If you haven’t, let me share a little about its appeal…

First off, it’s not just a drink. Some call it an experience — one that should probably be kept to a minimum, as it involves sugar, a variety of flavors and toppings.

But what really defines this drink sensation is the boba — chewy tapioca pearls swimming in your drink.

That means you can simultaneously sip your tasty tea and enjoy the “mastication pleasure” of smooth, soft beads bouncing around your mouth until you “pop” them, taking this sensory experience to the next level: chewy sweetness.

But as I mentioned, it’s not the healthiest of drinks, as most fad foods aren’t. But what if you could add beads or pearls to your drink that did more than give your mouth something tasty to chew on?

Like tiny green tea beads that trap fat and melt away pounds …

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Fat-absorbing microbeads without the nasty side effects

The quest for a magic weight loss pill is still alive and well.

However, today’s popular GLP-1 agonists, gastric bypass, and the gut-wrenching Olestra chips of the 90s, prove the journey to prevent dietary fat absorption is fraught with adverse side effects.

But there’s an interesting idea on the horizon…

A team of researchers led by Yue Wu, a graduate student at Sichuan University, was inspired to target the same sort of fat absorption without the negative side effects. “We want to develop something that works with how people normally eat and live,” Wu says.

They started by creating tiny plant-based spheres spontaneously formed through a series of chemical bonds between green tea polyphenols and vitamin E. These structures can form chemical tethers to fat droplets, serving as the “fat-binding core” of the microbeads.

The researchers then coated the spheres in a natural polymer derived from seaweed to protect them from the stomach’s acidic environment. Once ingested, the protective coating expands in response to the acidic pH as the beads travel towards the intestine. There, the green tea polyphenols and vitamin E compounds bind to and trap partially digested fats, which are ultimately eliminated.

Next, they tested the weight-loss treatment in rats…

The researchers divided the rats into three groups: those fed a diet of 60 percent fat with microbeads, those fed the same high-fat diet without microbeads, and those fed a normal diet of 10 percent fat. All the rats were fed these diets for 30 days.

The results were astounding. Rats fed the high-fat diet with microbeads lost 17 percent of their total body weight, while rats in the other groups didn’t lose weight at all.

Additionally, rats on the high-fat microbead diet exhibited reduced adipose tissue and less liver damage compared to those on the other two diets. They also excreted more fat in their feces compared to rats not given microbeads, and the extra fat had no apparent ill effects on their health.

Then, when comparing rats on the high-fat microbead diet with rats treated with orlistat, the researchers observed that the high-fat microbead rats showed similar intestinal fat excretion without the gastrointestinal side effects observed in the orlistat-treated rats.

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Safe weight loss inspired by boba tea

These preliminary results look promising…

The researchers say this microbead approach to weight loss may be safer and more accessible than surgery or pharmaceuticals.

“Losing weight can help some people prevent long-term health issues like diabetes and heart disease,” Wu says. “Our microbeads work directly in the gut to block fat absorption in a noninvasive and gentle way.”

The microbeads are nearly flavorless, and the researchers believe they can easily be integrated into people’s diets: for example, as small tapioca- or boba-sized balls added to desserts and bubble teas.

Wu and her team are collaborating with a biotechnology company to produce the plant-based beads using food-grade, FDA-approved ingredients.

The researchers have also initiated a human clinical trial in collaboration with the West China Hospital of Sichuan University.

“This represents a major step toward clinical translation of our polyphenol-based microbeads, following our foundational results,” Wu says. “We have officially enrolled 26 participants in our investigator-initiated trial, and we anticipate that preliminary data may become available within the next year.”

So if you’ve been waiting to jump on the bubble tea trend, you may be in luck, especially if the next generation can boast safe weight loss along with that “mastication pleasure!”

Source:

1. Tiny green tea beads trap fat and melt away pounds without side effects — ScienceDaily

The post Green tea beads: The next big thing in weight loss appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Aspartame was touted as both sweeter and safer than saccharine, which was a possible carcinogen. But it didn’t take long for scientists to link aspartame to cancer as well as to anxiety.

And unbelievably, aspartame actually makes your body store more belly fat.

Every time a new sweetener comes on the market, it’s hundreds of times sweeter than the previous one. That’s to convince you to try it and get hooked on it.

But any artificial sweetener you can name turns healthy gut bacteria rogue, making you a sitting duck for disease and deadly infections.

Now the next generation of sweeteners is here. But proceed with caution. This one is not only toxic, you may never even know it’s there…

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Neotame: a clear and present danger to your gut

A study at Anglia Ruskin University in England found that neotame attacks the human gut in a one-two punch.

“Our studies indicate that neotame causes an increase in stress signaling in our human cells which reduces the amount of junctions that hold our cells together in a tight barrier,” Havovi Chichger, PhD, BSC, associate professor in biomedical science at Anglia Ruskin University, said in an interview with Medical News Today. 

Weakening the gut barrier causes the leaking of materials from the gut into the blood. This describes a condition known as leaky gut.

The damage to the gut can lead to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and because the gut lining becomes permeable, bad bacteria can move into the bloodstream and lead to sepsis.

Not only that, but the disruption it causes in the microbiome could lead to metabolic disease including insulin resistance.

Shockingly, Dr. Chichger stressed that even in concentrations 10 times lower than the acceptable daily intake her team saw the breakdown of the gut barrier and bacteria shift to damaging behavior.

This new research into neotame builds on previous work by Dr. Chichger which discovered that saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame could cause similar damage in the gut.

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Quick and disturbing facts and safer alternatives

You’re probably pretty convinced this sweetener is something you should avoid. But it may not be so easy.

It is sold under the brand name Newtame®. But since it is about 8,000 times sweeter than sugar, such a small amount is used in products that it may not be required to be listed on ingredient labels.

Here are more quick facts about Neotame that may help you…

• It’s found in sugar-free drinks and chewing gum as well as some foods, including yogurts and especially baked goods. It’s also used as a table-top sweetener for hot drinks, like coffee and tea.
• Neotame enhances or extends the sweetening and flavoring properties of some flavors, especially mint — so steer clear of mint-flavored gums, lozenges or candies.
• It often has a mild aftertaste similar to licorice.
• To avoid it, you need to avoid anything advertised as sugar-free.
• Monsanto (yes, that Monsanto!) was behind the discovery and development of neotame.

Instead of reaching for artificial sweeteners that are devoid of nutrition and directly cause damage to your body, lean towards naturally healthier choices…

Stevia. Not only is this plant-derived sweetener 200 times sweeter than sugar (so you don’t need much), it also has been shown to benefit obesity, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol — all conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. It’s considered safe for diabetics. Just read your label to be sure the brand you buy contains no added erythritol.

Raw honey is honey that’s been taken from the hive, strained to remove beeswax, then bottled and sold. It hasn’t been pasteurized or processed, so it still has all its natural vitamins, enzymes and phytonutrients.

Yacon syrup is derived from a root vegetable similar to a sweet potato. It’s considered good for people with diabetes because is contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS) — a type of starch (inulin) that isn’t digested, so it shouldn’t raise blood sugar. However, people who are on a FODMAP diet should avoid it. It may also cause upset stomach, gas and nausea in some.

Coconut palm sugar has a low glycemic index but should be treated like sugar because it contains the same amount of calories and carbs.

Blackstrap molasses. Perhaps the most nutritious sugar substitute of all, organic blackstrap molasses is rich in copper, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, selenium, and vitamin B6. It is low glycemic but people with diabetes should only use in moderation. Make your own brown sugar substitute for baking by using 2 tablespoons for each ½ cup of coconut sugar in a food processor.

Bananas, figs, dates, raisins and no-sugar added apple sauce are also great ways to naturally sweeten a recipe, get a little extra fiber and plant nutrition.

Sources:

Artificial sweetener has potential to damage gut — Eureka Alert

The artificial sweetener neotame negatively regulates the intestinal epithelium directly through T1R3-signaling and indirectly through pathogenic changes to model gut bacteria — Frontiers in Nutrition

Artificial sweetener neotame may have potential to damage gut, lead to IBS — Medical News Today

The post The hidden sweetener tied to IBS, sepsis and insulin resistance appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

They can also deliver a power-packed punch of vitamins and minerals to your diet that can help you get your health back on the right track.

In fact, while the humble pickle isn’t typically considered a superfood, these six reasons for eating a pickle a day could be one of the easiest and tastiest “self-health” hacks around…

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The nitty-gritty on pickle nutrition

The secret behind the pickles’ powerful health benefits is all in their vinegary brine.

That’s because the salt that’s used to enhance the flavor, help in preservation and support the growth of beneficial bacteria during the fermentation process, also draws out water from the pickle, concentrating its vitamins and minerals.

To give you just a little taste, let’s take an approximate look at what a single whole dill pickle can deliver nutritionally:

• 20% of the vitamin K you need each day to support healthy blood clotting and bone strength.
• 6% of the calcium that’s essential for nerve function, strong bones and teeth.
• 2% of the potassium necessary for muscle contractions, nerve signals and better blood pressure.
• 3%-4% of the daily vitamin C you need for antioxidant protection and to keep your immune system healthy.
• 1% of the vitamin A your body needs on a daily basis to keep your vision sharp, your immune system strong and your skin and other cells in optimal shape.

And that’s just in one pickle!

How pickles support your health

With all of those vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, you’re probably starting to see why pickles really can be an essential part of a healthy diet.

But let’s break down exactly what health benefits pickles offer. These include:

#1 – Better gut health and improved digestion

While not all pickles are fermented, you can find brands that are. They’re easy to pick out as their label will say ‘naturally fermented.’

The advantage of this type of pickle is the good bacteria, or probiotics, which support bacterial diversity and the balance of your microbiome. This can help support your digestion, regularity, immune function and more.

#2 – Disease-fighting power

In addition to the vitamins and minerals we already talked about, pickles are also packed with other nutrients that can help support a healthy body.

These include phosphorus, which helps your body produce energy and is essential for cell growth and repair, and folate, which may help reduce heart disease risk.

Finally, pickles also contain beta-carotene, which your body needs for healthy vision as it helps reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. This common eye disease affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. It can lead to blurred or distorted vision.

Beta-carotene may even lower your risk of chronic diseases, including respiratory diseases, cognitive decline, heart disease, stroke — and may even slow aging.

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#3 – Blood sugar health

Pickles are also good for your blood sugar thanks to a combination of that beta-carotene plus the vinegar used to brine them.

Beta-carotene plays a preventive role in the development of type 2 diabetes, improving glucose metabolism. And the vinegar in pickle juice can help curb blood sugar spikes, to help you maintain steady blood glucose.

#4 – Muscle relief

Pickle juice, which is rich in electrolytes, may even help alleviate muscle cramps by replenishing sodium lost during exercise.

Additionally, some experts believe that the vinegar itself might fight cramps by triggering the ‘gag reflex’, resulting in the muscles in the throat contracting and the muscles in the rest of the body relaxing.

According to Madison Shaw, RDN, a registered dietitian and personal trainer, “It basically disrupts that signal that’s being sent by the central nervous system to the muscles and tells the body, ‘All right, stop cramping.”

#5 – Cell health and protection

Because pickles deliver so many antioxidants, they can also help reduce free radical damage to your cells that accelerates aging and disease.

Research has shown that antioxidants can help maintain skin health, guarding against UV radiation, reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline, prevent eye disease and even reduce certain cancer risks.

 These include breast, lung and pancreatic cancers.

#6 – A slimmer you

Pickles could even offer help with weight loss.

Not only are they a low-calorie food, but pickles also have the power to help you feel full longer due to their high water content.  

And thanks to the vinegar in pickles, you could grab two weight loss benefits for the price of one.

That’s because not only does vinegar help decrease appetite, it also slows the absorption of other carbohydrates from the foods you eat, which can reduce the insulin spikes that cause your energy and mood to fluctuate and contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes.

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Pickles as part of a healthy diet

So it seems that pickles might join the apple in the ‘one a day to keep the doctor away’ mantra.

Just be aware that if you have blood pressure, kidney or liver concerns, the high levels of salt found in many pickles might not be for you. In this case, you can always opt for a low-sodium option.

Also, when incorporating pickles into your healthy diet, be sure to get enough calcium daily, as sodium can bind and leach the calcium you need to keep your bones strong.

Finally, if you decide to can pickles at home rather than using store-bought options, always follow all boiling and canning instructions carefully to prevent harmful bacteria from taking hold.

My favorite is to make fermented pickles with garlic and dill.

They’re crispy, crunchy and flavorful. And they get their delicious tanginess from light fermentation rather than vinegar.

Sources:

What Pickles Can Do for Your Health — WebMD

β-Carotene: Preventive Role for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity: A Review — NIH

Does Drinking Pickle Juice Actually Help With Cramps? Here’s What Science Says — Good Housekeeping

Health Benefits of Beta Carotene — WebMD

The post 6 reasons to eat a pickle a day appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s the biochemical signaling pathway between the gastrointestinal tract and your central nervous system, which has already been associated with bowel disease and dementia, as well as GERD and chronic headaches.

It’s also why a good night’s sleep starts in your gut.

And there’s one more important thing to know about this axis…

It could be the reason that a seemingly unrelated gastrointestinal condition leads to an increased risk of brain aneurysm that leads to stroke.

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Digestive symptoms start, aneurysms may follow

That’s because recent research from a team of scientists at the University of Pennsylvania has found an undeniable link between seven gastrointestinal or GI conditions and intracranial aneurysms.

An intracranial aneurysm (IA) occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bulges, putting pressure on the vessel wall. If this type of aneurysm ruptures, it leads to brain bleeding and causes hemorrhagic stroke, a life-threatening emergency.

For their study, the team analyzed data from over 119,000 people who either had an unruptured intracranial aneurysm or had suffered a ruptured aneurysm, comparing them to an equal number of people without aneurysms. Specifically, they were looking for patients diagnosed with GI conditions to see if those conditions upped their risk of a brain issue.

And sure enough, they found even more than they had been expecting…

The team discovered that not only do GI conditions (as well as appendectomy) and aneurysms go hand-in-hand, certain GI problems make it more likely you’ll suffer an aneurysm rupture and a life-threatening stroke.

The results showed that GI problems that were linked to unruptured aneurysms included:

• Reflux disease
• Chronic stomach pain
• Bloating (or functional dyspepsia)
• Irritable bowel disease without diarrhea

GI conditions that were more likely to lead to aneurysm formation, rupture and stroke were:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

“Now that we have found more evidence for a link between IAs and GI disorders, we are eager to explore them further, hoping that early detection of GI syndromes might help identify patients at risk of IAs,” said Jan-Karl Burkhardt, MD, the lead author of the study, associate professor of neurosurgery, and division head of cerebrovascular surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

In other words, if you’re living with GI issues, take time now to talk to your doctor about your increased risk of aneurysm and how you can prevent problems down the road.

Though this study didn’t make the connection, research published in 2023 associated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with a higher stroke risk as well.

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Knowing the signs and heading them off

This study didn’t explain the exact mechanism behind the connection between GI disorders and aneurysms but as they investigate further, hopefully, they will.

In the meantime, past research has made a connection between stroke and popular medications used to treat conditions like gastrointestinal reflux disease. Some of these drugs may raise the stroke risk as much as 94 percent.

If you take them, talk to your physician about other options — and consider diet and lifestyle modifications that have been shown to help, like weight loss, no smoking, 30 minutes of exercise daily and a diet that doesn’t promote an acid state.

Additionally, be sure to care for the health of your gut, since a balanced microbiome has come to the forefront of research into the gut-brain axis. That includes a diet that contains probiotics and prebiotics, which can help promote regular movements and reduce the risk of constipation and diarrhea.

If you have a GI condition, be sure to know the signs of both types of aneurysm so that you can get help immediately, if necessary.

Signs of an unruptured aneurysm include:

• A dilated pupil
• Numbness, weakness or paralysis of one side of the face
• A drooping eyelid

Once a brain aneurysm ruptures, you can suffer from:

• The worst headache of your life
• Light sensitivity (photophobia)
• Double vision
• Pain behind your eye socket
• Lethargy
• Neck stiffness
• A loss of consciousness

Learn more about aneurysm risks here.

Sources:

SNIS 2024: New study reveals possible link between gastrointestinal syndromes and risk of brain aneurysm — EurekAlert!

Brain aneurysm — Mayo Clinic

The post 7 GI conditions linked with brain aneurysm appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Despite efforts to find alternatives, PFAS are still present in all kinds of products we use and consume — new clothes, takeout containers, cosmetics, personal care products, nonstick cookware and stain-resistant furniture and rugs, just to name a few.

PFAS are linked with numerous health impacts, including celiac disease, liver damage, certain types of cancer, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and decreased fertility. They’re also linked to higher risks for diabetes, obesity, asthma and thyroid disease.

So, what can be done? Even if we stopped using all products containing PFAS today, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS are detectable in nearly all people living in the United States.

Luckily, a recent discovery points to a possible solution — and it’s one that already resides in your body….

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Gut bacteria help remove PFAS

Bacteria that encounter chemicals like pesticides have mechanisms to deal with them. For example, studies have already seen that gut bacteria can pick up and store unintended targets such as pharmaceuticals. But it wasn’t known if the same could happen with pollutants like PFAS.

To find out, an international team of researchers exposed human gut bacteria to two common forms of PFAS and other pollutants. And the results were encouraging…

Multiple bacterial strains, including E. coli, absorbed PFAS in lab dishes, storing the chemicals in clumps inside their cells, according to Dr. Kiran Patil, a molecular biologist at the University of Cambridge and senior author of the study.

“We found that certain species of human gut bacteria have a remarkably high capacity to soak up PFAS from their environment at a range of concentrations, and store these in clumps inside their cells,” Patil says. “Due to aggregation of PFAS in these clumps, the bacteria themselves seem protected from the toxic effects.”

Even better, the gut bacteria of so-called “humanized” mice, whose intestines have been cleared of existing microbes and replaced with nine kinds of microbes that live in human guts, had more PFAS in their poop than microbe-free mice. This suggests that gut bacteria can carry forever chemicals out of the body in feces.

The researchers also discovered that as the mice were exposed to increasing levels of PFAS, the microbes worked harder, consistently removing the same percentage of the chemicals.

Within minutes of exposure, the bacteria absorbed between 25% and 74% of the PFAS.

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Could probiotics flush out PFAS?

The results are certainly promising. Next, researchers could track differences in gut microbiomes and PFAS levels in people from the same place, to see if the same method is just efficient at clearing these chemicals from our bodies

They are already planning to use these findings to create probiotic dietary supplements that boost the levels of these helpful microbes in the gut to protect against the toxic effects of PFAS.

