You hear the advice on a regular basis: “Eat more fiber.” Food labels are plastered with “high fiber” and “good source of fiber” everywhere you look. You probably know that fiber “helps you poop” when your bowels are sluggish, and you might have even heard that fiber is good for your heart—but did you know that a high fiber diet…
There are many ways to look directly at the gut connection to cancer. I believe the most important information you can receive is how to support and maintain a healthy colon. I realize now that in these four posts honoring Colon Cancer Awareness Month I have only scratched the surface of the information I would love to share with you. Over…
The liver is the body’s powerhouse of detoxification. The main function of the liver is to filter blood that comes directly from the intestines to the liver via the portal vein. The health of the liver, therefore, is very much dependent on the health of the gut. The intestinal lining is the main interface between the immune system and the…
We have been told that all it takes to lose weight is a reduction in calories and/or an increase in energy expenditure (exercise). So if we eat less calories or exercise more or both, we will lose weight. Supposedly, that’s how it works. And yet, we continue to struggle with losing weight and keeping it off for good. Only a…
On average, children in the United States develop six respiratory tract infections each year. Another infection—gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu—accounts for over 1.5 million outpatients visits, 200,000 hospital visits, and about 300 deaths each year. Together, these infections account for a considerable degree of illness in children. If you are a parent, you are familiar with the frequency…
Probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, have been studied for a number of health conditions, but one of the most exciting benefits of probiotics is their effect on the common cold. A number of studies have looked at probiotic treatment and prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (cold and flu, most notably). A recent systematic review evaluated data from twelve randomized, controlled…
April is IBS Awareness Month—a time for individuals and communities across the country to spread awareness about irritable bowel syndrome and the millions of Americans it affects every day. Coast to coast, activities and events are in the works to help people understand this debilitating disorder, its signs and symptoms, and how it is diagnosed and treated. Quick Facts about…
No, it isn’t the latest joke, though chances are you have heard the story in the news. But let me just clear something up: there is no actual poop in a new type of “gourmet” sausage developed recently by scientists in Spain—just a beneficial strain of bacteria commonly found in (you guessed it!) baby poop. For those of us with…
Prebiotics are soluble fibers that feed beneficial bacteria and lead to an increase in those bacteria along with a decrease in potentially harmful bacteria. Prebiotics can be found in food, certain fiber supplements, and in prebiotic supplements (which are fiber supplements, by nature, although may not be labeled as such). A recent study published in the journal Neurochemistry International found…
For more than a decade our team at ReNew Life has been formulating the purest, most effective natural supplements with the health and well-being of our customers in mind—which is why I couldn’t be more excited about this recent award! The ReNew Life Ultimate Flora line of high-potency probiotics was named the top-rated probiotic brand for customer satisfaction, based on…