher pH) prohibits our
body from utilizing calcium which eventually leads to osteoporosis
and osteopenia. So, you get fatter with each passing year and you
end up with brittle bones.
A
2-year randomized trial study was conducted in which the subjects
were divided into two groups. One was given lifestyle advice to treat
their heartburn and the other was given antacids. The result? 70%
of the antacids group gained an average of 8 pounds. The
other group’s weight remained the same.
Imagine.
Gaining all that weight just from taking antacids! It’s difficult
enough to maintain, let alone lose, weight as one ages without having
a medication sabotage all your efforts.
Heartburn
is painful and may eventually lead to erosion of the esophagus or
worse, cancer. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were a safe and
effective treatment for heartburn? There is. And, it centers
around a change in diet and an effective probiotic. You’ve tried
changing your diet and it hasn’t helped? I am fairly certain you
haven’t tried the particular diet I’m talking about, nor the
probiotic I recommend.
Dr. Esther
Monday, May 1, 2017
You Can Eat Pasta if You do This....
Research shows that:
Cooked
and cooled pasta and potatoes, either eaten cold or re-heated, forms
resistant starch. This type of starch results in a 50%
decrease in carbohydrate and calorie content because the body doesn’t
digest and assimilate this type of starch. Additionally, this
resistant starch is a food source for good gut microbes and decreases
yeast and toxin formation in the gut.
Even if you eat GF pasta, it will hold up just fine with the cooking and cooling and then reheating cycle.
Just remember, if you're eating white potatoes or pasta, you still need to be careful not to eat too much...it's still simple carbohydrates!
Dr. Esther
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
The Vitamin Deficiency that Prevents Fat Loss
Fat
loss is not an easy path. When you lose weight, you want it to be
fat and not muscle. Unfortunately, in the USA, a simple vitamin
deficiency results in our not being able to lose fat, effectively.
What
is the vitamin? Vitamin D. About 75% of our population lacks
sufficient levels of this vitamin. Optimal levels are from
55-70 ng/ml. A simple blood test is all it takes.
Researchers
studied people who were put on a calorie-restricted diet. The ones
that had greater blood levels of D lost more weight than the control
group. For every 1ng/ml blood level increase, an extra half pound was
lost. If your levels are only 10ng/ml lower than optimal levels, all
things being equal, you’d lose 5 fewer pounds.
Sunshine
is a natural source of D. However, for those living in the colder
climates, it is impossible to get sufficient amounts. Also, at least
70% of the body has to be exposed to 20 minutes of sunshine a day in
order to produce enough D. So, what’s the answer?
1.
Eat protein high in D (not the fortified kind as the body doesn’t
recognize it), such as salmon, mackerel and sardines.
2.
Eat more eggs. Eggs are the perfect food. DO NOT eat Egg Beaters!
3.
Eat porchini mushrooms.
4.
Get some sun everyday, if you can.
5.
Get a whole food, purified Vitamin D supplement. Don’t bother
with the pharmaceutical brands or cheap brands, your body won’t
assimilate them the way they can the whole food variety. Cod liver
oil from Standard Process is my recommendation.
Dr. Esther
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
This Over-Prescribed Medication can Make you Fat....and, Much WORSE!
According
to a recent medical study, antibiotics have now been linked to weight
gain and even diabetes. According to findings published in the
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, just two doses of antibiotics
increases your risk of developing diabetes by 23%! And if
you have had 5 or more courses, your risk increases by 53%.
The
very worst part of this is that the researchers found this
association between antibiotics and diabetes up to 15 years before
the diagnosis! Perhaps, this may be a contributing factor to the explosion Type 2 diabetes in children.
Why
the association between antibiotics and fat? Because antibiotics
destroy your microbiome-- the trillions of bacteria (microbes) living
primarily in your large intestine. These bacteria are responsible for
everything from your immune system (70% of the immune system is
regulated by our good bacteria), brain function (mood) to your
metabolism and weight.
