7 sneaky signs you have an unhealthy gut & how to begin healing

Gut bacteria can be either one of the best allies in getting healthy or the worst enemies. Did you know that their makeup heavily depends on what and how you eat?

Recent studies keep on exploring the relation between gut bacteria and other important aspects of the human health. The conclusion is that changing the gut can go a long way in changing your life!

Not All Gut Bacteria Are Created Equal

There are more than 100 trillion cells of gut bacteria and they have a tremendous effect on our heath. However, not all gut bacteria are created equal.  The good ones boost immunity, produce vitamins and improve digestion, while the bad bacteria may lead to indigestion, skin problems, and mental issues.

Are Your Gut Bacteria Imbalanced?

We should start by explaining how one could tell that their gut bacteria are imbalanced. This is not an easy thing to do, such as taking a thermometer and finding out if you have a fever. However, there are a few warning signs that indicate that your gut bacteria are out of whack. Check them out!

1. Digestive Issues

Digestive problems are the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the negative effects of imbalanced gut bacteria. While doctors typically prescribed drugs or antacids to manage the problem, these medications fail to address the root cause.  You might have an unhealthy and imbalanced gut if you experience symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, irritable bowel disease, or irritable bowel syndrome.

2. Mental Issues

The gut health has a tremendous impact on the health of your brain. It has been scientifically shown that gut bacteria manufacture neurotransmitters, so this doesn’t come as surprise though.  Some of the signs that indicate an unhealthy gut include brain fog, anxiety, depression, autism, and OCD.

3. Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency

A healthy gut is of utmost importance when it comes to the production and synthesis of vitamins and minerals. When the gut bacteria are imbalanced, the body finds it more difficult to get enough of the needed vitamins and minerals like vitamin B7, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin K, and magnesium.

4. Antibiotics

As long as used properly, antibiotics are one of the best innovations of modern medicine. However, improper use may lead to a wide range of gut issues.  Many doctors sue them on factory-farmed animals and viral infections, which is completely useless. Antibiotics remove the bad bacteria, but wipe out many good bacteria at the same time.  It has been scientifically shown that good bacteria removed by antibiotics don’t repopulate without your assistance.

5. Chronic Stress

Stress can make you anxious,  increase blood pressure levels, and even damage the gut.  Unfortunately, stress is very difficult to avoid these days! This is not the key problem though, as the bigger problem arises when you leave it untreated for too long. Chronic, unmanaged stress increases cortisol levels and compromises gut function. Those who have been stressed for the past few months or years are very likely to have an imbalanced gut.

6. Skin Conditions

Contrary to popular belief, symptoms of a condition don’t always appear at the same spot as the condition.  As in the case with skin conditions, they are often caused by an unhealthy gut.  If you suffer from conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, eczema or acne, it is very likely that you have an unhealthy gut.

7. Autoimmune Diseases

More and more studies link autoimmune diseases to unhealthy and imbalanced guts. If you are dealing with conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto`s, the chances are your gut is out of whack.

How to Balance Your Gut Bacteria in 4 Simple Steps

1. Avoid Toxins

The most important step towards balancing gut bacteria is to avoid toxic foods like unhealthy oils, grains, sugars, and conventional grain fed dairy. Watch out for the modern toxins such as antibiotics, pesticides, and NSAIDs, too.

2. Eat Fermented Foods

Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, lacto-fermented fruits and veggies, non-pasteurized cheese, and non-pasteurized yogurt, are an excellent source of good gut bacteria.

3. Take Probiotic Supplements

In addition to eating fermented foods, taking probiotic supplements is yet another good idea.  Here are a few tips on how to choose the right supplement:

• Avoid ‘bargain bin’ prices
• Klaire Labs and Jarrow are two reputable brands
• Choose potent supplements ( at least 8 billion/ dose)
• Look for those that contain strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus

4. Manage Stress

Stress management is one of the best ways to improve your gut health! Do something that works for your and stick with it, such as practicing yoga, meditation, dancing, jogging, deep breathing, or anything else.  Of course, make sure you get at least  8 hours of sleep every night.

Read More »

How to inhale Himalayan pink salt to help remove mucus, bacteria and toxins from your lungs

Himalayan salt is the purest salt on earth which is protected from the modern-day pollution. Its hues of pink and white indicate that it has rich mineral and iron content. As a matter of fact, this naturally-formed salt is made up of 85.62 percent sodium chloride and 14.38 percent trace minerals like potassium, bicarbonate, bromide, borate, fluoride, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and sulphate.

