In Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip, she talks about the basic differences in Practitioner Grade Probiotics.
Tag: Probiotic
Weekly Health Tip – Nutritional and Protein Powders!
Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on Nutritional and Protein Powders! She highlights Vibrant Health’s Green Vibrance MultiNutritional Powder and their Maximum Vibrance Protein Powder…both free of stevia and xylitol!
Find them at:
https://www.whitakersnaturalmarket.com/product/green-vibrance/ https://www.whitakersnaturalmarket.com/product/maximum-vibrance-pouch/
Weekly Health Tip – Probiotics and Gut Health
Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on probiotics, gut health, and their impact on our immune system.
C-Section & Autism Research
When you’re pregnant, you dream of having a beautiful, healthy baby and make exciting plans for the future. The actual process of giving birth is just something to get through to meet your wonderful infant. Some of us learn pain management techniques and breathing exercises in an effort to have a natural birth, but for most women when push comes to shove, we leave what occurs in the birthing room to our obstetricians. That, however, might not be the best way to go. New research suggests that having a C-section may increase the risk of serious conditions for the child.
The study, which took place at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, found an association between C-section births and higher rates of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These results are based on a review of 61 investigations that included more than 20 million births in 19 countries around the world between 1998 and 2018. The researchers evaluated medical records, looking for instances of a range of conditions in the children, including not only autism and ADHD but also learning disabilities, obsessive compulsive disorder, tics, and eating disorders.
All the above conditions were shown to occur at the same or greater risk in children who had been delivered by C-section versus vaginal births, but the difference was not statistically significant except in the cases of autism and ADHD. Those odds were frighteningly elevated, with C-section birth associated with an approximately 33 percent increased chance of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and an approximately 17 percent increased chance of developing ADHD compared to children delivered by vaginal birth.
What’s the Connection Between C-Sections, Autism, and ADHD?
While the study was not designed to prove that C-sections cause autism and ADHD, it did provide evidence of a strong link between the procedure and these disorders. It is not entirely clear why babies delivered via C-section might be more likely to be autistic or have ADHD. One possibility has to do with the fact that babies who are delivered vaginally receive beneficial strains of bacteria from their mother’s gut during delivery and these are known to bolster a baby’s immunity. It might be a lack of these beneficial bacteria during birth that sets the stage for the development of autism and/or ADHD.
Another theory to consider is that the issue isn’t directly related to the C-section itself, but why a woman is undergoing that procedure. Oftentimes, C-sections are recommended by obstetricians if the mother-to-be has a condition like hypertension or diabetes, which may influence the development of the fetus in utero. Additionally, C-sections are sometimes born of necessity if something is going very wrong during the delivery. In those cases, it’s possible that the trauma taking place could be a precipitating factor for autism or ADHD.
A Plan for Preventing C-Sections
We need to face the fact that there are emergency situations that we cannot always foresee that might make a C-section delivery the only possible course of action. Thankfully, that is only the reality in a small percentage of deliveries. But C-sections have become far more common in the last few decades in the United States, with rates up to 32 percent of all deliveries in 2017—a nine percent increase from 2000.
It’s important to choose your obstetrician wisely, preferably before you even become pregnant. Request an interview with a doctor from the practice and come armed with questions about their thoughts on vaginal birth versus C-section, use of pain medications, and anything else of potential concern to you. Explore a few practices until you find one you feel comfortable and in-sync with on these topics. Or consider a midwife instead and plan to have your delivery at a birthing center if your pregnancy is considered low risk.
If you have to have a C-section due to medical necessity, then guarding your child’s gut and building it properly from birth is crucial to reduce their risk of developing Autism and ADHD. Starting on an infant probiotic supplement right away will begin to build their gut the right way. Research the dangers of vaccines, and make an educated decision not just what the media wants you to know. Then feed your child 100% organic eliminating as much pesticide, herbicide, and GMO exposure as possible. On a personal note, while Yalissa (our daughter) was born via C-Section due to medical reasons, we fought to guard her diet to be 100% organic, have used a daily probiotic, and guard her environmental exposures to chemicals and other toxins. As a result, she has not had any gut issues compared to so many other preemies born at her same gestational age. We are truly what we eat!