In the meantime, the researchers suggest several actions we can take to protect ourselves against PFAS, including avoiding PFAS-coated cookware and using a good water filter. While it’s challenging to remove PFAS from your drinking water, some filtration techniques are more effective than others. Granular activated carbon absorption filters, ion exchange resin filters and reverse osmosis filters work the best.

Keeping your gut healthy by promoting a balanced microbiome is always a good idea, if for no other reason than to avoid leaky gut. Over time, the gut lining can become permeable and allow chemicals that would normally be excreted in waste to find their way into the bloodstream.

If you have problems with constipation, be sure to address them. Slow motility — which references the amount of time it takes for waste to leave your body — allows the bad stuff to sit in your colon long enough to be absorbed into your colon walls, where it also can make its way into the bloodstream. To test your motility speed, try this at-home test.

Sources:

Gut microbes may flush ‘forever chemicals’ from the body — ScienceNews

Gut microbes could protect us from toxic ‘forever chemicals’ — University of Cambridge

Human gut bacteria bioaccumulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — Nature Microbiology

The post Could we actually poop out ‘forever chemicals’? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, a leaky gut lining could be behind your uncomfortable and even dangerous health issues and yet it could go completely ignored by your doctor.

Sadly, the incidence of undiagnosed celiac disease — an autoimmune condition that damages your gut lining and allows all of the bad stuff from your intestines to leak out — has skyrocketed in the United States over the past 50 years.

Luckily, researchers are now shining a light on just exactly how leaks form in the gut lining, which can provide hope for treatment that works.

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The gluten connection to leaky gut

As you may already know, if a person has leaky gut syndrome or celiac disease, gluten is not their friend.

Here’s the issue…

Whether you’re enjoying a hearty sandwich, scarfing down a yummy doughnut or having a pancake breakfast, the gluten in the food you eat must be broken down into proteins by an enzyme known as tissue transglutaminase (tTG).

In people without leaky gut or celiac, these proteins are absorbed.

However, in those unlucky enough to have a real problem with gluten, things don’t work as they’re supposed to.

And that’s where the new research comes in…

Scientists from Bielefeld University found that because your body cannot completely break down gluten proteins if you have celiac disease, large gluten fragments, or peptides, can form in your gut.

This happens because a form of the tTG enzyme called tissue transglutaminase 2 (tTG2) modifies gluten proteins, forming structures or oligomers that then build up in the gut lining.

Once there, these large molecules, which the scientists are calling 33-mer deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) act as a key, opening the tightly closed junctures of the gut lining and leading to leaky gut syndrome.

What happens when your gut leaks?

According to the study, this is a dangerous prospect since, “If 33-merDGP oligomers are formed, they may damage the epithelial cell network, allowing gluten peptides, bacteria, and other toxins to pass massively into the bloodstream, leading to inflammation and, in celiac disease, autoimmunity.”

Just a few of the problems you can experience include:

• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Bloating and gas
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Joint pain
• Itchy, blistery skin
• Elevated liver enzymes

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In addition, a leaky gut can set off a cycle of weight gain, since endotoxins that escape the gut and enter the bloodstream interfere with the normal functioning of fat cells. Specifically, these toxins stop the browning process that turns bad white fat into calorie-burning beige fat.

Fighting back against leaky gut

Avoiding gluten is the best answer, but doing so is not easy, unless on the strictest of diets. Even ordering gluten-free at restaurants is a big gamble.

The good news is that you can help strengthen and support the health of your gut to reduce your symptoms and your risks.

My colleague, Virginia Tims-Lawson, has put together a list of five must-have supplements to repair a leaky gut.

It’s a list that includes probiotics, which you may get even more of a boost from, by choosing a supplement that’s spore-based.

Finally, be sure and check out this list of five sinister foods to avoid, along with five foods that can offer help leaky gut syndrome.

Sources:

Celiac disease: New findings on the effects of gluten — ScienceDaily

Celiac Disease — Mayo Clinic

Increased Prevalence and Mortality in Undiagnosed Celiac Disease — Gastroenterology

The post How this sneaky protein triggers leaky gut syndrome appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Fortunately, it was nothing serious. However, that experience taught me a valuable lesson: when it comes to my health, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

It’s possible to experience symptoms like headache, fatigue, and nausea and have nothing seriously wrong. Or, it’s possible that these could each be a symptom of one of the ten major health problems listed below.

What you learn here could save you a lot of pain and trouble. It could also quite possibly save your life.

Frequently misdiagnosed conditions and their symptoms

1. Cancer. Fatigue, weight loss and pain are symptoms that often go part and parcel with cancer. But they are also found in so many other conditions.

• Breast cancer is often written off as benign fibroids.
• Lung cancer can be mistaken for COPD, especially in smokers.
• Colorectal cancer has the same abdominal discomfort and bowel changes as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Prostate cancer can easily be mistaken for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a benign enlargement of the prostate.
• Bladder cancer shares symptoms with urinary tract infections, such as pain while urinating, frequent urination, and pelvic pain.

2. Heart attack. Age and gender play a huge role in the misdiagnosis of heart attacks. No one expects someone in their 30s or 40s to have a heart attack, and symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath and indigestion are often attributed to other conditions.

A woman having a heart attack may not present with chest pain or arm pain. She may simply be nauseous, fatigued, and/or have jaw or back pain. These atypical symptoms are prevalent in women and are often easily attributed to other causes.

3. Stroke. Again, it’s the less-than-classic symptoms of a stroke that cause it to be dismissed as something else.

Rather than classic symptoms such as sudden numbness in one side of the body, slurred speech, and confusion, some stroke victims (women in particular) may look like they’re experiencing migraine, vertigo or an anxiety attack. They’ll have atypical symptoms, including dizziness, nausea and headache.

4. Thyroid conditions. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can cause fatigue, weight gain and feelings of sadness or apathy, while hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) may cause anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. Clearly, these symptoms occur in other disorders.

5. Carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve running through the wrist. Misdiagnosis of CPT as tendinitis or arthritis can cause a patient to delay surgery until it’s too late, leading to permanent nerve damage and irreversible weakness and numbness of the hand that affects its use.

6. Appendicitis. The abdominal pain of appendicitis is not always severe and can be mistaken for gastrointestinal discomfort. Some people experience nausea, vomiting and a mild fever, while others do not. A delay in diagnosis can quickly become a medical emergency if the appendix bursts.

7. Celiac disease. Both celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) cause abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. But a person with celiac disease must eliminate all gluten from their lives or risk damage to the lining of the small intestine, which ultimately leads to malnutrition.

8. Lyme disease. The bite of the tick that causes Lyme often produces a “bullseye” rash. If the rash isn’t present, Lyme is usually misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, whose symptoms are similar (fatigue, joint pain, headaches and neurological issues).

9. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often misdiagnosed as other conditions, including fibromyalgia, ALS, migraines and Vitamin B deficiency. If you are experiencing a combination of muscle weakness, fatigue, vision problems, and balance issues, make sure to have your doctor evaluate you for MS.

10. Depression is challenging to diagnose, as it looks different for different people. Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, changes in sleep patterns, and alterations in appetite can mimic other physical conditions, including hypothyroidism or vitamin deficiencies.

Becoming a self-advocate

I hope that the information I’ve presented here will turn you into a fierce self-advocate. Doctors aren’t infallible, and being informed helps when you talk to them.

Never leave your doctor’s office until you’re satisfied with the answer you receive. If you have an unusual symptom or if you’re not feeling comfortable with the explanation you get, don’t let a doctor dismiss it as “nothing serious.”

Source:

Top Ten Health Conditions That Are Easily Misdiagnosed osmosis.org

The post The 10 most frequently misdiagnosed conditions appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There are “good” and “bad” bacteria, and most of the time, the good bacteria are able to keep the bad ones in line.

But you may be surprised to know just how easily that perfect balance can go out the window…

You’re probably well aware that antibiotics can cause dysbiosis, but so can many common prescriptions.

Even if you have indigestion on occasion or eat contaminated food (hey, it happens) or suffer from inflammation (it’s way more common than you think) — you could be at risk of serious infection from harmful bacteria, including E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Both E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are known culprits in a variety of infections, including urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia. 

E. coli is also a common cause of gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea, while Klebsiella can lead to more severe infections like meningitis and liver abscesses.

These two nasty bacterial strains are usually present in the gut in low numbers, and as long as they stay that way, all is well. But you can see how easily things can go south.

If you’d like a little “insurance” to ensure that doesn’t happen, we’ve some encouraging news for you…

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How fiber can reduce your risk of infection

An international group of medical researchers has shown that dietary fiber plays a crucial role in preventing the overgrowth of harmful gut bacteria.

The researchers analyzed gut microbiome data from over 12,000 people across 45 countries, trying to identify patterns that predict the gut’s susceptibility to being overrun by harmful Enterobacteriaceae bacteria, including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The good news is that 135 microbial species commonly found in healthy guts seem to protect against “bad” bacteria.

One of these species, known as Faecalibacterium, stood out for its ability to protect the gut by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that play a critical role in making the gut inhospitable to harmful bacteria.

And how exactly do they produce SCFAs? By breaking down dietary fiber.

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Lots of doctors recommend probiotics to manage “bad” gut bacteria, but these researchers challenge that notion.

Their study revealed that 172 microbial species coexist with these pathogens, competing for the same nutrients.

“Taking probiotics that compete for the same nutrients with the bad bacteria to try and starve them out isn’t going to work,” explained Dr. Alexandre Almeida, senior author of the study.

Instead, he says that altering the gut environment through dietary adjustments offers a more effective strategy.

This is why getting a good amount of fiber in your daily diet is crucial. It’s not just to keep your bowels regular; it’s so that your gut can stay in balance and not be susceptible to E. coli and other bacteria that cause infection, inflammation and disease.

Too little fiber also can lead to a deadly case of sepsis. Sepsis occurs when your immune system releases chemicals into the bloodstream to fight an infection somewhere in your body, such as those mentioned above. However, the immune system goes into overdrive, triggering body-wide inflammation and a significant risk of organ failure and death.

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Fiber: No longer just for regularity

A diet rich in plant-based foods and fiber is crucial for supporting the gut bacteria that produce these beneficial SCFAs. But even if you eat well, the vast majority of Americans get woefully insufficient amounts of dietary fiber.

Here’s some research on how fiber fights heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, along with a comprehensive list of foods and amounts to add to your diet, gradually, so that you’re getting your ideal amount of fiber.

Inulin fiber is especially known for producing SCFAs. You can find a list of foods that provide inulin here.

And if you want to follow a well-rounded diet to up your fiber intake, there’s nothing better than the Mediterranean diet. Here’s the quick and easy version of why this diet is so good for your gut, and how to get started.

Believe me, your taste buds and your gut will thank me!

Sources:

Feeding Good Gut Bacteria Through Diet May Help Prevent Infections — Integrative Practitioner

Ecological dynamics of Enterobacteriaceae in the human gut microbiome across global populations — Nature Microbiology

The post From UTIs to sepsis: Eat this to reduce infection risk appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Or perhaps you’ve taken an over-the-counter PPI like Nexium or Prilosec.

When I first heard the phrase “proton pump,” I imagined there was a teeny-tiny pump in the body and that these drugs shut the pump down.

Not far from the truth, but not exactly the right visual, either.

In reality, PPIs block an enzyme that produces stomach acid.

But this form of relief may come with a catch, and a dangerous one.

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PPIs may be connected to new cases of hypertension

Protein pump inhibitors block an enzyme that produces stomach acid. It’s called the hydrogen-potassium ATPase pump or the “proton pump” for short.

Here’s a good way to understand it: PPIs inhibit (or prevent) the proton pump enzyme from completing a chemical process needed to make stomach acid. By short-circuiting this process, PPIs slow down the production of stomach acid.

You’ll still have enough stomach acid to digest food, just not an overproduction that’ll irritate the stomach.

But no medication acts solely on the part of the body it’s meant for.

While PPIs are at work interrupting acid production, they’re also interrupting an unrelated cycle that converts dietary nitrates from foods you eat into nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is a natual vasodilator made by the body; it relaxes blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure.

Maybe you can see where this is going…

While PPIs are controlling your acid reflux, they could also be elevating your risk of hypertension.

At least, this was the finding of a study done at the University of Buffalo – SUNY whose primary goal was to evaluate the association between PPI use and new cases of hypertension in menopausal women enrolled in the WHI-OS (Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study).

Out of 64,720 menopausal women, the study found 28,951 new cases of hypertension after a mean follow-up of 8.7 years.

The researchers feel this could be attributable to the reduction of nitric oxide brought on by the PPIs.

You should know this isn’t the first time the safety of PPIs have been called into question. Some have been linked to increased risk of stroke, bone fracture, pneumonia, type 2 diabetes, Clostridium difficile infection and kidney damage.

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Non-prescription ways to control stomach acid

Fortunately, some foods are safe remedies for acid reflux. These include olive oil, apple cider vinegar and carob.

And don’t forget herbs and spices!

Turmeric is derived from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. It contains a naturally active compound called curcumin. It’s often used in Indian food.

Studies have shown that curcumin is just as effective as omeprazole (a common PPI) at relieving the symptoms of indigestion, including acid reflux.

Then, of course, there are lifestyle changes that can help control GERD, acid reflux and heartburn:

• Maintain a normal weight.
• Don’t smoke!
• Engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Restrict coffee, tea and sodas to no more than 2 cups per day.

Finally, here are some tips for a diet that could help control acid reflux:

Eat foods that have a higher pH because they are more alkaline and can offset stomach acid. These include bananas, melons, cauliflower, fennel, and nuts.

High-fiber foods can curb overeating, which contributes to GERD. These include:

• Whole grains such as oatmeal, couscous and brown rice.
• Root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and beets.
• Green vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli and green beans.

Regardless of how you manage or alleviate your symptoms, it’s important to do so. If you develop GERD, the more serious form of acid reflux, you could be at higher risk of developing Barrett’s esophagus, which is a dangerous condition.

Sources:

Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Incident Hypertension in Menopausal Women — Journal of the American Heart Association

Long-Term PPI Use Linked to Hypertension in Menopausal Women — U.S. Pharmacist

Proton pump inhibitors — Cleveland Clinic

The post The medication that trades acid reflux for hypertension appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

While antibiotics are invaluable for fighting bacterial infections, they can also present serious risks if overused or misused, and it appears that physicians are finally getting that message.

For instance, antibiotic overuse has been linked to gut problems because it destroys much of the friendly bacteria that make up the gut microbiota. One study found that it takes the gut microbiota as long as six months following antibiotic use to recover. Still some species of bacteria may never return.

When this happens, the effects extend far beyond the gut, potentially interfering with healthy aging and metabolic health, for starters.

As if that weren’t bad enough, researchers have discovered another lasting way antibiotics harm the gut — even if you haven’t taken them recently…

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Antibiotics’ effect on the gut lining

While previous research has shown the impact of short-term antibiotic treatment on the intestinal environment, it is less clear how repeated antibiotic use over time affects the gut.

So, researchers at Umeå University in Sweden teamed up with those at Tartu University in Estonia, who had built a deep cohort of individuals who provided stool samples and health records, to learn more.

The research team selected individuals who had taken at least five courses of antibiotics in the past, but not within six months of the stool collection. They then compared the microbiomes of these individuals with those of individuals who had not used any antibiotics within the last ten years.

As expected, analysis revealed changes to gut bacteria composition, indicating that repeated antibiotic use can have a lasting effect on the microbiome that can persist at least months after the most recent treatment, according to Kertu-Liis Krigul, a Ph.D. student at Tartu.

But that wasn’t all…

The researchers transplanted the human microbiota into mice and used specialized methods to analyze the function of the gut’s protective mucus layer. This continuously expanding layer lines the intestines and prevents bacteria from crossing it. However, if the gut microbiome is disrupted, the barrier can lose its ability to function properly.

They observed that bacteria from humans with a history of repeated antibiotic use contained higher amounts of bacteria that damaged the mucus layer, resulting in increased permeability.

That means dangerous bacteria could penetrate the intestinal lining, a symptom of a condition known as leaky gut syndrome, which can trigger inflammation and potentially contribute to the development of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

“Looking at the bacteria present in the gut in more detail, we could see that bacteria known to feed on the mucus layer were present at higher levels in these mice,” says Rachel Feeney, a Ph.D. student at Umeå. “This further supports a role for the gut bacteria in determining how well the mucus barrier can function.”

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Antibiotics themselves can do damage

In a separate study conducted as part of another international collaboration, researchers administered the antibiotic vancomycin to normal and bacteria-free mice.

By doing so, they discovered that the antibiotics themselves can directly disrupt the mucus lining in a manner independent from gut bacteria. The antibiotic was found to disrupt mucus expansion within a few minutes of application.

“Together, these two studies suggest that antibiotics can damage the mucus layer through at least two independent mechanisms, and that they may have long-lasting effects through an altered gut bacteria,” says Björn Schröder, docent in infection biology in the Department of Molecular Biology at Umeå. “This further supports the notion that antibiotics should be administered in a responsible manner.”

There may be times when you can’t avoid using antibiotics to fight off an infection. When you do have to take them, it’s essential that you pair them with probiotics to help shore up your gut health.

There are plenty of foods that contain probiotics, including yogurt, kefir and fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut and miso.

You can also get probiotics from supplements — but if you do, make sure the supplement you take contains live cultures. And be sure to take it two hours apart from your antibiotics.

Sources:

Antibiotic usage can damage the protective mucus layer in the gut — ScienceDaily

Antibiotics damage the colonic mucus barrier in a microbiota-independent manner — Science Advances

Antibiotic Use and Stewardship in the United States, 2023 Update: Progress and Opportunities — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The post How antibiotics wreak lasting damage in your gut appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That includes the single-celled parasites responsible for malaria, the top-killing parasitic disease in the world. Fortunately, in the U.S., it’s not a significant threat.

You may know less about cancer-causing parasitic worms. Thankfully, again, two species connected to cancer of the bile ducts and bladder cancer are not found in the U.S.

But you may have heard quite a lot about an especially cringeworthy parasitic medical condition involving brain worms…

As far-fetched as it sounds, it could hit closer to home than you think.

I’m going to share some details about a parasitic brain infection that, while not at all common, still checks in at about 1,000 cases per year according to the CDC, and it’s most frequently reported in New York, California, Texas, Oregon and Illinois.

