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Let Your Food Be Your Medicine – Beyond Keto Pesto

AHA Publisher — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 07:00:41 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Are you looking for a dinner that everyone will love? A dinner that’s quick and easy to make? And most of all, one with foods that go beyond macronutrients, and work to promote health throughout your body? Tonight is your night: let your food be your medicine. Today, for “National Let Your Food Be Your Medicine Day,” we are highlighting one of our most healthful recipes. This delicious recipe uses many of the key components of Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto book, including ingredients that support brain, heart, and digestive health. On the other hand, there are no damaging ingredients. No processed foods or soybean oil. No added sugars, no chemical flavorings, and no refined starches or carbohydrates. Are you ready to let your food be your medicine tonight? Beyond Keto Pesto Salmon Over Asparagus Ingredients: 4 wild-caught salmon filets, 4-6 ounces each 1 lb. asparagus, washed and tough ends chopped off 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ cup Keto Zone Pesto (click link for recipe) 10 Cherry or grape tomatoes OR whole peppercorns (omit tomatoes if avoiding nightshades) salt and pepper, to taste Instructions: Place asparagus in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper, and “roll” to coat. Place salmon over asparagus, skin-side down. Top each filet with about 2 Tablespoons pesto. Add optional tomatoes, whole peppercorns, and sprinkle on salt and pepper. Cover with foil tightly and bake at 400 deg F for 30-35 minutes or until salmon is no longer translucent and flakes with the fork. If you’ve made extra Pesto, use it over cooked chicken for another easy dinner, or as a delicious fat bomb. Serves 4. Nutrition Information per serving: 294 calories, 24 gm fat, 9 gm carbs, 5 gm fiber, 15 gm protein How Does Beyond Keto Let Your Food Be Your Medicine? It’s simple. Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto is not a diet. It’s an eating lifestyle that aims to ditch unhealthy processed foods, overflow the body with real, living, low-sugar, whole foods based on the Mediterranean Diet, and promote a healthy weight. In fact, Beyond Keto combines the best of the Keto Zone® diet with the Mediterranean Diet. Together, its food and lifestyle supports health from head to toe. Here’s how Beyond Keto and recipes like Beyond Keto Pesto Salmon work as your medicine. Beyond Keto and Food as Medicine Through scientific study, experience, and decades of research, Dr. Colbert has formulated this eating plan and recipes to promote overall health, healthy weights, and reduced inflammation. Beyond Keto aims to: PROMOTE A HEALTHY WEIGHT Almost all current negative health conditions are linked to, or exacerbated by, obesity (1). By utilizing healthy ketogenic diet principles, Beyond Keto promotes healthy changes and outcomes as soon as the first two weeks (2)! In addition, the Mediterranean diet component continues to support healthy weight and healthy body composition. Its focus on lean proteins, seafoods, healthy oils, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and vegetables provide a wonderful well-balanced, satisfying dietary lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight (3). FIGHT INFLAMMATION IN THE BRAIN VIA BETTER GUT HEALTH Are you familiar with neuroinflammation resulting from degradation of gut health? While this may have seemed far-fetched 50 years ago, experts now know there is a bi-directional signaling between the gut and the brain. And, when one is inflamed and unhealthy, the other one follows suit. Unfortunately, neuroinflammation is linked with brain impairment and dysfunction. In fact, many experts implicate the modern Western diet in the development of many health and brain issues including memory impairments, neurodegenerative issues, and depressed moods. What’s more, many believe the consumption of ultra-processed foods and excessive energy intake (4) is at the root of gut inflammation leading to neuroinflammation. The communication system and link between gut-brain health is called the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (5). Fortunately, Beyond Keto can help! First, it promotes a healthy digestive system with many nourishing foods and no processed ones. Then, it fights inflammation at every turn with the most potent anti-inflammatory combination of foods possible: omega-3 fats and monounsaturated fatty acids from foods like extra-virgin olive oil. ENCOURAGE HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL, TRIGLYCERIDE, AND BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS Both the Keto Zone and Mediterranean diet aspects of Beyond Keto support heart health. First, Beyond Keto promotes a healthy weight, which can help optimize heart health. Next, by choosing the incredibly heart-healthy foods in the Mediterranean diet, you can continue to encourage great heart health In fact, the foods in the Mediterranean diet and Beyond Keto work to support heart health, healthy cholesterol, and achieve whole-body health (6). OPTIMIZE BLOOD SUGARS AND METABOLISM An amazing aspect of both the ketogenic diet and the Mediterranean diet normalized blood sugars. By using both eating styles in Beyond Keto, you’ll remove harmful refined starches while focusing on healthy fats, high fiber beans, peas, lentils, vegetables, lean protein and low glycemic fruits such as berries. Part of the improvement comes from weight loss. The other part comes from a diet that supports healthy metabolism and hormones (7). PROMOTE A HEALTHY GUT MICROBIOTA Amazingly, Beyond Keto combines Keto Zone and Mediterranean foods to support gut health! This is great news for the millions of people who suffer from less-than-optimal gut function. In fact, studies have found the Mediterranean diet specifically improves gut microbiota and its associated metabolism functions. The diet’s prebiotics from healthy fibers along with healthy fats and polyphenols support gut health, hormone balance, and metabolism (8). FLOOD THE BODY WITH ANTIOXIDANTS AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY COMPOUNDS One of the worst dietary habits plaguing humans worldwide is the consumption of ultra-processed foods. In fact, researchers have found that ultra-processed foods are linked to most modern health conditions and even overall risk of death (9)! Thankfully, you’ll eat healthy, high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods rather than ultra-processed ones (10). This means less oxidative stress and inflammation throughout the body. INCREASE ENERGY, VITALITY, AND MENTAL FOCUS One of the greatest benefits of the ketogenic diet is the production of ketones. Ketones are natural energizing compounds that support healthy mental focus and vitality. The Mediterranean diet also encourages great energy and vitality with the abundant variety of healthy foods. Rather than experiencing the ups and downs of a high-sugar diet, you will enjoy steady, youthful energy from delicious, colorful whole foods. Want More Beyond Keto? There’s more! Get your copy of Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto and let your food be your medicine every night! You’ll find an easy-to-follow eating lifestyle plan with recipes, tips, and clear guidance. Get your hands on this book today! Bottom Line It’s easier than ever to Let Your Food Be Your Medicine with Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto. However, it won’t make much difference if we only use it one day per year! Instead, make Beyond Keto your everyday plan to eat a healthy, unprocessed, brain-empowering, diet! To read the original article click here.

