“Renew You” Challenge - Be a part of my Weekly Challenge to help set you off in the right direction for bringing health to your week!

Sure it’s easy to talk about healthy eating, but sometimes actually doing it is a different thing altogether. Maybe work gets too busy, or your daily to-do list gets so long that by the time you even think about lunch it’s easier just to head to the nearest fast food joint.

And if you have school-age kids, forget it! Along with worrying about after-school activities, homework and everything else, planning and packing lunches every day can seem nearly impossible. But the reality folks is that we’re trading in our health for an easy shortcut, and over time the consequences can add up.

Most fast food options—including many of our nation’s school lunch programs—are loaded with processed sugars, unhealthy fats and unnecessary additives and preservatives that can take a serious toll on our digestive system and our overall health. America’s growing obesity problem is just one example! So I say it’s time to make a change for the better.

This week, let’s all do our best to brown bag it. You may need to plan ahead and make a grocery list, but I think taking a little extra time out of your week is worth it for better health in the long run. And don’t be fooled by pre-packaged meals and snacks that claim they’re good for you but really aren’t any better than what you’d get at the drive-through! Your best bet is to stick with fresh raw foods, whole grains and lean meats, and whenever possible, opt for organic. Here are some ideas to help you get started!

• High-fiber fresh fruits and veggies
• Homemade hummus or low-fat cream cheese
• Whole-grain breads/pita (no high-fructose corn syrup)
• Organic peanut butter (no sugars/trans fats)
• Lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey and fish
• Low-fat cottage cheese and yogurt (watch sugar content)
• Homemade quesadilla slices (great for kids!)
• Natural trail mix, granola, and snacks
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Air-popped popcorn
• Hard-boiled eggs/egg salad

Once you get started, you’ll see just how easy it can be to make a few healthier choices every week, and soon you’ll be a brown bag expert!

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“Renew You” Challenge – Be a part of my Weekly Challenge to help set you off in the right direction for bringing health to your week. So this week I wanted to challenge the way you eat. 

Heartburn, indigestion, gas and bloating. At one time or another you’ve probably experienced a bout of post-meal discomfort that had you thinking, “What on earth did I eat that just isn’t sitting right??” Well, guess what? You were on the right track.

Most of the time things like heartburn and upset stomach can be prevented just by being choosy about what we put on our plate, since a lot of foods have natural components that can help our digestive system do its job. That’s right—Mother Nature knew what she was doing, folks!

Yogurt and cottage cheese, for example, contain probiotics that help keep your digestive system in balance and promote regularity, and so do fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, miso and tempeh.

Raw fruits and veggies contain powerful enzymes that work to break down all kinds of foods like carbohydrates, fats, sugars, and dairy foods, and they also help your body absorb nutrients. Papaya and pineapple, for example, contain an enzyme called papain that is especially helpful for digesting protein in the diet.

And—no surprise here—fiber is also important for healthy digestion. A good blend of soluble and insoluble fiber from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts helps keep food moving through your intestines and promotes regular, healthy bowel movements.

So this week I want you to really pay attention to your meals and try to choose foods that benefit your digestive system rather than those that work against it. Steer clear of high-fat, sugary and processed foods, and load up on easy-to-stomach foods like fresh produce, whole grains, and probiotic-rich yogurt and fermented foods—your belly will thank you!

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When your digestive system is out of balance, your health can suffer. And I’m not just talking about typical tummy issues like gas and bloating, constipation and irritable bowel, but all kinds of problems like fatigue, weight gain, skin problems and even anxiety. That’s right folks—everything is linked to your gut!

Want to know more? Join me on September 23^rd at Health Foods Unlimited in Centerville, Ohio for a free digestive health lecture. I’m going to be talking about the link between a properly functioning digestive system and a healthy body—including the natural supplements that are essential for helping you look and feel your best every day. Plus, if you’re one of the first 50 people to attend, you’ll receive a complimentary copy of my book Gut Solutions. See you there!

WHEN:

6:30-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 23^rd

WHERE:

Health Foods Unlimited

2250 Miamisburg Centerville Road

Centerville, OH 45459

RSVP: 937-433-5100

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Exciting news! If you live in the DC/Baltimore area, be sure to tune in to your local PBS station this Saturday, September 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for an exclusive one-day-only sneak preview of my NEW PBS special The Road to Perfect Health.

A lot of folks don’t realize that a healthy body begins with a healthy gut. That’s because your digestive tract is where more than 70 percent of your body’s natural defenses are found, and it’s where trillions of bacteria live in a delicate balance to help you absorb nutrients, defend against toxins, and fight off illness and disease—not to mention help with bowel regularity!

But what may surprise you is that even things you wouldn’t normally associate with digestive health—everything from anxiety, joint aches and food sensitivities to fibromyalgia and even high cholesterol—they can all start in the gut. That’s how important it is to keep your digestive system running smoothly.

Join me this weekend to learn the secret to balancing your gut and healing your body, beginning with the power of probiotics. Those are the beneficial bacteria in your intestines that help with healthy digestion and immune function, and they are the key to a strong GPS, or what I like to call your Gut Protection System. From there, I’ll give you the keys to rebuilding your health from the inside out and finally living the life you’ve always wanted. See you there!

The Road to Perfect Health will also air nationwide beginning in late November through mid-December and continue periodically in 2011 and beyond. Stay tuned to www.brendawatson.com and I’ll keep you posted!

