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Showing posts with label infections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label infections. Show all posts

9 Signs of a Leaky Gut (and how to Heal it)

Dr. Amy Myerseatlocalgrown.com

Image: EatLocalGrown.com
The gut is the gateway to health. If your gut is healthy, chances are that you’re in good health. However, there’s a condition called leaky gut that can lead to a host of health problems.

What is a leaky gut?
The gut is naturally permeable to very small molecules in order to absorb these vital nutrients. In fact, regulating intestinal permeability is one of the basic functions of the cells that line the intestinal wall. In sensitive people, gluten can cause the gut cells to release zonulin, a protein that can break apart tight junctions in the intestinal lining. Other factors — such as infections, toxins, stress and age — can also cause these tight junctions to break apart. Once these tight junctions get broken apart, you have a leaky gut. When your gut is leaky, things like toxins, microbes, undigested food particles, and more can escape from your intestines and travel throughout your body via your bloodstream. Your immune system marks these “foreign invaders” as pathogens and attacks them. The immune response to these invaders can appear in the form of any of the nine signs you have a leaky gut, which are listed below.

What causes leaky gut?
The main culprits are foods, infections, and toxins. Gluten is the number one cause of leaky gut. Other inflammatory foods like dairy or toxic foods, such sugar and excessive alcohol, are suspected as well. The most common infectious causes are candida overgrowth, intestinal parasites, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Toxins come in the form of medications, including NSAIDS like Motrin and Advil, steroids, antibiotics, and acid-reducing drugs. They can also present in the form of  environmental toxins like mercury, pesticides and BPA from plastics. Stress and age also contribute to a leaky gut. If you suffer from any of the following conditions, it’s likely that you have a leaky gut.

9 Signs You Have a Leaky Gut

1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

2. Seasonal allergies or asthma.

3. Hormonal imbalances such as PMS or PCOS.

4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, psoriasis, or celiac disease.

5. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.

6. Mood and mind issues such as depression, anxiety, ADD or ADHD.

7. Skin issues such as acne, rosacea, or eczema.

8. Diagnosis of candida overgrowth.

9. Food allergies or food intolerances.



How do you heal a leaky gut?
In my practice, I have all of my patients follow The Myers Way comprehensive elimination diet, which removes the toxic and inflammatory foods for a certain period of time. In addition, I have them follow a 4R program to heal their gut. The 4R program is as follows.

1. Remove.
Remove the bad. The goal is to get rid of things that negatively affect the environment of the GI tract, such as inflammatory and toxic foods, and intestinal infections.

2. Replace.
Replace the good. Add back the essential ingredients for proper digestion and absorption, such as digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid and bile acids.

3. Reinoculate.
It’s critical to restore beneficial bacteria to reestablish a healthy balance of good bacteria.

4. Repair.
It’s essential to provide the nutrients necessary to help the gut repair itself. One of my favorite supplements is L-glutamine, an amino acid that helps to rejuvenate the lining of the gut wall. If you still have symptoms after following the above recommendations, I would recommend finding a Functional Medicine physician in your area to work with you and to order a comprehensive stool test.

Source: eatlocalgrown.com

Death by sugar!

Some experts compare processed sugar to heavy drugs





Processed sugars are among the top unhealthy food components that are far too prevalent in the modern diet.  Diabetes, tooth decay, and even cancer are connected to the excessive consumption of processed and refined sugars.  Try to get your sweet fix by munching on some fresh berries, a banana, or an crisp juicy apple which all contain fiber that will balance out the natural sugars and provide a sustained natural energy boost.  Here are some of the negative effects of consuming processed sugar:


-Heightened diabetes risk

-Oral health problems

-Disrupted metabolism

-Faster aging

-Weakened immune system

-Heightened cancer risk

-Weight problems

-Kidney damage

-Skin problems

-Sleep disruption


Since sugar is separated from its nutritional components when it is refined, it is considered empty calories.  In fact, refined sugar actually requires the body to spend important nutrients in order to process the pure sugars which cause shock in the system.  Consuming fructose increases the uric acid presence in the body which can cause low level inflammation, leading to various other health problems.  Consuming processed sugars over a long period of time creates a suitable environment within the body for infections and bacteria to thrive.  Acidic blood, which is achieved through a poor diet usually consisting of too much processed and even natural sugars, greatly increases the risk for developing cancer as well.  There is a misconception that juicing fruits is a healthy practice, but the fiber from the fruits must be consumed along with the plant based sugars to help digest and moderate blood sugar absorption.  Instead, eat or blend the fruit and save green vegetables for the juicing.


Photo by: Lauri Andler

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Health benefits of lavender


Most likely known for its use in lotions, perfumes, and soaps, lavender is known for its wonderful smell and brilliant purple blooms.  However, there are some other uses for this special herb that could surprise you.

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-Lavender relieves tension and anxiety naturally.  Crush the leaves in your hands or rub lavender essential oil on your temples for some stress reducing aromatherapy.

-Adding lavender essential oils to your bath will help to soothe and relax tired muscles.

-If you have a burn, inflammation, or irritation, you can use lavender oil topically to soothe.

-Lavender can provide a natural alternative to chemical laden perfumes and colognes.

-Lavender helps you sleep better.  Add some lavender essential oil to a spray bottle and lightly mist your bedspread and pillows before calling it a night.

-A natural antiseptic, lavender oil can be applied to skin abrasions to guard against infections.

Read about more wonder herbs!

5 health benefits of cilantro


Basil Beats Bacteria!


Health Benefits of Ancient Herbal Tea





Natural Cures Not Medicine
Nutrition is nature's health insurance.

How cilantro heals the body



Here are 5 more health benefits you can expect from cilantro.
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Prevents urinary tract infections


Protects against salmonella 


Fights nausea


Rich in phytonutrients, iron, and magnesium


Good source of fiber





Huge results from juicing raw cannabis!

     
     It seems that every year there is a new expert or study coming forward with compelling evidence of the fantastic medical powers contained in the cannabis plant.  Conditions like diabetes, inflammation, cancer, infections, depression, pain, and sleep disorders can be treated naturally using various cannabis strains.  With health insurance and cost of living to consider, should we be looking to nature for our healing needs?  Even strains that have zero psychoactive effects contain compounds that battle illnesses and free radicals while delivering sweet relief to patients.  Smoking cannabis yields some pain and appetite stimulation effects for terminal patients but is not the ideal method of medicating using cannabis as fire destroys up to 80% of the beneficial compounds in the plant matter.  Rick Simpson, the legendary cannabis activist from Canada, uses essential oils from cannabis to cure not just terminal cancers but other serious and deadly health conditions.  The concentrated oil is extremely effective, but is there yet another approach to medicating with this wonder plant?

Check out and share this video on the benefits of juicing Cannabis!

The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil

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Before trying anything you find on the internet you should fully investigate your options and get further advice from professionals.

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