There are two pieces of good news about this disease:

It’s not directly contagious. You don’t get it just by being around someone who has it (I’ll talk more about how it can spread, though).

It’s highly preventable. Good health habits can keep you from becoming an unwitting host to a worm.

Here are the facts about neurocysticercosis (NCC).

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From Cysticercosis to neurocysticercosis

What it is: Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by the larval cysts of the pork tapeworm.

Larval cysts are sacs that contain an immature stage of the tapeworm. When larval cysts are ingested, secretions in the stomach cause the eggs to hatch into larvae. In the bloodstream, they can be carried throughout the body.

Larval cysts in the brain cause a form of cysticercosis called neurocysticercosis, which can lead to seizures and can be fatal.

How you get it: A tapeworm can be contracted from contaminated water, consuming contaminated food (undercooked pork, for example), or coming in contact with affected animals or contaminated soil.

Cysticercosis canspread through human to human transmission through the feces of someone infected with the adult tapeworm.

Generally, this happens when someone infected with the tapeworm doesn’t wash their hands well after using the bathroom. You may touch a surface they’ve touched, then touch your mouth.

Less commonly, infection can occur from eating unwashed fruits or vegetables, since feces make their way into soil and water.

Symptoms of NCC: It’s not always the cysts that cause the neurological symptoms of NCC. In fact, cysts can often stay in the brain for a long time without causing any symptoms.

And when symptoms occur, it’s not because the parasite is feasting on the host’s brain.

According to Philip Budge, MD, PhD, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, worms in neurocysticercosis don’t actually “eat” the brain.

“The parasite larvae reach the brain via the circulatory system, then produce a cyst that displaces the surrounding tissues. The consequences can be severe if the cyst forms in a very sensitive location — such as in the ventricles or blocking a cerebrospinal fluid outflow tract — but a live cyst doesn’t actually destroy any surrounding tissue”

But as they begin to die off, the immune system recognizes them as invaders and causes inflammation to attack them.

If there are many cysts, this immune system attack can cause pressure on the brain that can lead to life-threatening brain swelling, as well as seizures, headaches, vomiting and other neurological symptoms.

This is why NCC is so often dismissed for conditions such as epilepsy or brain tumor. But the Cleveland Clinic reports that about 2% of emergency room visits for seizures in the U.S. are from cysticercosis.

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How to keep from getting NCC and brain worms

While many infections don’t present symptoms, tapeworms in the intestines can cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and weight loss. In some cases, people might notice tapeworm segments in their stool.

However, once they are in other parts of the body, like with neurocysticercosis, the symptoms can vary.

Clearly, good health habits are at the center of preventing NCC. It’s vital to wash your hands thoroughly with warm soap and water after using the toilet. Singing the “ABCs” is a good way to know that you’ve washed long enough.

In addition, the Cleveland Clinic recommends the following:

• Avoid eating raw or undercooked pork.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly or peel before eating.
• Wash cutting boards, counters, dishes and utensils with soapy water after use.
• Don’t drink untreated water.
• If you’re traveling to a place where you don’t know if the water is treated, drink bottled or boiled water only. Boil water for one minute before letting it cool enough to drink.

Sources:

The Naked Truth About the World’s Most Common ‘Brain Worm’ — MedPage Today

Brain Worms Like RFK Jr.’s: Here’s What to Know — MedPage Today

Neurocysticercosis — CDC

Cysticercosis — Cleveland Clinic

The post Brain worms: Sorting cringeworthy fact from fiction appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were just one thing we could do (or take) that could grant us complete health and well-being?

The unfortunate truth is that no such “magic bullet” exists. But there is one thing that comes close… fermented foods.

Foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, miso and even coffee (yes, it’s fermented to a degree) have been linked to lower rates of diabetes and heart disease, as well as a reduced risk of depression, anxiety and obesity. They also help blood pressure, cholesterol, osteoporosis and digestion. They can even help fight the flu!

These benefits are unique to fermentation, which produces bioactive compounds, including friendly bacteria that help support our gut microbiome. In turn, the gut microbiome is linked to the health of many other body systems.

As this pathway to health has become known in wellness circles, there has been a trend toward fermented health foods. But there’s an old-fashioned, fermented “condiment” that can be just as good for your gut…

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Sauerkraut benefits support intestinal cells

A team of researchers from the University of California, Davis, examined how the metabolites in sauerkraut — a popular American hot dog topping — compared with those in the raw cabbage it’s made from.

They compared raw cabbage, sauerkraut and the liquid brine left behind from the fermentation process to see whether sauerkraut’s nutrients could help protect intestinal cells from damage related to inflammation, that can disrupt the intestinal barrier.

The results showed that sauerkraut helped maintain intestinal cell integrity, while raw cabbage and brine did not. The researchers noted that they found no noticeable difference between store-bought sauerkraut and the “homemade” version they produced in the lab.

“Some of the metabolites we find in the sauerkraut are the same kind of metabolites we’re finding to be made by the gut microbiome, so that gives us a little more confidence that this connection we found between the metabolites in sauerkraut and good gut health makes sense,” says study author Maria Marco, a UC Davis professor. “It doesn’t matter, in a way, if we make sauerkraut at home or we buy it from the store; both kinds of sauerkraut seemed to protect gut function.”

When performing a chemical analysis, the researchers discovered fermentation changes the nutritional profile of the cabbage, increasing beneficial metabolites such as lactic acid, amino acids and plant-based chemicals linked to gut health. These changes help explain why fermented foods are connected with digestive benefits.

The findings also revealed that intestinal barrier-protective compounds are consistently enriched during cabbage fermentations, irrespective of the scale or microbial additions.

“Along with eating more fiber and fresh fruits and vegetables, even if we have just a regular serving of sauerkraut, maybe putting these things more into our diet, we’ll find that can help us in the long run against inflammation, for example, and make our digestive tract more resilient when we have a disturbance,” Marco says.

Marco says she and fellow author Lei Wei, a postdoctoral researcher in her lab, identified hundreds of different metabolites produced during sauerkraut fermentation. They are now working to determine which ones play the most significant role in supporting gut health in the long term.

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How to add sauerkraut to a healthy diet

According to Marco, the researchers’ next step is to conduct human trials to see if the protective metabolites found in sauerkraut can have the same positive effects shown in the lab when included in everyday diets.

“A little bit of sauerkraut could go a long way,” she said. “We should be thinking about including these fermented foods in our regular diets and not just as a side on our hot dogs.”

Hot dogs, sausages and Reuben sandwiches are all made with processed and red meats, which are strictly verboten for a healthy diet.

It’s also important to know that not all store-bought sauerkraut is created equal. Canned or shelf-stable brands have been heat pasteurized and may contain additives. Pasteurization can kill the probiotics. So look for store-bought saurkraut in the refrigerated section. Making it at home is also pretty easy and recommended.

So, what’s the best way to add sauerkraut to your diet? You can put a scoop on the side of pretty much any meal, but if you really want to jazz things up, try the following:

• Top your morning eggs with sauerkraut
• Add it to your breakfast or lunch burrito
• Mix it with a smashed avocado to create a dip
• Blend it with hummus as a substitute for the acidity of lemon juice
• Chop it into your salsa
• Sprinkle it over a salad
• Combine it with tuna or chicken salad for a tasty sandwich
• Add it to your grilled cheese sandwich on whole-grain bread

Sources:

The gut health benefits of sauerkraut — EurekAlert!

The fermented cabbage metabolome and its protection against cytokine-induced intestinal barrier disruption of Caco-2 monolayers — Applied and Environmental Microbiology

20 Ways To Eat Sauerkraut — Fermented Food Lab

The post The fermented, gut-loving benefits of sauerkraut appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That’s acid reflux.

If you live with these symptoms, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that anywhere from 20 percent to more than a third of adults in the United States may suffer from the condition.

So it’s no wonder that acid reflux drugs are not only commonly prescribed But as with many medications, these drugs are not necessarily what they seem and actually could cause far more problems than they solve.

That’s because research has connected acid reflux drugs to:

• A higher danger of dementia
• An increased risk of diabetes
• B12 deficiency, leading to severe fatigue
• A C. Diff infection that can cause severe diarrhea and a life-threatening infection of the colon
• A whopping 94 percent increase in stroke risk

But would you believe that’s not all?

Now, a study published in Neurology Clinical Practice, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, says your acid reflux prescription could even be behind your migraines.

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An undeniable connection

For the study, the researchers delved into the health data of almost 12,000 people who provided information on the use of acid-reducing drugs and whether they had migraines or severe headaches in the past three months.

Specifically, the team looked at how likely someone was to have migraines while taking prescription-strength acid reflux drugs, including proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole and esomeprazole ) and H2 blockers (like cimetidine and famotidine). And they even looked at that old standby, Tums.

And here’s how the results broke down…

According to the research:

• A total of 25 percent of people taking proton pump inhibitors suffered migraines or severe headaches, compared to 19 percent of those not taking the drugs.
• Similarly, 25 percent of people on H2 blockers had severe headaches, compared to 20 percent for people who did not take the medications.
•  Additionally, 22 percent of people who used antacid supplements, like Tums, had severe headaches, versus 20 percent of those not taking antacids.

Overall, the researchers found that people using proton pump inhibitors to reduce stomach acid had a startling 70 percent greater chance of migraines.

H2 blockers led to a 40 percent higher risk. And antacids, such as Tums, increased the chances of migraines by 30 percent.

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A safer way to battle acid reflux

According to Margaret Slavin, the study’s lead author and an Associate Professor of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland, these types of drugs are often overprescribed.

So before you think they’re your last chance to reduce the burn, consider alternatives that won’t increase your risk of migraines or the other health dangers linked to them.

Here are a few natural solutions that can make a big difference:

• Discover digestive enzymes – Bromelain and papain are digestive enzymes that support the digestion of proteins and glutens that can cause bloating, gas and worse.
• Try curcumin – Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is shown to be just as effective as omeprazole at relieving the symptoms of indigestion, including acid reflux.
• Take apple cider vinegar – Take one tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a large glass of water to help balance your stomach acid.
• Alkalize your diet – Use these six easy tips to help alkalize your diet to combat stomach acid issues.

When you look at that list, it’s easy to see why going natural is a much better way to battle acid reflux than taking medications with a laundry list of dangerous and debilitating side effects.

The most important thing, though is to relieve acid reflux, don’t ignore it. You do not want it to progress to Barrett’s esophagus, which can occur when stomach acid frequently irritates the lining of the esophagus to the point that it causes changes in the tissue.

Sources:

A new paper from Dr. Slavin’s research team finds 30-70 percent greater chance of migraines in people who take prescription drugs to reduce stomach acid. — University of Maryland Department of Nutrition and Food Science

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease — NIH

The post Common medications that increase migraine risk by 70% appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Those PPIs your doctor prescribed or the ones you can grab off the drugstore shelves can put you in danger of a host of ailments, including stroke, kidney disease, dementia, bone fractures and more.

So what’s an acid reflux sufferer to do? Luckily, researchers have discovered a plant-based remedy that may get to the root of this common problem…

How turmeric affects the stomach

Turmeric, a spice taken from the root of the Curcuma longa plant, contains a naturally active compound called curcumin that’s believed to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It’s long been used as a remedy for various conditions, including indigestion, in Southeast Asia.

However, there have been no studies pitting turmeric head to head with any drugs to treat indigestion. That’s why a team of researchers in Thailand decided to test turmeric against omeprazole, one of the most commonly used PPIs to treat excess stomach acid.

Their study involved 206 patients ages 18-70 with recurrent upset stomach or functional dyspepsia. Symptoms of functional dyspepsia include feeling excessively full after food, feeling full after only a little food and pain or a burning sensation in the stomach and/or esophagus.

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These patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups for a period of 28 days. One group received two large 250 mg capsules of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, four times a day along with a small dummy capsule. A second group received one small 20 mg capsule of omeprazole and two large dummy capsules four times a day. A third group received the two large curcumin capsules and the small omeprazole capsule four times a day.

At the beginning of the study, all the patients had similar indigestion scores, which were calculated using the Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment (SODA) score. Patients were reassessed after 28 days and again after 56 days.

According to these soda scores, all three groups experienced similar reductions in severity of symptoms by day 28. For pain, the combined group experienced a 4.83 point reduction in their SODA score, while the curcumin group showed a 5.46 point reduction in SODA score and the omeprazole group a 6.22 point reduction. For other symptoms, the combined group showed a 2.22 reduction in SODA score, the curcumin group a 2.32 reduction and the omeprazole group a 2.31 reduction.

The improvements were even stronger after 56 days, with pain scores dropping by 7.19 points for the combined group, 8.07 points for the curcumin group and 8.85 points for the omeprazole group, and other symptoms showing reductions of 4.09, 4.12 and 3.71 points, respectively.

When you compare these improvements, one thing is clear: curcumin proved to be just as effective as omeprazole at relieving the symptoms of indigestion, including acid reflux.

There were no serious side effects reported in the study. However, the researchers note that liver function tests did indicate some level of deterioration among curcumin users carrying excess weight.

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Getting the benefits of turmeric

So next time your acid reflux flares up, you may want to try adding some turmeric to your diet to soothe the burn. But there’s one big caveat: curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, isn’t absorbed easily by your body. In fact, your body metabolizes it quickly and eliminates it so fast it’s like it was never there.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to improve turmeric absorption:

• Heat the turmeric. Since heating turmeric makes the curcumin more available to your body, cooking with turmeric is better than taking a turmeric supplement.
• Combine turmeric with a healthy oil. Turmeric is fat-soluble, meaning it dissolves in fat, allowing your body to absorb it.
• Add black pepper to turmeric. Research has shown the compound piperine found in black pepper can prevent curcumin from being eliminated so quickly from your body.

You can incorporate all three of these steps at once by drinking golden milk. This warm, turmeric-based drink has only a few ingredients and can be whipped up in a flash. Here is a recipe for golden milk that will allow you to take full advantage of turmeric’s benefits.

Sources:

Turmeric may be as good for treating indigestion as drug to curb excess stomach acid — EurekAlert!

Curcumin and proton pump inhibitors for functional dyspepsia: a randomised, double blind controlled trial — BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine

The post The spice that works like medicine for acid reflux appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Just a few years ago, the European Society of Cardiology, using genetic data from 422,000 individuals, revealed a link between higher levels of 11 bacteria that were associated with a total of 28 health and disease outcomes, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and BMI. In one example, they found that the higher the level of Ruminococcus bacteria, the greater the risk of high blood pressure.

Another study showed major disturbances in the gut microbiome of patients suffering from heart disease, and that these alterations may start many years before onset of heart disease symptoms and diagnosis.

High blood pressure can precede heart disease, so getting it under control is one of the most important steps in protecting heart health.

Could it be as simple as balancing your microbiome with probiotics?

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Two probiotic strains could manage blood pressure

High blood pressure rates are rising worldwide, affecting about 40 percent of the world’s adults. Prior studies have found a link between these rising rates and an increased consumption of sugar.

High sugar consumption likely boosts blood pressure through increased insulin resistance or salt retention, among other mechanisms. It can also hurt the gut microbiome by blocking good bacteria and promoting the growth of bad bacteria.

A team of researchers in China decided to test two probiotic strains — Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus — on mice that developed high blood pressure after consuming water mixed with fructose. They measured the animals’ blood pressure every four weeks over 16 weeks. And what they found was encouraging…

The fructose-fed mice that received either probiotic showed significantly lower blood pressure than those fed fructose and not treated with probiotics.

Also, the researchers found no difference between the blood pressure readings of the fructose-fed mice that received probiotics and a control group of mice that only drank water. This suggests probiotics would maintain normal blood pressure levels, says computational biologist Dr. Jun Li at the City University of Hong Kong.

“Accumulated evidence supports an antihypertensive effect of probiotics and probiotic fermented foods in both in vitro and in vivo experiments,” Li says. “So we believed that the dietary intake of probiotic foods would well supplement traditional hypertension treatment.”

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Sugar’s deleterious effect on your microbiome

As part of their study, the researchers used genetic sequencing to explore links between altered gut microbiota and the change in blood pressure. They found a high-fructose diet in the mice led to growth of Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Firmicutes bacteria, while treatment with probiotics returned those populations to control group levels.

There were new microbial signatures associated with blood pressure as well. High levels of Lawsonia and Pyrolobus bacteria, and low levels of Alistipes and Alloprevotella, were connected with lower blood pressure.

The next step for the researchers is a large clinical trial to see if the protective effect of probiotics extends to humans. “Probiotics present a promising avenue in preventive medicine, offering potential in regulating hypertension and reshaping our approach to cardiovascular health,” Li says.

But with the growing evidence of the gut microbiome’s impact on whole body health, there’s absolutely no harm in seeking out these two probiotic strains. Not only may they help with your blood pressure, but they’ll help bring balance to your gut microbiome.

Luckily, Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus are common probiotic strains. Both of them are present in abundance in many fermented food sources. Specifically, Bifidobacterium lactis can be found in yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese and buttermilk. And Lactobacillus rhamnosus can be found in kefir, yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh and miso.

Of course, probiotics are also available in supplement form — and don’t forget to feed them prebiotics to help them do their job even better.

Sources:

Two probiotics identified as promising hypertension treatments — EurekAlert!

Probiotics Bifidobacterium lactis M8 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus M9 prevent high blood pressure via modulating the gut microbiota composition and host metabolic products — mSystems

Bifidobacterium lactis — International Probiotics Association

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus 101: Sources, Benefits, and Uses — Physician’s Choice

Can fermented or probiotic foods with added sugars be part of a healthy diet? — ISAPP

The post Why probiotics may be the next big thing for lower blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, people living in the black hole of depression often suffer not only from negative psychological feelings but also from physical symptoms.

Even worse, depression has been found to lead to a frighteningly high rate of other chronic illnesses. This makes taking steps to support your mental well-being vital if depression has come knocking at your door.

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Depression drags your health down 30% faster.

Recent research involving 172,556 volunteers in the UK Biobank study delved into the likelihood a person with depression has of ending up with one (or multiple) long-term physical conditions.

The team followed participants for nearly seven years, focusing on 69 physical conditions. Ultimately, the research revealed two disturbing findings…

The first is that even at the start of the study, people with depression were already behind the eight ball. That’s because the research showed that those with depression had an average of three physical conditions compared with an average of two in people without depression.

And if that weren’t worrisome enough, the results revealed that over the study period, adults with a history of depression accrued those healthy problems 30% faster than those without depression.