We
have a mixture of good and bad bacteria in our gut. The optimal
ratio is thought to be 80:20 good to bad. The good bacteria help to
keep you trim and healthy while the bad make you fat and sick.
The
end result of our good bacteria being wiped out by medications is
bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, muscle pain, join pain,
anxiety, depression and, of course, weight gain.
So,
all you would need to do is to eat yogurt, right? Wrong! All
products are devoid of active good bacteria. But, what if the label
says there are bacteria in the yogurt? Sorry, any of the good
microbes that make it through the heating process die off within a
very short time.
And, studies show that only about 4.5% of microbes
in probiotic capsules are still viable by the time they get to the
consumer. Let’s add to this the pasteurized sensitivity that your
gut has towards toxins that we are exposed to everyday, such as
chlorine, fluoride and artificial sweeteners in the water system.
Yes, all those years of people using artificial sweeteners have now
flooded our water systems. Why? Because the body cannot process
these chemicals, so the toxins pass directly into our waste water
system and they cannot be removed by any process available, today.
Sounds pretty bad, doesn't it? There have to be reasons why our population is getting sicker and sicker...this bacterial kill-off by our, "better living through chemical medications," looks to be one of them.
Dr. Esther
Monday, April 24, 2017
Bad News for Artificial Sweetener Users...They'll Make you Fat
What
if you were counting on certain foods to aid your fat loss and they
were actually making you fat? Would you stop eating them?
According
to numerous studies, the latest one recently published in the Journal
of Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism,
people who eat foods containing aspartame had higher blood sugar
values than those who eat regular white sugar!
Higher
blood sugar= increased insulin release from the pancreas= more fat
depositing in the belly!!
These
artificial sweeteners are added to all types of foods, including
those labeled as “health foods.” They are like kryptonite for
healthy bacteria in the gut. They, literally, wipe out all the good
kinds, allowing the overgrowth of bad bacteria...the kind that make
us fat and keep us that way. These artificial sweeteners also cause
us to crave more fat-producing foods, i.e. simple carbohydrates.
My
advice, forget ALL artificial sweeteners and, if you must have
something sweet, eat the real thing...sugar, but make it coconut
sugar. Of course, coconut sugar is a wonderful sweetener with
a glycemic index of only 35. It has been shown to have no significant
impact on blood sugar values and can be used, in moderation, by
diabetics.
Be
sure to read the labels of any pre-packaged foods you buy...they are
usually loaded with salt, bad sugars and artificial sweeteners to
make up for the reduced fat content. The good fats are our friends.
Artificial sweeteners are our enemies.
Dr. Esther
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
How to Replenish Our Good Gut Bugs
1.
Avoid eating all artificial sweeteners, including anything which
contains chemicals ending in “lol.”
All artificial sweeteners destroy good bacteria. So, if you are trying to lose weight by substituting the fake sugar (sorry, no pun intended) for real sugar, it simply will not work.
2.
Feed your good gut bacteria. Certain
foods will increase the good microbe population. They include all
organically grown green and yellow vegetables. Chemical fertilizers
destroy good bacteria. So, eating conventionally grown fruits and
vegetables will actually cause bad bug overgrowth and increase intestinal inflammation. Eating high fiber foods will
increase the microbe population.
Bad
bacteria in our intestines, once they run out of food, will feast on
the intestines, causing inflammation, which is the basis of all
sickness and imbalances within the body.
3.
Control your blood sugar by cutting out (or severely limiting) all
simple sugars...any white foods, processed foods, sugary drinks (all
forms of soda), most grains and corn. If you wish to use sugar, please substitute coconut sugar for refined white and brown sugar. Your body will show its appreciation by not increasing insulin release from the pancreas, thus keeping blood sugar levels steady.
Dr. Esther
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
How to Start Losing the Fat
The first step in getting rid of unwanted fat is to stop the bad bugs from growing in the gut and encourage the growth of the good ones. The ideal ratio is 80/20, good to bad. Listed below are some generalized instructions. I'll add specifics, later.
