Is Your Colon Overdue for a Cleanse?

What if there was one organ in your body that had the power to control the way you look, feel and think? And what if this organ serves as a common denominator for most of today’s health problems?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, anywhere from 60 to 70 million people in the U.S. are affected annually by some kind of digestive diseases, which are all too often related to an unhealthy colon. In 2015, the CDC reported that about 3 million adults were diagnosed with IBD (either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), and this estimate does not include children aged <18 years, who may also have IBD. It is also estimated that 75% of people older than 45 suffer from hemorrhoids and 63 million people suffer from chronic constipation. The American Cancer Society projects 135,430 individuals newly diagnosed in 2017 with colorectal cancer with 50,260 deaths from that disease.

Your Detoxification System in a Nutshell

Detoxification is what our body does naturally to neutralize, transform or get rid of unwanted materials and toxins.
It is a primary function of the body, constantly working and interacting with all other functions of the body. Our body manufactures enormous amount of molecules on a daily basis in support of the detoxification process. Our body requires hundreds of enzymes, vitamins and other molecules to help rid the body of unwanted waste products and toxins. Although the bulk of the work is done by the liver and the intestinal tract, the kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system and skin are all involved in this complex detoxification system.

Science News: Migraines May Be Related to Nutrient Deficiencies

A high percentage of children, teens and young adults with migraines appear to have deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B2, folate, magnesium, and CoQ10 (a vitamin-like substance found in every cell of the body that is used to produce energy for cell growth and maintenance.)
​
Migraines — a recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision — affect approximately 38 million men, women, and children in the U.S. and 1 billion people worldwide each year. Migraines are a neurological disorder, characterized by recurring headaches and considered to be the most common disorder of the nervous system.

What You Eat is Only Half the Story

When ringing in the New Year’s, the subject of resolutions always pops up. A recent survey concerning New Year’s resolutions stated 45% would like to lose weight or get in shape. But despite the best of intentions, only a tiny fraction of participants keep their resolutions. According to a study, 80% of resolutions fail by February, while another study, conducted by University of Scranton, suggests that only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goal.

MTHFR Gene – Separating Fact from Hype

It’s no secret that ancestry searches through personal DNA tests have been a hot topic over the past several years. If you’ve done any research on this current trend, there’s no doubt you’ve run across the controversial subject of the MTHFR gene. While there are hoards of conflicting information about the MTHFR gene, it’s important to dissect the fact from fiction.

What is the MTHFR gene?
MTHFR, abbreviated for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is a gene we all carry. In fact, we have two copies of it—inherited from our parents. The MTHFR gene provides instructions for making the MTHFR enzyme. This rate-limiting enzyme is a key factor in the processing of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.

Why You Should Remove Gluten from Your Diet

Thinking about eliminating gluten from your diet? You’re not alone. According to a survey conducted in 2013, one in every three Americans claimed to cut down or avoid gluten in their diet. But if you’re still on the fence about adjusting your eating habits, here are some facts about why and how nixing gluten can improve your health.

What is gluten?
Gluten is a complex two-part protein—consisting of gliadin and glutenin. It is the gliadin component that causes the negative reaction within the body. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, etc. The word gluten has a Latin origin and means glue. Fittingly so, because gluten helps food maintain its shape, acting as a glue that holds food together.

How Well Did You Sleep Last Night?

Did you know Americans are finding it harder and harder to grab a good night’s rest? According to a consumer report, a staggering 68 percent—about 164 million Americans—struggle with sleep at least once a week. Not only that, but 45 percent of Americans say that poor or insufficient sleep affected their daily activities at least once in the past seven days, according to the National Sleep Foundation

What is causing my lack of sleep?
Losing valuable shut-eye can be blamed on several varying factors. Anxiety, stress, and depression are some of the most common causes of sleeping problems along with anger, worry, grief, and trauma.

Science News: Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome an Inflammatory Disease?

Chronic fatigue syndrome has baffled those in the medical profession for decades, but now research is surfacing linking this mysterious condition to inflammation.
​
What is chronic fatigue?
Fatigue is usually defined as a state of exhaustion and decreased strength accompanied by a feeling of weariness, sleepiness, and irritability, with a cognitive component. With chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), the extreme exhaustion is prolonged, comprising of a myriad of symptoms ranging from moderate to severe. When someone suffers from CFS, physical or mental activity can make it worse, but rest doesn’t make it better.

HPA Axis and How to Beat Excess Fatigue for Good

Summer has begun, and with it comes extended daylight. For many people, these long days are brimming with vacations, parties, and other enjoyable events. While these activities are most certainly fun, there could also be an element of stress involved. How our bodies handle stress, whether big or small, is important to our well-being, and excessive stress can be problematic for our overall health. To get a better glimpse at how the body manages the triggers of stress, you must go to the source of it all—the HPA axis.

​What is the HPA axis?
The HPA axis is the interaction that exists between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands. This axis is the interconnecting of the central nervous system with the endocrine system and is responsible for regulating functions such as stress response in the body.

Eat Your Way Out of Depression

In many ways, the brain acts like a computer. It serves as a memory bank, an information database, and the central control station for the rest of the body. Just like the files downloaded on a computer can affect its performance, the foods partaken can alter the function of the mind.

Food affects your mood!
It’s important to be aware that your daily diet has a direct correlation to your brain and how it operates. Some foods are harmful and can even trigger mood disorders such as depression.

​What is depression?
Depression is a common and serious neurological disorder that negatively affects how one feels and behaves. Some symptoms associated with depression include increased sadness, anxiety, loss of appetite, dejected mood, and a loss of interest in pleasurable activities.