Keep Your Gut Healthy - The Hidden Link Between Your Gut and Your Metabolism

 

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Stay Healthy & Be Free From the Various Common Lifestyle Diseases

“Every day we live and every meal we eat we influence the great microbial organ inside us - for better or for worse.” - Giulia Enders

 

Heribert Watzke, a renowned food scientist, suggested in a TED talk that we call ourselves “coctivors.” 

 

It’s derived from the word coquere, which means “to cook.”

 

According to him, our ability to cook helped the human species evolve as it did. It allowed us to develop the big brain that we now have, just by using the energy stored in food.

 

Furthermore, this technology helped ancient humans migrate to other lands and thrive wherever they went.

 

As Watzke said, “If you can cook, nothing can happen to you, because whatever you find, you will try to transform it.”

 

But why is this important?

 

You see, he also says that these evolutionary factors helped create the connection between the gut and the brain.

 

The gut – which is made up of the stomach, small intestine and colon – has a lot of layers. It has muscle, submucosa, and nervous tissue. 

 

And the total length of the gut is around 40 meters and can cover 400 square meters of surface. 

 

That’s a lot of real estate to work with.

 

So, in nature's infinite wisdom, the gut also houses a complex network of 500 million nerve cells and 100 million neurons.

 

This is why Watzke says that “our gut has a full-fledged brain.”

 

What does this second brain do, exactly?

 

Unlike the primary brain, the “gut brain” runs on autopilot. It silently directs a lot of vital functions to keep you alive and healthy. 

 

Once food matter reaches your gut, complex chemical processes and muscular functions kick in to initiate the digestive process.

 

For instance, this gut-brain of ours knows how much digestive enzymes to release and the amount of nutrients to absorb from food.

 

The gut also “talks” to the big brain by sending specific signals to it.

 

For example, feelings of hunger come from the gut. When your “little brain” senses that you’re low on food, it will produce hormones like ghrelin to tell your big brain that you need to eat.

 

On the other hand, you’ll also produce another hormone called leptin. This tells the brain that you’ve consumed enough food, which means you need to stop eating.

 

This is the gut’s way of balancing energy in your body. It's always trying to find the happy middle ground between feeling hungry and satisfied.

 

Aside from that, the gut intuitively knows how to keep out the bad stuff, like toxins, viruses and bacteria. 

 

If any undigested food or harmful compounds reached our bloodstream, it could be potentially fatal for us. 

 

This is why we have the gut barrier in place. It’s made up of digestive acids, mucus, a protective cell wall and friendly bacteria. All of them work together to keep out foreign threats and expel them out of your body. 

 

So, the gut is a critical player in our health because the majority of the immune system is found in this region.

 

While the automated brain in our gut isn't capable of conscious, forward-thinking needed for tasks like driving a car or writing a poem…

…it does share a vital link with our upper brain.

 

Scientists haven’t fully understood the intricacies and full implications of this connection, but they do know that it impacts our lives in a HUGE way.

 

The Impact of the Gut-Brain-Metabolism Connection

 

People often use term “gut feeling” - and it turns out that there’s a good reason for that.

As you’ve just learned, the gut houses a sophisticated network of nerve cells. What most people don’t know is that this network is actually connected to our emotional limbic system and central nervous system.

 

What does that mean? Whatever goes happens in our gut has a direct effect on our emotions and psychological well-being.

 

For starters, the gut sends out distress signals when something’s not quite right down there.

 

For instance, a bad case of gas, bloating or other types of discomfort will prompt the gut-brain to communicate with the big brain in your head. This can cause drastic shifts in mood and emotional disposition.

 

This is important because we only believed that how we felt affected the rest of our body, like our gut. So now it seems that it can also go the other way around.

 

And that means if doctors treat the gut first, this will directly influence the big brain and relieve conditions like anxiety, restlessness – and even depression.