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Gut Microbiome Acts On the Brain to Control Appetite

AHA Publisher — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 07:00:29 +0000

Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. via News-Medical – The brain is the central information center and constantly monitors the state of every organ present in a body. Previous research has shown that the brain also receives signals from the gut microbiota. In a new Immunity journal study, researchers discuss the work of Gabanyi et al. (2022), published in a recent issue of Science, which reveals that hypothalamic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) neurons recognize microbial muropeptides through the cytosolic receptor NOD2, which regulates food intake and body temperature. The Brain and the Gut Microbiome Previous research indicates that structural components from intestinal bacteria can elicit pro-inflammatory responses in the body and, as a result, have an indirect effect on the brain. This phenomenon occurs through peripheral neurons or molecules that are released by immune cells after exposure to bacterial cells circulating in the blood. In the 2022 Science study, Gabanyi and colleagues discuss microbiome-brain communication. Herein, the researchers report that some neurons in the brain can directly identify bacterial cell wall components and subsequently initiate altered feeding behavior and temperature regulation. The hypothalamus is a region in the brain that connects the central nervous system (CNS) to the endocrine system through the pituitary gland. Moreover, the hypothalamus regulates various functions such as thirst, hunger, reproduction, sleep, body temperature, and circadian rhythms by inhibiting or stimulating neurons. To date, there is a limited amount of research on how the hypothalamus recognizes the state of the gastrointestinal lumen and perceives the microbes it is harboring. Commensal microorganisms are typically recognized through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of the innate immune system. For instance, NOD2 is involved with the identification of muramyl dipeptide (MDP), which is a peptidoglycan fragment of the bacterial cell wall. Previous studies have highlighted the functions of NOD2 beyond those which are related to innate immunity. However, the mechanisms responsible for the connection between bacterial peptidoglycans and neuronal functions of the brain remain largely unknown. What Happens When Microbial Components Reach the Brain? Gabanyi and her team addressed this gap in research by studying the NOD2-GFP reporter gene in mice, which helped them investigate the function of NOD2 in different parts of the CNS. Although microglia and endothelial cells were found to express NOD2 in all areas of the brain, NOD2 expression in neurons occurred only in specific regions, such as the striatum, thalamus, and hypothalamus. The researchers also observed that muropeptides were able to cross the intestinal barrier and reach the systemic circulation system in mice. These peptides were later detected in the brain tissues of all mice. Notably, the extent of their expression was greater in female mice as compared to males. The researchers also generated a novel mouse model that lacked NOD2 in inhibitory GABAergic neurons (VgatDNod2 mice) and excitatory neurons expressing calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CamKIIDNod2 mice). Aged female VgatDNod2 mice gained weight, had altered body temperature, and increased feeding. These phenotypic events were caused by MDP, as mice treated with MDP exhibited a reduction in food intake as compared to mice that received MDP isomer treatment, which cannot activate NOD2. The scientists also identified the regions of the brain that were affected by MDP. In this context, they mapped the expression of the neuronal activity marker Fos across different areas of the brain in both male and female mice of varied age groups and treated them with MDP or the control isomer. The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus exhibited reduced Fos expression in older female mice compared to males. Studies have shown that within the arcuate nucleus, the GABAergic population is responsible for food intake, which is constituted by AgRP+ NPY+ neurons. These genes are active during fasting and are silenced upon exposure to food. Interestingly, Gabanyi et al. observed that these neurons express NOD2 and that MDP exposure suppresses their activity. A decreased activity of GABAergic arcuate nucleus neurons was also identified in both mice. How Does NOD2 Expression Regulate Food Intake? The researchers also infected NOD2fl/fl mice with a Cre-expressing virus in their hypothalamus to locally target NOD2+ GABAergic