Wednesday, September 30, 2015

4 Reasons Your Brain Is Foggy

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4 Reasons Your Brain Is Foggy

Published September 29, 2015

woman-placing-fingers-on-temples

Toxins are all around us, and while we already know how harmful they can be to the body, have you stopped to think about what they can do to the brain? Studies suggest neurotoxins impede brain development in kids, something that might also lead to ADHD, autism, or Parkinson's later in life. [1] [2] Keeping your brain free from toxin exposure could go a long way in boosting overall brain health, but if your thoughts are feeling a little sluggish, there might be other things—besides pollution—you should consider.

4 Causes of Brain Fog

If you're having trouble concentrating, thinking clearly, or even relaxing your mind, your brain may have invasive forces trying to impede your health. Here are just 4 reasons your brain could be foggy.

1. Stress

The body releases cortisol during stress; small bursts can help us manage things during these times. The problem comes in when the body is in a constant stressed-out state. [3] If a pregnant woman were stressed from poverty, for example, cortisol could '"get through the placenta into the fetus, potentially influencing her baby's brain and tampering with its circuitry." After birth, the child's cortisol could, then, continue to sabotage brain development.

2. Air Pollution

One study suggests traffic pollution could be responsible for lower memory test scores and slower cognitive development in kids. [4] But, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) aren't only from traffic pollution; they're also products of everything from burning coal to tobacco smoke, so avoiding them completely might be easier said than done. You can definitely take steps to limit your exposure though.

3. BPA Exposure

BPA is such a nasty toxin that many manufacturers have started making BPA-free products; however, some studies say its substitute bisphenol-S, or BPS, could be just as bad for your brain health, suggesting BPA/BPS exposure could be linked to altered brain growth and hyperactivity. [5] And always be careful when buying food; there are still a lot of canned goods out there that still use BPA in the linings of cans. [6]

4. Diabetes

A new study even suggests type 2 diabetes "is associated with worse performance on cognitive tests measuring abilities involved in the control of emotions, behaviors and thought." [7] Because doctors encourage self-management (diet, blood sugar, medication) and many patients already burn out when it comes to managing the disease, this loss of executive function is worrisome, to say the least.

Other Ways to Improve Brain Function

So if you find yourself feeling foggy, there are things you can do. First things first: get outdoors. One study even found being outside was linked to positive cognitive development in kids. [8] That sounds like a great idea for all ages! Another easy thing is taking probiotics. There's lots of research that suggests our gut health is directly connected to our mental health. [9] Exercise is also a great way to rev up the creative and analytical thinking skills.

What would you do when your brain gets a little foggy? Tell us about it in the comments.

References:

  1. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Early Exposure to Toxic Substances Damages Brain Architecture: Working Paper No. 4. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.
  2. Weiss, B. & and Landrigan, P. J. The developing brain and the environment: an introduction. Environmental Health Perspectives. 108 (Supplement 3).
  3. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain: Working Paper 3. Updated Edition. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.
  4. Sunyer, J. et al. Association between Traffic-Related Air Pollution in Schools and Cognitive Development in Primary School Children: A Prospective Cohort Study. PLOS Medicine.
  5. Kinch, C. D. et al. Low-dose exposure to bisphenol A and replacement bisphenol S induces precocious hypothalamic neurogenesis in embryonic zebrafish. PNAS.
  6. Environmental Working Group. BPA in Canned Food. Environmental Working Group.
  7. Vincent, C. & Hall, P. A. Executive Function in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analytic Review. Psychosomatic Medicine.
  8. Dadvand, P. et al. Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren. PNAS.
  9. Reardon, S. Gut-brain link grabs neuroscientists. Nature. 515 (7526).

The post 4 Reasons Your Brain Is Foggy appeared first on Dr. Group's Natural Health & Organic Living Blog.

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More from Dr. Group's Blog:

The 4 Worst Things for Leaky Gut
How Antibiotics Disrupt Intestinal Flora
Natural Diaper Rash Remedy – Ozonated Olive Oil
The Health Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng Root
Home Remedy For Acne and Acne Scars – Ozonated Olive Oil

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Houston, TX 77018

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Monday, September 28, 2015

The 4 Worst Things for Leaky Gut

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The 4 Worst Things for Leaky Gut

Published September 27, 2015

friends-having-a-drink

Your gut is a semi-permeable organ; this means things can pass back and forth into your body. Normally, what passes through are good things. Sometimes, things like poor diet, stress, or toxins can lead to a condition called intestinal hyperpermeability. [1] Basically, your gut has become too permeable because of irritation, and partially undigested food and toxins can pass back into your bloodstream. This can lead to a lot of health issues, but there are things you can do to plug up that leaky gut. Changing your diet is one great place to start.

4 Things That Worsen Leaky Gut

Do you know the 5 worst things if you currently have leaky gut? Well, you should definitely make it your goal to avoid these.

