Exercise & Digestion – How They Work Hand in Hand

If you’ve ever tried to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle, you know that exercise and diet are two crucial elements to seeing and feeling results. What can often get overlooked is how exercise will affect your digestive system in a variety of ways. For example, your metabolism becomes faster the more active you become. Abdominal workouts can strengthen surrounding muscles and encourage your intestines to process foods more quickly and efficiently. On the other end of the spectrum, over-exercise can cause nausea and stomach sickness. Let’s look at a few digestive problems and ways your exercise can reduce or eliminate the occurrence of such health issues.

Heartburn is a very common problem which affects millions of people. Unpleasant, and in some cases debilitating, heartburn can be treated with medical prescriptions, but old-fashioned exercise should be included to see lasting changes. According to LiveStrong, you can try more gradual and relaxing exercise to combat heartburn problems. Yoga, Pilates, or bike riding are great ways to put low, limited stress on your body while still exercising and encourage the strengthening of stomach muscles.

QualityHealth and WebMD outline constipation as another common ailment. Thankfully, this can be fought with a combination of higher fiber intake and a few simple exercise do’s and don’ts. Wait at least an hour or more after eating before you begin any exercise. This will allow your body to focus its blood flow on the digestive system to process the food you just ate. By nature, exercise refocuses blood flow to the heart and muscles. Immediate exercise after eating will weaken the contractions of your muscles directly linked to the digestive system, in turn slowing down the movement of food through the digestive process and causing various forms of bodily discomfort. As with heartburn, you should consider daily, light exercise such as yoga or Pilates to encourage healthy digestion if you have ongoing constipation problems.

Probiotics can also assist with digestive problems. PRO EM-1 is a great way to undergo a gentle cleansing and detoxification of your digestive system. Take this liquid probiotic daily to act as a complement to your diet and exercise regimen. Dairy, wheat, and soy-free, PRO EM-1 is a safe and effective supplement for your daily digestion.

No diet or exercise regimen will be a perfect fit for any two people, but maintaining general best practices when it comes to your eating and exercise habits should yield positive results. Should you have a history of health problems, it is encouraged you see a medical professional before implementing any major changes in your diet or exercise routine.

About Teraganix: Teraganix is the official EM Technology distributor of North America. From probiotic supplementation for digestive health to agricultural waste composting, EM-1 is a revolutionary, oragnic technology with a myriad of applications and useful properties for personal and widespread use.

Sources:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/356356-immediate-effects-of-exercise-in-the-digestive-system/

http://www.qualityhealth.com/fitness-exercise-articles/food-exercise-digestion-connection

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/exercise-curing-constipation-via-movement

Good Fat vs. Bad Fat

There is a never-ending battle going on in gyms around the world when it comes to burning fat… a conflict that also spills into our kitchens and diet. From the fat-free obsessed 80’s and 90’s to the high- fat Adkins craze, it’s hard to know where fat should fit into our diet.  What exactly can we eat for optimum health without putting on those extra pounds?  How can we reduce body fat and get the most of our workouts?  

At its core, eating fat is an animalistic behavior. We fatten up to survive the winter. On a more palette-related level, fats taste delicious.  They are readily available and add a lot of flavor to the foods we eat.  And since fat was critical to early survival, our bodies crave it. 

A few things, however, have changed since the days of our ancestors.  Food is far more abundant and we are much less active - a dangerous development for our waistlines!  Discretion in our diets is now an important part of everyday life. The key to a healthy diet is recognizing the distinction between good and bad fats and making good fats a diet staple while avoiding the bad. This is the tricky part.

What is Saturated Fat?

We hear the term frequently, but what exactly are saturated fats? Saturation is synonymous with words like loaded, full, or dense. These dense fats have a molecular make-up that is believed to contribute to a number of dangerous diseases including cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and a variety of cancers. For this reason, it is better to incorporate unsaturated fats as opposed to their dense counterparts.

What Foods are Rich in Unsaturated Fats?