How
do you ensure the good microbes are growing in your gut?
A.
Eat foods high in fiber. Fiber is fertilizer to the gut. There are
certain foods that are better sources of fiber than others. Some
sources will cause weight gain!
B.
Eat more resistant starch. It’s starch you cannot digest, thus it
has zero calories, but is food for good microbes.
C.
Eat food that will increase the population of your native bacteria
OR take a full-spectrum probiotic that contains other phytochemicals
that offer specific protection to the growth of the microbes.
Otherwise, you’re just throwing your money away as research shows
only about 4% of the live bacteria survive in capsules before making
it to your gut.
3.
Avoid the Toxins that kill the Good Gut Flora.
Unfortunately,
there are plenty of toxins that kill our good microbes. Here is a
list of the worst offenders:
Pesticides
Antibiotics
Chlorine
Fluoride
Antacids
Artificial
Sweeteners
As
you can see, it is almost impossible to avoid the above, altogether.
But here are a few ideas that will help you minimize your exposure.
A.
Buy food from your local farmer’s market or farm stand to decrease
the exposure to pesticides, herbicides (especially if you can buy
from an organic farmer) and antibiotics. Remember, conventionally
raised beef, pork and some poultry are all injected with antibiotics.
If you’re not sure where to find one, go to www.localharvest.org
to find a farm near you.
B.
If you need to take an antibiotic, you must repopulate your
intestinal flora with a full-spectrum probiotic, remembering that
they are not all of equal value.
C.
If you experience heartburn, antacids may help, temporarily, but as
result of decreased stomach acid, yeast and bad bacteria are able to
populate your gut.
D.
Minimize your exposure to fluoride and chlorine by filtering your
water. I don’t recommend bottled water because you cannot be
certain what’s in that water.
E.
Avoid eating and drinking any liquids or foods containing ANY
artificial sweeteners. If you check the labels of packaged foods,
you might be shocked at how much of these sweeteners are
used...including in breads, crackers, canned tomatoes and nut
butters, let alone breakfast cereals, soda and any “diet” foods.
DON’T eat these, period.
Dr. Esther
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Are You Ready to Fix Your Slow Metabolism?
If you're serious about losing the fat that has accumulated around your abdominal area over the years, you'll need to do the following:
1. Cut out certain foods from your diet
2. Eat specific foods on a daily basis
3. Avoid certain medications
4. Never again use artificial sweeteners...EVER!
We'll discuss the specifics to all of the above. For now, I think it's important that we understand that no amount of diet pills, dieting, organized meetings or foods-shipped-to-your-door will ever result in a permanent fat loss. Thus, the phrase, "yo-yo dieting."
The goal is to encourage the growth of the "good" or "skinny" bacteria/flora and to discourage the "bad" or "fat" bacteria/flora in your intestines. It really is that simple....to say. Not so simple, for most, to do. It takes understanding (why you need to do it) and commitment (to actually do it).
I suggest you purchase the book, The Cruise Control Diet, by James Ward, for the detailed specifics of this program.
The first step to fixing a slow metabolism involves killing off the bad gut bugs (the ones which cause you to crave and turn the foods you eat into fat) and help the good gut bugs to grow (the ones that turn your food into energy).
This step is critical to a fast metabolism. In fact, those with lots of good gut bugs enjoy much more food without worrying about gaining weight. That's the secret as to why all those naturally skinny people get away with it.
How to replenish and protect our good bugs, will be our next topic.
Dr. Esther
1. Cut out certain foods from your diet
2. Eat specific foods on a daily basis
3. Avoid certain medications
4. Never again use artificial sweeteners...EVER!
We'll discuss the specifics to all of the above. For now, I think it's important that we understand that no amount of diet pills, dieting, organized meetings or foods-shipped-to-your-door will ever result in a permanent fat loss. Thus, the phrase, "yo-yo dieting."
