Category: Blog

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GERD, Acid Reflux, and Digestive Enzymes

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), otherwise known as acid reflux, affects an extraordinary number of adults worldwide. According to the journal Gut, between 18 and 28 percent of the adults in North America suffer from the disease, as do 9 to 26 percent of Europeans and up to 33 percent in the Middle East. Those numbers appear to be rising.  The medical community’s response is to put you on an acid blocker; however, that is a symptomatic approach.  Those medications when taken long term come with serious side effects including increased risk of dementia, heart attacks, kidney disease, stomach cancer, and strokes. Wouldn’t you prefer to dig into the root and get rid of it if it at all possible?

The natural understanding of acid reflux is that it is caused by the body compensating for a lack of digestive enzymes.  Those amazing enzymes do 75% of the work of digesting or breaking down your food in order to absorb the nutrients from them.  So having acid reflux is also a sign of malabsorption in many cases.  There is a very easy way to support your body and give it the help it needs to head back to “normal function” which is taking Digestive Enzymes with each meal each day to replenish the deficiency.  I have personally seen many people see such an improvement, they have been able to come of medications!

So if you or someone you know and love are suffering from acid reflux, then why not give digestive enzymes a try to see if they also work for you?  We offer excellent ones from both Solgar and Now.  In addition, probiotics along with the digestive enzymes can increase their effectiveness by replenishing the good gut bacteria and further aiding in the digestive process as well as preventing opportunistic infections which some studies are showing can be a contributing factor to acid reflux.

Come in today and ask us to show you our digestive enzyme and probiotic (both refrigerated and shelf stable) selection!

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Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is an amazing plant!  I wanted to share with you today some of the benefits of taking Aloe Vera which we offer in both liquid and capsule form.

  • Excellent for Colon Health
  • Vital for Cell Health
  • Makes cells more resistant to viruses and pathogenic bacteria, by incorporating themselves into cell walls
  • Improves overall cellular metabolism and functioning
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Provides critical lubrication of joints; helping to prevent arthritis and to heal it once it has developed
  • Aids in the absorption of water, minerals, and nutrients in the GI tract
  • Reduces pain
  • Improves vascular flow
  • Reduces scarring
  • Improves macrophage activity as much as tenfold
  • Enhances macrophage effectiveness in modulating the entire immune system
  • Enhances macrophage effectiveness in stimulating, producing, and releasing antibodies
  • Increases the body’s own production of iinterlukins, particularly nterferon
  • Increases the number of antibody forming T-cells in the spleen
  • Increases the number and activity of killer T-cells and increase monocyte activity
  • Fights fungal infections, such as: Athlete’s foot, Ringworm, Pruritus Anivalvae, Balnea, Essential Pruritus, and Vaginal yeast infections
  • Helps heal athletic injuries such as: Muscle cramps, Sprains, Strains, Bruises, Swelling, Soreness, Tendonitis, and Bursitis.
  • Soothes and promotes the healing of intestinal disorders such as: Indigestion, Heartburn, Hyper-acidity, Peptic and Duodenal Ulcers, Colitis, and Hemorrhoids
  • Promotes the healing of kidney disorder
  • Helps with diabetes
  • Kills parasites such as: Pinworms and Threadworms
  • Speeds wound healing by as much as 35%
  • Reduces allergic reactions
  • Stimulates bone marrow activity
  • Stimulates fibroblasts to release collagen and elastin to make new tissue
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Gut Bacteria and Weight Loss

I always enjoy reading recent studies as they are published.  Another published study released this week showed that certain gut bacteria’s can make it harder to lose weight.  The study was conducted at Mayo Clinic and is yet another piece showing that the healthier we keep our guts using our diet (filled with lots of Organic fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats), probiotics to keep the good bacteria strongest, and occasional cleanses to make sure we flush out all the negative bacteria and other organisms in our gut, the better our overall health will be!  We can truly say “Health is based on our Gut!”

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Late Dinner and Increased Cancer Risk?

A recent study, which took place at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain, found that eating dinner at a late hour, as well as going to sleep soon after finishing dinner, is associated with a greater chance of developing either prostate or breast cancer. These results are based on an investigation that included 621 men with prostate cancer and a control group of 872 men without the disease, and 1,205 women with breast cancer and a control group of 1,321 women without the disease.

All the subjects answered questions that covered many lifestyle factors. They reported their typical eating habits, mealtimes, sleep patterns, tendency to be an early bird or night owl, physical activity level, and more. After analyzing the data that was generated, the researchers discovered that the timing of dinner and sleep were both important. The participants who ate dinner earlier than 9 p.m. or didn’t go to sleep until at least two hours after dining had a 20 percent lower risk of developing prostate or breast cancer compared to their peers who generally ate past 10 p.m. or went to bed shortly after finishing their meal.

So eating your dinner earlier in the day and giving your body time to wind down and be prepared for bed not only has the benefit of lowering your cancer risk, it also increases your body ability to focus on healing and regenerating itself versus digestive actions.  How many of you are willing to try to eat this way?

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Hot Hamburger Dip

We had this for my parent’s surprise 25th wedding anniversary party.  My close friend’s mom and two other families fixed the food, and this was one of the dishes.

2 lb hamburger, cooked                                  2 pt mild salsa
2 lb American cheese, cubed                          Organic Tortilla Chips

Combine hamburger, salsa, and cheese in a crockpot.  Heat until cheese melts, stirring frequently.  Keep warm.  Serve with tortilla chips.  This recipe can easily be divided in half.  Leftovers reheat nicely on the stovetop.