Be sure to check out our baby and toddler probiotic selection as well as organic snack and food options for not only feeding your children but your entire family on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market.
Just Thrive Probiotic
This week, I wanted to share with you an article from Just Thrive Probiotics a brand we carry at Whitaker’s.
Did you know that 4.2 billion prescriptions were written for Americans in 2011? These figures are probably much higher in recent years due to rising health issues caused by poor diet, a lack of exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Leaky gut is a common condition that usually never gets diagnosed by a doctor. The signs of a leaky gut can often be confused with other health problems. If you don’t treat the source of your leaky gut, then your symptoms will never go away.
This article is going to walk you through 10 symptoms of leaky gut that you shouldn’t ignore and how you can cure your problems with a leaky gut diet.
So What Is Leaky Gut Exactly?
Leaky gut occurs when the walls of your small intestine are damaged, allowing food particles and toxins to leak outside of the digestive tract, into the bloodstream, where they don’t belong. Leaky gut can cause many symptoms that you wouldn’t necessarily think were traced back to your digestive health, which is why it can be difficult to diagnose.
Understanding the Signs of a Leaky Gut
Since doctors have a difficult time diagnosing leaky gut, your health may fall into your own hands. If you experience any of the following symptoms, making mindful, healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle can have you thriving again.
1. Abdominal Discomfort
If you feel bloated, nauseous, gassy, or have constipation or diarrhea, your digestive system is asking for help. Everyone can get a stomachache after they eat something fatty or spicy. However, if your abdominal pains occur often after you eat any kind of food, you may need leaky gut treatment.
2. Food Allergies
An overworked immune system caused by a leaky gut can put you at risk for developing food allergies. Food sensitivities and food allergies are almost always a sign that you have a leaky gut. The most common intolerances are dairy and gluten.
3. Autoimmune Disorders
When foreign bodies are introduced to the body, our immune systems attack and neutralize the threat. When food leaks from the intestines, the body senses an “invader.” A continued state of alarm, caused by leaking toxins, can confuse the body into attacking itself.
If you suffer from Crohn’s, Lupus, arthritis, Celiac, or other autoimmune diseases, it’s almost certain that you have a leaky gut.
4. Brain Fog
When the body is losing valuable resources from a leaky gut, mental clarity can be affected. Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and headaches can all stem from a leaky gut.
5. Chronic Fatigue
If your fatigue doesn’t match the amount of sleep you’re getting each night, something could be happening inside your gut.
6. Poor Immune Health
Our bodies need a “Recommended Daily Allowance” dose of vitamins to fight off illnesses, allergies and more. If you get sick often, your immune system has likely been compromised, and a solution might just start with healing your gut.
As it turns out, intestinal health is strongly linked to immune system health. When your digestive systems suffer, your immune system weakens, too.
7. Skin Issues
Your skin is your largest organ. It’s also the only external organ. Monitoring your skin health is also a great indicator of how healthy your internal organs are.
If you suffer from acne, psoriasis, or eczema, that’s a sign that you have an issue with your gut.
8. Joint Pain
Leaky gut can create inflammation in the body, specifically effecting the joints. When leaking toxins extend to the joints, arthritis – among other ailments – can develop. Keeping your body in a constant inflammatory state will wreak havoc on your physical and mental well being.
How to Heal Leaky Gut Naturally
Although a leaky gut can make you feel miserable, there are plenty of natural treatments you can try. Many doctors would choose to prescribe antibiotics to treat these symptoms, which actually make your leaky gut worse.
Probiotics contain friendly, good-for-your-body bacteria that have been shown to improve the health of not only your gut microbiome, but your whole body health. Try taking a probiotic daily to see if your symptoms disappear.
Changing your diet can also work wonders for your gut health. Following an elimination diet can help you determine if you have certain food sensitivities or allergies that trigger your symptoms. If your symptoms are alleviated after eliminating certain foods like gluten, soy, meat, or dairy, you may want to consider temporarily removing them from your diet for best results.
