As any new mom can tell you, everyone has an opinion when it comes to breastfeeding—why it’s good, why it’s not, how you should do it, how long you should do it for, and the list goes on. But regardless of personal beliefs, the health benefits to both mom and baby have been proven time and time again, which is why this recent study really caught my attention.

According to experts at the CDC, not even half of all U.S. moms breastfeed as long as experts recommend (which in case you’re wondering is 6 months exclusively, then up to 2 years or longer with appropriate foods), and not even a quarter of new moms are still breastfeeding after a year. On top of that, even though a high percentage of moms start breastfeeding right after birth, research shows that many of them switch to bottle feeding pretty soon after.

The main focus of the study was actually to see if there was a connection between breastfeeding and childhood obesity rates, and guess what? Breastfed babies are actually less likely to have problems with obesity as they grow older. I wasn’t surprised by this, since I know how important breastfeeding is for newborn babies.

Breast milk is, in essence, a source of complete nutrition straight from Mother Nature, chock full of essential nutrients and powerful antibodies that help to establish a newborn baby’s natural defense system in the gut, which in turn helps protect them against everything from allergies to digestive problems to chronic disease and yes—even weight gain—later on in life.

Breastfeeding is also important for women, since studies show that mothers who breastfeed lessen their risk of breast, ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers, and it even helps protect against osteoporosis and bone fractures as they age. But to be honest, this is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the overwhelming health benefits of breastfeeding, so if you or someone you know is expecting, be sure to pass the word along!

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Do you know what heartburn, constipation, weight gain, high cholesterol and fatigue have in common? What about things like allergies, arthritis and even chronic disease? Well, you might be surprised to hear it, but ALL of these things are related…and guess why? Because they ALL start in the gut. Want to know more?

Join me on October 13^th at Sunflower Farmers Market in Scottsdale 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 how our increasingly toxic world is taking a serious toll on the natural defenses found in our gut. We’ll also talk about the natural supplements that are essential for helping you look and feel your best every day, so mark your calendar!

WHEN: Wednesday, October 13^th  7:00-9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sunflower Farmers Market, 4402 N. Miller Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251

RSVP: 480-941-6001

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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!

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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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There was a study done recently that got a lot of press, and I have to say it really got under my skin. Researchers looked at the effects of a gluten-free, casein-free diet in kids with autism, and what they said was that it didn’t have any behavioral effects on them. But I thought, “No way—something isn’t right here.” And it looks like I wasn’t the only one.

Nutrition Director Kelly Barnhill from the Autism Research Institute also had some pretty interesting things to say about this particular study. Check it out:

• First, only fourteen children participated in the study…fourteen! Common sense alone says that’s not nearly enough to make such broad conclusions.
• Second, the kids who participated in the study didn’t even have any gastrointestinal complaints. This is a big one, since most autistic children do have digestive problems of some sort—a good sign that gluten and casein (a protein found in milk) sensitivities are involved. But the children in this study were specifically chosen because they did not have digestive complaints. What?!
• Third, the children only followed the prescribed diet for four weeks, even though it takes at least six weeks to really get all of the gluten protein out of the body. Four weeks just isn’t enough time to call this an effective study, folks.
• And finally, the diet the children followed wasn’t even 100% gluten- and casein-free. This is important because some kids are sensitive to even the smallest amounts of gluten, so strict adherence to a gluten- and casein-free diet is absolutely necessary in order to see beneficial results.

Obviously this issue is far from over. So many parents of autistic kids report benefits after removing gluten and casein from the diet. No, it doesn’t cure autism—but it can alleviate the often debilitating digestive symptoms that these children endure, and as a result their behavior often improves. Don’t knock it till you try it!

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Here’s something I thought you might find interesting: researchers at Harvard University Medical School recently discovered that bacteria in the gut can trigger the autoimmune response associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

In simple terms, an autoimmune response means that there’s an immune response in the body that goes astray, causing the body to attack its own tissues instead of a foreign invader, in this case causing the breakdown in healthy joint cartilage seen in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

So what does all this mean when it comes to the trillions of bacteria living in your digestive tract every day? It means that they can affect your whole body, sometimes even causing conditions nowhere near the gut, and it’s something I’ve been saying for years! Not only that, but more and more studies these days are proving me right, showing that many autoimmune conditions begin right in the gut.

This isn’t surprising, since more than 70% of your body’s immune defenses are found in the gut—and when things like digestive problems, gut bacteria imbalance and toxin overload put a strain on the immune system, it often leads to the development of autoimmune conditions. 

The folks at Harvard are planning to look at the effects of intestinal bacteria on other autoimmune conditions as well, including type 1 diabetes, so stay tuned! And remember to take good care of your gut!

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Pssst…Want to hear something really exciting?? How would you like to join me in sunny Florida for a complete Inside-Out Makeover? That’s right! Register today and you could win a 2-day, 1-night stay at the breathtaking Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach—plus a Grand Prize package that includes a comprehensive health consultation and in-depth digestive analysis with me!

Not only that, but you will receive a personalized ReNew Life product package and your choice of a complimentary spa treatment or colon hydrotherapy session. But hurry, the Contest ends at midnight on November 1, 2010 so don’t miss out on your chance to win!

Enter now!

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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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My weekly “Renew You” Challenge: In case you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty comfortable talking about poop. Most of the people I work with are, too—in fact it’s kind of a running joke! But I think it’s safe to say that for the rest of society, the subject of poop has a MAJOR taboo.  Even the editor’s letter in a recent issue of a popular parents’ magazine had a hard time mentioning constipation, and I thought, “Really?? These are parents! Haven’t they seen pretty much everything when it comes to their kids’ bodily functions?” 

My point is, we need to get more comfortable talking about what’s happening on the inside—in our guts. Why? Because a healthy gut is the foundation for a healthy body, since it’s where the majority of your body’s natural defenses are found.

So where’s the best place to start? With your family, of course! After all, you share just about everything else with them, right? And this is important. Think about it, do you even know how often your spouse poops? How about your kids? And if you do, do you know if they’re healthy poops? Are they too loose? Not frequent enough? All of these things can have a big impact on overall health.

So yes, it can be a touchy subject, but it’s an important one folks. Ignoring our digestive symptoms because they’re hard to talk about can lead to chronic illness down the line. So I say get over it—and let’s talk poop!

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My weekly “Renew You” Challenge – When it comes to being healthy, your emotions play a pretty big part. What do I mean? Well, think about how your emotions can affect digestion. Do you sometimes lose your appetite when you’re upset? Or get an upset stomach when you’re stressed or angry? Emotional upheaval is a pretty powerful force, and it can actually shut down the digestive system. And if you’ve learned anything from me, it’s that the foundation of a healthy body is a healthy gut!

On that note, your emotions have a lot do with the relationships in your life. Oftentimes relationships can spark emotions, both good and bad. Positive relationships can have a wonderful effect on our health and our well being, but not everyone knows how to relate well to others. Now, I’m not an expert on people or relationships, but I do like to think holistically, which means I like to look at the whole picture—and relationships are part of that picture. 

So what’s your challenge this week? Well, it has to do with relationships and emotions, and it’s really pretty simple when you think about it: be curious about the other person. What do I mean? Well, do you ever find yourself thinking about how you are going to respond to someone while that person is talking to you?  A lot of times we talk in circles because of this, and that can start to take its toll on our emotional and physical health.

So the next time you have a conversation with someone, be curious. See what happens and how it makes you feel, then get in the habit of it of paying more attention and see how it affects your health. Now that makes me curious!

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