Notable News

Clostridium difficile (C. diff) – More than Difficult!  Chances are you’ve probably heard of C. diff before, or at least its most common (and least pleasant) side effect – the gut-wrenching diarrhea. I know, I know, here I go talking about poop again, but this is important! C. diff infections are becoming more common every year. Studies tell us that 7,000 people are infected each day, and 300 of those die from the infection. So I say the more we know about C. diff, the better.

Okay, let’s start with the basics – just what is C. diff anyway? It’s short for Clostridium difficile, a disease-causing bacterium that most often appears after a person has taken antibiotics. This happens because the good bacteria that are normally present in the intestines (and which help keep our immunity strong) are also destroyed by antibiotics. Basically, when we take antibiotics to fight infection, they kill a lot of the good bacteria in our gut along with the bad, which disrupts our normally healthy intestinal balance. And C. diff is one of those opportunistic little buggers that will quickly take over and multiply if it has the chance, causing a potentially dangerous infection whose symptoms include severe diarrhea, abdominal cramping and nausea.

Interestingly, another culprit in the C. diff epidemic has come to light. The use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been associated with a risk for C. diff infection.  PPIs are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux. These drugs suppress the secretion of acid in the stomach. 

But Wait! We Need Our Stomach Acid!  One of the functions of stomach acid is to kill bacteria that comes in with food. When there is not enough stomach acid, as occurs in people taking PPIs, harmful bacteria like C. diff can enter the intestinal tract and quickly multiply.

Can You Say Superbug? Have you heard the term Superbug?  C. diff is a Superbug. Superbugs are bacteria that become resistant to antibiotic treatment, which means that after a while, taking antibiotics won’t do anything to stop the harmful effects of the bug. Antibiotic resistance is largely the result of over-prescribing antibiotics for every little sneeze or sniffle instead of giving the body a chance to fight off the infection on its own, and it’s become a huge concern in the medical community today. I’ll talk about this more in a later post, so stay tuned!

Bottom Line? Our intestinal flora – the friendly bacteria in our intestines – play a major role in our health. One particular probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii has been found to be especially useful for people with C. diff, particularly those that have recurrent C. diff infections. The reason is because S. boulardii is actually a yeast organism, so it’s not destroyed by antibiotics like most bacteria, which means it can keep working in the body to protect against C. diff – even if you’re taking antibiotics. The bottom line is, maintaining a good balance of beneficial microorganisms (probiotics) in the gut is a vital part of creating digestive health, which as we all know is the foundation for total-body health!

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antibiotics, bacteriology, Clostridium difficile, dangerous infection, Diarrhea, diff infection, diff infections, digestive system, food, Gastroenterology, gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD, Gut flora, Health_Medical_Pharma, microbiology, nausea, Probiotic, Saccharomyces boulardii

Colic in babies is one of those conditions that the medical community cannot seem to figure out. Colic occurs in up to 28% of infants. Babies with colic cry for hours, unconsolable, sometimes every day. The cause of colic is unknown and the treatment of colic is uncertain. So many infants suffer from colic and parents are at a loss for how to deal with it. A colicky baby can be quite a handful for new parents who may not feel equipped or emotionally able to handle the situation, especially when doctors don’t provide many answers.

A new study from the University of Texas Health Science Center has found that babies with colic are more likely to have higher amounts of gut inflammation and a bacteria called Klebsiella in their intestines. They also found that the babies who did not have colic had a greater diversity of bacteria in their guts. The lead researcher also suggested that colic may prove to be a precursor to other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease and other gut allergies.

This study is exciting because the next step, researchers say, is to investigate the use of a probiotic to control gut inflammation in these babies. Now they are on to something.

The establishment of healthy gut bacteria, in a vaginally born baby, begins at birth. It then continues during breastfeeding and through contact with the outside world. Many factors can inhibit this process leaving the infant with less-than-optimal gut flora. In many ways these beneficial bacteria act as a partial immune system for the infant. The importance of establishing a healthy and diverse bacterial population in those little guts is vitally important, as this study has pointed out. Renew Life’s Flora Baby was developed specifically for babies and toddlers. It contains five strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria and comes in a powder that can be mixed with liquid.

Learn the ABC’s of Probiotics.

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Bifidobacteria, celiac disease, colic, Flora Baby, gut allergies, IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Klebsiella, Lactobacillus, Probiotics, University of Texas Health Science Center

Summary:
In this video blog I discuss a recent study published in the journal “Pediatrics” that suggest a very odd way to help children that have eczema. What do they suggest? What are some other options? Tune in and find out…

Full Script:

Can you imagine putting your infant or young child into a bath of bleach water with the raw skin associated with eczema? Well that is exactly what a study published in the journal Pediatrics is suggesting. The bleach, being an antibacterial will help eliminate bacteria on the skin as a result of so much scratching.

Julie Block, of the National Eczema Association says this type of suggestion “will help people learn options that they can do at home to empower themselves”.

Sounds more like a punishment to me.

How about all the studies out there now showing that probiotic supplements can greatly reduce eczema in children. Or how about getting your child tested for food allergies and sensitivities, which play a huge role in the development of eczema.

If your worried about the bacteria try getting a natural anti-bacterial cream from your local health food store. I’m willing to bet it won’t contain bleach!

In the meantime, ReNew Life Formulas has an award-winning line of probiotic supplements for children and adults.

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allergies, bacteria, bleach, Brenda Watson, eczema, national eczema association, pediatrics, Probiotics, sensitivities

If you are in the United States and you eat anything at all purchased from a supermarket you are most likely aware of current food scares.  These scares involve food contaminated with harmful bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella.  We have had many in the past year involving foods such as ground beef, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, peanuts, pistachios and white pepper.

These are frightening events seeing as in 2008 an estimated 325,000 Americans were hospitalized and more than 5,000 people died from tainted food.  Unfortunately the Food and Drug Administration currently has the resources to only inspect less than one percent of the food imported into the United States.  No wonder consumer confidence is falling. There is hope on the horizon for food safety.  A bill is currently in the House of Representatives that will give the FDA more power and funding to implement better safety standards, establish a better inspection program, and allow easier tracking of tainted food products.

In the meantime one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from pathogenic bacteria on food is to take a daily probiotic supplement.  Probiotics, or your good bacteria, found in the digestive tract have the ability to produce substances that kill bad bacteria eaten on food.  These probiotics also crowd out the digestive tract and consume all the food source that bad bacteria would need in order to survive – ReNew Life’s Ultimate Flora Adult Formula Probiotic Supplement can help.

Another means of protection against food-bourne illness is a digestive enzyme formula containing hydrochloric acid, like Renew Life’s ParaZyme.  This acid is what is normally found in a healthy stomach when we eat.  Unfortunately lots of people, as they age and for other reasons, are lacking in this very important substance.  One of the most notable functions of our stomach acid is the natural sterilization for our food.  Without proper stomach acid you are more susceptible to bacteria and parasitic infections.

So protect your family and always have a probiotic and enzyme formula available.

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Brenda Watson, E.coli, Enzymes, FDA, hydrochloric acid, Parazyme, Probiotics, salmonella

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

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