Increasing your intake of anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon can give you relief from joint pain and stomachaches. Eating plenty of fiber and drinking enough water will make your gut’s job much easier. Avoiding refined sugars will also improve your digestive health.
Ready to Revitalize Your Health?
Now that you know the signs of a leaky gut that you need to watch out for, you can be more in control of your health. Just Thrive is here to help you on your journey to wellness. Our probiotics have been scientifically proven to begin healing leaky guts and other health problems.
Be sure to pick up your Just Thrive Probiotic on your next visit to Whitaker’s as well as talk to Dr Jocelin about more ways to restore your Leaky Gut!
The Probiotic Miracle
When you are healthy, over 100 trillion microorganisms, from some 400 different species, flourish in your intestinal tract, aiding in digestion, absorption, and the production of significant amounts of B vitamins and enzymes.
Unfortunately, the levels of beneficial bacteria decline dramatically as the human body ages. Some of the reasons for this decline include:
- Over time, the colonies of friendly bacteria just naturally age and lose their vitality.
- Disruptions and changes in the acid/alkaline balance of the bowels can play a major role in reducing the growth of beneficial bacteria. In addition, these changes tend to favor the growth of harmful viral and fungal organisms as well as putrefactive, disease-causing bacteria.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Advil, Motrin, Midol, etc. are destructive to intestinal flora.
- Chlorine in the drinking water not only serves to kill bacteria in the water; it is equally devastating to the colonies of beneficial bacteria living in the intestines.
- Radiation and chemotherapy are devastating to your inner bacterial environment.
- Virtually all meat and chicken and dairy that you eat (other than organic) is loaded with antibiotics, which destroy ALL of the beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.
- Constipation, of course, allows harmful bacteria to hang around longer, which allows them to proliferate.
- Cigarettes, alcohol, and stress are also major culprits.
- And if you’ve ever been subjected to a round of “medicinal” antibiotics, you can kiss your beneficial bacteria good-bye. The problem is that antibiotics indiscriminately destroy both bad and GOOD bacteria — allowing virulent, mutant strains of harmful microorganisms to emerge and run rampant inside the body. Antibiotics (both medicinal and in our food supply) are the #1 culprit in the overgrowth of HARMFUL pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract (a condition called dysbiosis) that may be at the root of many autoimmune disorders and certain cancers.
A properly functioning intestinal tract is one of your body’s first lines of defense against invaders and a healthy immune system. In a healthy colon there are, on average, anywhere from 100 billion to 1,000 billion beneficial bacteria per milliliter (about 1/5 of a teaspoon) that literally consume harmful bacteria and other invaders. In the typical American, because of poor diet and neglect of the colon, the beneficial bacteria count may be as low as 4 or 5 per milliliter. Just compare 1,000 billion to 4, and you’ll have an understanding of the scope of the problem. Many researchers now believe that declining levels of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract may actually mark the onset of chronic degenerative disease and a suppressed immune system. Our goal is to strengthen the immune system.
The benefits of a probiotically optimized intestinal tract include:
- Lowered cholesterol
- Inhibition of cancer
- Protection against food poisoning
- Protection against stomach ulcers
- Protection against lactose intolerance and casein intolerance
- Enhanced immunity
- Protection against many harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi
- Protection against candida overgrowth and vaginal yeast infections
- Prevention and correction of constipation and diarrhea, ileitis and colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a whole range of other digestive tract dysfunctions
- Improvement in the health and appearance of the skin
- Better nutrition from improved absorption and the internal generation of B vitamins.
There can be no true health or recovery from disease unless you have colonies of over 100 trillion beneficial microorganisms flourishing in your intestinal tract, from your mouth to your anus, aiding in digestion, absorption, the production of significant amounts of vitamins and enzymes, and working to crowd out all harmful bacteria — allowing them no place to gain a foothold. Supplementation with a Good Probiotic is Mandatory to raise your baseline of health and strengthen your Immune System.
Be sure to check out our large selection of high quality probiotics on your next visit to Whitaker’s.
