In this time of scary bacterial infections, antibacterial soap would seem a regular sink-side bottle. We are told that germs are bad—and many are—and that we need to scrub them away with antibacterial soaps, scrubs and sprays. Right? Well, not completely. Handwashing for at least 15 seconds with hot soapy water is very effective at removing germs. All that is needed for this is regular old soap.

Antibacterial soap contains a chemical called triclosan (2,4,4’-trichloro-2’-hydroxydiphenyl ether). This chemical has been said to contribute to the increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria. This is because it’s in so many products and pollutes waterways, increasing its exposure to bacteria, which then become resistant.

Dr. Smith blogged in December about the link between use of triclosan and the development of hay fever and allergies in children and teens. Now comes another study published in Environmental Health Perspectives that adds to the last—children and adolescents under age 18 with the highest levels of triclosan in their urine were more likely to be diagnosed with allergies and asthma.

The head researchers stated, “Our results suggest that exposure to triclosan, particularly at times during the life course when the immune system is developing, may modify immunologic response.” They are not quite sure how that works, but suggest that applying triclosan soaps to the skin may reduce some types of microbiota on the skin, or even in the bowels. Or, the soaps may directly affect the endocrine system, which is in close communication with the immune system.

While they work out the details, I say steer clear of antibacterial soaps. Just be sure to wash your hands well. It’s enough!

Share this Post...

adolescents, allergies, antibacterial, antibiotic, asthma, bacteria, bacterial, bowels, chemical, Children, communication, diagnosed, endocrine system, exposure, germs, hay fever, immune system, infections, life, microbiota, pollutes, researchers, resistant, skin, soap, study, teens, triclosan, urine

Omega-3 fatty acids are wonder nutrients that offer many benefits to the body, from head to toe. Now, even the mouth is included in the long list of body areas that function better after intake of omega-3s.

A recent study found that a moderate, daily intake of the omega-3s DHA and EPA (found in marine sources, usually fish oil) was associated with up to a 20 percent decreased risk of gum disease (periodontitis).

Gum disease is an inflammatory disease that is caused by microorganisms like the bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Usually antibiotics are prescribed in an effort to eliminate these bacteria, but other treatments have been used that target the inflammation of gum disease, like scaling and root planing (ouch!) and in extreme cases surgery.   

Omega-3s are most known for their anti-inflammatory effects, so it is not surprising that they would help quell inflammation in the mouth. Additionally, this study also found that omega-3 fatty acids also demonstrated antibacterial activity against oral pathogens.

The mouth is the very beginning of the digestive tract, and the bacterial balance in the mouth is proving to be more important than previously thought. In fact, gum disease is also associated with the development of heart disease! Everything is connected, folks, and it all goes back to the gut!

Share this Post...

anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antibiotics, bacteria, bacterial, balance, benefits, body, Candida albicans, DHA, digestive tract, disease, eliminate, EPA, fatty acids, fish oil, gum disease, gut, head, heart disease, inflammation, inflammatory, microorganisms, mouth, nutrient, omega-3, oral, pathogens, periodontitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, prescribed, risk, Streptococcus mutans

When you hear the word “antibiotics” I’m sure a lot of you think, “Hey, those are good for me—they help me feel better when I’m sick.” Right? And yes, you’re partly right, but there’s also a dark side to using antibiotics that a lot of people either don’t know or don’t want to think about. What do I mean?

Well, did you happen to hear that recent story about an antibiotic-resistant gene making its way to the U.S. from India? So-called “superbugs” like the ones linked to the overseas gene are making people very sick, but the worst part is that the powerful antibiotics we’d normally use to get rid of them aren’t working anymore because of widespread antibiotic resistance.

And now a new study from Stanford University shows that taking antibiotics over and over again may impact our health by affecting the normal levels of bacteria in our digestive tract. Yup, that’s right—it all comes back to the gut! Because as you know, that’s where roughly 80 percent of our natural defenses are found, and it’s where literally trillions of microbes (both good and bad) exist in a delicate balance to keep us healthy.

So what this new study looked at was 1. whether or not repeated antibiotic use affected that nicely balanced bacterial colony in your gut, and 2. if and how well your gut bacteria were able to “bounce back” after each round of antibiotics. Now I’m sure you saw this coming, but the results weren’t great. The antibiotics wiped out large numbers of existing gut bacteria in all of the participants, and even though some gut populations returned to normal a few weeks after the antibiotic treatment stopped, this wasn’t the case after a second course of antibiotics. In fact, two months after the second round of treatment, gut bacteria levels still hadn’t returned to normal.

This topic is so important, and I’m really glad to see that it’s starting to get so much attention. When I say everything is connected to the gut, I REALLY mean it, especially now that all these new studies are finding that an out-of-balance gut can contribute to everything from digestive problems and weight gain to allergies, arthritis and yes, even chronic disease. So it’s time to pay attention—take a proactive stance when it comes to your health, and make sure you really need that antibiotic before you take it!

Share this Post...

allergies, antibiotic, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic-resistant, antibiotics, arthritis, bacteria, bacterial, balance, chronic disease, colony, connected, defenses, digestive, digestive tract, gene, gut, Health, healthy, India, levels, microbes, natural, normal, overseas, populations, proactive, problems, sick, Stanford, study, superbugs, treatment, U.S., weight gain, widespread

So check this out, a new study is taking the benefits of soluble fiber to a whole new level! Recently scientists discovered that soluble fiber increases the anti-inflammatory compound interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the body when a bacterial infection occurs, which basically means it helps fight off the infection. Pretty interesting stuff, huh?