neurons. Altered phenotypes, such as differential food intake and weight gain in both groups of mice, which included one group treated with MDP and the other with control, returned to normal once treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. This finding implies that a decrease in the gut microbiome occurred after antibiotics treatment. This resulted in a reduction in the number of circulating muropeptides that subsequently altered neuronal sensing through its activity on NOD2. Conclusions In this study, Gabanyi and her research team highlight the possibility that bacterial components could directly regulate the appetite of individuals. These findings have presented the potential of PRR biology in the brain, which could be exploited to fight against the rising global problem of obesity. To read the original article click here.

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Fascinating NEW Research Reveals Improving Gut Bacteria May Help You Lose Weight

AHA Publisher — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 08:00:23 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Have you ever seen “those people,” the type who seem to lose weight with virtually no real effort on their part? They cut back a few calories, and the weight just seems to melt away. They make it look so easy, right? Well, while some have that annoyingly almost magic metabolism, for the rest of us, there are other things at play that can work for just about anyone – and it focuses on the type of bacteria residing in the gut. Research published by the American Society for Microbiology shows that the type of gut microbiome a person has in their body significantly impacts their ability to lose weight. Certain compositions of microbiome can help weight loss, or it can cause resistance to losing weight. This opens up new possibilities for achieving more effective weight loss by altering the gut microbiome. Differences in Microbiome Composition May Explain Why Some Lose Weight Faster Than Others, Study Finds The study spanned a year and followed individuals who participated in a wellness program that incorporated both advice from a nurse or dietitian and lifestyle coaching. The participants provided the results from various medical testing such as blood collection, stool collection, data from dietary food frequency questionnaires, and anthropometric data. This was done through self-reporting by online assessment, anonymous data collected from authorized sources, or the Fitbit Aria scale. Researchers then analyzed the collected information with a focus on the 15 participants who experienced the most significant reduction in weight and the 10 participants who lost the least amount of weight. The finding showed that the participants who lost the most weight experienced an increase in certain gut microbiomegenes that are integral in aiding the growth of bacteria and its ability to multiply and assemble cell walls. The team specifically focused on the higher growth rates of Bacteroidetes and how they affect weight. Participants who lost the most weight had higher Bacteroidetes growth rates and more of the genes, while the participants who did not lose as much weight had lower Bacteroidetes growth rates and fewer of those specific genes. New Research Shines a Light on Gut Bacteria-Weight Loss Connection The researchers theorize that gut bacteria growing slower may give the body more time to absorb sugar from foods consumed. By contrast, gut bacteria that grows faster may limit the time the body is exposed to or has access to the sugar from foods consumed, so it has less time to absorb it. Doctors and researchers have long been aware that obese people have a different composition of gut bacteria than people who are not obese. Still, this study provides insight into the specific set of genes encoded in the gut bacteria that responds to interventions designed to bring about weight loss. The gut microbiome is a significant factor in the modulation of the success of weight-loss interventions. This study is just the beginning of ongoing research that fosters a deeper understanding of weight loss, obesity, and gut health. With this new research shedding light on how gut bacteria might influence a person’s attempts to lose weight, there’s more to come. The next steps are to explore further how lifestyle interacts with the gut microbiota to help people lose weight. This could include developing probiotics that help prevent weight gain while promoting gut health. One thing is for sure, scientists are paving the way for a better understanding of managing the obesity epidemic as well as improving overall health and wellness. Sources for this article include: LifeExtension.com Journals.ASM.org To read the original article click here.