1. Alcohol

Alcohol suppresses production of hormones called prostaglandins, which help keep irritation in check. [2] A low supply of prostaglandins can, then, lead to sweelling in the gut. Drinking alcohol can also keep necessary nutrients from flowing back into the bloodstream. If you have leaky gut, avoiding alcohol altogether is your safest bet.

2. Sugar

Sugar can cause leaky gut because any amount of sugar can actually "feed" yeast and bad bacteria in the body, leading to gut irritation. And if you already suffer from leaky gut, sugar will just continue to make a bad problem worse.

3. Dairy

Leaky gut can often lead to food intolerances, with dairy being one possibility. If you have leaky gut, consider getting your dairy from sources other than cows, since cow dairy products contain proteins called A1 and A2 beta-casein. [3] Unlike its counterpart, A2-beta casein is suggested as more digestible in those with leaky gut, but finding dairy without A1 can be problematic as, right now, the majority of dairy products in the U.S. and Canada come from A1-producing cows.

4. Gluten

As the sticky stuff in most grain products, gluten acts as a binder in foods. For many with leaky gut, gluten intolerance is simply par for the course. Consider eating gluten-free to help soothe a leaky gut. In many studies, removing gluten from the diet has even helped repair intestinal function. [4]

The Take Home

If you steer clear of these four things, your gut will certainly thank you. And because they're covered with toxins, you'll also definitely want to avoid genetically modified foods.

What diet changes would you make for leaky gut? Tell us about it in the comments.

References:

  1. Ulluwishewa, D. et al. Regulation of Tight Junction Permeability by Intestinal Bacteria and Dietary Components. The Journal of Nutrition. 141 (5).
  2. Ricciotti, E. & FitzGerald, G. A. Prostaglandins and Inflammation. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 31.
  3. Ho, S. et al. Comparative effects of A1 versus A2 beta-casein on gastrointestinal measures: a blinded randomised cross-over pilot study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 68 (9).
  4. Arrieta, M. C. et al. Alterations in intestinal permeability. Gut. 55 (10).

The post The 4 Worst Things for Leaky Gut appeared first on Dr. Group's Natural Health & Organic Living Blog.

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More from Dr. Group's Blog:

How Antibiotics Disrupt Intestinal Flora
Natural Diaper Rash Remedy – Ozonated Olive Oil
The Health Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng Root
Home Remedy For Acne and Acne Scars – Ozonated Olive Oil
Health Benefits of Ginseng Eleuthero

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Sunday, September 27, 2015

How Antibiotics Disrupt Intestinal Flora

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How Antibiotics Disrupt Intestinal Flora

Published September 26, 2015

antibiotic-pills

The Harvard Medical School reports antibiotic side effects last for 42 days after the last dose. [1] You're probably familiar with many of these side effects: diarrhea, irritable bowels, bloating, and maybe even painful constipation. What you don't see are aggressive and dangerous bacteria, like Clostridium difficile, E. coli, H. pylori, and a fungus like Candida establishing themselves in your gut. But when you take antibiotics, nasty bugs like these can do just that. The Harvard Medical School reports antibiotic side effects lasts for 42 days after the last dose.

Antibiotics: The Cure with a Catch

When you get a prescription for an antibiotic, you feel good that you're on the path to recovery. But, there's a catch, and it has to do with how antibiotics work. About 70% of your immune response takes place in your digestive tract. So when you take an antibiotic, it goes through your system and kills off all the invading bacteria. The thing is, it also kills off your native bacteria, the ones needed to keep digestion smooth, prevent constipation, and protect your body from aggressive and invading bacteria.

As the Harvard Medical School reports, it takes 6 weeks for your body to recover from an antibiotic. During this time, your gut is a vacant neighborhood just waiting for someone to move in. While friendly bacteria like Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria can replenish the gut during this time, you're at a much higher risk for more illness and unwanted bacteria colonizing your intestinal tract. I'm certainly not suggesting you avoid antibiotics, but I am suggesting your take steps for preventing disruption of your intestinal flora at all times.

Here's What to Do

For the best and fastest recovery while taking antibiotics, you need to get plenty of probiotics through food or a probiotic supplement. Before you start with the probiotics, you first need to cut out refined and processed sugars. Disease-causing bacteria and fungi, like Candida, gobble up these sugars and reproduce much faster.

Two options is adding a probiotic supplement or probiotic-rich foods into your day. Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi are loaded with probiotics. These will help restore the necessary bacteria in your intestinal tract to restore proper digestion and keep out the nasty bacteria that can lead to illness. That brings us to the last step: take prebiotics, like inulin and oligosaccharides found in fruits, vegetables, and plants. These types of dietary fiber feed the bacteria you're getting with your probiotics. This speeds the recovery of the health-promoting bacteria of your digestive tract.