The most common new conditions people with depression were likely to suffer included:

• Osteoarthritis
• Hypertension
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

The results highlight that a previous diagnosis of depression is a risk market for accelerated development of long-term physical health conditions — and that depression should be viewed as a “whole body” condition.

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Recognizing depression

It’s crucial that we recognize the signs of depression early on. This research underscores the fact that if we want to safeguard our physical health, we must be proactive in identifying and addressing depression.

Psychological feelings of depression can include things like persistent sadness, anxiousness, hopelessness or pessimism.

You might also feel irritable, worthless, or helpless and lose interest in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed.

However, as we mentioned earlier, physical signs of depression are also a possibility. These can be issues such as:

• Sleep problems – 75% of those with depression experience problems falling or staying asleep.
• Chest pain – Depression can raise your heart rate, respiration and blood pressure.
• Fatigue often includes feeling exhausted even when you’ve had enough rest.
• Pain – People who are depressed are three times more likely to experience regular pain and four times more likely to get intense, disabling neck or back pain.
• Digestive trouble – Living with depression can upset your GI system, leading to nausea, indigestion, diarrhea or constipation.
• Headaches – Both tension-type headaches and migraines are common in people with depression.
• Weight or appetite changes – Depression can cause appetite changes in either direction.
• Agitation or restlessness – Irritability or anger has been reported in up to two-thirds of people with depression.
• Sexual dysfunction – Either depression itself or the prescription drugs given for it can result in loss of sex drive and performance issues.

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Because of all these symptoms, you might be tempted to turn to medication to help your depression.

It’s essential to consult a healthcare professional. They can provide guidance on what to expect from medications and help you make informed decisions.

Over the years, we’ve learned that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are only approximately 33% effective. Yet, they also carry a 33% higher risk of premature death.

For some people, talk therapy works better. You might consider using these lifestyle tips that research has shown to be key in breaking the catch-22 of depression.

Sources:

Depression linked with higher risk of long-term physical health conditions — EurekAlert!

9 physical signs you could have depression — Easy Health Options

Unraveling: The serotonin connection to depression — Easy Health Options

The post Depression can bring on physical illness 30% faster appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

However, your gut health is not just a matter of occasional discomfort. It plays a crucial role in your overall health — from regulating your mood to boosting your immunity and even controlling your blood pressure.

But unless you’ve recently been scoped or had a colonoscopy, figuring out why you strain to go #2, or maybe go too often, can be a guessing game.

Not anymore…

There’s a straightforward way to test a significant marker of gut health at home. And it’s easier than you might think. But don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Transit time: A window into your gut health

Gut problems are often first revealed by changes to your transit time. That term refers to how long it takes for food to be digested and pass through your intestines to be voided.

While transit time varies (from 12 to 73 hours), the average is 23 to 24 hours. In a healthy, balanced gut, that’s helped along by bacteria that produce metabolites from the food you eat to help your intestines move things along.

Without that balance, gut motility can swing from too fast to too slow — and both can cause trouble…

#1 – Long transit time

Long transit time is a way for your body to tell you that the bacteria in your large intestine aren’t getting enough fiber — or the right kind. When this happens, they switch to devouring protein, which can leave you gassy and inflamed.

When this goes on too long, slow gut transit can lead to abdominal pain, nausea and bloating from partially digested food that’s overstayed its time in the small intestine. A clue this is going on inside is spending too much time on the toilet and suffering from constipation.

#2 – Fast gut transit

You may suffer from loose stools when food moves too quickly through the gut. But worse is the big picture — that digested food is traveling out of your body too fast. That can lead to diarrhea, malabsorption of nutrients, dehydration, abdominal discomfort, and further gut microbiome disruption.

Some things that can cause fast transit are an overactive thyroid, gastrointestinal disorders, stress or poor diet.

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Take the sweet corn test

So, how can you know if your transit time is the reason for your toilet troubles?

Well, you’ll have to bear with me because this is where it gets kind of corny…

You can test your transit time by taking the sweet corn test.

Just eat sweet corn — and then watch for it to show up next time you go #2.

Start by avoiding sweet corn for 7-10 days. Then, note the day and time you eat a small serving. After that, keep an eye on your stool. Your body can’t digest the corn’s outer shell, so it should be easily visible.

If it takes 12 hours or less to pass the corn, your transit time is too fast. If this finding is consistent, you may want to see your doctor to rule out any health issues.

On the other hand, if your gut transit time takes 48 hours or more, it’s considered slow.

The good news is, if you’re not experiencing other GI symptoms, like bloating, severe abdominal pain, lack of appetite or nausea, you can take steps to improve your transit time…

Moving, moving, moving — No more raw hide

One of the first steps should be checking your water intake. If you’re not drinking enough, stool gets dry, and waste won’t move smoothly and easily.

Next, eat more fruits and vegetables, and a variety of them to ensure you take in both soluble and insoluble fiber so your waste is formed but soft. The two types of fiber will also support your gut’s microbiome.

For many people, these two steps may be enough. But if you still aren’t experiencing normal transit time or predictable bowel movements, these supplements can help you go #2…

• Magnesium — Attracts water into your stool, stimulates bowel contractions and relaxes the anal muscles.
• Potassium — Helps keep stool hydrated for comfortable elimination.
• Slippery Elm® — Coats the colon’s inner lining and eases swelling and discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.
• Dandelion — Helps stimulate bile production, the fluid that breaks down fats during digestion.
• Collinsonia canadensis extract — Reduces tension and uncomfortable swelling in the small anal opening.
• Fennel — Stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes, which helps break down food and form healthy stools.
• Senna Leaf — An FDA-approved, over-the-counter, nonprescription natural laxative.
• Inulin — A prebiotic to support healthy microbiome balance and promote a comfortable, passable stool consistency.
• Ancient Aloe — Lubricates the colon’s lining and stimulates colon muscles for smooth transit without uncomfortable cramping.

Sources:

How Well Is Your Gut Working? There’s a Grossly Simple Way to Check. – Science Alert

The post Eat this food to see why you can’t go #2 appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In 2021, there were 89,739 centenarians living in the United States, nearly twice as many as there were two decades ago.

So, what changed over the past 20 years? A few things:

• There have been more medical advances that allow people to live longer.
• Fewer people are smoking, and more are following a lifestyle that protects their heart health.
• Rapid population growth has also contributed to the influx of centenarians.

What about genetics?

While it’s true that genetics can play a role in enjoying life to 100 years of age, lifestyle is much more critical. And there’s one factor in your lifestyle that may give you a leg up in your quest to reach the century mark — and it focuses on one specific organ….

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The longevity organ

The gut microbiome, composed of trillions of “friendly” bacteria and other microbes, is proving to be central to our health.

A thriving gut microbiome not only contributes to your overall gut health but can affect dementia risk, support mental health, promote good sleep, and influence the health of your skin, muscles, heart, and immune system. And when your gut microbiome gets disrupted, it can trigger conditions like diabetes and obesity.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg…

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen studied the intestinal bacteria of 176 healthy Japanese centenarians to determine whether their gut microbiome had any influence on their longevity.

“Previous research has shown that the intestinal bacteria of old Japanese citizens produce brand new molecules that make them resistant to pathogenic — that is, disease-promoting — microorganisms,” says Joachim Johansen, a postdoc and first author of the study.

What these researchers discovered was that these centenarians had a unique combination of intestinal bacteria and bacterial viruses. In fact, one of the study’s findings was that specific viruses in the intestines can have a beneficial effect on the gut microbiome.

“Our intestines contain billions of viruses living of and inside bacteria, and they could not care less about human cells; instead, they infect the bacterial cells,” says Simon Rasmussen, a University of Copenhagen professor and last author of the study.

The researchers also found high biological diversity in the gut bacteria of the centenarians, which is usually associated with a healthy gut microbiome. This better protects them against aging-related diseases, Johansen notes.

The virus-bacteria connection

The researchers designed an algorithm to map the intestinal bacteria and bacterial viruses of the centenarians.

“We want to understand the dynamics of the intestinal flora,” Rasmussen says. “How do the different kinds of bacteria and viruses interact? How can we engineer a microbiome that can help us live healthy, long lives? Are some bacteria better than others?”

The researchers hope to use the algorithm to describe the balance between viruses and bacteria and determine what that optimal balance should be to protect the body against disease.

The obvious next step, Rasmussen says, is to find out whether only some or all of us have this combination of bacteria and viruses.

“Intestinal bacteria are a natural part of the human body and of our natural environment. And the crazy thing is that we can actually change the composition of intestinal bacteria. We cannot change the genes – at least not for a long time to come. If we know why viruses and intestinal bacteria are a good match, it will be a lot easier for us to change something that actually affects our health.”

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Diversify your longevity organ

If you want a gut full of diverse bacteria, a great way to start is by diversifying your diet.

A couple of years ago, researchers at Stanford School of Medicine found that a 10-week diet high in fermented foods boosted microbiome diversity and improved immune responses. According to those researchers, their findings are an example of how a simple diet change can remodel the microbiota.

Fermented foods are “foods made through desired microbial growth and enzymatic conversions of food components.”

Traditional Japanese cuisine places a heavy emphasis on fermented foods, including fermented bean paste (natto), tempeh, soy sauce, miso, rice vinegar and pickled vegetables. In fact, some type of fermented food is included at almost every meal.

Could this be the link to their longevity? Fermented foods are considered superfoods, so it certainly makes sense.

According to Tim Spector, an author and professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, “The Japanese love of many fermented soy products could be one reason that they have much better health than in the west, [and] stay slimmer despite eating lots of rice and other high carbohydrate food.”

If traditional Japanese fermented foods aren’t readily available to you, try adding Kombucha tea, kefir, yogurt and cottage cheese to your diet.

Sources:

Why do some people live to be a 100? Intestinal bacteria may hold the answer — University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

More people are living to be 100: Here’s why — The Hill

Fermented-food diet increases microbiome diversity, decreases inflammatory proteins, study finds — Stanford Medicine

New Global Definition for Fermented Foods — The Fermentation Society

Fermented Foods: Japan’s Secret to Good Health — Discover

The post How to support your longevity organ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

One of the problems with detecting esophageal cancer is that its symptoms are minimal, so it’s often not discovered until it’s pretty far advanced. That’s why it’s important to become more familiar with the precursor to this type of cancer — a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus….

What is Barrett’s esophagus?

Barrett’s esophagus occurs when the cells lining your esophagus change to resemble the cells lining your intestines. This causes the cells to become damaged and can lead to cancer of the esophagus.

Barrett’s esophagus is more common in people with GERD, a more severe form of acid reflux, and in middle-aged or older non-Hispanic males. About 5 percent of the roughly 30 million North Americans with GERD will develop Barrett’s esophagus.

Other risk factors include obesity, a decade or more of heartburn symptoms or a family history of Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer.

Experts believe the reason GERD raises the risk of Barrett’s esophagus is when the acidic liquid from the stomach flows backward into the esophagus, it irritates the lining and causes changes in the tissue. It’s important to note, however, that you can have Barrett’s esophagus without having GERD.

What are the symptoms?

One of the downsides of Barrett’s esophagus is there are no symptoms, so you often don’t even know you have it.

However, you can watch for heartburn symptoms, one of the conditions associated with Barrett’s esophagus. These include a burning sensation in the chest and acid regurgitation, which often feels like vomit in the back of the throat.

If you have heartburn that occurs at least twice a week, or that worsens or wakes you from sleep, those are signs you could be developing Barrett’s esophagus. It’s usually discovered after seeing your doctor for GERD symptoms or after developing esophageal cancer.

Other symptoms that could indicate Barrett’s esophagus include pain or difficulty swallowing, a sensation of food stuck in your esophagus, a constant sore throat, a sour taste in your mouth or bad breath. More serious symptoms include unintentional weight loss, blood in your stool or vomiting.

How can Barrett’s esophagus be treated?

Doctors can only diagnose Barrett’s esophagus through an upper endoscopy, a procedure that involves inserting a lighted tube with a camera into the throat to examine the tissue. The diagnosis is confirmed by conducting a tissue sample biopsy obtained through the endoscope.

Treatment depends largely on the presence of symptoms and whether the biopsy detects precancerous cells. If no precancerous cells are detected, no treatment is needed, but your doctor will likely want to monitor the condition by conducting an upper endoscopy every two to three years.

If the procedure does detect some precancerous cells, your doctor may recommend more frequent monitoring every six months or so. However, if there are substantial changes in the esophageal lining and numerous precancerous cells are detected, removal of the damaged tissue through surgery may be recommended.

Can Barrett’s esophagus be prevented?

The best way to prevent Barrett’s esophagus from developing is to treat heartburn or GERD symptoms right away. Untreated heartburn raises the risk of esophageal cancer by 64 times.

Your doctor may prescribe medications to decrease stomach acid, which can protect your esophagus from damage. However, these medications do have some side effects. Long-term use of one common class of drugs prescribed for acid reflux, proton pump inhibitors, has been linked with bone fractures, chronic kidney disease, gut infections, stomach cancer and diabetes, among other disorders.

Making lifestyle and dietary changes may help prevent acid reflux, GERD and heartburn.

“Diet plays a major role in controlling acid reflux symptoms and is the first line of therapy used for people with GERD,” says Ekta Gupta, M.B.B.S., M.D., gastroenterologist with Johns Hopkins Medicine.

They recommend limiting problem foods that can trigger heartburn or GERD symptoms, like fried or fatty foods, chocolate, carbonated drinks and tomato sauce. Instead eat high-fiber foods, including whole grains, root vegetables and green vegetables.

They also note that foods fall somewhere along the pH scale (an indicator of acid levels). Those that have a low pH are acidic and more likely to cause reflux. Those with higher pH are alkaline and can help offset strong stomach acid. Some alkaline foods are bananas, cauliflower, broccoli and nuts.

You should also maintain a healthy weight and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, both of which can irritate the esophageal lining. Also, it’s helpful to eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime and sleep on a slight incline to prevent stomach acid from backing up into the esophagus.

If you already suffer from heartburn, acid reflux or GERD, there are some natural remedies you can explore in this article, including baking soda and apple cider vinegar.

Sources:

Barrett’s Esophagus — Cleveland Clinic

Barrett’s Esophagus — Johns Hopkins Medicine

The post Barrett’s esophagus: The GERD and cancer connection appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s long been considered the culprit behind gastritis — a condition that causes pain under the ribs, indigestion, nausea, sometimes vomiting and weight loss. It’s also the most common cause of peptic ulcer disease.

On the mild side, it can cause bad breath. But left untreated, this bacteria can be responsible for gastric cancer.

But the latest on this nasty bacteria indicates it’s capable of even more harm…

According to research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, H. pylori could also dramatically raise your risk of developing deadly colorectal cancer.

More than just a stomach bacteria

Although H. pylori is known for its ability to make its home in the stomach and cause all of those issues we talked about, the truth is that the stomach is simply one stop on a long trip through the digestive system which includes the gastrointestinal tract.

This means that H. pylori can spread and cause problems throughout the bowels.

That fact got doctors at the University of California San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System wondering if H. pylori could also play a role in colorectal cancer.

To test the association, they conducted a retrospective cohort study among U.S. military veterans who completed H. pylori testing from 1999 through 2018. In all, the researchers followed 812,736 individuals, 205,178 of whom tested positive for H. pylori.

And sure enough, the bacteria known for its role in stomach cancer showed a clear link to cancers lower down the gastrointestinal tract.

They found that people with an H. pylori infection were not only at an 18 percent higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, but they also experienced a 12 percent increased risk of dying from that cancer.

That’s a big risk increase, especially when you consider that colorectal is already one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

Treatment reduces threat of cancer

An H. pylori infection is treatable — and doing so is key to downgrading that cancer risk.

Their results showed that antibiotic treatment of H. pylori infection reduced the risk of colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer death by a magnitude similar to that afforded by regular colonoscopy screening.

This means that if you have an H. pylori infection, getting treatment as soon as possible could not only help with any stomach discomfort and ulcers, it could potentially protect you from colon cancer.

Additionally, there are natural options for making H. pylori less welcome in your entire gastrointestinal tract…

• Research published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology says that some of the best natural remedies to reduce this bad bacteria include probiotics, broccoli sprouts, green tea, honey, licorice and red wine. The last two on that list should be used only in moderation.
• Scientists at the Department of Cancer Epidemiology at Peking University Cancer Hospital found that drinking cranberry juice twice daily for eight weeks resulted in a 20 percent reduction in the rate of H. pylori infection.
• Kefir, is rich in both a beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus kefiri) and a carbohydrate (Kefiran) with proven bacteria-fighting abilities, can help cut down on H. pylori.

Sources:

More Evidence Linking H. Pylori Infection to Colorectal Cancer – MEDPAGETODAY

The post The bacterial infection with a growing colon cancer reputation appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Research suggests roughly 80 percent of people who lose significant body fat won’t maintain that degree of weight loss for a year. In fact, one meta-analysis of studies found dieters regain on average more than half of what they lose within two years.

But whether it’s for better health or lifestyle, when a new weight loss method is discovered, there’s no shortage of people willing to jump on the bandwagon — especially when the answer seems only a pill or an injection away…

The latest of these discoveries is the GLP-1 agonist class of medicines. Originally intended to treat diabetes, doctors eventually saw the patients using these drugs were also losing significant amounts of weight. Once this became apparent, a whole new class of weight-loss drugs was born.

Unfortunately, while these drugs have become hugely popular, there are some big drawbacks to them that even doctors admit. There’s also the black box warning, rebound weight and the outrageous cost—about $1,400 a month if insurance doesn’t cover it. And yes, these drugs hit a weight loss plateau too.

And now we’re learning these drugs may set users up for stomach issues that could lead to increased risk for diabetes, poor nutritional absorption and pancreatic cancer.

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GLP-1 agonists and stomach issues

The way GLP-1 agonists work— like Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda, and Victoza — is that they slow the speed at which food passes through the stomach, making people feel fuller for longer. Therein lies a problem…

Researchers in Canada analyzed data from 5,411 non-diabetic obese patients taking various GLP-1 agonists for weight loss. The results were sobering, with a number of these patients experiencing various digestive issues.

What the study found was an increased risk of problems including pancreatitis, gastroparesis and bowel obstruction in patients using GLP-1 drugs, compared with a medication that doesn’t activate the same chemical pathways as GLP-1.

It’s important to note that while the risk is increased for GLP-1 drugs, it’s still relatively small. For instance, 0.8 percent of people taking the GLP-1 medication Saxenda reported bowel obstructions, compared with 0.17 percent of people taking Contrave, a non-GLP-1 drug.