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Simple Homemade Greek Avgolemono Soup Recipe

AHA Publisher — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 07:00:44 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN – You might already know that I’m a huge fan of Greek food. It’s one of the cuisines that naturally falls into the Mediterranean diet, which is chock-full of fruits, veggies and healthy grains, along with simple dishes that are full of flavor. This avgolemono soup recipe is one of my favorite classic Greek soups. What Is Avgolemono? (Key Ingredients) Avgolemono means “egg lemon,” and it’s this combination that gives the Greek soup its rich, velvety texture. Rice or orzo pasta is usually cooked right in the soup, which can range from a broth-like consistency to one that’s closer to a hearty stew. While poached chicken is often added to the soup, I’ve kept this one meat-free and vegetarian-friendly. Of course, you can make chicken avgolemono soup by simply adding chicken, but as I mentioned, I opted to make this avgolemono soup vegetarian. The beauty of an authentic Greek avgolemono soup recipe is that it requires so few ingredients but packs a ton of taste. What kind of rice is used in avgolemono? You’ll see many avgolemono soup with orzo versions, but in my simple avgolemono soup, instead of white rice, which is devoid of nutrients, I opted for sprouted brown rice. While brown rice is healthier than its white counterpart, sprouted is the way to go. Sprouted grains are easier for the body to digest, breaks down gluten and allows for greater nutrient absorption. This soup also gets a protein boost from the addition of protein powder made from bone broth. You get all the benefits of bone broth, including collagen and gelatin, all of which support a healthy gut, in an easy-to-use form. No need to spend 24 hours waiting for broth to cook on the stove! Finally, the stars of this soup are the egg and lemon. Eggs, of source, add additional protein and collagen, combining for a heart-healthy, joint-supporting powerhouse with the bone broth, while the lemon adds both flavor and burst of a vitamin C to boost immunity. The trick here is to continuously whisk the eggs in the soup. Instead of cooking and turning into a scramble-y mess, you get that lovely, silky texture that sets this lemon soup apart. How to Make Avgolemono Soup Bring the rice and protein powder mixture to a boil. Stir until the ingredients marry. Then reduce heat, and simmer for 35–40 minutes, covered. Whisk together the eggs and lemon juice gently, until they’re well-combined. Pour the egg and lemon mix into the pot, stirring continuously to prevent curdling. Top with the brown rice crisps and green onions, and season with salt and pepper to taste for this delicious avgolemono soup. Simple Homemade Greek Avgolemono Soup Recipe DESCRIPTION Mediterranean diet soups are full of fruits, veggies and flavor. This Avgolemono Soup Recipe is one of my favorite classic Greek soups. INGREDIENTS 4–5 cups water 1 scoop powder made from bone broth (unflavored) ½ cup sprouted brown rice 4 eggs + 2 egg yolks juice of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon unsalted butter ½ tablespoon paprika salt and pepper to taste Toppings: organic brown rice crisps chopped green onions INSTRUCTIONS Bring rice and broth mixture to a boil, stir until ingredients marry and reduce heat and simmer for 35–40 minutes, covered. Whisk eggs and lemon juice gently until well-combined. Pour into the pot, stirring continuously to prevent curdling. Top with brown rice crisps and green onions, and season with salt and pepper to taste. To read the original article click here.