The goal is to encourage the growth of the "good" or "skinny" bacteria/flora and to discourage the "bad" or "fat" bacteria/flora in your intestines. It really is that simple....to say. Not so simple, for most, to do. It takes understanding (why you need to do it) and commitment (to actually do it).
I suggest you purchase the book, The Cruise Control Diet, by James Ward, for the detailed specifics of this program.
The first step to fixing a slow metabolism involves killing off the bad gut bugs (the ones which cause you to crave and turn the foods you eat into fat) and help the good gut bugs to grow (the ones that turn your food into energy).
This step is critical to a fast metabolism. In fact, those with lots of good gut bugs enjoy much more food without worrying about gaining weight. That's the secret as to why all those naturally skinny people get away with it.
How to replenish and protect our good bugs, will be our next topic.
Dr. Esther
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Intestinal Flora and Metabolism
Why is the health of the intestinal flora (bacteria) so important? Because that determines our health and the way we process the food we eat. Here's a bit of a crash course on bacterial health.
We have two different types of bacteria in our intestines: one type which is native and one type which is acquired. The native flora is passed along to us by our mother's when we are born. The health of her flora determines the health of ours. If we are delivered by C-section, we are in trouble from the start. Those born this way only have bacteria from their mother's skin and not from her bowel. Healthy bowel flora is fundamental to our health. Those born without the bowel flora are in danger of a life of poor health and immune deficiency.
The acquired flora comes from what we eat and doesn't affect our native flora. No amount of yogurt will ever replace the native bacteria. It's the native bacteria which determines our intestinal health. There are only two ways that the native flora can be replenished. We'll talk about that later.
Our native flora are so important because it is they that mitigate the health of our immune system, digestion, brain function, blood sugar levels and metabolism. That's why the health of your intestinal bacteria determines the function of your metabolism.
OK, good. Now we have the foundation of understanding to delve into the murky waters (no pun intended) of why our intestines are out of balance and why our metabolism is not functioning well, anymore.
Dr. Esther
drkollars@gmail.com
We have two different types of bacteria in our intestines: one type which is native and one type which is acquired. The native flora is passed along to us by our mother's when we are born. The health of her flora determines the health of ours. If we are delivered by C-section, we are in trouble from the start. Those born this way only have bacteria from their mother's skin and not from her bowel. Healthy bowel flora is fundamental to our health. Those born without the bowel flora are in danger of a life of poor health and immune deficiency.
The acquired flora comes from what we eat and doesn't affect our native flora. No amount of yogurt will ever replace the native bacteria. It's the native bacteria which determines our intestinal health. There are only two ways that the native flora can be replenished. We'll talk about that later.
Our native flora are so important because it is they that mitigate the health of our immune system, digestion, brain function, blood sugar levels and metabolism. That's why the health of your intestinal bacteria determines the function of your metabolism.
OK, good. Now we have the foundation of understanding to delve into the murky waters (no pun intended) of why our intestines are out of balance and why our metabolism is not functioning well, anymore.
Dr. Esther
drkollars@gmail.com
Monday, April 10, 2017
Why This Topic About Fat Loss/Metabolism is So Important
My guess is that if you were to opine about this topic, you would probably think that fat loss is important because of the heart disease, cancer and diabetes that the marketing machine has convinced us that are directly related. In reality, these disease states are the effect, not the cause, of why fat loss is so important.
I know this sounds a bit confusing, so let me explain. Directly related to our fat deposits and metabolic rate is the health of our gut, and, specifically, the health of our large intestine. Over a trillion healthy bacteria should be living in our intestine. I say, "should," because the state of the health of Americans proves this is not the case. Healthy bacteria = Healthy body, period.
Every ad that you see trying to convince you that pharmaceuticals are the panacea to every health problem belies the reality that we really are a nation of the walking sick. In fact, a future topic will expose the fact that one of the most often-prescribed drugs actually is the cause of diabetes and auto-immune disease for many people!