Still, that’s a fourfold increase in risk of bowel obstruction for patients taking Saxenda.

“When you have millions of people using these drugs, you know, a 1 percent risk still translates to many people who may experience these events,” epidemiologist Mahyar Etminan from the University of British Columbia tells CNN.

These are not minor digestive problems…

• Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that, if it lasts long-term, could raise your risk of diabetes, poor nutritional absorption and pancreatic cancer.
• Gastroparesis is a paralysis of the stomach that can lead to acid reflux, malnutrition and dehydration, blood sugar imbalances and stomach obstruction.
• And bowel obstruction is a potentially deadly medical emergency that requires immediate intervention, often surgery, to repair.

This isn’t the first time this connection has been made. The companies that manufacture GLP-1 agonists have acknowledged the possibility of digestive complications, but say they are known side effects and only affect a small fraction of users.

Still, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already ruled that Ozempic should come with a warning indicating the variety of gastrointestinal disorders reported by users of the medication. It’s likely only a matter of time before they require the same of other GLP-1 agonists.

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More research is needed

The study didn’t cover all GLP-1-related treatments and didn’t go into why these drugs are increasing the associated health risks. Nor did it prove cause and effect. However, the results indicate further investigation is needed in this area.

“Given the wide use of these drugs, these adverse events, although rare, must be considered by patients who are contemplating using the drugs for weight loss because the risk-benefit calculus for this group might differ from that of those who use them for diabetes,” the researchers write in their published paper.

Luckily, if you’re truly committed to losing weight and keeping it off, there are a number of natural alternatives to these drugs that I wrote about in a past article. Any of these methods can help you be one of those who successfully beat the weight loss odds.

Sources:

Popular New Weight Loss Drugs Linked to Digestive Problems — ScienceAlert

Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss — JAMA

Unexpected Clues Emerge About Why Diets Fail — Scientific American

Researchers link popular weight loss drugs to serious digestive problems for ‘hundreds of thousands’ worldwide — CNN

Pancreatitis — Johns Hopkins Medicine

Gastroparesis — Cleveland Clinic

Bowel Obstruction — Cleveland Clinic

Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC): Ozempic — U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The post When wonder drugs lead to pancreatitis, gastroparesis and bowel obstruction appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Even when disease is present, eating well may help control symptoms, manage progression and keep the need for medications (that often come with nasty side effects) to a minimum.

Well, score another point for food vs. medication, thanks to recent research proving once again that food is the best medicine…

Peak Digestion^™

Gas, stomach upset, loose bowels, stomach cramps, headache and fatigue. These are all symptoms of a problem more common than you may think: Gluten intolerance. It’s often linked to autoimmune issues. Instead of the body digesting the protein, it treats gluten as an… MORE⟩⟩

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What is IBS?

It’s not unusual to have the occasional bout of stomach trouble — stomach pain, gas, diarrhea or constipation can happen to anyone from time to time.

But if you’re dealing with these symptoms on a regular basis, it could be a sign of a gut disorder known as irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.

No one really knows why IBS strikes some folks and spares others. Unfortunately, it’s fairly common, and can take over your life, leaving you afraid to ever be far from a bathroom… just in case.

But the “inconvenience” of IBS isn’t the worst of it: if you suffer from IBS, you’re not absorbing the important nutrients you need to maintain your health.

Treating IBS

Your doctor may prescribe medications that address the symptoms of IBS by relaxing muscle contractions of the colon to ease diarrhea or by increasing fluid secretion in your small intestine to help you pass stool and avoid constipation. 

Research has shown that following a low FODMAP diet can go a long way in reducing the bowel troubles of IBS and the discomfort that comes along with it.

FODMAP is an acronym for Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols.

FODMAP works because it decreases the consumption of different carbohydrates (sugars) found in foods — specifically fructose, lactose, fructans, galactans and polyols. They are hard to digest and end up lingering in the gut where they ferment and cause the uncomfortable and unpleasant symptoms of IBS.

But which works better, medication or a change in diet?

A recent study found the answer…

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FODMAP is the clear winner

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden gave three different treatments to three groups of 100 people each — all of whom had moderate to severe IBS symptoms.

The first group was instructed to follow a FODMAP diet. The second group received a dietary treatment low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fats.

The third group received the best possible medication based on the patient’s most troublesome IBS symptoms.

At the end of the four-week treatment period, 76% of those in the FODMAP group saw a reduction in symptoms. In the group receiving low carb and high protein and fat, 71% saw reduced symptoms. The medication group had a reduction of only 58%.

This is good news since traditional medications for IBS can produce side effects ranging from headache, fatigue and heartburn to diarrhea, gas and abdominal pain — the very symptoms they’re meant to eliminate.

How to eat FODMAP

If you or a loved one are living with IBS, you’ll want to give the FODMAP diet a try before turning to medication.

Here are the basics.

Some foods to avoid are:

• High fructose corn syrup
• Dairy items that are high in lactose like milk, ice cream, buttermilk and sour cream
• Grains that contain gluten like wheat, barley and rye
• Certain fruits like apples, mangoes, peaches, pears, plums and watermelon
• Some vegetables like artichokes, cauliflower, mushrooms and sugar snap peas
• Beans and lentils

What you should eat:

• Meat, fish and eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Corn, oats and rice
• Healthy fats and oils (like EVOO)
• Herbs and spices
• Lactose-free dairy products, as well as hard cheese

Fresh fruits and vegetables that are safe to eat on this diet, include:

• Peppers
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Unripe bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Oranges
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Pineapple
• Grapes

People who suffer from IBS also tend to have certain triggers that cause their symptoms to kick up. Watch out for these 4 things that can cause an IBS flare.

Sources:

Dietary treatment more effective than medicines in IBS — Science Daily

A low FODMAP diet plus traditional dietary advice versus a low-carbohydrate diet versus pharmacological treatment in irritable bowel syndrome (CARBIS): a single-centre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial — The LancetFODMAP Diet: What You Need to Know — Johns Hopkins Medicine

The post Study confirms an IBS treatment better than medicine appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligo-di-monosaccharides and polyols. A low FODMAP diet involves decreasing the consumption of FODMAP foods, which can linger in the gut where they ferment and cause the uncomfortable and unpleasant symptoms of IBS.

Foods to avoid include:

• High fructose corn syrup
• Dairy items that are high in lactose like milk, ice cream, buttermilk and sour cream
• Grains that contain gluten like wheat, barley and rye
• Certain fruits like apples, mangoes, peaches, pears, plums and watermelon
• Some vegetables like artichokes, cauliflower, mushrooms and sugar snap peas
• Beans and lentils

The low FODMAP diet was confirmed to work better than medication, but I do get frustrated with how limiting. So I was excited to read about a Swedish study indicating there may be a much simpler way to manage IBS…

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A genetic link to sugar and starch

Bodil Ohlsson, a professor at Lund University, has been investigating the role of sugars and starches in IBS. Her choice is linked to a geneticist’s discovery that more IBS patients tend to have a genetic variation that hinders the breakdown of sugars and starches in the gut.

“‘Let’s try giving these patients less sugar and starch,’ we thought,” Ohlsson says.

A few years ago, she led a study in which 105 people with IBS ate significantly less sugar and starch for four weeks. This diet, known as the starch and sucrose-reduced diet (SSRD), called for avoiding sweets and highly processed foods, including ready-to-eat meals.

The results showed that SSRD greatly reduced IBS symptoms such as recurring pain and tightness in the abdomen and diarrhea and/or constipation.

A more recent study compares SSRD to the FODMAP diet, which is a stricter, more regulated diet than SSRD. The study involved 155 IBS patients who were randomly assigned to follow either SSRD or the low FODMAP diet for four weeks. Before the trial, they were not allowed to have been on any specific diet.

Participants in both groups had to follow the basic principles of each diet; however, they chose how often or regularly they ate.

Results showed that in both groups, regardless of diet, IBS symptoms improved in 75 to 80 percent of the patients. This was even better than the researchers had expected.

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A nice bonus was that in the SSRD group, not only did sugar cravings decrease the most, but weight loss was greater. This is positive because IBS patients tend to weigh more on average than healthy people, Ohlsson says.

 “We wouldn’t really even call SSRD a diet,” she says. “It’s how everyone should eat, not just those with IBS. And unlike low FODMAP, SSRD is easy to understand and easier to follow.”

Ohlsson adds that on SSRD, it’s not necessary to be super-strict at all times. “You can eat everything when you are invited to dinner, just less of certain things,” she says. “If you rest your stomach for the rest of the week, you can indulge a little one day!”

One less thing to stress about

Because stress can be an IBS trigger, having one less thing to stress about, like a super strict diet, is a huge plus.

But omitting sugar and starch is another way that less stress is also built into the SSRD…

That’s because when we eat sugar, our blood glucose rises. The more sugar (or starchy foods) you eat, the faster it rises. This kickstarts the adrenal glands to start pumping out cortisol, the stress hormone.

When our cortisol levels are raised often and for prolonged periods, the adrenal glands can malfunction and begin producing insufficient levels of cortisol, which can be just as problematic.

To help balance cortisol, in addition to avoiding sugar and starch, it’s a good idea to include stress and anxiety-reducing practices as part of your self-care routine.

Sources:

Cutting out sugar and starch is as effective for IBS as current recommendations — EurekAlert!

A Starch- and Sucrose-Reduced Diet Has Similar Efficiency as Low FODMAP in IBS—A Randomized Non-Inferiority Study — Nutients

Digestive symptoms in daily life of chronic adrenal insufficiency patients are similar to irritable bowel syndrome symptoms— PubMed Central®

The post Ditch IBS symptoms when you ditch just 2 foods appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, it’s the leading cause of hospital admissions due to gastrointestinal disease.

Roughly 20 percent of patients develop moderate to severe pancreatitis which can lead to lifelong complications that significantly affect their quality of life. In severe cases, patients can die.

In pancreatitis, digestive enzymes become activated too soon, causing them to attack the pancreas, resulting in inflammation and swelling that over time, may not heal or worsen leaving lasting damage.

That’s why repeat attacks can lead to chronic pancreatitis, a long-term condition that leads to poor nutritional absorption and increased risks for diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

Fortunately, researchers see the gravity of the situation — specifically the urgent need for a therapy that could inhibit early injury to the pancreas.

They may have the answer in a simple vitamin…

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Gas, stomach upset, loose bowels, stomach cramps, headache and fatigue. These are all symptoms of a problem more common than you may think: Gluten intolerance. It’s often linked to autoimmune issues. Instead of the body digesting the protein, it treats gluten as an… MORE⟩⟩

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Vitamin B12 could be the key

Researchers used human genetic epidemiology meta-analyses to investigate the relationships between various nutrients and the risk of pancreatitis.

Their analysis revealed that higher vitamin B12 levels were strongly linked to a reduced risk of developing different types of pancreatitis.

Next, the researchers investigated the potential protective and therapeutic effects of vitamin B12 in mice with pancreatitis. They saw that vitamin B12:

• directly protected acinar cells (80 percent of pancreatic cells) from dying during the early stages of acute pancreatitis;
• reduced T lymphocyte infiltration, meaning it stopped T cells from attacking the pancreas.

Artificially increasing blood levels of B12, before and after pancreatitis induction in the mice, not only reduced the severity of the condition but promoted tissue repair after pancreatic injury.

Previous studies of vitamin B12 in pancreatitis found the nutrient protects against pancreatic damage by suppressing oxidative stress and improving mitochondria dysfunction.

However, in the most recent study, vitamin B12’s protective effects in pancreatitis were not mediated the way the researchers expected, through the reduction of homocysteine or the glutathione pathways…

Instead, the nutrient was found to enhance the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in pancreatic tissue:

• reducing acinar cell death,
• preventing disease progression,
• and alleviating pancreatic damage.

This further supports the theory that B12’s protective effects result from improved energy supply rather than oxidative stress regulation, as previously thought.

“These exciting new findings add to the growing evidence that vitamin B12 can reduce the severity of acute pancreatitis by increasing ATP levels in pancreatic tissue, offering novel insights into potential therapeutic strategies for this disease,” says senior author Dr. Xianming Mo of Sichuan University. “This study lays a robust foundation for future clinical applications of vitamin B12 in managing acute pancreatitis,”

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Causes and symptoms of acute pancreatitis

The two most common causes of pancreatitis (up to 80 percent of cases) are gallstones and heavy drinking.

Scientists hypothesize that the toxic byproducts of alcohol in the blood cause an inflammatory response in the pancreas, or possibly activate the digestive enzymes inside the pancreas

Less common causes include:

• High blood triglycerides
• Very high levels of calcium in the blood
• Infections such as mumps, hepatitis A or B or salmonella
• Cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic disease that causes recurring lung infections
• Tumors
• Certain genetic defects or congenital abnormalities in the pancreas
• Belly injury, surgery or trauma to the pancreas
• Certain medications such as estrogens, steroids and thiazide diuretics

A classic symptom of pancreatitis is belly button pain that may spread to the back or chest. Other symptoms include:

• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Fever
• Swelling and feeling sore or tender in the upper belly
• Fluid buildup in the belly
• Lowered blood pressure
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to seek medical care. Treatment for acute pancreatitis usually involves resting the pancreas to let it heal and may require a few days in the hospital, IV fluids, pain medication and antibiotics.

In mild cases, patients can eat clear liquids or a low-fat diet. But in severe cases, they may not be able to eat or drink for a few days, and in some extreme situations, a feeding tube may be needed.

Sources:

1. Vitamin B12 Identified as a potential therapeutic agent in the prevention and treatment of acute pancreatitis — EurekAlert!

2. Vitamin B₁₂ protects necrosis of acinar cells in pancreatic tissues with acute pancreatitis — MedComm

3. Pancreatitis — Johns Hopkins Medicine

4. Calcium, mitochondria and the initiation of acute pancreatitis — Pancreatology

5. Vitamin B₁₂ Attenuates Acute Pancreatitis by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Improving Mitochondria Dysfunction via CBS/SIRT1 Pathway — Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

6. Vitamin B12 — National Institutes of Health

The post The vitamin that could treat and prevent pancreatitis appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

No one knows for sure what causes a leaky gut, but it seems to be tied to unhealthy habits like eating too much sugar, taking y NSAID painkillers (ibuprofen) often and drinking alcohol frequently. Stress also plays a big part in the problem.

Fortunately for us, there are natural ways to prevent and relieve this problem that plagues so many of us… and there’s one you may not know about.

First, let’s talk about leaky gut syndrome…

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What is a leaky gut?

Simply put, a leaky gut is just what it sounds like it is.

Normally, the intestinal lining acts as a strong barrier facilitating the digestive process. A healthy barrier allows nutrients to be absorbed in the small intestines and waste to exit the body.

But if the intestinal lining is weakened and eventually becomes permeable — or leaky — undigested food particles, toxins and bacteria leak into the bloodstream.

This can spur an inflammation (a sign of biological stress) cascade that, though initiated to repair itself, triggers the immune system to respond as if attacking foreign invaders.

The result: diarrhea and constipation, frequent infections, depression, anxiety, food sensitivities, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis and even thyroid problems.

As the immune assault on your gut continues, it triggers other symptoms: joint pain, headaches, fatigue, bloating, weight gain, digestive issues… and could contribute to an autoimmune condition.

Brazil nuts can de-stress your gut

What you eat (or don’t) is the main factor in causing leaky gut … or making it better. For many people, eliminating gluten from their diet is the magic bullet that cures a leaky gut.

Other folks need to add things to their diet. For example, eating more fiber is known to re-establish a strong intestinal barrier.

But a team of researchers in Brazil may have found a tastier and easier way…

They’ve shown that eating just a few Brazil nuts a day can reduce inflammation and improve a leaky gut.

Their study included 46 female volunteers with a body mass index (BMI) that classified them as overweight or obese. Past research has linked obesity with increased gut permeability and inflammation.

The women were split into two groups. Over eight weeks, both groups followed a calorie-controlled diet, with one group snacking on just two Brazil nuts a day, and the other group not having any Brazil nuts.

The research team found that the group who ate Brazil nuts showed improvements in intestinal permeability, meaning that fewer toxins were “leaking” out of the gut. Inflammation was also significantly reduced.

The team felt that these changes were associated with the trace mineral selenium found abundantly in Brazil nuts.

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Other benefits of selenium, and where to find it

You don’t need a ton of selenium in your diet, but getting the small amount your body requires is important for protecting the brain and maintaining a healthy weight.

Selenium is also crucial for keeping your thyroid gland functioning properly and has been linked with reducing weight gain and promoting longevity. Sounds like a win.

So where do you find selenium?

Most people who eat a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish or meat will have good selenium levels.

But Brazil nuts are the highest food source of selenium, with just an ounce (6-8 nuts) containing 544mcg. A great choice if your diet is lacking.

If you have a nut allergy, other sources of selenium include:

• Tuna
• Sardines
• Halibut
• Turkey
• Beef liver
• Chicken
• Cottage cheese
• Brown rice
• Eggs
• Whole wheat bread
• Oatmeal
• Baked beans

Sources:

A Few Brazil Nuts Each Day Could Be Just The Thing Your Stressed Gut Needs — Science Alert

Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) Consumption in Energy-Restricted Intervention Decreases Proinflammatory Markers and Intestinal Permeability of Women with Overweight/Obesity: A Controlled Trial (Brazilian Nuts Study) — The Journal of Nutrition

The post The nut that heals a leaky gut appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There are now more than 100 autoimmune diseases — from rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s to lupus and inflammatory bowel disease. It was just a few years ago that we learned the chances of being diagnosed with one have gone up dramatically, especially if you’re a woman or over 50.

Research has known that autoimmunity happens via a trigger that creates havoc in your body, causing your immune system to suddenly attack itself — often one or more of your organs with varying degrees of damage.

They’ve also known inflammation fuels the flames of autoimmune disease. That’s why treatment has focused on easing symptoms with medications such as steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

But over the last couple of decades, one ingredient heavy in the standard American diet has been the subject of a lot of finger-pointing and blame. That would be gluten, the infamous wheat protein.

But in the medical world, the only disease blamed on gluten has been celiac. A debate has even raged on about whether people can be harmed by gluten who are only “sensitive” to it.

Now, finally, gluten is being put under the microscope and scientists are taking a closer look at the far-reaching harm it can do…

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Gas, stomach upset, loose bowels, stomach cramps, headache and fatigue. These are all symptoms of a problem more common than you may think: Gluten intolerance. It’s often linked to autoimmune issues. Instead of the body digesting the protein, it treats gluten as an… MORE⟩⟩

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A proinflammatory inducer of autoimmunity

For years, naturopaths and other alternative medicine specialists have warned that eating gluten could lead to wide-ranging ill effects, including autoimmune problems beyond celiac disease.