 

A study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry called “Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses” says: 

 

“...nutrition can play a key role in the onset as well as severity and duration of depression.”

And that makes perfect sense because most (i.e., 50-90%) of the feel-good brain chemicals (a.k.a. neurotransmitters) such as serotonin and dopamine are produced in the gut. 

 

Not only that, the gut is responsible for manufacturing other neurotransmitters which affect your sleeping habits, mood levels and emotional stress.

 

So, preventing dietary trouble down south is essential to staying happy, focused and positive in your daily life.

 

A Word on Stress Eating

 

Who hasn’t felt like digging into a pint of ice cream after a long, tiring day?

 

It's a typical response people have when they're faced with emotional distress. We use food to cover up our feelings, and this isn't healthy in the long run.

 

For one thing, the negative emotions you had before binging will still be there after the fact. 

 

And the residual guilt of eating "forbidden" foods will influence your gut brain. This, in turn, messes with your metabolism.

 

Of course, mindlessly eating unhealthy foods as a coping mechanism will cause you to spike your blood sugar levels and gain weight. That much we know.

 

But most folks don't realize that filling the emotional void with food also creates an unfavorable environment for your gut.

 

Let’s say you sit down to eat a slice of pizza. As you take a bite, your brain's pleasure center lights up as an incentive for you to eat the same food next time.

 

However, you’ll also associate that slice of pizza with feelings of guilt and remorse because you believe that you’re not supposed to eat it.

 

So, your digestive system will “feel” that guilt too, and half-heartedly digest that pizza. 

 

As a result, you won’t metabolize food as well, nor utilize its energy as efficiently.

 

In other words, your gut will find a way to translate that emotional language into a digestive one.

 

Mind-blowing stuff, don’t you think?

 

The trick then is to be mindful of your emotions before taking that first bite.

 

For example, what kind of feelings do you associate that salad with? What are your motivations for eating it? 

 

Are you secretly telling yourself, “This is my punishment for being overweight…

...or are you thinking, “This salad is giving me the antioxidants I need to stay healthy”?

 

As such, the kind of message you communicate to your gut will affect the way it breaks down your food.

 

And I’m not saying that having a positive mindset while eating makes it ok to eat stuff that’s undeniably unhealthy. 

 

However, it does help to check your feelings at the table – especially if they involve self-judgment and self-loathing. 

 

If your gut is out of whack, even the healthiest food in the world can’t fully nourish you the way it's meant to.

 

How to Talk to Your Gut

 

Now, our emotional state is just one way you communicate with your gut.

 

But what if you could consciously “talk” to that brain in your gut?

 

What if you could send it an overwhelmingly positive message...

...so your gut can carry that same message to your big brain – and the rest of your body?

 

Remember, your big brain and gut-brain are constantly talking to each other anyway - even in your sleep.

 

They're sending signals back and forth to make sure you're running at full capacity.

 

Going back to Watzke’s talk, he said that cooking – and by extension, the food we eat – is the best way we can consciously communicate with our gut.

 

With the language of food, he believes that we can create signals so strong in the gut that “the big brain cannot ignore it.”

 

In short, food won’t just allow you to be a part of this communication process – but also ENHANCE it. 

 

With the right food, you can create a healthy feedback loop within your body’s ecosystem.

 

Ultimately, this will make you happier, give you more energy, free you from disease, and help you live longer.

 

How to Keep Your Gut Healthy and Happy?

 

While it’s important to know how the gut impacts your metabolism and general well-being…

…it’s just as crucial to be aware of the biggest threats to this delicate connection.

 

As you know, the quality of your food plays a HUGE role in this situation.

 

That’s why you need to understand how most processed food today messes with your gut.

 

They upset your blood sugar levels and lead you to diseases like cancer and diabetes.

 

Watch this video - Keep Your Gut Healthy: Ben Warren's top 10 tips for a healthy gut

 

Written by Dr. Carl Bamlet who is a chiropractor and a certified nutrition specialist. He creates the Food, Health & You Complete Implementation System which is a lifestyle guide primarily focusing on diet and nutrition.