A 2014 study reported subjects taking prebiotics restored bifidobacterium levels faster than those taking placebo after all subjects had taken Amoxicillin. [2] A combination of prebiotics and probiotics taken during antibiotic therapy restores essential levels of important gut bacteria, prevents nasty ones from taking over your system, and encourages faster healing.

References:

  1. Pallav K1, Dowd SE2, Villafuerte J1, et al. Effects of polysaccharopeptide from Trametes versicolor and amoxicillin on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers: a randomized clinical trial. Gut Microbes. 2014 Jul 1;5(4):458-67. doi: 10.4161/gmic.29558.
  2. Ladirat SE1, Schoterman MH2, Rahaoui H3, et al. Exploring the effects of galacto-oligosaccharides on the gut microbiota of healthy adults receiving amoxicillin treatment. Br J Nutr. 2014 Aug 28;112(4):536-46. doi: 10.1017/S0007114514001135.

The post How Antibiotics Disrupt Intestinal Flora appeared first on Dr. Group's Natural Health & Organic Living Blog.

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Comment on this Article Now!

More from Dr. Group's Blog:

Natural Diaper Rash Remedy – Ozonated Olive Oil
The Health Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng Root
Home Remedy For Acne and Acne Scars – Ozonated Olive Oil
Health Benefits of Ginseng Eleuthero
The Health Dangers of Carrageenan

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2040 North Loop West, Ste. 108
Houston, TX 77018

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Saturday, September 26, 2015

Natural Diaper Rash Remedy – Ozonated Olive Oil

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Natural Diaper Rash Remedy – Ozonated Olive Oil

Published September 25, 2015

diaper-rash-written-on-marker-board

Diaper rash is a very common problem for many new parents and their babies. This rash makes the skin of your baby irritated, tender, and red. But babies aren't the only ones that can suffer from diaper rash. Adult diaper rash is on the rise too. In many cases, fungal and yeast infections develop on and under the skin. The good news is there are natural, gentle skin remedies that soothe sensitive skin and aid with diaper rash.

Causes of Diaper Rash and Skin Yeast Infections

Friction caused by rubbing or chafing of a diaper on skin irritates the skin. Additionally, the moisture and waste in stool and urine can irritate or make a problem worse. A heat rash, or prickly heat rash, can occur if the skin underneath the diaper gets too hot. Sensitive skin or atopic dermatitis (eczema) gets agitated much faster under these conditions.

Stool and urine also contain bacteria, yeast, and other toxins that cause skin irritation. If yeast is present, it can inflame the skin or even get underneath the surface and create a skin yeast infection. A fungal infection like this results in red, itchy, cracking skin that swells and becomes scaly. This condition is often caused by the Candida fungus, and it's known as cutaneous candidiasis.

What To Avoid When Addressing Diaper Rash

There are a lot of diaper rash lotions and ointments out there. When deciding which one to use or if one is being recommended, avoid DMDM hydantoin (a formaldehyde linked to cancer), parabens, and triclosan (a chemical that disrupts hormones). You should also avoid any product with boric acid, phenol, camphor, or benzoin tincture unless otherwise directed by your pediatrician.

Home Remedies for Normal Diaper Rash

Many all-natural products help with diaper rash. Calendula is a plant that can be a good remedy for soothing the skin. Adding baking soda or oatmeal (or both) to a bath also helps reduce skin irritation and encourage healing. Parents also report fresh, raw aloe vera clears up a diaper rash quickly. If possible, preventing diaper rash is best. Change the diapers frequently to prevent stool or urine from prolonged contact with the skin. Using diapers free of chemicals like bleach can prevent skin irritation.

Ozonated Olive Oil Helps Fight Diaper Rash

If a diaper rash does occur, a great natural solution is an ozonated olive oil like O2-Zap®. Olive oil contains a potent antioxidant called hydroxytyrosol (or HT) that helps kill fungus and yeast. [1] Research has shown ozonated olive oil helps control Candida, cleanses a wide range of skin wounds, and delivers oxygen to the affected skin to speed and improve healing time. [2] [3] [4] O2-Zap uses the highest quality of natural, organic ingredients that are safe and non-toxic, helping deliver relief fast.

Let us know what other remedies have worked for you and your loved ones. Leave a comment below.

References:

  1. Zoric N1, Horvat I, Kopjar N, et al. Hydroxytyrosol expresses antifungal activity in vitro. Curr Drug Targets. 2013 Aug;14(9):992-8.
  2. Tara F, Zand-Kargar Z, Rajabi O, Berenji F, Azizi H. Comparing the effect of ozonated olive oil to clotrimazole cream in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012;12(Suppl 1):P196. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-S1-P196.
  3. Valacchi G1, Fortino V, Bocci V. The dual action of ozone on the skin. Br J Dermatol. 2005 Dec;153(6):1096-100.
  4. Sagai M, Bocci V. Mechanisms of Action Involved in Ozone Therapy: Is healing induced via a mild oxidative stress? Medical Gas Research.2011;1:29. doi:10.1186/2045-9912-1-29.