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St. John’s Wort

Today, I wanted to focus in on a specific herb – St. John’s Wort.  Did you know that it is licensed in Germany and other European countries as a treatment for mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders?  Sometimes called “Nature’s Prozac,” St. John’s Wort helps relieve stress, anxiety, and tension. As you can imagine, this herb has been studied extensively. In fact, more than 20 clinical studies have been completed using several different St. John’s wort extracts. Most have reported antidepressant action equal to standard prescription antidepressant drugs, without the side effects.

St. John’s Wort also has been helpful in relieving a number of the physical and emotional symptoms of PMS, including cramps, irritability, food cravings, and breast tenderness as well as improving mood and anxiety in menopause.  The herb also has antibacterial properties and may help with fighting inflammation.

The herb has been promoted to help treat:

  • bronchial inflammation
  • bed-wetting
  • stomach problems
  • hemorrhoids
  • hypothyroidism
  • insomnia
  • migraines
  • kidney disorders
  • diarrhea
  • malaria
  • insect bites and stings
  • skin diseases

More research continues to be done on St. John’s Wort as it is also being studied as a potential treatment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and other viral illnesses. And it is being studied as a treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as other social phobias.

One caution though, people with bipolar disorder cycle between depression and mania, a state marked by excessive physical activity and impulsive behavior. St. John’s wort can bring on mania in these individuals and can also speed up the cycling between depression and mania, so it is not recommended for people with a bipolar depression.  But many others can benefit from its wonderful health improving effects.

Be sure to check out our Organic St. John’s Wort by Solaray as well as Mood Support Blend by Now Foods which contains St. John’s Wort.

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Dr Jocelin’s Recipe – Breakfast Smoothie

My mom invented this one morning when she was in a creative mood.  An absolute favorite at our house.

1 cup of our locally made vanilla yogurt
1 cup milk
1 tsp Lafaza Vanilla
¾ – 1 cup fruit

Combine all ingredients in the blender.  Use whatever kind of fruit or combination of fruit you would like.  Some family favorites are Strawberry, Blueberry, and Peach.

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Digestive Health

Digestive Health is the Secret to having overall good health.  One of my favorite ways to flush the digestive tract is using Robert Scott Bell’s method for gut reset – take 1-2 Tbsp Sovereign Silver with 1-2 Tbsp Aloe Vera Juice.  Drink this combination 1 hour before meals (3 times daily) to allow it to absorb into the gut and begin its healing process thereby reducing inflammation and many resulting gut issues.  Then each evening take a 90 billion probiotic such as the Dr. Formulated ones we carry in the refrigerated section.  After doing this protocol for 2-8 weeks depending on the severity of your issues, begin supplementation with L-Glutamine (an essential amino acid for bowel nourishment), digestive enzymes (to assist your stomach in breaking down the food – where 75% or more of the food content is broken down), and necessary minerals such as SpectraMin (an Ionic Trace Mineral Complex).

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Stress and AutoImmune Disorders

We all know that stress can affect us, causing headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and other health problems. And now, new research provides further evidence that stress can be extraordinarily harmful, resulting in serious damage to the immune system.

A recent study, which was conducted at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, found that people who experience considerable stress may have a greater likelihood of developing an autoimmune disorder. These results were based on an extensive assessment of the medical records of men and women residing in Sweden between 1981 and 2013. The subjects were 106,464 adults who had sought treatment for a stress-related psychiatric problem, and the control groups were 126,652 of their siblings and more than one million unrelated individuals, none of whom were experiencing a stress-induced disorder.

Among the participants with stress-related issues, who had an average age of psychiatric disorder diagnosis of 41, the likelihood of 41 kinds of autoimmune diseases occurring was much greater than that of their peers or siblings with no psychiatric history. Certain psychiatric diagnoses were associated with a significantly higher risk of autoimmune dysfunction than others, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sufferers facing an increased chance of developing more than one autoimmune disorder, including celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, some types of autoimmune diseases were more closely correlated to high stress levels in the subjects than others. For instance, the risk for celiac disease was greater than that of rheumatoid arthritis.

While the study was not designed to prove that mental stress directly results in the development of autoimmune diseases, it did show a strong association between the two. Similar links have been found in earlier research, such as a 2015 study at the University of California, San Francisco that determined a connection in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who had been diagnosed with PTSD and greater rates of autoimmune diseases.

So how do you deal with stress?  Having a strong faith in the Creator and healthy family relationships is the beginning of a strong foundation.  Seeking counseling when needed and support groups are another great option.  Taking advantage of the fabulous AnxioCalm by Terry Naturally designed for relief of stress, tension, anxiety, and restless sleep. Also, try Dr. Jocelin’s Stress Release Essential Oil Blend which is her #1 selling essential oil.  As well as check out the rest of our stress reducing products.

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Inflammation and Dementia

Heightened levels of brain inflammation biomarkers have been linked to the development of dementia. New research finds evidence that chronic inflammation may be tied to dementia.

Last year, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that elevated inflammation levels in midlife increased a person’s risk of experiencing loss of brain function and developing dementia later in life.  And recently, researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, have conducted a study analyzing data collected from 1,532 participants.

Specifically, the team tracked levels of a blood biomarker of inflammation called C-reactive protein and looked at its relationship with the risk of dementia.

“We found that individuals who had an increase in inflammation during midlife that was maintained from mid- to late life have greater abnormalities in the brain’s white matter structure, as measured with MRI scans,” says lead researcher Keenan Walker.

This research only goes to show how important dealing with inflammation now is to your overall health and one of the reasons why we greatly feature our CuraMed and Curamin products which are show through multiple research studies to reduce inflammation as well as provide many other health benefits.

Stop in and ask us about your specific health needs in this area as well as to be sure to attend the free class on August 2nd with Terry Lemerond founder of Terry Naturally makers of CuraMed and Curcumin.  As I have told many of you in the store, Terry is so busy that him traveling for his stores is RARE…you will not want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity!!!  Be sure to sign up today while there is still space.