 

Dr. Carl Bamlet is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of nineteen, underwent surgeries and chemotherapy, adapted to a lifestyle that eliminates all processed foods and the various toxins that people routinely get exposed to due to the modern diet. He has been cancer free for twelve years.

 

He is healthy and free from the various common lifestyle diseases. With the help of this ebook, you can also prevent cancer, autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic disorders, diabetes, and many other ailments.

 

This holistic guide will help you to embark on a lifestyle that is rid of everything that ails our modern diet. The lifestyle guide does not recommend any medication or fad diets. There is no expensive proposition or quaint lifestyle changes. The different plans are easy to follow and they are relevant for people of all ages and ethnicities, regardless of their history of medical conditions.  

 

To find out more about diet for long life, click on Food Health & You

Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss

 

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Stay Healthy & Be Free From the Various Common Lifestyle Diseases

“Eating crappy food isn't a reward -- it's a punishment.” - Drew Carey

 

The problem with a diet that relies mostly on carbohydrates is that creates an unhealthy dependence on sugar.

 

What most people don’t understand is that carbs eventually turn into a form of sugar called glucose once they’ve digested that plate of pasta.

 

And there are a bunch of adverse side effects that add up over time when you continually eat this way.

 

For one thing, your blood sugar will get too high, which will lead to more complications later on. Your pancreas will be hard at work pumping insulin into your bloodstream to remove that glucose.

 

But once there’s too much sugar in your system, all that glucose won’t have any place to go.

Usually, they're stored in your muscles and liver. Once they're full up, the only option is for your liver to turn that sugar into saturated fat.

 

A bloodstream chock-full of excess fats leads to other problems like insulin resistance, and eventually, diabetes.

 

How to Hack Your Metabolism?

 

The solution would be to train your body to “prefer” other sources of energy aside from sugar. This way, you can put a stop to the metabolic pattern we just talked about.

 

Fat is a better fuel alternative. If you can find a way to end your dependence on carbs and sugar, your system will adapt. Then you can switch to a healthier, more sustainable energy source.

 

But how do you get your body to listen and shift gears?

 

Enter the ketogenicdiet.

 

After making specific modifications to your eating habits, you’ll change the way you burn energy. Then you'll turn yourself into an efficient fat-burning machine and lose weight naturally.

 

The secret is in your liver. Going back to what we discussed, this specific organ is forced to turn sugar into fat - this is a response to overconsuming processed foods.

 

However, you can “trick” your liver into breaking down those fatty acids floating in your system.

 

These will then be converted into what’s known as ketones – say hello to your new energy source.

 

That means you’ll now enter "ketosis mode" where your body automatically knows that it should utilize fats instead of carbs for fuel.

 

Fats are not Foes

 

Sometime around the 1960s, the U.S. government set nutritional guidelines based on studies that vilified ALL types of fat.

 

One such researcher that kickstarted this fat-phobic era was Ancel Keys. He was a nutritionist who established the idea that fats were the culprit of the heart attack epidemic at the time.

 

However, other researchers came to a different conclusion. These opposing views state that it was carbohydrates and sugar – not fats – that were behind weight gain and cardiovascular disease.

 

Sadly, these studies got buried under a mountain of biased (and some would say unethical) research that ignored this other piece of the puzzle. Instead, they focused only on fat, making it Public Enemy No. 1 for years to come.

 

Fortunately, we know better today.

 

Further studies that surfaced afterward showed that while there are genuinely harmful fats (like trans fats), there are other fats which are actually good for you.

 

In fact, fat isn’t just an excellent source of energy. It’s also a vital building block of brain matter as this organ is mostly made up of fat!

 

They also help you break down fat-soluble vitamins, as well as transfer nutrients between your cells. And they provide slow, steady bursts of energy for both brain-intensive and physical activity.