I’ve read and heard many firsthand accounts from individuals who have seen major health improvements, from reducing joint discomfort to clearing brain fog, managing high blood pressure and overcoming type 2 diabetes, just from avoiding gluten.

However, this has largely been pooh-poohed by the traditional medical establishment.

The new research suggests, however, that gluten and one of its key components, gliadin, which is blamed for inducing the harmful immune responses seen in celiac disease, has a much broader role in inflammatory and autoimmune disease than has previously been accepted…

How gluten fuels autoimmune disease

The researchers nailed down multiple pathways by which the gluten protein leads to autoimmune problems, including:

• Inducing gut inflammation – According to the researchers, gliadin peptides found in gluten induce mucosal inflammation in the gut, causing epithelial damage (that’s damage to the cells in the gut lining) and intestinal dysbiosis (imbalance of the microbiome), which can lead to celiac disease.
• Sending inflammation body-wide – The scientists also found that gluten peptides can compromise gut permeability, allowing immunogenic molecules to leak out to the rest of the body and trigger autoimmune responses in remote organs. (This process describes what’s known as Leaky gut syndrome, a condition that hasn’t been widely accepted in the medical community.)
• Setting off an inflammatory cascade – This gluten-mediated inflammatory cascade is thought to be involved in a range of autoimmune diseases, including dermatitis herpetiformis, gluten ataxia, gluten allergy, and potentially other non-celiac auto-inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions.

The researchers’ conclusion?

Gluten is a pro-inflammatory molecule that plays a crucial role, not only in celiac disease, but also other chronic inflammatory, metabolic, and autoimmune disorders — and giving up gluten could help alleviate disease activity, making going gluten-free an actual treatment, not just a way to reduce symptoms.

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Battling back against the autoimmune effects of gluten

The researchers recommend that if you’re living with autoimmune issues, choosing a gluten-free Mediterranean diet is the way to go. However, there’s one important thing to remember… gluten is everywhere.

It’s hidden in vegetarian meat alternatives and condiments ranging from soy sauce to salad dressings. It’s lurking in bacon bits and canned soups. It can be found in the milkshake you order at the drive-thru. It’s even used as filler for the medicines you get at the pharmacy.

That makes completely avoiding gluten nearly impossible and why I typically suggest the extra protection that proteolytic enzymes can offer. Proteolytic enzyme treatments were first used in Germany in the 1960s for inflammation, osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases and viral infections.

They usually contain a mixture of protein-digesting enzymes, including papain and bromelain, that promote digestive comfort and aid in the digestion of gluten peptides to guard against side effects like cramping, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and gas. Pineapple stem is a good source of bromelain and papain is obtained from the papaya plant and fruits.

For more tips on avoiding gluten see what my colleague Margaret Cantwell has to say about her 10 favorite ways to reduce inflammation and a little about her personal journey with gluten sensitivity. And if you’re not sure if gluten could be the root of your problems, consider an elimination diet. Here’s how.

Sources:

Gluten is a proinflammatory inducer of autoimmunity — EurekAlert!

Revitalize your brain – and joints? – with this one diet secret — Easy Health Options

Gluten: The “after-50” food allergy — Easy Health Options

The inactive ingredients in pills that trigger allergies — Easy Health Options

Autoimmunity indicators on the rise among Americans — Harvard Health Publishing

Autoimmunity Has Reached Epidemic Levels. We Need Urgent Action to Address It — Scientific American

Proteolytic enzymes — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The post Researchers conclude: Gluten’s harm goes way beyond Celiac   appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Yogurt is packed with probiotics such as Bifidobacterium animalis that help keep the gut in tiptop shape. And when the gut is healthy, your digestion, mood and cognition are supported — and you can worry less about risks for obesity, diabetes and colon cancer.

As for honey, it also has been found to support a healthy gut, a healthy mouth, cut down on strep and bladder infections, upper respiratory infections and coughs as well as relieve seasonal allergies.

But there is one thing I worry about when I have this snack. I’ve heard that adding sweeteners like sugar to yogurt can disrupt yogurt’s probiotics. Is the same true of honey?

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Gas, stomach upset, loose bowels, stomach cramps, headache and fatigue. These are all symptoms of a problem more common than you may think: Gluten intolerance. It’s often linked to autoimmune issues. Instead of the body digesting the protein, it treats gluten as an… MORE⟩⟩

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A perfect pair for your gut

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign wanted to explore the impact of the yogurt-honey combination on the gastrointestinal microbiome. They were particularly interested in whether honey could help probiotic bacteria survive the onslaught of digestive enzymes in the gut.

To do so, they conducted two separate studies. In the first, they did laboratory tests of four different kinds of honey to see whether they had any effect on the viability of B. animalis in yogurt as it went through the digestive process. The types of honey were alfalfa, buckwheat, clover and orange blossom. The yogurt and honey were put in solutions that mimicked the composition of saliva, stomach acid, intestinal bile and enzymes.

When mixed with saliva and stomach fluids, there were no differences in B. animalis survival between any of the honey types and control samples of yogurt mixed with sugar or water. But in the intestinal phase of digestion, yogurt with honey — particularly the clover variety — helped support probiotic survival.

The second study was a clinical trial involving 66 healthy adults who were asked to consume two different items for two weeks each: yogurt with clover honey and pasteurized, heat-treated yogurt. In addition to stool samples and information about their bowel movements, the participants filled out questionnaires and performed tasks evaluating their mood, cognition and overall well-being.

“Our findings showed that pairing honey with yogurt supported the survival of the yogurt’s probiotic bacteria in the gut, so the lab study results did translate to real-world application in humans,” says study co-author Hannah Holscher, a professor at Illinois.

The researchers did note there were no changes in intestinal transit time, frequency of bowel movements, mood or cognition. However, Holscher says this likely is because the participants were already healthy and had regular bowel movements.

The researchers also conducted a smaller follow-up study with 36 participants who consumed a third item: yogurt with sugar. Once again, yogurt with honey proved to preserve the most probiotics, but there were no effects on health measures.

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Good in moderation

Judging from the results of these studies, it looks like mixing yogurt with honey is a great way to preserve as many of the probiotics in the yogurt as possible.

In addition, Holscher suggests incorporating fiber-rich toppings such as berries and seeds or nuts to give your yogurt an extra boost of gut-protecting power.

One tablespoon of honey in a serving of yogurt seemed to be the magic number in the study. One thing to remember, however: as healthy as honey can be, it is still an added sweetener and a source of extra calories.

Holscher recommends keeping a close eye on the amount of sugar in your diet to maintain a healthy body weight “But adding a little bit of honey to unsweetened yogurt is a nice culinary pairing to incorporate into your menu rotation,” she says.

One final tip: Though it’s hard to separate myth from fact on this, many honey experts suggest using a wooden spoon instead of a metal one to dip out your honey. Some metals interact with acids in honey and that may kill enzymes that are part of honey’s health benefits.

Sources:

Honey added to yogurt supports probiotic cultures for digestive health — EurekAlert!

Honey Varietals Differentially Impact Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Survivability in Yogurt through Simulated In Vitro Digestion — The Journal of Nutrition

Honey Added to Yogurt with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DN-173 010/CNCM I-2494 Supports Probiotic Enrichment but Does Not Reduce Intestinal Transit Time in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial — The Journal of Nutrition

10 Foods with More Calcium than a Glass of Milk — EatingWell

Why Does Yogurt Contain Sugar? — The Candida Diet

Metal vs. Wooden Honey Spoons — Vickiesbees.com

The post  The sweet truth about yogurt, honey and your gut appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And while approximately 50 percent of people living with IBD can find relief from their chronic fatigue simply by taking vitamin B1 (thiamine), the other half are left to wonder why the treatment didn’t work for them.

But that’s all changed thanks to researchers at Aarhus University who discovered the gut secret that turns thiamine into an energy-generating machine for people with IBD.

Here’s what makes B1 work…

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The single most important gut bacteria

“We know that about half of the fatigued patients benefit from treatment with vitamin B1, but we haven’t been able to find anything that distinguishes those who had an effect from those who did not,” said Professor Christian Lodberg Hvas, lead author of the study.

So his team of scientists set out to examine 40 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and chronic fatigue. Each patient received both vitamin B1 and a placebo in two periods of four weeks so that the researchers could determine if the vitamin treatment affected their exhaustion.

At the same time, the researchers analyzed every patient’s gut bacteria to see if a connection existed between specific gut bacteria and whether or not vitamin B1 worked to eliminate fatigue.

And sure enough, the team found exactly what they were looking for…

The scientists were able to determine that the only way a person with IBD could get relief from their fatigue by taking vitamin B1 was if their gut microbiome had enough of one single gut bacteria…

Known as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii or FP, “the bacterium is largely present in people with good health and only present in low numbers in people with chronic diseases. We don’t know if it’s just a marker for health or if it’s part of the reason why healthy people are indeed healthy,” explained Hvas.

“But the more studies that point to a beneficial effect of FP, the more it suggests that the bacterium is involved as a cause of health and not just as a bystander,” he added.

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The path to a cure

Because of their results, the researchers recommend vitamin B1 treatment for anyone who’s living with IBD-caused fatigue.

However, as the study showed, only 50 percent of people (those who actually have the FP bacterium in the gut) will respond to the treatment.

Luckily, previous studies have shown that inulin-type fructans work to raise FP levels. Fructans are prebiotic fibers that work to nourish good gut bacteria.

You can get them from eating foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, including:

• Onions
• Leeks
• Garlic
• Bananas

Additional research shows that another type of prebiotic called human milk oligosaccharides or HMOs – specifically, the HMO, 2’-Fucosyllactose — is capable of boosting the stool count of FP in adults. 2’-Fucosyllactose is also easy to find in supplement form online or at your local vitamin store.

So, by boosting FP and taking vitamin B1, people with IBD still looking for relief from fatigue may find it.

Finally, anyone who suffers from IBD should be aware that researchers recommend taking your diet plant-based with plenty of fiber. If you’re not a believer, be sure to read this man’s story, since by changing his diet, he was able to experience a complete and total absence of symptoms.

Sources:

Vitamin B is an effective cure for many intestinal patients with chronic fatigue — EurekAlert!

Dietary Factors and Modulation of Bacteria Strains of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: A Systematic Review — NIH

Oral supplementation of healthy adults with 2′-O-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-neotetraose is well tolerated and shifts the intestinal microbiota — NIH

The post The vitamin-bacteria combo that beats IBD fatigue appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It has that reputation because it often has no obvious symptoms. But all the while, beneath the surface, it’s damaging blood vessels, causing heart disease and raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.

However, it seems like there’s a new threat that may be just as pervasive and sneaky, making up 60 percent of the average American adult’s diet.

From fizzy drinks to cereals and packaged snacks to processed meat — ultra-processed foods are industrially made, using ingredients not normally found in a domestic kitchen and not previously encountered by human physiology.

Not only have these foods been linked to cancer, heart disease and 30 other conditions, but they’re cutting life expectancy short — causing experts who authored a commentary published in The American Journal of Medicine to suggest they may indeed be “the new silent killer.”

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Unnatural digestion makes a body sick

Ultra-processed foods barely resemble real food. The process itself strips away healthy nutrients, then packs in additives — and not just oil, fat, added sugar, starch and sodium.

They use emulsifiers such as carrageenan, mono- and diglycerides, carboxymethylcellulose, polysorbate and soy lecithin, and various other unpronounceable ingredients that lengthen shelf life, stabilize and enhance flavors and textures.

Our bodies realize these products are not real food — and it’s most obvious in how we digest them…

When we eat whole foods, including fruits, vegetables and meat, they are digested slowly. The big benefit here is that we absorb fewer calories and experience lower glycemic and triglyceride loads.

But the digestion of ultra-processed foods is the exact opposite — and how they lead to weight gain and metabolic disease…

According to the authors, one plausible mechanism to explain the hazards is that ultra-processed foods contain emulsifiers and other additives that the mammalian gastrointestinal tract mostly does not digest. They may act as a food source for our microbiota, and as such may be creating a dysbiotic microbiome that can, in the right host, promote disease.

That’s harmful enough, but Allison H. Ferris, M.D., senior author, an associate professor and chair, Department of Medicine, and director of the internal medicine residency program at FAU Schmidt College of Medicine, stated “… even if the troublesome additives were removed from the ultra-processed food, there would still be concern for an over-consumption of these products possibly leading to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.”

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The long-term results of eating ultra-processed foods

Although the scientists say that more research is needed to confirm their biggest fears, they point out that there has been a significant increase in colorectal cancer in the U.S., especially in young adults who shouldn’t have to worry about the disease.

And if we’re wise, we don’t need to wait for some official warning to come down from the powers that be. We all know how long it took before the dangers of tobacco were taken seriously enough to require warning labels on cigarette packs or “no smoking” to be considered a must to avoid not just lung cancer but heart disease.

The time to stop including these ultra-processed ‘silent killers’ in your diet is now.

So instead of picking up that frozen dinner, box of cereal, hot dogs, sandwich meat or any host of foods that are convenient but dangerous, it’s time for all of us to go back to how things used to be done to decide what we should eat for dinner.

It’s time to get back to whole foods and cooking them at home. Reach for blood pressure-lowering spices and the safe salt alternative to make your homecooked meals just as tasty and satisfying.

Sources:

Could ultra-processed foods be the new ‘silent’ killer? – EurekAlert!

The post Move over high blood pressure: There’s a new ‘silent killer’ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

They are primarily known for their role in promoting a healthy gut microbiome, which is essential for overall well-being. The gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms that play a crucial role in digestion, immune function, and even mental health.

Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics which are typically complex carbohydrates that microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract use as metabolic fuel.  Prebiotics support probiotics and keep them functioning at their best. 

Probiotics help maintain a balanced gut microbiota by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria, enhancing the gut barrier function, and modulating the immune response.

This balance is vital for preventing gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Beyond gut health, probiotics have been linked to various other health benefits, including improved heart health, enhanced immune function and reduced inflammation.

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Probiotics and Cholesterol: The Research

Recent scientific studies have shown that certain probiotic strains can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. 

One notable study demonstrated that a specific probiotic formulation could reduce cholesterol esters, particularly those associated with saturated fatty acids, which are known to contribute to cardiovascular disease. While LDL declined in this study, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglyceride levels remained unchanged.

Limitations: Addressing Other Risk Factors

While the reduction in bad cholesterol is promising, it’s essential to recognize that probiotics alone do not address all cardiovascular risk factors. High blood pressure, for example, requires its own management strategies, such as lifestyle changes, medication, and dietary adjustments.  Smoking might affect the microbiome but is not caused by it.  

Meanwhile, although diabetes and obesity may be aided by dysregulation of gut microbe function, overcoming that dysfunction alone (with medications like Ozempic for example) without addressing the reason WHY the microbiome is not working properly in the first place (diet) will cure little.  Diabetes and obesity are probably more prebiotic than probiotic-related diseases.   

So, probiotics, though beneficial for cholesterol management, should be seen as part of a broader strategy for heart health that includes addressing these other risk factors — and their drivers — as well.

Probiotics: Pill Form vs. Food Form

When it comes to incorporating probiotics into your diet, there are two primary options: probiotic supplements in pill form and probiotic-rich foods. Each has its advantages and potential drawbacks.

Pill Form:

Convenience: Probiotic supplements are easy to incorporate into daily routines and ensure a consistent intake of specific probiotic strains.

Concentration: Supplements can provide higher concentrations of probiotics compared to some foods.

Targeted Strains: They allow for the selection of specific strains known for particular health benefits.

Lack of Context:  Consuming any dietary component or supplement outside of its natural food context may diminish the full biologic impact.  Plus, if you don’t also change what you eat you will not be addressing the root cause of why your microbiome is messed up in the first place.

These findings suggest that probiotics can effectively target and reduce specific components of cholesterol that are harmful to heart health without adversely affecting other lipid levels in the blood.

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Food Form:

Natural Integration: Probiotic-rich foods, such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha, naturally integrate into meals and snacks. 

Additional Nutrients: These foods often come with additional nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which can further enhance health.

Palatability: Many people find the taste and texture of probiotic foods enjoyable, making them an easy dietary addition.

Having said all that, research indicates that both forms of probiotics can be effective. Some people may find it easier to take a daily supplement, while others might prefer to consume their probiotics through delicious, nutrient-rich foods. I’m sure you can guess which side I come down on!

Where Step One Foods Fits In: Step One products are not probiotics, but they are full of prebiotics that are natural accompaniments to probiotic-containing foods.  For example, putting Anytime Sprinkle on yogurt supplies you not only with probiotics that may help lower cholesterol additionally, but also the specific nutrients those probiotics need to function at their best.  Kefir with Smoothie Mix is another winning combination.

We often hear from customers who are blown away by how much better their digestive system functions when using our foods. I’m never surprised.  After all, our products not only lower cholesterol in their own right, they also add fiber and provide our microbiome with the nutrients needed to keep everything moving happily along.

The post The effects of probiotics on cholesterol levels appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Maybe you don’t even know what it is. Where it comes from… where it lives in your body… or why it’s even important?

So just in case you’re in the dark, I’d like to offer you a “primer.” Then I’ll tell you about some new research on bile production and how you can help this fluid work harder to keep you healthy.

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What is bile and what’s its job?

It’s an olive green or brownish-yellow fluid that’s produced by your liver and stored in your gall bladder. Its job is to help absorb fats and fat-soluble nutrients, such as Vitamins A, D, E and K.

When you eat fatty foods, your gall bladder releases bile into the small intestine through a series of tubes, or ducts, where it mixes with partially digested food. Bile salts and other substances break down fat globules into smaller droplets. These droplets are easier for the digestive enzymes in your intestines to break down and absorb.

Sounds simple, right? But your body needs just the right amount of bile to accomplish this task healthfully — not too little and not too much.

When there’s too much: Bile acid malabsorption

Bile acid malabsorption (BAM) occurs when the colon can’t reabsorb unused bile after digestion takes place.

In some cases, there’s no clear explanation for why the colon doesn’t fully reabsorb bile acids. When this happens, it’s called primary BAM.

But BAM can also be a symptom of another condition. This is referred to as secondary BAM.

Conditions where BAM is a secondary symptom include irritable bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease.

The main symptoms of BAM are bloating and diarrhea.