A prime, defining component of unsaturated fats is the existence of natural, raw ingredients. For example, salmon or trout are chock full of essential Omega-3s. And while there are Omega-3 supplements available, it is optimal to rely on whole foods such as fish for the bulk of your good fat intake.  Not to be overlooked, monounsaturated fats like almonds, avocados, olive oils, and cashews are great ways to give your body the right type of fats and can be added to all sorts of daily snacks.

What Foods Should I Limit to Reduce My Saturated Fat Intake?

Saturated fats are much easier to find and recognize.  You can bet if it is a processed meat (lunch meats, etc.) it has tons of saturated fats (and sodium). Several popular meats such as pork and hamburger and dairy products are loaded with saturated fats.  Is it processed, baked, or fried? Beware! Start reading your food labels when you shop for groceries to check the fat content of foods. Chances are if it looks suspect, it is. Look for lean meats such as turkey, lean cuts of beef, or wild game meats. Avoid anything labeled “Low Fat”. This means the food has been processed to remove the fat and something has been added to make it taste good…something that is likely worse for you than the fat that was removed.

Lowering your bad fat intake not only can help reduce your waistline, but it can help prevent diseases or reduce the risk of certain cancers. Cancers of the colon, prostate, and breast as well as disease of the heart have been linked to too much bad fat in the diet. Unfortunately, it takes more than just a change in diet to reduce your weight and treat your body well. Combining healthy snacking (be sure to have a good fat and protein at every snack) and meals with exercise, a non-sedentary lifestyle, and diligent food label reading will make your body and heart healthy and put money back in your pocket that would’ve been spent on bad fats. Your body with thank you and you’ll thank yourself. 

Happy Eating!

 

Gut Microbes: Protectors of the GI Tract

Gut flora, and the associated probiotics used to supplement them, help the body function properly in a variety of ways. Sometimes, though, the method of assistance is counterintuitive. You may already know that microbes in the gut can aid in protecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from harmful infection. But, one of the major reasons why may surprise you.

The beneficial bacteria of the gut do a good job of keeping out harmful, or pathogenic, bacteria by, to put it simply, taking up the prime real estate and eating all the good food. In the gut, there is a limited amount of space that can be occupied along the epithelial cells lining the inside of the intestines. Access to this lining is essential to bacteria because the transferal of wastes and nutrients between the inside and outside of the intestines occurs here. Thus, it is a major gateway between the GI tract and the rest of the body. Probiotic bacteria occupy the space along the lining, preventing harmful bacteria from gaining access to this gateway. Without helpful flora occupying these spaces, potentially harmful species could gain easy access to the nutrient-rich areas of the body which would allow them to thrive.

Gut flora also keeps pathogens from gaining access to nutrients in another way. Most probiotic bacteria establish a symbiotic relationship with the host (our body). In this relationship, the bacteria perform essential regulatory and nutrient production processes for the body, and the body does the same for the bacteria, thus creating a positive environment for both organisms. Because of this relationship, the body and the bacteria have developed ways to signal their needs to one another. The bacteria can tell the body, via chemical signals, when to produce more of the nutrient which the bacteria needs, and when to produce less. This signaling process prevents overproduction of the nutrient. And, because pathogenic bacteria often need the same nutrient to survive, the pathogen is prevented from gaining access to any excess food.

In this context, the activity of the bacteria through these two processes is called the barrier effect. It exemplifies the principle of competitive exclusion, whereby two organisms competing for identical resources cannot coexist. It is, in essence, one organism being crowded out by another, fitter organism. Since the body favors the symbiotic probiotic bacteria, the good bacteria have a leg up in the competition.

Unfortunately, the body can sometimes be stripped of the gut flora which it has grown accustomed to, making the body vulnerable to pathogens. This is where a probiotic supplement, such as PRO EM-1, can be helpful. PRO EM-1 contains symbiotic microorganisms beneficial to the body which can restore the balance of gut flora in the GI tract. For more about the relationship between microorganisms and the GI tract, check out Guarner and Malagelada’spaper on the subject.

Top 5 Tips for Digestive Health in 2013

While a variety of digestive health concerns exist, there are a few highly effective ways to combat some of the more general digestive problems. Whether it’s bloating, excess gas, heartburn, constipation or other digestive concerns, we have 5 easy-to-follow tips for you!