 

Ok, Great – But How Will Keto Help Me Lose Weight?

 

Keto practitioners swear by this lifestyle because it offers a slew of benefits.

 

For instance, they’ve kept their previously out-of-control cravings in check. Aside from that, they’ve now cleared away the brain fog that comes with a diet of highly processed food.

 

Their blood sugar levels stabilized as well. This also means their insulin production became nice and even.

 

Better yet, keto eaters also report higher levels of energy with virtually no sluggishness or lethargy.

 

As for weight loss, studies show that this dietary approach is effective. Duke University Medical Center did a randomized, controlled trial of 120 overweight participants and tracked their progress.

 

Their study resulted in a couple of key findings:

 

A low-carb, ketogenic diet was more effective at treating obesity than a low-fat diet

 

The participants’ triglyceride levels went down, while their HDL cholesterol (a.k.a. the good kind) went up

 

As such, the keto way is great for reducing your carb intake. This helps tell your body to burn those pesky fats.

 

How Do I Keto? (And is it Right for Me?)

 

Now that you have a better idea of what this diet entails, you’re probably wondering if it's a good match for you.

 

The first thing that you have to remember is that a ketogenic diet isn’t a one-size-fits-all silver bullet for your weight woes.

 

Losing weight is a significant benefit of this approach, no doubt. However, it's the result of meeting specific metabolic needs that vary for each person.

 

This is why there are four basic types of ketogenic diets:

 

The Standard Ketogenic Diet - or SKD - is considered the classic method of kickstarting of your ketone production. This is focused on cutting on carb intake, which can be as low as 5% of your total diet (as recommended in a study by Dr. Goldman at BC Children’s Hospital in Canada). Your fat intake would roughly make up about 75%, while protein fills in the rest.

 

The Targeted Ketogenic Diet - or TKD – works best for the athletic folks who want to support their demanding lifestyle. You’d have to eat the same amount of carbs as SKD (also very low!) before you intend to work out.

 

A Cyclical Ketogenic Diet – or CKD – is a better choice if you want to take your time making the keto switch. This is a bit more forgiving because you can take alternating days of low-carb and high-carb consumption.

 

A High-Protein Ketogenic Diet has a lot in common with the classic version. But as the name suggests, this is a proper diet if you're lacking in the protein department.

 

As you can see, you’ll need to do the initial groundwork to fine tune your intended keto eating plan. However, doing your due diligence will pay off in spades and you’ll soon reap the massive benefits.

 

Here’s a general overview of what you need to keep an eye out for:

 

#1: Food Intake

 

Of course, what you eat will define the level of success you'll enjoy after doing keto. As you learned from the different variations of the ketogenic diet, you need to find the ideal amount of carbohydrates, protein and fat. Protein, in particular, depends on personal factors like weight, total amount of body fat (which can be done at a gym or medical center), gender, height, and age.

 

#2: How Much Weight You Want to Lose

 

You need to figure out how many calories you need in a day (for both physical activity and basic body functions), as well as your body fat percentage. This will help you work out the amount of body fat you want to shed.

 

Work with your physician, nutritionist and trainer to figure out your specific needs. That includes how many calories to consume, and your required protein intake (which will help you burn fat better).

 

#3 Lose Weight by Working out

 

It’s important to note that you need enough quality food to fuel your exercise routine.

 

Starving yourself recklessly while trying to burn those calories can backfire. A study from the American Physiological Society says that you need to consume enough protein to prevent muscle cannibalization. This happens when the body goes into starvation mode.

 

So, as you work out, make sure that you’re eating the right stuff to keep your muscles in good shape. This will then help you shed those pounds.

 

As for exercise itself, a lot of keto practitioners are fans of HIIT, or high-intensity interval training. Some trainers recommend doing cardio-like HIIT routines, like treadmill sprints, going on the Stairmaster and cycle sprints. There are other HIIT-based exercises, such as the walk and sprint, infinite pushups, and sit up and jump.