At the foundation of diabetes, auto-immune diseases, depression and obesity is dysbiosis, aka, overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut. That is why this topic is so important. It's not about overweight or over-fat, it's about quality and quantity of life!
I have written a number of blogs directly related to this topic. Before we get into the specifics about fat loss, the latest information concerning good vs. bad bacteria will be our next topic.
Dr. Esther
I know this sounds a bit confusing, so let me explain. Directly related to our fat deposits and metabolic rate is the health of our gut, and, specifically, the health of our large intestine. Over a trillion healthy bacteria should be living in our intestine. I say, "should," because the state of the health of Americans proves this is not the case. Healthy bacteria = Healthy body, period.
Every ad that you see trying to convince you that pharmaceuticals are the panacea to every health problem belies the reality that we really are a nation of the walking sick. In fact, a future topic will expose the fact that one of the most often-prescribed drugs actually is the cause of diabetes and auto-immune disease for many people!
At the foundation of diabetes, auto-immune diseases, depression and obesity is dysbiosis, aka, overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut. That is why this topic is so important. It's not about overweight or over-fat, it's about quality and quantity of life!
I have written a number of blogs directly related to this topic. Before we get into the specifics about fat loss, the latest information concerning good vs. bad bacteria will be our next topic.
Dr. Esther
Thursday, April 6, 2017
How to Determine if Your Metabolism has been Hijacked
1.
Do you gain weight easily?
2.
Do you have a difficult time taking weight off?
3.
Do you lose and re-gain the same or more weight , aka, yo-yo
dieting?
4.
Do you experience food cravings, especially at night?
If
you answered “yes” to any of the above, continue with the next
questions
Do
you experience any of the following symptoms, regularly?
1.
bloating
2.
cramps
3.
gas
4.
constipation
5.
diarrhea
6.
indigestion or acid reflux
If
“yes” continue to the next section:
1.
Do you often feel tired or sluggish?
2.
Do you have difficulty concentrating or experience lapses in memory?
3.
Do you experience mood swings?
4.
Do you experience recurrent skin rashes?
5.
Do you experience joint or muscle pain?
6.
Do you get recurring bladder/yeast infections?
Answering
“yes” to any of the questions in the first and second set
indicates that you probably are dealing with gut dysbiosis...the
overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut.
Next time, we'll discuss what gut dysbiosis is and what affect that has on our health.
Dr. Esther
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
The Latest on the Science of Weight/Fat Loss
Over the next couple of weeks, I plan to share with you what I have been learning about the truth behind how and why we gain fat and what can be done to reverse that problem.
If you are interested in losing the fat that has been accumulating around your mid section, there are basic, non-negotiable things that you must do. If you don't, you will never be able to win the battle of the ever-expanding fat deposits, especially belly fat deposits.
We'll discuss the additives in food, beverages, the water supply and the medications that all contribute to fat deposits. I hope you find this as interesting and helpful as I have. I look forward to any comments or questions you may have on the subject.
Our discussions will all center around the need for us to re-balance and replenish the gut bacteria (microbes) that help to keep us balanced, healthy, energetic and to restore us to a more nearly normal weight.
Our first topic will be: How to Determine if Your Metabolism has been Hijacked.
Dr. Esther
If you are interested in losing the fat that has been accumulating around your mid section, there are basic, non-negotiable things that you must do. If you don't, you will never be able to win the battle of the ever-expanding fat deposits, especially belly fat deposits.
We'll discuss the additives in food, beverages, the water supply and the medications that all contribute to fat deposits. I hope you find this as interesting and helpful as I have. I look forward to any comments or questions you may have on the subject.
Our discussions will all center around the need for us to re-balance and replenish the gut bacteria (microbes) that help to keep us balanced, healthy, energetic and to restore us to a more nearly normal weight.
Our first topic will be: How to Determine if Your Metabolism has been Hijacked.
Dr. Esther
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