How your liver can poison itself

Bile is crucial for proper absorption and digestion of fats and vitamins necessary for maintaining health.

But too much can be toxic for the liver.

Three scientists from the University of Oklahoma have been working to better understand how its overproduction can poison the liver.

Their evidence suggests that bile acid imbalances may contribute to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is dangerous not only because it can lead to total liver failure if it progresses, but because it is a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

Overproduction of bile can also contribute to a condition known as cholestasis, the slowing or stalling of bile flow through your liver, gall bladder, and bile ducts. Bile that can’t flow leaks into your bloodstream and backs up into your organs, causing inflammation.

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6 simple ways to support healthy bile flow

Here are six simple things you can do to keep your bile flowing smoothly.

1. Stay hydrated. Water ensures it stays thin enough to flow easily; electrolytes are required for the opening and closing of valves that allow bile flow. Especially in summer, make sure you’re drinking 2-3 liters 8-12 cups of water or sugar-free electrolyte drinks per day.

2. Eat bitters. Bitter foods like beets, artichokes, dandelion greens, and arugula stimulate bile flow by increasing cholecystokinin, a hormone that triggers gall bladder contraction.

3. Glycine and taurine. Glycine and taurine are amino acids essential for the production of bile. They can be taken as supplements, but are also found in bone broth, fish, shellfish, seaweed and poultry and eggs.

4. Eat fats but choose wisely. Eating fats is essential for triggering bile release. Stick to healthy fat sources like olive oil, cold-water fish, avocados, almonds, walnuts, and seeds.

5. Identify trigger foods and stop eating them. Avoid fast and processed foods and sugars, which all increase liver inflammation. Food allergies and sensitivities can also cause gallbladder issues. Identifying these foods and removing them from your diet can support healthy bile flow.

6. Support your liver. Your liver is responsible for over 500 vital functions, and it gets bogged down doing its main job, removing toxins from your bloodstream. Detoxing helps take some of that load off the liver and can help improve its functionality.

Sources:

Balancing act between digestion and liver health through bile acids — Eureka Alert

Bile acids regulation of cellular stress responses in liver physiology and diseases — eGastroenterology

Understanding Bile Acid Malabsorption — Healthline

The post For a happy liver and digestion, balance your bile appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Are things just not moving?

Is your daily bathroom ritual a strain? Or, do you think it’s normal to go just every few days?

Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not.

Over 60 million Americans suffer from chronic constipation, and if you don’t have at least one, easy-to-pass bowel movement a day, then you are one of them.

Constipation can be caused by many things, though most people never suspect the medicines they are taking. But, it turns out that there are 7 sneaky medications you could be taking right now that could be making your restroom trips more troublesome than they should be.

Let’s take a look at the drugs that are the worst offenders.

1. Painkillers

Any medications you take for pain, from ibuprofen and aspirin to prescription drugs, could be causing your constipation. Your digestive tract is loaded with receptors to these types of medications, meaning that they have a direct effect on your bowels. Chronic use of over-the-counter pain medicines or even just a day or two of narcotic pain medicines can stop you up, leaving you feeling bloated and sick.

If it’s painful joints you’re dealing with, try the omega-3 fatty acid that essentially blocks pain, and ditch the pills.

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2. Antidepressants

These are some of the worst offenders in the battle against constipation. Older tricyclic antidepressants block the contractions of your bowels. When nothing moves, your bowels get more and more blocked. Even the newer antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac, can leave you straining and unable to go.

Talk to your doctor before stopping this type of medication first.

3. Anti-nausea medications

Your doctor may have given you Zofran to ease your nausea, but thanks to its negative impact on the serotonin in your body, you’ll likely end up constipated too. Instead, beat nausea naturally with a cup of ginger tea or a couple of sips of cola.

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4. Antacids

If you take drugs to relieve heartburn it’s likely to leave you unable to relieve yourself in the bathroom, especially if you take it long-term. Even worse are the antacids with calcium and aluminum in them and — unfortunately for sufferers of heartburn and acid reflux — these types of medications litter the drug aisles in every store.

But let me share a secret… your doctor may be operating under the false premise that acid reflux is caused by too much stomach acid when it’s actually caused by too little stomach acid. That’s what we call acid reflux’s biggest myth. Ditch the meds and try a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar a day in eight ounces of water, or the spice that works like medicine on acid reflux.

5. Blood pressure drugs

From calcium channel blockers to diuretics, if you’ve been prescribed a medication to lower your blood pressure, you’ve probably ended up constipated as just one of the side effects.  It’s easy to see how taking a diuretic can stop you up since they pull water out of your system… the same water your body needs to soften your stool so that it can pass easily.

If possible, consider natural supplements to lower your blood pressure, like pterostilbene, a powerful antioxidant found in blueberries that puts a dent in your readings.

However, never stop taking a medication prescribed to you by a doctor without first discussing it with them.

6. Allergy medications

The rule is, “If it gives you a dry mouth, it gives you constipation.” This makes allergy medications one of the sneakiest causes of constipation. After all, you don’t want to suffer from sneezing and itchy, watery eyes all season, so you pop an allergy pill. It seems harmless until your bowels just won’t move. Black seed oil is a natural alternative for allergy relief, that may actually help you “go.”

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7. Laxatives themselves

The fact that laxatives actually stop you up may seem counter-intuitive but if you start the laxative cycle, it can cause dependency, and you may end up not being able to go without them.  Think twice before reaching for that Dulcolax or Ex-lax.  It may help today but make things worse in the long run. If you need a little help now and then and have to reach for a product to help you go, look for one with natural ingredients that puts the least stress on your body.

Read: 7 supplements to help you “go”

Never stop taking a medication prescribed to you by a doctor without first discussing your concerns, like constipation, with them.

Constipation is not something you should ignore. Too many people accept it as a fact of everyday life, but not only can constipation lead to hemorrhoids and even fecal incontinence — but chronic constipation can set you up for disease… from leaky gut to colon cancer.

If you don’t have at least one, easy bowel movement a day, take a look at the medicines your doctor has prescribed. You may be taking one of these sneaky medicines that make you constipated. If you can manage your health without them… more power to you. At the least, experience daily, easy bowel movements by:

• Make sure you get enough potassium in your diet to keep stool hydrated, and of course, drink plenty of water.
• Substitute your regular coffee for chicory coffee. Chicory supplies inulin fiber that supports the natural production of beneficial bacteria in the colon. Bananas are also a good source of inulin fiber.
• Avoid too much insoluble fiber from leafy greens. They bulk up stool and can make things worse if you’re constipated.

Sources:

1. Essential Guide to IBS Medications — IBS Treatment Center
2. What causes opioid-induced constipation (OIC)? — Medical News Today
3. Relieving Constipation Caused by Antidepressants — Verywell Mind
4. Zofran Side Effects Center — RxList
5. Side Effects of High Blood Pressure Medications — WebMD
6. Constipation May Lead to Other Problems — MedicineNet

The post 7 sneaky medications that cause constipation appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The best solutions are usually natural, like a fermented tea known as kombucha, which is already known to have an indirect benefit to those who want to lose weight.

That’s because kombucha has a positive effect on a few aspects of health that are crucial to healthy weight loss.

But now research has revealed that this fermented tea could have a more direct benefit as a natural weight loss aid…

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2 ways kombucha aids in weight loss

You’ve probably seen kombucha at your grocery store or local coffee shop, but its origins go back several thousand years to Northeast China.

It’s a great way to kick any diet plan into high gear without taking any of those dangerous stimulant drugs for weight loss.

So what exactly IS kombucha?

It’s a fermented black tea that’s loaded with probiotics, and it delivers two main health benefits:

It promotes a healthy gut. Kombucha is one of the richest sources of probiotics you can find. Probiotics are a proven way to colonize your gut with healthy bacteria, which promotes weight loss.

One probiotic species in particular, Lactobacillus gasseri, has been known to reduce visceral fat (the dangerous fat around your midsection), by up to 9 percent after three months.

It helps your body detox. Kombucha acts as an antioxidant. Its active components help detoxify your liver so that you can clear out the waste. Combined with the good bacteria kombucha supplies your body, this helps you get your diet off on the right foot.

We’ve known about these two benefits for a while. But new research is revealing that kombucha can have an even more direct effect on weight loss by triggering a “fasting-like” state…

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Microbes in kombucha increase fat-burning

A research team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found evidence that the microbes found in kombucha can mimic the fat-burning effects of fasting.

A team led by Dr. Robert Dowen fed microbes found in kombucha tea to the worm C. elegans. Because the cells of these worms age in ways similar to human cells, they are often used as a model to find out more about human metabolism.

The microbes colonized the worms’ intestines and changed the expression of genes involved in fat metabolism. This change caused reduced fat stores in the worms, similar to what happens when humans fast.

The authors of the study emphasize that more research is needed in humans but noted that their findings appear consistent with the reported human health benefits of kombucha.

“We were surprised to find that animals consuming a diet consisting of the probiotic microbes found in Kombucha Tea displayed reduced fat accumulation, lower triglyceride levels, and smaller lipid droplets — an organelle that stores the cell’s lipids — when compared to other diets. These findings suggest that the microbes in Kombucha Tea trigger a “fasting-like” state in the host even in the presence of sufficient nutrients.”

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Other benefits of fermented foods

Kombucha’s effect on metabolism doesn’t surprise me one bit.

Fermented foods have a long history of known health benefits besides helping with weight loss. In fact, fermented foods tackle a driving force behind many chronic health issues.

For example, studies show that lactic acid is a good way to fight off influenza. And fermented foods are full of lactic acid.

Also, eating fermented foods in combination with more fiber has been shown to help regulate stress and reduce anxiety.

Other such foods include sauerkraut and kefir. But, the Japanese have really mastered the art of fermentation.

They’re known for several healthy dishes made with fermented soybeans in various forms, including tempeh, miso, kimchi and natto (a food that contains the highest amount of artery-loving vitamin K2).

Fermentation of food and drink is a lost art. In the old days, fermentation took the place of refrigeration. It preserved food, but now science has shown many times over that fermentation gives up valuable natural substances that boost health.

Sources:

Kombucha’s Microbial Magic: New Study Shows Fat-Busting Effects — Sci Tech Daily

Kombucha Tea-associated microbes remodel host metabolic pathways to suppress lipid accumulation — PLOS Genetics

Consuming probiotics promotes weight loss and reduces BMI — Medical Express

The post Kombucha: The bacterial boost your metabolism needs appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

These foods are the best sources of many nutrients, but especially fiber — a powerhouse nutrient for digestive health.

And right now, so many are ripe for the picking.

The downside of buying all that fresh produce is that it doesn’t stay fresh for long. If you’re in a smaller household, using all those fresh fruits and veggies can be tough before they spoil.

So what’s a healthy eater to do? Here are some science-based tips for extending the lifespan of these health-promoting foods…

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Check the quality

Keeping produce fresh starts when you’re shopping. First off, if you have access to a farmer’s market, shop there. It’s a great place to get fruits and vegetables that have been picked at the peak of quality.

Look for produce that’s brightly colored and intact. Make sure you avoid produce that’s bruised, nicked or damaged, as that can leave it open to microbe damage and cause it to spoil faster.

Buy only what you know you can use

Don’t buy too much produce. If you have a small household, you probably don’t need that five-pound bag of oranges or apples. Most of the time you can buy fruit and some vegetables by the piece to make it easier to consume it all before it rots.

If you do buy too much produce, you can often find a way to process it for storage. Pureeing, canning, blanching, vacuum sealing, freezing or fermenting can all give your produce longer life. And in the case of fermenting, it can even boost the health-giving properties of your produce.

Wash only when ready to use

It’s not necessary to wash your produce before you store it, since a lot of what we buy has already been washed. In fact, if you wash your produce and don’t dry it completely before storing it in the fridge, it can speed up decay.

However, you should wash your produce just before you use it to remove dirt and pathogens that can make you sick. Just use plain water — contrary to what social media would have you believe, adding vinegar or baking soda doesn’t make a difference in reducing microbes or removing pesticide residues.

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Store fresh produce in the right place

There are three main storage options for produce: counter, fridge, and a cool, dry and dark place such as your pantry. Here is where you should store different types of produce:

• Cool, dark pantry or cupboard — This is the place to store bananas, onions, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squashes and whole pumpkins. One caveat: make sure you don’t store potatoes and onions together. Onions produce a gas called ethylene that makes potatoes spoil more quickly, and the high moisture content in potatoes makes onions spoil faster.

• Fridge — Store all leafy greens, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower and broccoli in the crisper drawer in your fridge. Don’t store them in completely sealed bags, as this slows ripening while trapping carbon dioxide, leading to decay and bad odors. Keep them in perforated plastic bags to retain moisture but encourage airflow.

As for fruits, store apples, watermelons and citrus fruits such as oranges in the fridge’s crisper drawer to keep them fresh for longer. However, don’t store watermelon in the fridge for longer than three days because it will lose its color and flavor.

• Counter — Most herbs and some leafy vegetables like celery, spring onions and asparagus can be kept on the counter away from direct sunlight. Just make sure you place their stems in water to keep them crisp.

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Reduce waste by tracking purchase

Make sure you arrange your fridge and pantry so you can see your produce easily and use it all before it spoils. I like to put my greens in a perforated bag with the date of purchase written on it so I know how soon I need to eat them. Or you can keep a list on your fridge or on a whiteboard in the kitchen so you know exactly what you bought and when.

But how do you know how many days your fruits and vegetables have left? Sites like stilltasty.com can help with that. Just enter the name of your produce and it will tell you how many days it’s good for depending on how it’s stored.

Hopefully, these tips will inspire you to eat fresh fruits and vegetables more often. But if you still find your crisper drawer is collecting wilted greens and soggy fruit you just can get to fast enough, frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as dried powder mixes, are healthy options (check labels to avoid added sugars). And when reaching for made with “real fruit” snacks, follow this guide I put together recently.

Source:

1.  Keep Your Fruit And Veg Fresher For Longer With These Science-Backed Hacks — Science Alert

The post 6 ways to make your fresh produce last longer appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The use of ACV as a home remedy goes back thousands of years. In 400 BC, Hippocrates prescribed it mixed with honey to treat coughs and colds, among other illnesses. It’s also been used in African and Chinese traditional medicine to stimulate circulation, aid in liver detoxification, purify blood, cleanse lymph nodes and improve immune system responses.

There are even a couple of newer uses for ACV that dovetail with some health ailments that have been on the rise in recent years…

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Ways in which ACV benefits health

Like all vinegar, ACV is made through fermentation. Manufacturers first add yeast to apple juice to break down the natural sugars, resulting in alcohol. Then, they add specific bacteria to convert the alcohol into acetic acid, which gives vinegar its pungent odor and taste and some of its health benefits.

Fruit vinegars like ACV also contain polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The bacteria used in making ACV appears as a cloudy, spongy or stringy mass known as the “mother.” Some manufacturers filter ACV to remove the mother, while others bottle the ACV with the mother and label the product accordingly. ACV with the mother is believed to have more health benefits than filtered ACV due to the probiotics, enzymes and nutrients the mother contains.

Here are some ailments that ACV is being used for nowadays….

Blood sugar

One of the most interesting hypotheses surrounding ACV is that it helps manage blood sugar levels. And this has proven true in studies in rats and limited studies in humans.

One study had people with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance drink one to two tablespoons of ACV or other types of vinegar mixed with water just before eating meals high in carbohydrates. Results showed these patients experienced less dramatic blood sugar spikes than those who did not consume vinegar before their meals.

Some research suggests that ACV may lower blood sugar spikes by slowing the movement of food through the digestive tract and interfering with certain enzymes that convert carbohydrates into simple sugars.

Weight loss

ACV’s ability to slow the digestive process is similar to the mechanism of action of the popular GLP-1 agonists now widely used for weight loss. But ACV is far cheaper and has fewer side effects than these drugs.

So, is there proof that ACV is effective at supporting weight loss?

One study of 155 adults in Japan found those who consumed two tablespoons of ACV in water every day for three months lost about four pounds. And a trial of 120 people ages 12 to 25 in Lebanon showed those who drank one tablespoon of ACV in water every morning for three months lost an impressive average of 15 pounds.

However, a study that monitored participants after they stopped taking ACV found that, on average, they regained most of the weight they lost within four weeks. Therefore, if you’re going to use ACV as a weight loss aid, you’ll likely need to continue taking it to keep the weight off.

Animal research has demonstrated the ability of acetic acid to reduce fat accumulation in certain tissues and to help increase the release of hormones that signal fullness. This further indicates ACV’s potential usefulness in weight management.

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Gut and digestive health

ACV with the mother has potential probiotic benefits for the gut microbiome and can help prevent unhealthy overgrowth of yeasts like Candida that can destroy the microbiome’s delicate balance.

Also, ACV is a great acid reflux preventative because the acetic acid it contains turns alkaline during digestion and reduces acid. The advice is to take two tablespoons of ACV in a glass of water 30 minutes before eating to normalize the stomach acid and prevent indigestion.

However, it doesn’t work on everyone and in some reports has worsened the condition.

Acne

ACV may also benefit acne-prone skin by balancing skin pH, exfoliation, reducing hyperpigmentation and stimulating circulation. But never use ACV straight. According to University of Nebraska Health, always dilute it and do a skin patch test before applying it to larger areas. It can make skin more sensitive to the sun, just like vitamin C extracts, so be sure to apply sunscreen.

Safe consumption of ACV

ACV can interact with certain medications, including some diuretics and drugs for diabetes and heart conditions. If you take any of these drugs, check with your doctor before adding ACV to your daily regimen. Also talk to your doctor if you have low potassium levels, since ACV can further reduce blood potassium.

One thing to always remember is to dilute ACV with water. Mix a tablespoon or two of ACV in a glass of water, and don’t ingest more than two to four tablespoons a day to protect the lining of your esophagus. Also, it’s probably a good idea to drink it with a straw, since even diluted, ACV could erode tooth enamel.

Sources:

1. Is Apple Cider Vinegar Really a Cure-All? — The New York Times

2. What Is the Mother in Apple Cider Vinegar? ACV Explained — MasterClass

3. Apple Cider Vinegar Myths & Facts — WVU Extension

The post ACV: From ancient remedy to social media sensation appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Seniors can commonly experience changes that affect the gut and digestion, including leaky gut, but after extensive testing, she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In addition to the advice she got from her doctor, she did a lot of research online to figure out how best to manage her symptoms. And it was there that she got confused. She kept seeing all these references to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which appeared to have similar symptoms to IBS.