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Engineered Yeast Probiotic Developed to Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease

AHA Publisher — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 07:00:56 +0000

Brigham and Women’s Hospital via EurekAlert – The world of microbes living in the human gut can have far-reaching effects on human health. Multiple diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are tied to the balance of these microbes, suggesting that restoring the right balance could help treat disease. Many probiotics — living yeasts or bacteria — that are currently on the market have been optimized through evolution in the context of a healthy gut. However, in order to treat complex diseases such as IBD, a probiotic would need to serve many functions, including an ability to turn off inflammation, reverse damage and restore the gut microbiome. Given all of these needs, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have developed a “designer” probiotic — a thoughtfully engineered yeast that can induce multiple effects for treating IBD. Preclinical results from their work are published in Nature Medicine. “We’ve taken yeast — the very yeast that’s used to make beer — and we’ve given it the ability to sense inflammation and secrete an anti-inflammatory molecule,” said corresponding author Francisco Quintana, PhD, an investigator in the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at the Brigham. “We call this new platform ‘Y-bots’ (yeast robots) and see the potential here for developing therapeutics that can treat diseases of the gut tissue and more.” Previous research from the Quintana lab has helped illuminate the connection between the gut and diseases that affect the brain, suggesting potential applications for engineering probiotics beyond IBD. Quintana and colleagues developed their probiotic using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a species of yeast used in winemaking, baking and brewing. Using the gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas9, the researchers introduced genetic elements that could sense inflammation and respond to it by secreting an enzyme that can degrade a key molecule involved in inflammation. The engineered yeast can secrete different levels of enzyme, depending upon how much of the inflammatory signal is present at a location in the gut. This means that the probiotic can have a highly localized response to inflammation. In mice, the engineered yeast successfully suppressed intestinal inflammation, reduced fibrosis and restored a balanced gut microbiome. To bring this new therapeutic platform to bear on IBD and other diseases in humans, Quintana and colleagues will need to conduct safety studies. They also plan to further refine and test the engineered yeast to see if they can speed up tissue repair. Beyond IBD, the team plans to investigate the use of engineered probiotics for treating a common side effect of cancer immunotherapy, colitis. “We want to use the tools of synthetic biology to engineer what can be found in nature,” said Quintana. “By engineering probiotics, our goal is to create more personalized, localized and highly controlled medications for treating diseases of the gut and beyond.” To read the original article click here.

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Switching to a Balanced Diet Restores Gut Health and Suppresses Skin Inflammation

AHA Publisher — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:00:28 +0000

University of California – Davis Health via News-Medical – The secret to healthier skin and joints may reside in gut microorganisms. A study led by UC Davis Health researchers has found that a diet rich in sugar and fat leads to an imbalance in the gut’s microbial culture and may contribute to inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, suggests that switching to a more balanced diet restores the gut’s health and suppresses skin inflammation. “Earlier studies have shown that Western diet, characterized by its high sugar and fat content, can lead to significant skin inflammation and psoriasis flares. Despite having powerful anti-inflammatory drugs for the skin condition, our study indicates that simple changes in diet may also have significant effects on psoriasis.” Sam T. Hwang, professor and chair of dermatology at UC Davis Health and senior author on the study What Is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a stubborn skin condition linked to the body’s immune system. When immune cells mistakenly attack healthy skin cells, they cause skin inflammation and the formation of scales and itchy red patches. Up to 30% of patients with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis with symptoms such as morning stiffness and fatigue, swollen fingers and toes, pain in joints and changes to nails. Diet Affects the Microbial Balance in the Intestines and Skin Inflammation Food is one of the major modifiable factors regulating the gut microbiota, the community of microorganisms living in the intestines. Eating a Western diet can cause rapid change to the gut’s microbial community and its functions. This disruption in microbial balance – known as dysbiosis- contributes to gut inflammation. Since bacteria in the gut may play key roles in shaping inflammation, the researchers wanted to test whether intestinal dysbiosis affects skin and joint inflammation. They used a mouse model to study the effect of diet on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. They injected mice with Interleukin-23 (IL-23) minicircle DNA to induce a response mimicking psoriasis-like skin and joint diseases. IL-23 is a protein generated by the immune cells responsible for many inflammatory autoimmune reactions, including psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Hwang and his colleagues found that a short-term Western diet appears sufficient to cause microbial imbalance and to enhance susceptibility to IL-23?mediated psoriasis-like skin inflammation. “There is a clear link between skin inflammation and changes in the gut microbiome due to food intake,” Hwang said. “The bacterial balance in the gut disrupted shortly after starting a Western diet, and worsened psoriatic skin and joint inflammation.” One critical finding of their work was identifying the intestinal microbiota as a pathogenic link between diet and the displays of psoriatic inflammation. The study also found that antibiotics block the effects of the Western diet, reducing skin and joint inflammation. Is the Damage Caused by an Unhealthy Diet Reversible? The researchers wanted to test if switching to a balanced diet can restore the gut microbiota, despite the presence of IL-23 inflammatory proteins. They fed mice a Western diet for six weeks before giving them an IL-23-inducing agent to trigger psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis features. Then, they randomly divided the mice into two groups: a group that continued the Western diet for another four weeks and a group that switched to a balanced diet for the same duration. Their study showed that eating a diet high in sugar and fat for 10 weeks predisposed mice to skin and joint inflammation. Mice that were switched to a balanced diet had less scaling of the skin and reduced ear thickness than mice on a Western diet. The improvement in skin inflammation for mice taken off the Western diet indicates a short-term impact of the Western diet on skin inflammation. This suggests that changes in diet could partially reverse the proinflammatory effects and alteration of gut microbiota caused by the Western diet. “It was quite surprising that a simple diet modification of less sugar and fat may have significant effects on psoriasis,” said Zhenrui Shi, visiting assistant researcher in the UC Davis Department of Dermatology and lead author on the study. “These findings reveal that patients with psoriatic skin and joint disease should consider changing to a healthier dietary pattern.” “This work reflects a successful collaboration among researchers, especially with Professor Satya Dandekar and her team at the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Professor Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan at the Department of Medical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,” Hwang said. To read the original article click here.