Thanks to these minerals, this salt has the ability to:

• Prevent goiters
• Prevent muscle cramping
• Improve circulation
• Create an electrolyte balance
• Increases hydration
• Regulate water content both inside and outside of cells
• Balance pH (alkaline/acidity) and help to reduce acid reflux
• Dissolve and eliminate sediment to remove toxins
• Strengthen bones
• Lower blood pressure
• Help the intestines absorb nutrients
• Detoxify the body from heavy metals
• Support libido
• Reduce the signs of aging

Salt Therapy Isn’t New

While salt therapy is quite new to the United States, salt rooms have been used in Europe for over 200 years. Long ago, people with respiratory-related problems used to visit salt mines for therapeutic purposes, and even ancient Greeks used salt therapy to treat those conditions.

In the U.S, salt therapy is becoming more popular and valued thanks to the introduction of salt rooms in spas. This salt in particular is known for its anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties.

So, as people still visit salt mines to address their respiratory problems like congestion, hay fever, allergies, and asthma, others overcrowd the salt rooms in cities like Orlando, London, and New York.

Therefore, you don’t need to travel far or visit a salt mine in order to enjoy the benefits of Himalayan salt. As a matter of fact, adding this salt to your daily diet or routine provides the same effects! These days, Himalayan salt is available in many different forms, including coarse salt for bath, lamps, slabs, blocks, rock and ground salt for cooking, and you can even make a Sole.

Benefits of Salt Inhalers

Salt inhalers found these days on the market combine the best features of old-world and modern technology. The salt rocks are located at the bottom of the inhaler, and once you inhale, the moisture in the air takes in the salt compounds into the lungs.

Consequently, this helps reduce inflammation in the lungs and thus alleviate conditions like allergies, congestion, hay fever, sinus congestion, and asthma. The best part is that this technique is completely safe and isn’t associated with any adverse side effects.

• Salt is a natural expectorant which helps reduce excess mucous
• Reducing mucus eliminates both night time coughing and post nasal drip, allowing you to sleep better
• Himalayan salt is packed with 84 natural elements and minerals
• Salt is known for its powerful antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties
• Himalayan salt inhalers can significantly reduce irritation and inflammation caused by pollutants and smoke
• Salt inhalation therapy can reduce irritation and swelling of nasal passages

How to Use a Salt Inhaler

• Put the Himalayan rock in the inhaler, according to the package instructions
• Place the inhaler mouthpiece in the mouth
• Inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nose
• Since the inhaler is designed for dry therapy only, don’t add water
• Inhaling with long, slow and deep breaths brings the salt ions to the lungs

Given that the ions are tiny, they pass the nasal and end up directly into the lungs. Then, the lungs absorb them and send them to the bloodstream. Consequently, this helps reduce both inflammation and pain associated with conditions like asthma, pneumonia, or bronchitis.

Read More »

Say goodbye to bad breath, plaque and bacteria in your mouth with just one ingredient

Oil pulling is an Indian folk remedy, which has been long used to detoxify and rejuvenate the gums and teeth. Simply put, this simple practice can literally transform your dental health in no time! At this point, most people are familiar with this practice, but not everyone is eager to try it out.  Well, if you are interested in learning more about it and why you should try it as soon as possible, read on!

Simply, all you have to do is to swish unrefined oil in your mouth, just like you would do with a mouthwash.  The choice of oil depends on your needs, but you need to make sure that the oil is unrefined and high quality.  While oil pullers traditionally used sesame oil,  most people turn to coconut oil these days,  due to its whitening, antimicrobial,  anti-inflammatory and enzymatic properties.

The process of oil pulling removes harmful bacteria, toxic matter, and parasites from the mouth and the lymph system, while eliminating congestion and mucus from the throat and loosing up the sinuses.  It also re-mineralizes the teeth and strengthens the gums by cleansing the area. If using coconut oil, you get the added benefit of killing off bacteria that may be living in the mouth, which in turn leaves healthy strains.

To sum up, oil pulling provides a wide range of benefits, including the following:

• Reducing harmful bacteria in the mouth, such as Streptococcus mutant bacteria
• Reducing bad breath
• Reducing plague and plaque-induced gingivitis
• Whitening the teeth naturally
• Increasing energy levels, by removing toxic matter from the system
• Detoxifying the body ( the mouth serves as the gateway for toxic contamination
• Aiding hormonal changes ( when the hormones do not have to compete with foreign invaders,  they behave properly
• Reducing headaches and migraines ( addressing the problem with toxic load helps prevent such issues)
• Improving skin`s quality, as removing toxins that would otherwise end up in the bloodstream gives the skin an opportunity to shine

Instructions:

• Put ½ to 1 tablespoon of oil into the mouth
• Swirl the oil between the teeth and around the gums, allowing it to reach every area in the mouth
• Make sure it doesn’t get in contact with the throat!
• Swish the oil in the mouth from 15-20 minutes
• Spit it out!
• Brush the teeth with an all-natural toothpaste
• Rinse the mouth out
• Note: No matter what you do, never swallow the oil as by doing so you will ingest the toxins you are trying to remove.

source: http://besthealthyguide.com

Read More »