1. Take a Probiotic Regularly

Take a high quality liquid probiotic like Pro EM-1 that can be absorbed easily into your system. Probiotics work to detoxify the digestive system and keep your intestinal environment properly balanced by introducing beneficial microorganisms that naturally fight malicious bacteria. It’s important to use high quality raw probiotics that feature natural, certified organic ingredients, with no preservatives, wheat, soy or animal byproducts.


2. Exercise

WebMD, Livestrong and many more sources point to exercising for a near immediate improvement of the digestive system. The benefits of exercise are astounding. The good news is it doesn’t take a lot to qualify as “exercise”. You really just need to get moving for 20 minutes every day. That means you can just go for a walk around the neighborhood! That is all it takes to start to get yourself exercising. Surely you can find 20 minutes a day to do something! Working out will improve your digestion and elimination because it helps blood circulation, hormone production, and a slew of other things. On top of benefiting the digestive system, you’ll be working on cardiovascular and muscular health, too. So, start today and go for a quick 20-minute walk!


3. Reduce Processed Foods Consumption

Processed foods can poison the beneficial microflora  in your digestive tract, leading to an imbalanced digestive ecosystem. Processed foods not only lack nutrients and fiber, but they have been linked to poor digestion, decreased energy, illness, acidic blood and weight gain. A highly processed diet has been proven to artificially stimulate dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and addiction. As a result, processed foods can trigger over eating and obesity. Your digestive track fairs much better with natural, whole foods which are easier to digest, and provide a diverse array of nutrients, as well as valuable fiber and fats, all of which aid in digestion and immune system health.


4. Limit Excess

Along with eating slowly and early, most sources recommend limiting excess to better digestion and elimination. By restricting portions at meal times, you allow your body to digest easier. It’s recommend to eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than indulging in infrequent binges that are hard for your stomach and digestive system to process. Athletes learn to eat 4 to 7 small meals per day. At each meal they will eat some protein, some vegetable, and some good fat. Two of those meals will be snacks, but each snack will still have that mix of protein, veggie, and fat. Another guide they use is to only eat until you are 80% full.


5. Eat Slowly

Enjoy your food. Give yourself 20 minutes to eat and get rid of distractions. Don’t eat while watching TV or playing with your phone. And, it takes your stomach about 20 minutes to register that it is full. Bloating and gas can occur if one eats or drinks too quickly. Whether you’re swallowing a lot of air during a meal, or simply not allowing your stomach enough time to register that it is full, inhaling food and beverages can cause poor digestive health. Take your time and enjoy a meal! We recommend adding 1 tablespoon of  Pro-EM-1 probiotic to your water 3 times a day; sip on this during meals and it should help cleanse your system and boost digestion. (And, you might lose some weight by stopping eating just before you are full!)

To a happier, healthier New Year – we hope some of these quick tips aid you in better digestive health!

Using Antioxidant Tooth Powder to Improve Oral Hygiene

The mouth is the body’s primary entrance to our digestive organs and the bloodstream. For this reason – among many others - the mouth should be carefully cared for. Here are a few tips on using Antioxidant Tooth Powder for optimum oral health.

I Brush.  Why Do I Also Need to Use an Antioxidant Tooth Powder? 

Brushing will eliminate debris and stains from the food and liquids people take in. However, there are hard to reach areas on the teeth and gums that a simple tooth brush just won’t be able to clean. 

 

Antioxidant tooth powder uses a combination of plant-based antioxidants, alkaline clay, and natural enzymes that effectively destroy the bacteria that are often missed with simple brushing. A single sprinkle of this powder is strong enough to combat thousands of bacteria in the mouth that are responsible for tooth decay, plaque build up and chronic bad breath. 

Antioxidant tooth powder can be diluted and used as a gargle or simply sprinkled in the mouth for quick touch ups.  This will thoroughly eliminate bacteria that are resting in those crevices and hard to reach places on the tongue, between the teeth and along the gum line. The powder also helps in preventing food particles from adhering to the teeth and gums which can lead to bacterial buildup, bad breath and gum disease.

Safe and Non-toxic Oral Care

Perhaps most importantly, an antioxidant tooth powder like Dr. Don’s cleans the mouth without the use of harmful chemicals, alcohol or fluoride. These chemicals may clean the mouth, but they have unwanted side effects.