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A lot, actually! Just recently scientists at the University of California discovered a difference in brain structure between people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and those who showed no IBS symptoms.

What they found was that those with IBS actually had less gray matter in the areas of the brain that controlled things like thinking, reasoning and evaluating. Pretty interesting stuff, I thought, and it just goes to prove that the gut and the brain are more connected than we might think.

Experts call this relationship between our digestive system and the brain our gut-brain connection, and it’s been linked to everything from migraine headaches to autism. It’s not surprising though, when you consider that more than 70 percent of your body’s natural defenses are found in your gut. To put this in perspective, it helps to remember that there are only about 10 trillion cells in your entire body, but roughly 100 trillion bacteria cells in your gut. Talk about running the show!

Results of the UCLA study are also helping scientists to better understand IBS, a debilitating disorder with symptoms that include abdominal pain and cramping, along with severe diarrhea or constipation. At one time doctors thought IBS was a psychological disorder, but thanks to studies like this one they’re starting to change their tune—and it’s about time. I see and talk to people every day with IBS, and let me tell you, it’s real!

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Hey, guess what? Feeling good is good for you! A recent study found a connection between positive emotions and a lowered risk of coronary heart disease—pretty neat, huh? Specifically, they studied something called “positive affect,” which is basically just another way of saying that someone is experiencing positive emotions, and what they found was that increased positive emotions actually decreases your risk of developing heart disease by 22%… wow!

But before you roll your eyes and say, “Oh, now you expect me to be chipper and pleasant all day?” let’s not get carried away. Positive affect doesn’t mean you can’t have a slump here and there. Let’s face it, everyone has their down days. But overall, if you’re able to experience emotions like joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, and contentment more often than negative emotions, you’re already on the right track to a healthier heart.

When it comes to good health, we simply can’t ignore the impact that our emotions have on our bodies…even the gut! When you experience emotions like anger, anxiety or stress, healthy digestion slows down, and that can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation and other problems. I bet a lot of you are nodding your heads, right? Of course! We’ve all paid the price of negative emotions at one time or another, which is why it’s so important to turn that frown upside-down. And the next time you’re feeling upbeat, remember: your heart is getting the benefits!

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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!

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Heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux—we’ve all felt that awful burning sensation at one time or another, but chances are we blamed it on something we ate and reached for the nearest antacid. Why? Because for years mainstream doctors have been telling us that symptoms like these are the result of too much stomach acid—when in fact 90 percent of the time they’re wrong! And when was the last time your doctor actually tested you to be sure? Probably never!

Tomorrow on the Poop Scoop I’ll be talking with CEO Harry Simmons of Heidelberg Medical, whose work with the Heidelberg pH Diagnostic System has revolutionized the way we look at digestive disorders. Imagine a capsule you can swallow that will travel through your digestive tract and help doctors actually see where the problem is coming from! Today, pH diagnostic testing has become essential to the successful treatment of many digestive disorders, including low stomach acid, gastric ulcers and GERD. I can’t wait to hear all about it from the expert!

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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Every parent knows it’s not always easy getting kids to eat healthy, especially since we can’t be with them every second of the day. But teaching children early on about the benefits of good nutrition is one of the most important things we as parents can do to help them grow into healthy adults, and the good news? It may not be as hard as you think!

On tomorrow’s Poop Scoop I’ll be talking with Dr. Tara Garlitz about simple and effective ways to helps kids make smart choices when it comes to food. Tara is a mom of three who’s been working with children and families for more than 10 years to help them understand the important connection between diet, digestive health and overall wellness, including the role of good bacteria in the gut and why daily probiotics are a must. So parents—don’t miss out on this valuable advice!

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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Nothing makes me happier than seeing the scientific community finally start to confirm what I’ve been saying for years, that natural remedies like probiotics, fiber and Omega-3 oils provide some pretty amazing health benefits. Just thumb through the headlines and you’ll see what I mean—study after study talking about better digestion, a stronger immune system, heart health and more… it’s some pretty good stuff!

Sure, some of the information gets distorted, and a lot of companies developing products as a result of all that attention end up missing the mark entirely, but on the whole this mainstream recognition is a good thing. People are (finally) starting to pay attention to their digestive systems and are looking for natural alternatives, instead of conventional medications that often cause more side effects than the symptoms they treat.

As for probiotics, I’ve been telling folks for years that if you’re going to take just one natural supplement every day, it should be a probiotic. Establishing a healthy balance of good bacteria in your intestines (so that they greatly outnumber the bad bacteria) is absolutely crucial to your digestive health, which ultimately affects the health of your whole body. Why? Because more than 70 percent of your natural immune defenses are in your gut, folks!

Take for example a recent study that talks about how good bacteria living in the digestive tract work to “prime” the immune system, which means get it ready to fight off infections. But when you take antibiotics, this “priming” shuts down. Well, of course it does! I mean, sure antibiotics are good and sometimes we need them, but along with killing the bad bacteria we’re trying to get rid of, they also kill a lot of the good bacteria. Are you starting to see why probiotic supplements are so important?

I won’t get into the details, but basically mainstream medicine is trying to figure out just how probiotics communicate with our immune systems to improve digestion and overall health. The bottom line, though? It works. Probiotics interact with the immune system in a way that prepares the body for unwanted invaders, plain and simple, so isn’t it about time you started taking a daily dose of good bacteria? I think so!

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