For many years now scientists have been studying how the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut can contribute to, or influence all kinds of chronic diseases. Diseases such as IBS, Chron’s, colitis, even diabetes, asthma and liver disease. But recently coming into the limelight is research showing that your gut bacteria, specifically the type you have, may be making you fat.

Recent research performed by Cornell University microbiologist Ruth Ley has shown that obese people have a different mix of bacteria in the gut than skinny people. When she fed gut bacteria from obese mice to sterile mice, they got fat, but when the sterile mice consumed the gut bacteria from skinny mice, they gained very little.

The theory behind this is that certain microbial populations allow the body to harvest more calories from food. Over time this could contribute to weight gain. The bacteria found in obese individuals and the one believed to cause this effect belonged to a particular microbial subgroup, hydrogen-producing bacteria known as prevotellaceae.

This research is still in the early stages, but some studies suggest that altering or modifying the gut bacteria may result in weight loss. One way to do just that would be to take a high potency probiotic supplement like Renew Life’s Ultimate Flora 50 Billion that could crowd out this unwanted obesity bacteria. This is not to say that this bacteria is the only factor by any means in obesity.

Adding a good probiotic supplement to your weight loss regime could prove helpful.

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Chron's, colitis, diabetes, IBS, obesity, Omega-3 Oils, probiotic supplement, Probiotics, Ultimate Flora 50 billion

During these tough economic times every penny counts. That is why I am doing a new series on “Staying Healthy in an Unhealthy Economy.” In part three I discuss some easy and inexpensive ways to lessen the toxic burden on your children.

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Brenda Watson, Children, Cleansing, detoxification, economy, unhealthy economy

During these tough economic times every penny counts. That is why I am doing a new series on “Staying Healthy in an Unhealthy Economy.” In part two I discuss inexpensive and natural ways to clean up your home. This not only saves you money, but takes harmful toxins out of your environment.

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Cleansing, detox strategy, detoxification, natural home cleaners, remove toxins from home, toxins, unhealthy economy

On my recent trip to Canada I was reading Newsweek and came across a small article about getting kids to pick healthier foods in school cafeterias. One suggestion was to get rid of all the junk food choices available in most schools. This would be highly unlikely to happen and most kids, depending on their age may starve until they reach the 7-Eleven after school. Another suggestion in the article was to rename foods for the younger crowd. “X-ray vision carrots, bulk-up broccoli, groovy green beans…could this get kids to eat more vegetables? According to a Cornell researcher kindergarten kids ate the renamed vegetables 50% more than “plain” vegetables.

I don’t see this being as successful on the older kids.

How do we really get our kids to make better food choices, not only at school but at home? We educate them on nutrition starting at a very early age. This means nutritional education in school as well as at home. Very few schools include any kind of nutritional courses, and most that do start them at the teenage years which may be too late to teach the value of foods. Most children will mimic what they learn in the home environment. If at home you are serving mostly processed foods, high starches and sugar, that is what your kids will learn. And those are the types of foods they will choose when given the opportunity.

In most cases it is a matter of educating the parents as well.

Maybe some of you have seen a show that was running on The Learning Channel called “Honey, we’re killing the kids”. In this show the nutrition expert goes to a typical family’s home with children who may be overweight, unhealthy or just eating all kinds of junk food. Using computer images she shows the parents what their children will look like as adults if they continue the diet and lifestyle path they are currently on. She then goes through their kitchen and teaches the parents and the children about good nutritious food choices verses what they may be eating. She teaches not only about a healthy diet but about a more active lifestyle. She then challenges them within a three week course to use these changes and suggestions. The difference at the end of just three weeks in how these families feel and look are amazing. She then shows the parents again by computer imaging and statistics how their children may look as adults on this healthier, more active lifestyle.

Getting back to the point of where do we start, what do we do NOW to start helping our children eat better? Even if your children are older, it is never too late to start setting a good example. Try starting a program like my Fiber 35 healthy eating plan. The foods suggested, although healthy, are still delicious and allows the kids to have healthy tasty snacks. Although I target weight loss with my Fiber 35 Diet, it is a great, healthy way of eating for your whole family. The recipes are terrific and so are the eating-out tips.

Check out my fiber35diet.com website for more fiber recipes and snack ideas for your whole family. Do you have some tasty healthy treats? Share your ideas and thoughts here.

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children eat healthy, Digestive Health, fiber 35 diet, groovy green beans, healthy eating plan, healthy foods in schools, high fiber foods, the learning channel, x ray vision carrots

During these tough economic times every penny counts. That is why I am doing a new series on “Staying Healthy in an Unhealthy Economy.” With so many losing their jobs and health care, how can you stay healthy? In this video, part 1 of the series, I discuss easy natural choices to invest in your health and well being.

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antibiotics, Brenda Watson, cardiovascular, diabetes, economy, Enzymes, health insurance, obesity, omega-3 oil, omega-3 supplement, Probiotics & Gut Flora, stress health, Supplements, vitamins

“Ah, it wasn’t me! The goat did it”

Anyone who has read my most recent book, “The Detox Strategy” or has ever seen Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” realizes the devastating effect that greenhouse gas emissions is having on our planet.  But who knew… it’s been the cow’s fault!

Seriously though, methane produced from the flatulence of livestock including cattle, sheep and goats accounts for more than one third of all the methane emissions.  Methane is apparently 20 times more powerful at trapping the solar energy than carbon dioxide, making it one of the most potent greenhouse gasses we humans deal with.

A new study released last week by the Society of General Microbiology showed that adding 2% fish oil into the feed of cattle achieved a reduction in the amount of methane released by the animals.  It seems according to Dr. Lorraine Lillis, one of the researchers, that “The fish oil affects the methane-producing bacteria in the rumen part of the cow’s gut, leading to reduced emissions.”

For those of you not understanding what emissions she’s speaking of – she means cow farts.

Wow, if adding a little bit of fish oil to the feed of cattle can help save our planet, that’s a thumbs up in my book.  Going a bit further, if fish oil can do this for cattle, imagine what it can do for your gassy significant other.  Especially my concentrated, enteric coated, Norwegian Gold Critical Omega fish oil.

We need to add this to the list of all the wonderful health benefits of Omega 3 oils.

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Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, cattle, detox strategy, fish oils, gas and bloating, greenhouse gasses, methane, norwegian, norwegian gold critical omega, omega-3 supplement