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Study Suggests Potential Role for Probiotics in Preventing Respiratory Infections

AHA Publisher — Mon, 17 May 2021 07:19:30 +0000

Digestive Disease Week via News-Medical – Daily probiotic use was associated with fewer upper respiratory symptoms in overweight and older people, according to a study that suggests a potential role for probiotics in preventing respiratory infections. The study was selected for presentation at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2021. “This is not necessarily the most intuitive idea, that putting bacteria into your gut might reduce your risk of respiratory infection, but it’s further evidence that the gut microbiome has a complex relationship with our various organ systems. It doesn’t just affect how our gut works or how our liver works, it affects aspects of how our whole body works.” (Benjamin Mullish, MD, lead researcher on the study and clinical lecturer in the Division of Digestive Diseases, Imperial College London, England) Researchers re-analyzed detailed daily diaries of 220 patients who participated in an earlier double-blind placebo-controlled study on probiotics and weight loss. Reviewing the entries for common symptoms of upper respiratory infection, including cough, sore throat and wheezing, researchers found that participants who took probiotics during the six-month study had a 27 percent lower overall incidence of upper respiratory tract symptoms compared to the placebo group. The effect was largest among participants who were aged 45 years or older, as well as those with obesity. People with obesity are at higher risk for respiratory infections. Previous research has shown that probiotics reduce upper respiratory infections in healthy adults and children, but little data exists on this vulnerable population of older, overweight and people with obesity. “These findings add to growing interest in the gut-lung axis — how the gut and the lungs communicate with each other,” Dr. Mullish said. “It’s not just the gut sending out signals that affect how the lungs work. It works in both directions. It adds to the story that changes in the gut microbiome can affect large aspects of our health.” The researchers did not measure immune response, only respiratory symptoms. Future randomized clinical trials could help identify the mechanisms related to the reduction in respiratory symptoms and explore the possible impact of probiotics on the immune system, Dr. Mullish said. To read the original article click here.

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8 Tips to Improve Gut Bacteria for Better Health

