In this video blog I discuss Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. For years now I have been trying to educate on the relationship between intestinal health and bacteria and the development of this disease The new issue of Hepatology gives new insight into this condition and echos my thoughts. Watch and find out more about this condition and what you can do to address it…

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Brenda Watson, Fatty Liver Disease, Hepatology magazine, non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

My assistant recently returned from the latest Institute for Functional Medicine conference in southern Florida. For those not familiar with Functional Medicine it is a personalized medicine that deals with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of symptoms for serious chronic disease. In other words, they teach Medical Doctors as well as all other specialties how to evaluate a person to get to the route of a problem or disease and treating the cause verses just treating the symptoms.

A big part of Functional Medicine includes the use of nutraceuticals in treatment.

This year’s conference centered on Mood Disorders, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder as well as touching base on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Amazingly, one of the focuses of the lectures was the gut-brain connection in relation to mood disorders. More specifically, how reactions of our immune system and gut inflammation can directly affect our brain.

Remember that most of our immune system is in our gut.

Without getting too technical, the same type of cells and neurotransmitters found in our brain are also located within the digestive system. The development of an infection or inflammation anywhere in the body will set the immune system in action. Again, most of this reaction takes place first within the immune system of the digestive tract. Our immune system responds by the reaction of proteins called cytokines. These cytokines tell our body what type of reaction to have, such as swelling, stiffness, pain etc…It has now been shown that these cytokines will travel a very unique pathway and arrive at the brain, setting into motion a chemical reaction that results in the breakdown of the neurotransmitters involved in mood stability and inflammation within the brain itself.

Once this brain inflammation develops, it can remain for months even though the initial problem in the other part of our body gets resolved. This brain reaction can result in symptoms such as brain fog, memory problems, depression and anxiety. In addition, the influx of these cytokines to the brain can disrupt the lining of the brain called the blood-brain-barrier, causing what they now call “Leaky Brain” syndrome, making the brain more susceptible to other agents that do not normally pass this barrier. This is very similar indeed to what we know as Leaky Gut syndrome.

The more inflammation and irritation of the gut lining, as in Leaky Gut, will in turn send more of the cytokines to the brain, resulting in more inflammation and irritation there. In reverse, they are now seeing that healing the gut, reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system with the proper nutraceuticals can in turn reduce depression, anxiety and even reduce some symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

All the more reason to take precautionary measures by supporting your immune system with probiotics, as well as your vitamins and minerals. Taking a glutamine supplement such as IntestiNew will help keep your intestinal tract healthy, reduce inflammation and defer the development of leaky gut.

It is funny that years ago scientists and doctors treated the brain and mood disorders as a total separate entity from the rest of the body. It is nice to see that they now realize the brain is connected to the body, through something called the neck!

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Alzheimer's, cytokines, functional medicine conference, glutamine supplement, gut inflammation, IntestiNew, leaky brain, leaky gut, Probiotics

Summer is quickly approaching and I’m sure everyone is starting to think about their family vacation. You might be going to a state park, an amusement park or visiting friends and family. No matter where you are planning to spend your family vacation, you are sure to think of your family’s safety first. With that said, one part of your family’s safety is keeping them healthy during travel.

During your vacation it is important to have your children wash their hands before eating, use the antiseptic wipes at crowded places and avoid contact with anyone coughing or sneezing. But, equally, if not more important, is for you and your children to take a probiotic supplement daily.

I would recommend starting one a week before your scheduled travel and take it religiously throughout your trip. A good probiotic supplement will help keep your family’s immune system stay strong and ready to fight off bacteria and viruses you may come into contact with on your vacation.

I would suggest ReNew Life brand FloraSmart probiotic. This probiotic supplement is great for travel because it is “shelf stable” so it does not need refrigeration. Plus, the tablets are individually wrapped, which makes them easy to shove into your purse or pocket. There are several different strengths including a 6, 12 and 24 billion culture strengths. For travel I would suggest at least the 12 billion culture strength. This is suitable for your entire family. This means that children from age 3 and up can take the same adult probiotic supplement. This will make your travels easier knowing you only need one option on hand.

So, go out there, have fun and enjoy your family vacation.