 

Note that there are other keto-friendly workout options as well. This includes (but is not limited to) yoga, Pilates, CrossFit and good ol' cardio. To find out which of these exercises work best for you, talk to a professional trainer.

 

Eat Right, Live Longer

 

As we’ve talked about, there are massive benefits to making the keto switch, but always remember to consult with a professional.

 

They can help you transition into this lifestyle change and keep a close eye on your progress. With their guidance, you can keep track of other factors like rate of weight loss, ketone levels, and calorie intake.

 

And once you’ve made the leap, you’ll enjoy optimal nutrition, a satisfied tummy and trim waistline!

 

Nutrition is a fantastic thing, and it plays such an influential role in our day-to-day existence.

It doesn’t just keep you alive - it also determines the quality of your life.

 

Sadly, there are so many foods out there that do anything but keep us healthy.

 

And it’s frightening how many people are suffering from cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

 

With the rise of processed foods – and the companies that push them onto the public – this trend is the new “normal.”

 

But you don’t have to be another statistic – and neither should your friends and loved ones.

The only way to break free from the trap of the modern diet is by learning which foods will support your healthy lifestyle.

 

For more ideas on ketogenic diet for weight loss, watch this video - KETO: 11 SIMPLE Tips for Major Weight Loss

 

Written by Dr. Carl Bamlet who is a chiropractor and a certified nutrition specialist. He creates the Food, Health & You Complete Implementation System which is a lifestyle guide primarily focusing on diet and nutrition.

 

Dr. Carl Bamlet is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of nineteen, underwent surgeries and chemotherapy, adapted to a lifestyle that eliminates all processed foods and the various toxins that people routinely get exposed to due to the modern diet. He has been cancer free for twelve years.

 

He is healthy and free from the various common lifestyle diseases. With the help of this ebook, you can also prevent cancer, autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic disorders, diabetes, and many other ailments.

 

This holistic guide will help you to embark on a lifestyle that is rid of everything that ails our modern diet. The lifestyle guide does not recommend any medication or fad diets. There is no expensive proposition or quaint lifestyle changes. The different plans are easy to follow and they are relevant for people of all ages and ethnicities, regardless of their history of medical conditions.  

 

To find out more about diet for long life, click on Food Health & You

 

What is the Best Way to Clear My 93% Clogged Heart Arteries?

 

Click Here to Find Out How You Can Completely Clean Out the Plaque Build-Up in Your Arteries

Clear My 93% Clogged Heart Arteries - This Common Supplement Increases Stroke Risk 16%

 

Here on Blue Heron Health News, we’ve published hundreds of articles on the benefits of various supplements for myriad health conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cholesterol.

 

But a recent study from Britain’s University of Dundee and University College reveals how one particular – but very common – supplement, has exactly the opposite effect… it makes your blood pressure skyrocket, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

 

The really bad news is that millions of people take this particular supplement thinking it will improve their health when the opposite is true.

 

According to recent research, a supplement in an effervescent form, such as a fizzy, drinkable vitamin C or other proprietary blends is proving to cause more harm than good.

 

Scientists at Britain’s University of Dundee and University College looked at study participant’s blood pressure and risk of stroke, comparing those who take supplements in a dissolvable fizzy form and those taking the same supplement in the same dose but in other ways.

 

What they found was using a dissolvable fizzy compound places the user at a 16% increased risk of suffering a stroke, and dramatically increases the user’s blood pressure.

 

Why?

 

One main ingredient is sodium bicarbonate, which is what gives a product its characteristic fizz.

 

Researchers noted taking the maximum allowable daily dose of the supplement can more than quadruple the recommended maximum intake for sodium. For people with sodium-affected hypertension this can be a very dangerous.