The post Natural Diaper Rash Remedy – Ozonated Olive Oil appeared first on Dr. Group's Natural Health & Organic Living Blog.

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Comment on this Article Now!

More from Dr. Group's Blog:

The Health Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng Root
Home Remedy For Acne and Acne Scars – Ozonated Olive Oil
Health Benefits of Ginseng Eleuthero
The Health Dangers of Carrageenan
How to Get Rid of Gingivitis – Natural Remedies

Copyright © 2015 Global Healing Center, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
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2040 North Loop West, Ste. 108
Houston, TX 77018

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Friday, September 25, 2015

The Health Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng Root

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The Health Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng Root

Published September 24, 2015

fresh-root

If you're familiar with natural health, chances are you've heard about ginseng. Bud do you know that there are different types of ginseng? Also called Panax notiginseng, Tienchi ginseng promotes health and energy in a similar fashion as American ginseng, Eleuthero, and Jiaogulan. It should be noted, however, that it works very differently from other types. This is one reason why it's so highly valued.

What Makes Tienchi Ginseng Potent

Ancient healers and herbalists have declared tienchi ginseng "more precious than gold." Tienchi ginseng contains several active compounds, including antioxidant flavonoids, oxygen-rich polysaccharides, essential oils, and ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are basically powerful plant compounds generally useful to the human body. Each of these compounds contribute to cellular energy metabolism and combined have a positive effect on blood flow and vascular health.

Key Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng

Tienchi boosts energy and endurance and improves blood flow. Polysaccharides like those in Tienchi are rich in oxygen, an essential component in the final step of cellular energy creation. A California State Polytechnic University study of 30 young adults reported a significant increase in endurance, energy levels, and oxygen levels after taking Panax notiginseng for thirty days. [1] How does this happen? When you increase oxygen to your cells, your energy naturally increases.

Tienchi also encourages red blood cell production and promotes circulation that delivers oxygen-rich blood to your cells better than Panax ginseng and American ginseng. [2] In addition, it also seems to possess a hemostatic ability that stops internal and external bleeding. [3] It's basically like a tonic for your blood stream. The better your blood flows, the more oxygen and nutrients delivered to your cells.

Added Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng

Blood sugar support is necessary in this day and age, with metabolic syndrome running rampant in the developed world. Studies have revealed Tienchi ginseng to be a powerful adjunct in insulin resistance, a hallmark symptom of metabolic syndrome. Trials so far have found Tienchi lowers blood sugar by encouraging glucose absorption, reduces irritation associated with diabetes, improves insulin response, and has anti-obesity properties. [4] It also lowers blood pressure and helps improve male fertility.

How to Supplement With Tienchi Ginseng

The active compounds in Tienchi ginseng make it ideal for a safe energy boost. Today, tienchi survives through controlled cultivation, so it's unlikely you'll find a wild-sourced supplement. For the best results, I personally recommend a ginseng supplement–like Ginseng Fusion™–that combines Tienchi with other types of ginseng.

Do you use Tienchi ginseng? Share your experience with us below.

References:

  1. Liang MT1, Podolka TD, Chuang WJ. Panax notoginseng supplementation enhances physical performance during endurance exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2005 Feb;19(1):108-14.
  2. Lau AJ1, Toh DF, Chua TK, et al. Antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects of Panax notoginseng: comparison of raw and steamed Panax notoginseng with Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Sep 25;125(3):380-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.07.038.
  3. Cicero AF1, Vitale G, Savino G, Arletti R. Panax notoginseng (Burk.) effects on fibrinogen and lipid plasma level in rats fed on a high-fat diet. Phytother Res. 2003 Feb;17(2):174-8.
  4. Uzayisenga R1, Ayeka PA, Wang Y. Anti-diabetic potential of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS): a review. Phytother Res. 2014 Apr;28(4):510-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5026.

The post The Health Benefits of Tienchi Ginseng Root appeared first on Dr. Group's Natural Health & Organic Living Blog.

Join the conversation and voice your opinion!

Comment on this Article Now!

More from Dr. Group's Blog:

Home Remedy For Acne and Acne Scars – Ozonated Olive Oil
Health Benefits of Ginseng Eleuthero
The Health Dangers of Carrageenan
How to Get Rid of Gingivitis – Natural Remedies
How to Get Rid of Sunburn and Sunspots – Ozonated Olive Oil

Copyright © 2015 Global Healing Center, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive daily updates on Dr. Group's blog posts.

Our mailing address is:
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2040 North Loop West, Ste. 108
Houston, TX 77018

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