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Brenda Watson, Children, family vacation, FloraSmart, Probiotics, Summer Vacation, Supplements

In this video blog I discuss a new study from Columbia University that looked at CT scans of over 1,700 persons and found that those who grew up with smokers had more “emphysema-like” holes in their lung tissue. Why is smoking so addictive? What are you exposed to when you light up? Why can’t you stop? I answer these and more in this video.

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Brenda Watson, dangers of second hand smoke, detoxification, emphysema, Smoker's Cleanse

We all know that mercury is found in higher concentrations in fatty fish, right? But do we know how it gets there? And do we know how to avoid it without having to avoid the health benefits of the healthy omega-3 oils that are found in some fatty fish? What’s more, do we know how to help rid the body of the mercury that we may have already unknowingly consumed? These are all important questions that I will address here.

A recent study from the United States Geological Survey looked at mercury contamination from a different point of view. Instead of studying atmospheric pollution emissions, they looked at how ocean currents carry pollution. They discovered that algae at the surface, which carried mercury, would sink to greater depths as it died. At these depths, bacteria in the water decomposed the algae, and in the process methylmercury was formed (this is a particularly dangerous form of mercury). From there, the methlymercury moves up the food chain from tiny phytoplankton that are eaten by small fish who then store the mercury in their fat. The small fish are then eaten by bigger fish who further concentrate the mercury, and so on up to the largest fattiest fish, which contain the highest amounts of mercury.

In fact, one of the authors mentioned that up to 40 percent of all human exposure to mercury is from tuna harvested in the Pacific Ocean (where the study took place). Through this modeling of ocean currents, it was discovered that the mercury had traveled very far distances from the coast of Asia.

So now we have an idea of the far reaching effects of pollution. What can we do to avoid the ill health effects of mercury, but still be able to get the beneficial marine omega-3s EPA and DHA? Well, look for fish oil supplements that are highly purified. The purification process removes mercury and other pollutants. The best standards out there are the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS). IFOS standards are even higher than Norwegian Standards! Make sure the fish oils you take are IFOS certified. Renew Life’s Norwegian Gold Ultimate Fish Oils are IFOS certified and provide concentrated amounts of EPA and DHA.

But what can you do if you suspect that you may have eaten one too many sushi rolls or tuna fish sandwiches? Cleansing and natural detox formulas that target the seven channels of elimination can help support the body’s natural detoxification process. But first, it is important that you are having regular elimination (2-3 bowel movements per day!). A total body cleanse that addresses constipation is the first step to detox your body and eliminate toxins. Renew Life’s First Cleanse and Total Body Rapid Cleanse are great body cleansing formulas. After this cleanse, you can target the mercury with a detox that is specific for heavy metals. Heavy Metal Cleanse was formulated for just this purpose.

Always remember that they more you know, the more you can empower yourself to take better care of your health.

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Brenda Watson, DHA, EPA, First Cleanse, Heavy Metal Cleanse, IFOS, mercury, mercury in your diet, Norwegian Gold Fish Oils, Omega-3 Oils, Total BOdy Cleanse

There has been a lot of press lately about the new strain of flu, H1N1 or as most know it, the swine flu. It seems that as of today cases have been confirmed in 36 states. The CDC, the news channels and even President Obama have been telling everyone to take precautions, such as wash your hands religiously and cover your mouth when you cough.

Surprisingly, I’ve not heard much talk about keeping your immune system strong. You would think now would be a time when strengthening your immune system is suggested more than any other. One of the best ways you can help keep your immunity high against is to take a very therapeutic potency probiotic supplement. Those of you who know me, know how much I tout the benefits of probiotics. Well this is exactly one of the situations where everyone needs to be taking a probiotic supplement. I would suggest the highest potency multi-strain formula you can find such as my Renew Life Ultimate Flora Super Critical 200 Billion sachet probiotic.

This is one of the highest multi-strain probiotics on the market. Along with probiotics you should drink plently of clean purified water, get plenty of rest, try to eat well which means avoiding processed and refined foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables have phytonutrients that will help keep your immune system strong. During these times of stress and sickness we need to take extra precautions on the inside not just on the outside such as washing the hands. Over 70% of your immune system is in your digestive tract. And that is where you need to start in order to keep healthy. Pick up your probiotic today!

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benefits of probiotics, Brenda Watson, CDC, H1N1, immune system, phytonutrients, President Obama, Probiotics & Gut Flora, swine flu

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