 

Dropping hypertension and getting blood pressure back to normal doesn’t have to be dangerous or taste bad. Discover how 3 easy exercises drop your blood pressure below 120/80, starting from today…

 

Cholesterol too high? Here is the exact step-by-step strategy I used to clear my 93% clogged heart arteries and normalize my cholesterol in less than a month…

 

Clear My 93% Clogged Heart Arteries - Gout and fatal heart attacks – a Shocking Connection

 

Gout hurts. It hurts a lot.

 

But the fact that it kills, is less well known.

 

Yes, suffering gout increases your risk of suffering from a fatal heart attack by a scary 40%. This is according to a new research presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology by New Zealand scientists.

 

What’s worse, taking drugs to lower your uric acid can actually make things worse.

 

In this study, the entire New Zealand population was put under a microscope. The study involved 968,387 adults over the age of 20, of whom 34,056 suffered from gout.

 

They discovered people with gout were more likely to suffer fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, 40 and 35 percent respectively.

 

Those with less than six mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter of blood) had a 32 and 27 percent increased risk for fatal and non-fatal heart events respectively. Those with six mg/dL or greater were 42 and 43 percent more likely to experience cardiovascular problems.

 

Allopurinol is the most common drug prescribed for gout sufferers, so they investigated whether these prescriptions could reduce their risk of suffering from cardiovascular events.

 

For fatal heart events, those who were prescribed the drug during the past five years had an increased risk of 41 percent compared to the 33 percent who had not taken it.

 

For non-fatal events, those that took prescribed drugs had a 34 percent increased risk compared to the 38 percent of the non-drug takers.

 

This means that urate-lowering drugs did not work to attenuate the risk that gout posed for the participants. Therefore, drugs cannot control the worst potential consequences of gout.

 

Luckily, you can treat and cure gout by attacking its true cause. And it’s not about cutting out uric acid as I’ll explain here…

 

And to clear my 93% clogged heart arteries and cure, cardiovascular disease, cut out this ONE ingredient now – you had no idea you’ve been consuming…

 

Clear My 93% Clogged Heart Arteries - Beat Death by Eating This Delicious Snack

 

According to a 30-year research study from Harvard University, a small but powerful food can help you avoid cardiovascular diseases, cancer, type 2 diabetes and even death.

 

This snack might also help evade those unavoidable extra pounds during the holiday season.

 

And best of all… it’s sooo good!

 

Harvard researchers followed 119,000 participants for 30 years. What they found was those who consumed nuts every day were 20 percent less likely to die compared to participants who never consumed nuts.

 

Amongst daily nut eaters, the risk of cardiovascular related deaths was reduced by 29 percent. There was also an 11 percent less risk of cancer-related deaths.

 

The general opinion is that because nuts are loaded with certain fats, they contribute to weight gain. However, the study also proved that participants who often ate them were slimmer than non-nut eaters, possibly because of their unsaturated fatty acids, minerals and vitamins.

 

Many previous studies have shown that nuts have cholesterol and inflammation-lowering abilities as well.

 

The American Heart Association recommends at least four servings of unsalted, sugar-free nuts a week.

 

All kinds of tree nuts are beneficial to our health, including pistachios, almonds, walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts and more.

 

For more ideas to clear my 93% clogged heart arteries, watch this video - 10 Foods Which Unclog Arteries Naturally And Protect Against Heart Attack

 

But getting your cholesterol under control may take more than a handful of nuts. Here is the exact strategy that can clear my 93% clogged heart arteries in 28 days…

 

And to drop your blood pressure below 120/80 – today – click here…

 

This post is from the Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy Program. It was created by Scott Davis. Because he once suffered from high cholesterol, so much so that he even had a severe heart attack. This is what essentially led him to finding healthier alternatives to conventional medication. Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy is a unique online program that provides you with all the information you need to regain control of your cholesterol levels and health, as a whole.

 

To find out more about this program, go to Clear My 93% Clogged Heart Arteries.