Think about it, when was the last time you washed your hands with soap that wasn’t antibacterial? Heck, it’s almost impossible just to find normal soap these days, and instead every label and package screams “antibacterial” in a way that makes plain old soap seem downright ineffective.

But there’s a problem—one of the biggest contributors to the antibiotic resistance problem we’re facing today is exactly that: the overuse of antibacterial soap. And really there’s a lot of speculation about whether or not antibacterial soaps actually clean any better than regular soap. But even more concerning is that their widespread use might even be making harmful bacteria even stronger and more resistant to antibiotics. Yikes!

So how does all that work? Well, say you have a group of bacteria and you treat them with an antibiotic. Usually, the vast majority of those bacteria will die and the infection gets under control. But sometimes, the few bacteria that survive are genetically more resistant to that particular antibiotic. Those bacteria then multiply, resulting in a second infection that can’t be effectively treated by the antibiotic that worked the first time. Hence, antibiotic resistance. 

But how do bacteria get that way in the first place? Well, it happens in the genes of the bacteria. For example, mutations may occur over time, and those mutations are passed on to the next bacterial generation. So, when a population of bacteria is exposed over and over to the same antibiotics, eventually its collective DNA mutates in such a way that it becomes resistant to that antibiotic. 

What does all of this mean for you? Essentially, our obsession with antibacterial soap may actually be increasing the resistance of the bacteria it is supposed to be fighting, which is not good! So this week, instead of reaching for the antibacterial soap the next time you scrub up, your challenge is to try using just regular soap and warm water instead. Coupled with about 20 minutes of hand-washing, this tried-and-true method should effectively get rid of germs.

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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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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.

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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!

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