 

Alcohol kills bad bacteria, but also also destroys the normal protective elements in the mouth. This leaves the mouth unprotected and more susceptible to diseases. It can also dry out the mouth and a lower level of saliva promotes bacterial growth and foul breath. 

 

Fluoride has also been long used in oral care and has known beneficial factors for the mouth including teeth whitening. However, fluoride also has devastating effects on the mouth and bones if used in certain doses. High fluoride content makes the teeth weaker and prone to cavities and damage. Couple this with the fact that tap water is often treated with fluoride, and it is easy to see why you do not want to add it to your oral care products.

All Natural Oral Care

Dr. Don’s Antioxidant tooth powder only contains organic ingredients such as mint, berry powders and cassava root. Careful research has proven the magnificent positive effects of these products on the mouth. These natural ingredients have cleaning and antioxidant factors without causing any damage to the teeth and gums. The users can even swallow the powder after gargling. It doesn’t have any negative effects on the body as it only contains natural products. Users will only have clean, fresh and chemical-free mouths.

A clean mouth results in healthier teeth and gums and antioxidant tooth powder thoroughly cleans the mouth of any residue from eating and even after brushing. This keeps the mouth free from harmful bacteria that can cause tooth and gum diseases.

Why Choose EM X Sea Salt Over Table Salt?

Effective Microorganisms Technology® has long been used in a number of products including health supplements, soaps and shampoos, oral care products, and to grow foods. This method utilizes naturally occurring organisms like lactic acid bacteria to produce effective products that leverage biology rather than chemicals as a means to better health. Lactic acid bacteria have long been used to add healthy microorganisms to a variety of food, medicine and probiotic supplements. This beneficial bacteria fights the bad bacteria and protects the person’s digestive organs.

The very same technology is used in EM-X Sea Salt. This table salt is the first of its kind. It is an organic sea salt that doesn’t contain any synthetic chemicals. This product is a great alternative to ordinary table salt. There are numerous health advantages that come from EM-X Sea Salt.

Health Benefits
EM-X Sea Salt is only harvested during a full moon because the gravitational force at the time affects the tide and sea water depth. The sea salt harvested at this time contains fewer impurities as the water is denser. The product is only taken from sea water with depths of over 200 meters where it is found to be purer and cleaner. Since it is inherently cleaner, EM-X Sea Salt is not subjected to a lot of processing to remove the impurities. The salt’s original components are retained in a less harsh chemical washing.

Common table salt does not have more than two necessary minerals that the body requires. It is also produced and packed with chemicals to keep it fresh. Additives such as potassium iodide and sugar are combined with typical table salts. This adds to the unwanted elements that most people don’t need from salt. Users have to check the ingredients and nutritional value of every table salt pack before deciding on the right one for them.

Other sea salts go through processes that eliminate some of their natural elements (minerals, etc.). This is because it is harvested at any time of the month without considering the tide and water depth. The salt taken is usually full of impurities and unwanted elements. Factories need to use harsh chemicals to clean the salt and make it ready for use. This leaves people with unnatural and chemical-filled table salt that lacks the natural micro-nutrients a pure sea salt should have. On the other hand, EM-X Sea Salt only goes through a simple process that keeps its natural nutrients and has fewer impurities. The product doesn’t go through the processing that destroys its nutritional state or add unwanted elements from other substances. EM-X Sea Salt only has organic nutrients that are proven beneficial for the body.

Maximum Nutrients
EM-X Sea Salt is made with Effective Microorganisms Technology. This means that the natural living organisms in the sea salt are utilized to produce salt filled with nutrients. This technology was first introduced in the 1980s by Professor Teruo Higa from Okinawa, Japan.

EM-X Sea Salt uses naturally occurring organisms in the sea to help fight harmful bacteria inside the body. It only utilizes organic methods in keeping its nutrients while maintaining its taste. Everyone can now enjoy the product’s good taste and natural health benefits without worrying about any negative effects from harmful chemicals. Besides all these health benefits, it tastes great and can be used as supplement or flavor enhancing ingredients in all of your recipes.