Not only that, but researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory properties of soluble fiber may even help reduce the inflammation that occurs in people who eat high-fat diets—a theory they’ll be following up on in future studies.

The bottom line is that a high-fiber diet provides oodles of health benefits for your whole body—including heart health, better digestion and regularity, and even healthy weight loss—so it’s important to get enough fiber in your daily diet. I recommend at least 35 grams daily of both soluble and insoluble fiber, since both types are crucial for overall health…but what’s the difference?

Soluble fiber acts like a sponge and helps soak up waste and toxins in the digestive tract, while insoluble fiber helps to “scrub” the colon free of debris and promote healthy elimination. Scientists point out, however, that a lot of people may not know the difference between them, so hopefully this will bring about better labeling on fiber products!

Share this Post...

35 grams, anti-inflammatory, bacterial, bind, bulk, daily, diet, digestive system, fat, fiber, food, IL-4, infection, inflammation, insoluble, products, soluble

It’s a subject you’ve heard me talk about before, but considering new research it’s definitely worth repeating. A recent CBS news segment revealed that not one but five new studies showed that using acid-blocking drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be potentially dangerous to your health, and that “more than half of prescriptions for these drugs are unnecessary”. Folks, this is an eye-opener if there ever was one!

Every year more than 100 million Americans are prescribed PPIs to help relieve symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux, but what many people don’t know is that these drugs often come with some pretty serious side effects—including a nearly 75 percent greater risk of developing a severe intestinal infection known as C. diff, according to new evidence. Essentially, taking PPIs upsets the healthy bacterial balance in your intestines (which is where the majority of your natural immune defenses can be found), leaving your body vulnerable to illness and infection.

Widespread PPI use has also been linked to higher rates of pneumonia, as well as esophageal candidiasis (yeast overgrowth), inflammation of the stomach lining, increased permeability of upper GI tract lining, and even osteoporosis-related bone fractures due to the fact that PPIs block calcium absorption in the body. Because long-term PPI use also leads to hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid secretion), bacterial overgrowth and acetaldehyde production, PPI users have an increased risk of developing gastric cancer. 

The good news? There are simple things we can do every day to help prevent heartburn and acid reflux without relying on harmful drugs. Diet changes like limiting our intake of caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods can make a big difference, along with maintaining a healthy body weight, getting plenty of exercise and quitting smoking—all pretty good advice if you ask me! Natural supplements made with ingredients such as ellagic acid (from raspberries and pomegranates) can also provide soothing relief for occasional heartburn, and digestive enzymes with added HCl can help ensure complete digestion and reduce the chances of heartburn and acid reflux happening in the first place.

The bottom line is this: why take a potentially dangerous drug when smarter, safer alternatives exist? My hope is that the more people learn about PPIs and their side effects—including why they may not even need them in the first place—the more people will take steps to improve their digestive health naturally.

Share this Post...

acid reflux, alcohol, bacterial, balance, bone fractures, C. diff, caffeine, calcium, candidiasis, chocolate, defenses, digestive, Digestive Health, drugs, ellagic acid, Enzymes, esophageal, fatty, gastric cancer, GI tract, HCl, Heartburn, illness, immune, infection, inflammation, intestines, low stomach acid, natural, osteoporosis, pneumonia, PPIs, proton pump inhibitors, relief, side effects, spicy foods, stomach lining, Supplements, yeast overgrowth

Are you one of the millions of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome? Do you sometimes find yourself wondering “Why me?” or wishing there was something you could do about it? Well, all month long we’re focusing on IBS, and today we’re going to take a look at what causes IBS. Now keep in mind that there are many contributing factors when it comes to IBS, but here are some of the most common:

• Irregularities in intestinal hormones and nerves responsible for bowel motility (muscle contraction)
• Bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection
• Food sensitivities
• Inadequate enzyme production
• Imbalanced gut flora
• Inadequate diet
• Stress

And because there are so many contributing factors, treatment for IBS can sometimes be difficult. BUT…the more you know, the better chance you have of finding relief, especially if small changes in your diet or lifestyle could be the answer.

Ruling out an underlying food sensitivity is an important step in dealing with IBS, which is why most experts recommend following a “food elimination diet.” This just means that the most common dietary offenders are eliminated from the diet for a period of time, and then reintroduced one by one to determine if a reaction occurs because of a certain type of food. The following is a list of the top foods shown to cause sensitivity:

• Dairy products
• Wheat and gluten
• Eggs
• Corn
• Citrus
• Caffeine
• Alcohol

Keeping a food journal during this process is also extremely important. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people tell me, “Wow! I had no idea what I was really eating until I started writing it down!” So grab a pen and start keeping track of what you eat and drink throughout the day—along with any digestive symptoms that might occur after eating. Eventually you’ll begin to notice patterns when you eat certain foods. 

Now I know the food elimination diet can be difficult, but it really is the best way to determine if you have a food sensitivity, which believe me is very common in people with IBS. And remember—if you can get to the bottom of your IBS symptoms, relief will come…so good luck!

Share this Post...

alcohol, bacterial, bowel, caffeine, citrus, contraction, corn, dairy, diet, digestive, eat, eggs, elimination diet, enzyme, factors, flora, food journal, food sensitivity, fungal, gluten, gut, hormones, IBS, infection, intestinal, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, motility, parasitic, relief, stress, symptoms, treatment, Wheat