AHA Publisher — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 08:00:37 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Forty trillion. This is the number of bacteria in your body. Most are in your intestines. And, most are there to help you. How can you help them help you? It’s not hard. If you are intentional about eating real, whole, Keto Zone foods, avoiding substances that deplete them, and resupplying them with probiotics and fermented foods as needed, you can keep these 40 trillion going strong. Here are 8 tips to improve gut bacteria for better health on Keto Zone. 8 Tips to Improve Gut Bacteria for Better Health on Keto Zone 1. CONSUME A VARIETY OF FERMENTED FOODS Fermented foods are foods that contain, or are altered by microbes. Some foods contain live fermenting bacteria when you eat it. Others, like those foods that have been cooked or baked, no longer have the viable bacteria, but have been made healthier by the fermentation process. When food is fermenting, the bacteria or yeast in the food “eat” the sugars, converting them to organic acids or alcohol. Fermented foods that can improve your gut bacteria include: Plain yogurt Kimchi Sauerkraut Kefir Kombucha Tempeh Fermented vegetable powders, like Greens Supremefoods Living foods, like Living Chia with Probiotics Do they really help? Studies show that people who eat yogurt regularly have more lactobacilli (healthy bacteria) and less Enterobacteriaceae (inflammatory bacteria) in their intestines (1). Got milk problems? Other studies have shown that consuming probiotics like those in yogurt can reduce lactose intolerance symptoms and condition, especially when combined with B6 supplementation (2). 2. EAT YOUR VEGETABLES & OTHER PREBIOTIC FOODS We all know to “eat our vegetables,” but what about prebiotics? Probiotics are the healthy bacteria. Prebiotics are healthy bacteria’s food. The keep your gut bacteria healthy, you’ve got to feed them. Many foods like vegetables and seeds, which are high in fiber, are great prebiotic food. While these fibers cannot be digested and metabolized by the human body and used for energy, they can be used by your bacteria. Some high-fiber vegetables, nuts, seeds, and Keto Zone friendly fruits that feed your gut bacteria include: Raspberries Artichokes Asparagus Broccoli Chicory root and inulin (such as used in MCT Oil Powder) Greens Onions and garlic Leeks Raw Cacao Flax seeds and hemp heart seeds Almonds and pistachios Study after study has shown that a diet full of vegetables, nuts, seeds, and soluble fiber prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, increase healthy bacteria, reduce intestinal inflammation, and more (3, 4, 5). What’s more, prebiotics can fight disease and unhealthy conditions such as high insulin levels, high triglycerides, and cholesterol (6). 3. AVOID ASPARTAME, SACCHARIN, AND SUCRALOSE Man-made artificial sweeteners have been widely used in “diet foods.” Unfortunately, they can have negative effects on gut bacteria. Animal and humans studies have shown that aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, and other artificial sweeteners can impair gut bacteria (7). In fact, there is documentation of (8): Saccharin reducing healthy bacteria growth by 40% Sucralose decreasing bacteria by more than 2-fold Aspartame increasing the number of harmful bacteria by 10% If you use sugar substitutes, make sure they are natural ones like sugar alcohols: erythritol, xylitol, and others is safe, and do not seem to affect gut bacteria (8). 4. NEW BABY? BREASTFEED IF YOU’RE ABLE At the beginning of human life, an infant’s gut is continually developing microbiota. This bacteria flora is especially high in Bifidobacteria, which is important in the digestion of breast milk (9). Studies show that infants who are breastfed have more Bifidobacteria than those who are fed formula (10, 11). This difference may be linked to the lower rates of allergies and other digestion issues associated with breastfed infants (12). 5. EAT YOUR POLYPHENOLS Polyphenols are highly-beneficial nutrients found mostly in plant foods. They are often associated with disease prevention, reduced oxidation stress, and reduced inflammation (13). Somewhat like fibers, many polyphenols cannot be fully digested by humans, and make a great, nourishing meal for gut bacteria (13, 14). They can increase the colonies of good bacteria to help the body fight detrimental strains. Good sources of Keto Zone polyphenols include: Raw cacao Green tea Almonds Onions Blueberries Broccoli Leafy greens 6. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE DIGESTION ISSUES, TAKE A PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENT Probiotic supplements contain live, viable probiotic bacteria in pill or powder form. These supplements are especially beneficial to humans who have digestion issues, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, frequent loose stools, constipation, and more. Typically, probiotics supplements don’t provide a permanent cure to digestion issues, nor do they colonize in the gut permanently. However, both anecdotal reports and studies show they help acute digestion symptoms. They can also produce beneficial effects on the bacteria in the gut (15). Probiotic supplementation has been under scrutiny after a review found that they had little effect on the gut colonies of healthy people. However, this did not account for the digestion and health improvements we see in those with poor digestion and discomfort (16). There have also been studies that produce mixed results in improving microbiota as well as studies that show benefits (17, 18). 7. MINIMIZE USE AND CONSUMPTION OF ANTIBIOTICS In recent years, there has been a push to drastically reduce the use of antibiotics in humans and animals. Doctors have been urged to only prescribe antibiotics only when necessary, and with much less frequency than in previous decades. Why? The overuse of antibiotics is 1) hurting the gut by wiping out healthy bacteria, and 2) leading to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while the prescriptions of antibiotics are decreasing, the number of unnecessary ones is still too high (19). What’s more, the World Health Organization is also working to reduce the antibiotics that humans consume. It is recommending that routine antibiotic use in animals is stopped and reserved only when the animal is sick (20). Then, the animal should be taken out of the milking schedule, for example, until the antibiotics have cleared its system. By reducing antibiotics in animals consumed by humans, fewer antibiotics can be transferred to the human body, less affect human digestion, and fewer bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. 8. DON’T ABUSE ALCOHOL Unfortunately, alcohol, especially in large quantities, can negatively affect the bacteria colonies in the gut. In fact, many people who abuse alcohol have impaired nutrient absorption, poor digestion, and discomfort. When used in moderation, bacteria colonies can remain healthy. But, overuse of alcohol can destroy them. Bottom Line Want to improve gut bacteria for better health? It’s simple! Do: Eat a variety of fermented foods, eat prebiotics, eat foods high in polyphenols, breastfeed if you’re able, and use probiotic supplements as needed. Don’t: Consume aspartame or saccharin, over-consume antibiotics, or abuse alcohol. Your gut bacteria is extremely important for many aspects of health. Luckily, can improve gut bacteria for better health on Keto Zone. More and more, science is proving that a healthy digestive system is the key to a healthy brain and body—and the power to keep your gut healthy lies directly with you! Get Dr. Colbert’s Healthy Gut Zone book today to help you understand the connection between your gut and your health. You will learn that whatever inflames your gut will eventually inflame your brain and the rest of your body. Making the right food choices will become the medicine in which you will walk and live in divine health. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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Improve Your Gut Health by Eating Just One of THIS Fruit a Day