It brought up the following questions for her….

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What’s the difference between IBS and IBD?

Though both IBS and IBD have similar symptoms, they are very different illnesses.

IBS is a chronic GI condition causing abdominal pain and bloating and changes in bowel habits. It can be defined as diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D) or constipation-predominant (IBS-C) or a mix of the two. IBS affects an estimated 10 to 15 percent of adults in the U.S., although only 5 to 7 percent have been diagnosed with the syndrome.

IBD is a collection of diseases causing chronic inflammation of the GI tract. IBD isn’t as common as IBS; about 3.1 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with an IBD. The two most common IBDs are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Both IBS and IBD can have the following symptoms in common:

• Diarrhea
• Pain
• Unintended weight loss
• Fatigue

However, IBD can have some symptoms not normally seen in IBS:

• Cramping
• Rectal bleeding
• Reduced appetite
• Anemia
• Fever

And IBS can have some symptoms not seen in IBD:

• Gas
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Mucus in the stool

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Does IBS carry the same risks as IBD?

IBD is a much more dangerous illness than IBS. It can:

• Cause destructive inflammation and permanent damage to the intestine.
• Raise the risk of colon cancer.

By contrast, IBS:

• Does not cause inflammation of the intestine.
• Rarely requires hospitalization or surgery.
• Does not raise the risk of cancer.

Do IBS and IBD have the same cause?

So far, the answer to this question isn’t clear.

One reason IBS is notoriously difficult to diagnose is because its cause is unknown, though some researchers believe a disturbance between the brain and the gut is to blame. Doctors tend to diagnose IBS through a process of elimination, testing for IBD or celiac disease and ruling those out first.

Other potential causes of IBS include GI infection, diet, environmental or psychological factors such as stress and frequent use of antibiotics.

As for IBD, it can be diagnosed with a colonoscopy exam and biopsy of any inflamed areas of the intestine. if you have a family member who’s been diagnosed with IBD, your risk is higher.

Researchers also believe certain environmental triggers may be responsible for IBD, such as high-fat diets, antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) use, as well as smoking in people with Crohn’s. Stress can worsen IBD, and an overactive immune system may also play a role in development of the condition.

The good news here is that because these two diseases are not connected, IBS cannot progress into IBD.

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Are IBS and IBD treated the same way?

Interestingly, some of the recommendations for relieving symptoms of IBS and IBD are the same. For example, eliminating dairy can help in both cases, as people with IBS or IBD are often lactose-intolerant. Caffeine can be a trigger for both IBS and IBD as well.

Vitamin D levels may play a role in both IBD and IBS sufferers. Low vitamin D can make IBD symptoms worse and vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with IBS and some research suggests supplementation could be therapeutic.

However, IBS and IBD are treated differently. For IBD, there are medications to treat the disease. However, different people respond to medication differently, so treatment tends to be highly individualized. The goal for IBD treatment is to send the disease into remission, which decreases the chances for complications.

In addition to dairy and caffeine, people with IBD should consider eliminating fructose. At least one study in mice shows large amounts of fructose can inflame the colon.

For IBS, the goal is to manage symptoms like diarrhea and bloating. Some medications exist to treat both IBS-D and IBS-C, but as is the case with IBD, individuals can respond very differently to the treatments.

Many doctors recommend dietary modification to help manage IBS. My mother’s doctor recommended she try a low FODMAP diet to relieve her gas and diarrhea.

FODMAP stands for fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. Diets high in these types of carbohydrates can cause a lot of gas and bring a lot of fluid into the intestine, which causes a lot of diarrhea. The one drawback to low FODMAP is that it’s a very restrictive.

My mom tried it and found some relief. But what helped her the most was adopting a gluten-free diet. Some IBS patients are sensitive to gluten, so eliminating it from their diet can relieve diarrhea, bloating, pain, flatulence and sometimes even constipation. This is also a restrictive diet, made more difficult since gluten hides in so many products. Whole foods are typically a safe bet, but processed foods can be like maneuvering land mines.

Another potential treatment for IBS involves treating the stress underlying the condition with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or hypnotherapy. Studies show both CBT and hypnotherapy can help relieve IBS symptoms like abdominal pain and bloating and improve bowel function.

Sources:

What doctors wish patients knew about irritable bowel syndrome — AMA

What doctors wish patients knew about inflammatory bowel disease — AMA

IBS vs IBD — Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

IBS vs IBD — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

The post Is it IBS or IBD? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Enjoyable, maybe.

But healthy? Not with the alcohol content, for sure.

However, the truth is that the bitter agent used to flavor beer — called hops — has been shown to offer some serious health benefits.

In fact, studies show that hops can help blast fat, boost heart health, fight the fat in fatty liver disease and even provide relief from menopausal symptoms.

Now researchers say hops could have the power to beat back a condition that destroys the health of over one-third of Americans…

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Hops’ secret power over metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low levels of “good” cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides.

If you can put a checkmark by two conditions on that list, you’re doctor may have already told you that you have metabolic syndrome — and that you face a higher risk of cognitive decline, ischemic stroke, heart trouble and blood sugar problems.

The good news: It’s reversible. Both the Mediterranean diet and aerobic interval training can beat it back to full remission. But that’s not always so easy, and luckily researchers have continued to look for less intensive ways to dial back the risk of metabolic syndrome.

That’s where hops come in…

Since hops have been shown to have an effect against some of those issues, researchers at Oregon State University, decided to pit one compound in hops that has shown promise in previous research — tetrahydroxanthohumol or TXN — against a mouse model of metabolic syndrome to see what it could do.

TXN is a powerful flavonoid in the family of polyphenol plant compounds. Other kinds of flavonoids are found in foods like berries, vegetables, chocolate and tea.

So what power does TXN have over metabolic syndrome?

It dramatically reduces the population of Oscillibacter in the gut microbiome (just one more hidden way the gut affects health in a major way). And Oscillibacter is an unhealthy bacteria that not only promotes inflammation in fatty tissue — it’s also a driver of metabolic syndrome.

When TXN blocks Oscillibacter, it significantly improves glucose metabolism. That means a lower risk of insulin resistance as well as weight gain that often goes hand in hand with metabolic syndrome. It also guards against its negative effects on the heart and brain.

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Leveling up your flavonoid protection

Clearly, the compound found in beer can provide some powerful health benefits — but I would never recommend throwing back a couple of beers every day to keep metabolic syndrome at bay, even to reduce the two-fold increase for stroke.

However, hops are also a key ingredient in non-alcoholic beer and should pass on the same health benefits — without the downside of alcohol. Hops is also available in supplement form.

And those other sources of flavonoids I mentioned earlier have some clout when it comes to metabolic syndrome.

TXN may be unique to hops, but other classes of flavonoids support metabolic and cardiovascular health, vascular function and glycemic control.

Berries are my favorite source of one particularly powerful group of flavonoids known as anthocyanins. Take the Aronia berry. It’s brimming with enzymes that slow the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream after eating. That makes it especially valuable in the battle against metabolic syndrome.

Sources:

Compound derived from hops reduces abundance of gut microbe associated with metabolic syndrome — EurekAlert!

Metabolic Syndrome — Mayo Clinic

The healthy hops habit that blasts fat — Easy Health Options

One more reason to use hops for menopause relief — Easy Health Options

8+ ways an ingredient in beer can boost your health and fight cancer — Easy Health Options

Hops compound may fight fatty liver — Easy Health Options

The post How beer can beat back a common stroke syndrome appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

However, we’re learning more every day about the central role our gut plays in many other aspects of our health — including how we age and our risks for heart problems, dementia, arthritis and even anxiety and depression.

But let’s be honest, most of us don’t get enough fiber in our diets to reap its disease-fighting potential.

A study by a small group of scientists would like to do something about that — and has brought to light yet another reason for us to take fiber more seriously…

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Insoluble fiber’s beneficial plant “bioactives”

“People understand the need for fiber and how it relates to gut health — an area of wellness that is becoming increasingly important as scientific research continues to reveal its impact on overall health and wellbeing,” says Dr. Joanne Slavin.

Dr. Slavin teaches in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources at the University of Minnesota, and co-authored a study at the University of Minnesota focusing on the health benefits of bioactives.

Bioactives are plant compounds that have been linked to lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes. In other words, they offer potential health benefits far beyond those traditionally attributed to fiber. 

For research recently published in the journal Nutrients, Dr. Slavin and her team scoured the available literature on the health benefits of bioactives in plant sources of insoluble fiber — the kind of fiber that helps bulk up stool and promotes movement through your digestive system.

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They found a variety of plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains contain insoluble dietary fiber, and each source contains unique bioactives that support health in different ways, including:

Quercetin: Known to support cellular health and function and inhibit the production of proteins that trigger inflammation, quercetin is found in a range of fruits and vegetables. However, apples and pears top the list. An average apple of 150 grams can contain up to 10 mg. of quercetin. A ten-year study showed those who ate the most white fruits and vegetables were 52 percent less likely to suffer stroke.

Resveratrol: A superstar nutrient in anti-aging research, this powerful antioxidant is also known for supporting longevity, heart health, muscle mass, slowing brain aging and even relieving arthritis pain and disease progression. It’s found abundantly in grapes, peanuts, dark chocolate, cranberries, blueberries and red wine.

Catechins: The dominant polyphenol in green tea, this antioxidant compound is also found in apricots, broad beans, black grapes, strawberries and wine. From lowering blood pressure to fighting cancer, it’s a “don’t miss” nutrient.

Anthocyanins: Found in fruits and vegetables with blue and purple pigments (like berries), this group of polyphenol antioxidants has a strong effect on cellular inflammation. Studies have linked anthocyanins with benefits that affect cardiovascular function, risk of Parkinson’s disease, lung function, a strong immune system, slower aging, improved control over obesity and vision loss.

Lutein: Best known for supporting sight, this “eye” antioxidant’s benefits go far beyond vision health, helping to slow cognitive decline, switch off stress, guard the heart and promote healthier aging. You’ll find it in green leafy veggies, eggs, sweet potatoes, carrots and asparagus.

Lycopene: Found abundantly in tomatoes and in watermelon, papaya, asparagus and red cabbage, lycopene supports prostate health, artery function and balances cholesterol levels.

Beta-Carotene: Another sight-supporting nutrient, this biochemical pigment is chock full of benefits including prostate support, cholesterol lowering and guarding against hardening of the arteries due to buildup. Look for it in leafy greens, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, winter squash and more…

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Get your share of plant fiber’s fantastic bioactive compounds

Unfortunately, according to Jan-Willem Van Klinken, co-author of the study and senior vice president of medical, scientific, and regulatory affairs for Brightseed, “The suggestion to eat more fruits and vegetables isn’t a novel idea, but it’s something most people still struggle to do.”

That’s why the study authors suggest that fiber-fortified foods could be developed to enhance accessibility to bioactive compounds. Food production byproducts such as peel, hulls, pulp or pomace are generally high in fiber and bioactives. And they offer unique nutritional value from sustainable sources.

However, they acknowledge that further research is required to identify extraction and processing methods that preserve and optimize bioactive compounds.

But if you want my take on that, I say get serious about adding more fiber to your diet.

We know the story of what happens when foods are processed. The very act of processing strips essential nutrients, that even when fortified (added back in) just don’t possess the nutritional synergy the whole food in its original form does.  

When you eat your apple, enjoy the peel. Embrace the pulp in your orange juice and the tasty pomace from eating cool, sweet grapes. Take advantage of beans and legumes that can get you halfway to 30 grams of fiber a day.

It will do wonders for your gut and ultimately your whole-body health.

Sources:

Research Brief: U of M study suggests even more reasons to eat your fiber — Eureka Alert

Beyond Insoluble Dietary Fiber: Bioactive Compounds in Plant Foods — Nutrients 

Your Go-To Insoluble Fiber Foods List for Better Digestion — Taste of Home

We find nature’s answers to health — Brightseed

The post The real reason fiber keeps disease away appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Over ten years, we watched as my active, funny, loving dad shrank more and more into himself, both physically and emotionally, until he could no longer communicate with us, and recognized none of us, except for my mother.

Research into the origins of Parkinson’s is ongoing, in the hope that we can stop it before it starts.

Now, there’s been a unique discovery that holds out hope for doing just that…

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A brain attack that starts in the gut

Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder. However many researchers believe that it may get started far away from the brain, years before any tremors or other neurological signs appear.

They believe it may get its start in the gut.

Graduate students at Columbia University have been adding to the evidence that supports this theory.

They’re showing that the gastrointestinal changes that precede Parkinson’s could actually be a misdirected attack by the immune system, a malfunction that’s relatively easy to correct.

In Parkinson’s, a protein known as alpha-synuclein becomes misfolded, accumulates inside neurons and slowly poisons the cells.

Columbia researcher Dr. David Sulzer and his graduate students have collaborated with immunologists at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology in California to show that these misfolded proteins can also appear outside of neurons.

When this happens, the neurons are a sitting duck for attack from the immune system.

And this misguided immune attack ends up doing more damage to the neurons than the deposits of alpha-synuclein resting inside them.

“The blood of Parkinson’s patients often contains immune cells that are primed to attack the neurons,” Sulzer says, “but it’s not clear where or when they are primed.”

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An autoimmune reaction?

Dr. Sulzer wondered if the immune system’s attack on neurons was beginning in the gut.

This seemed a likely possibility since the gut contains the same neurons, and because constipation is an early symptom for most Parkinson’s patients, years before brain symptoms emerge or the disease is diagnosed.

Dr. Sulzer and his team created a mouse that could display pieces of misfolded alpha-synuclein on cell surfaces (normal mice do not have this ability).

They then injected the mice with alpha-synuclein and monitored what happened in the brain and the gut.

They did not see any signs resembling Parkinson’s disease in the brain. But they did see that an immune attack on neurons in the gut resulted in constipation and other gastrointestinal effects resembling the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease.

“This shows that an autoimmune reaction can lead to what appears to be the early stages of Parkinson’s and is strong support that Parkinson’s is in part an autoimmune disease,” Dr. Sulzer says.

Stopping Parkinson’s in its tracks

More research is needed to determine how big a role the immune system plays in the brain of people with Parkinson’s.

One possibility is that the immune cells in Dr. Sulzer’s mouse model aren’t reaching the brain because the animals are young and still have a strong blood-brain barrier.

She doesn’t say, but with what we know about intestinal permeability, the integrity of the mice’s gut barrier may also prevent what’s happening there from overtly affecting the rest of the body.

But it’s exciting to think about the possibility that early detection — and interruption— of an immune response in the gut could prevent a later attack on the brain’s neurons and stop Parkinson’s in its tracks.

What can you do now if you have a family history of Parkinson’s? Well, research has shown a hormone secreted during exercise appears to stop a key trigger of the disease.

And if Parkinson’s does prove to be an autoimmune disease, at least in part, research has pointed to key nutrients that reduced the occurrence of autoimmune disease by 25 to 30 percent.

Of course, maintaining the health and integrity of your gut should also be at the top of your list. You can begin improving your own gut health right away by taking these steps.

Sources:

Study adds to evidence that Parkinson’s starts in the gut — Eureka Alert

Interaction of an α-synuclein epitope with HLA-DRB1∗15:01 triggers enteric features in mice reminiscent of prodromal Parkinson’s disease — Neuron

The post Parkinson’s: The gut-brain link grows stronger appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

For example, studies have shown that people who live near the equator, with higher exposure to the sunlight that produces more of the “sunshine vitamin,” have lower incidences of certain cancers and even lower death rates.

In lab and mouse models, researchers have found that vitamin D slowed cancer progression. In a large-scale human study, people who took vitamin D each day had a 17 percent lower risk of ending up with advanced cancer spread throughout their bodies.

Thankfully, these hopeful signs have spurred continuing research, revealing what could be a “game changer for the field of vitamin D as it relates to cancer”…

The power of p53

Researchers in Japan conducted a randomized clinical trial that included 392 patients with digestive tract cancers, including colorectal cancer, who were followed for a median of 3.5 years.

During this study, the researchers took an especially close look at the p53 gene, which produces a protein that prevents cells from becoming malignant. In cancer, the p53 gene becomes mutated, and the mutated p53 protein helps the cancer to grow and become immune to cancer therapy. But some people have an immune system that produces antibodies to control the production and release of this mutated p53 protein.

In the study, participants whose immune system produced those antibodies had a 27 percent reduction in risk of relapse or death if they also took 2,000 IUs of vitamin D3 daily — compared with participants in the same subgroup who did not take vitamin D supplementation.

Participants whose immune systems did not produce the antibodies received no survival benefit from taking vitamin D.

In a commentary in JAMA Network Open on the study, Dr. Michael F. Holick, a professor at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, says these results support the conclusion that improvement in vitamin D status through vitamin D supplementation can be an effective strategy for improving survival outcomes of cancers, especially of the digestive tract.

“We now recognize that there are a variety of variables that can influence how vitamin D prevents and responds to cancer,” corresponding author Holick says in the piece. “For example, being at a normal weight and taking vitamin D improves your ability to survive cancer. Other factors include the patient’s genetic makeup and how the patient utilizes and breaks down vitamin D.”

Sun and diet aren’t enough

Holick says it’s important to recognize that most studies showing vitamin D3 supplementation improves cancer survival had patients taking at least 2,000 IUs of vitamin D3 every day. This amount helps get vitamin D concentrations above 30 ng/mL and is not reported to cause any toxicity.

He notes that this amount can’t be achieved from diet or sunlight alone.

“Although vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin you cannot get enough vitamin D from sun exposure unless you expose more than 20% of your body surface to sunlight almost daily like the Maasai and Hazda do in equatorial Africa,” Holick says.

Since vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be as high as 72 percent among cancer patients, it’s an especially good idea to add vitamin D3 to your daily routine if you’re a cancer sufferer or survivor. Even if you’re cancer-free, you still may want to check your vitamin D levels, given that roughly 1 in 3 Americans is deficient in the sunshine vitamin.

Make sure you choose a quality vitamin D3 supplement. My colleague Margaret Cantwell explains the key difference vitamin D3 has on immune system function that vitamin D2 does not, in this post.

Sources:

1. BU commentary: Vitamin D supplementation was found to improve more than 1.5 fold survival of cancers of the digestive tract including colorectal cancer in patients with a cancer fighting immune system — EurekAlert!

2. Effect of Vitamin D Supplements on Relapse or Death in a p53-Immunoreactive Subgroup With Digestive Tract Cancer — JAMA Network Open

The post How vitamin D powers up a cancer-fighting gene appeared first on Easy Health Options®.