AHA Publisher — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 08:00:29 +0000

Joy Jensen via NaturalHealth365 – Over the past few years, we’ve continually learned more about the exciting health benefits of avocados. Studies conducted on this fruit have found that they’re useful for regulating LDL cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of heart disease. Additional research shows that they help support immune function, may curb appetite, lower blood pressure, support healthy skin, and even help prevent certain types of cancer. The authors of a new study decided to investigate a different side of avocados, delving into their effects on the digestive system. Findings published in the Journal of Nutrition show that eating an avocado a day improves overall gut health drastically. 12-weeks Study Shows POWERFUL Benefits to Gut Health Study authors wanted to go beyond the obvious benefits of consuming avocados, like their ability to reduce cholesterol and make you feel full to focus on how they influence the gut. The study involved 163 people between 25 and 45 years of age who were overweight or obese but otherwise in good health. Broken into two groups, over 12 weeks, one group of people added an avocado to one meal a day. The second group of participants ate similar meals but did not have an avocado. Throughout the study period, all members provided fecal, urine, and blood samples and reported how much of their meals were eaten each day. At the end of the study, researchers discovered that the group eating an avocado daily resulted in more healthful microbes found in the intestines and stomach. Along with their ability to increase the healthy microbes in the gut, study authors also noted that avocados’ high fiber content makes them excellent for digestive health, too. Researchers noticed that, interestingly, the avocado group also excreted more fat in their stools, suggesting that they may not have absorbed as much energy from the foods they ate. Ready to Add an Avocado to Your Daily Diet? Here Are Some Simple Ways to Enjoy This INCREDIBLE Fruit Avocados are a mild fruit that’s easy to incorporate into both savory or sweet dishes. They’re a great addition to your favorite salads, can be added to sauces, and taste delicious stuffed with an egg and other ingredients. Of course, avocado toast is a favorite option for many avocado lovers, and they’re even delicious in smoothies along with protein powder and your favorite fruits. For those who aren’t fans of avocados, it’s possible to get probiotic nutrients in other ways. Eating yogurt is a popular way to get more good bacteria into your gut. Consuming more vegetables high in fiber like lentils, artichokes, broccoli, and chickpeas also benefit gut health. Chickpeas, in particular, contain a fermentable fiber that promotes gut health, and they are known for fighting heart disease and curbing the appetite, too. Sources for this article include: OUP.com MedicalNewsToday.com NaturalHealth365.com NaturalHealth365.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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