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Rosemary Helps Balance Gut Biome By Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Mike Roizen, MDs Singer Rosemary Clooney's first big hit was “Come On-A My House,” in 1951. It sold over a million copies. She also appeared in the movie “White Christmas” (1954) opposite Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, and had five children with Jose Ferrer. But these days, she's best remembered as George Clooney's aunt. Special: This Gut Health Secret Is Key to Your Body's Immune Challenges Back in the 1950s, Rosemary was a smash hit. We bet today she'd be happy to know that her namesake herb, rosemary, is taking center stage, as recent studies show that it can help people achieve and maintain a healthy gut biome. One study of the essential oil in rosemary found that it can improve probiotic levels by decreasing E. coli and fungi that cause gas, bloating, irregular bowel movements, and even fatigue. That also helps alleviate heartburn and indigestion caused by overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut. Rosemary is also approved for dyspepsia, high blood pressure, alopecia, and rheumatism by the German Commission E, which regulates drugs and medical devices in that country. But the doses are small: just 1 to 2 grams per day taken with 5 ounces of hot water. The oil is only topical. And overdosing can cause everything from seizures to miscarriage. A better idea is to skip the supplements and cook with rosemary, which is great on roasted veggies. Or drop fresh sprigs into a bottle of olive oil for use on salads and chicken. If you grow it in a garden or find it in the wild, try rubbing your hands on the leaves for immediate aromatherapy. About the Doctors: Dr. Mike Roizen is chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Mehmet Oz is professor emeritus at Columbia University. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers.More Links: |
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A New "Staying Well" Health Alert for Older Adults What Other Doctors Won't Tell You  |
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Dear Friend Over 50 or 60, In my busy family practice, I see many older adults on a daily basis. And one thing is crystal clear. As you grow older, your immune system just doesn't work as well as it used to - as well as you need it to... Scientists call this "immune senescence." It's actually considered a hallmark of the aging process itself. Unfortunately, it leaves older folks susceptible to a variety of health concerns. That's why I'm writing today. To tell you about a research-proven natural health strategy. One that offers seniors new hope. And new support for better immune function - even when cold and flu season starts ramping up. And it's all connected to an area of your body most people don't know has anything to do with your immune system. But first, it's important to know some baseline facts about immune function decline:
But there's another factor causing immune decline. And I'm fairly sure you haven't heard about it from your family doctor. The Immune System in Your Gut's "Brain" Did you know you have two brains? Inside your gut lies a network of 100 million nerve cells. This is more than you have in the rest of your nervous system. Scientists call this second "brain" in your gut the enteric nervous system (ENS). It can't balance your checkbook or help you solve a crossword puzzle. But your gut's second brain is extremely powerful. And these powers extend far beyond merely processing the food you eat. Here's why ... Scientists have discovered something shocking. About 70% to 80% of your immune system is actually located inside your gut! This immune system in your digestive tract helps "fence off" potential threats from entering the rest of your body. And the nervous system inside your gut helps regulate many vital immune functions. So as you can imagine, supporting your gut's immune system is crucial to maintaining immune health as you age. Providing this support means taking care of the defenders that live there.
The "Soldiers" in Your Gut Your gut is home to about 100 trillion bacteria. So many of them, they weigh 2 or 3 pounds! In fact, scientists now consider your gut bacteria to be an organ of sorts. They call it the microbiome. You've probably heard about the beneficial bacteria in your gut - your defending "soldiers." For you to remain optimally healthy, about 85% of the bacteria in your gut should be friendly bacteria - Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria species.
Unfortunately, in many older individuals, this ratio becomes skewed. The non-beneficial bacteria increase in numbers, crowding out your good soldiers. And since most of your immune system is in your gut, this does not bode well for your aging immune function. In fact, a delicate balance of microbial species is required to maintain healthy immune function. An imbalance can lead to health concerns, particularly with increasing age. Threats to Your Gut Bacteria In addition to the aging process itself, the many toxins and pollutants we're exposed to can negatively affect gut health. And there's our poor diets, low in fiber and high in fat and refined carbohydrates. As a nutritionally-oriented doctor, I consider this a major factor. These dietary concerns influence the type of gut microbes we have. This, in turn, can impact immune function. Even certain medications can disrupt the proper balance of your gut microbes. Of particularly importance are antibiotics. Antibiotics and Your Immune Health According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30% of antibiotic treatments prescribed in the outpatient setting are unnecessary. With antibiotic use, many bacteria are killed. But resistant ones are left to grow and multiply. So overuse of antibiotics is a major cause of the epidemic rise in drug-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is particularly worrisome for older adults, who have a high rate of antibiotic use. With their wide range of effects, antibiotics also kill off friendly bacteria in the gut. Eventually this can lead to an imbalanced inflammatory response and immune health concerns. And if this wasn't bad enough, what happens in your gut also affects your mood and your overall health. Your Gut's Brain Influences Mood and Well-Being Contrary to popular opinion, mood changes are not all in your head... If you've experienced a "gut feeling" or "butterflies in your stomach," this is your second brain talking to you.
It may surprise you to know that your gut's nervous system is home to more than 30 neurotransmitters. These include serotonin, dopamine and others. In fact, your bowels contain 95% of your body's serotonin. Serotonin is related to mood control (you'll find serotonin regulated by certain antidepressant medications). Emerging research indicates that your gut's nervous system may influence emotions, response to stress, pain perception, and other aspects of behavior. In fact, research suggests that serotonin dysfunction in the GI system can lead to impairments in brain function involving mood, sleep, and behavior. This is yet another important reason to keep your gut happy and healthy. So what's the best way to do this? Well, I don't recommend commercial yogurts. They are typically loaded with sugar and other additives. Plus, they are often heat processed or pasteurized. This destroys some of their live bacterial cultures. That's why I recommend supplementing your diet with probiotics to help balance the bacteria in your gut and support your immune health. This is especially important for older adults, as you've already seen. Millions of people take probiotics today, but do they really work? The answer is "yes" - but with a caution you'll see in a moment. The science is solid ... Multiple clinical trials have found that probiotics can provide a much-needed enhancement to immune function in the older people. Researchers have long noted that patient outcomes improve when patients receive an increase in immune-boosting intestinal bacteria. That's why so many have started adding supplemental Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species for better health outcomes. Remember, these are two of the important types of "friendly" gut bacteria you just heard about. The Harvard Health website reports that probiotics can do more than support the health of your digestive tract. They can enhance mood and cognitive function - and decrease stress and anxious feelings. Yet despite all these great benefits of probiotics, it's not a smart idea to go down to your drugstore, grocery store, or discount store and pick up a bottle. The Real Truth About Many Probiotic Supplements Researchers warn that about half of the probiotic products available today do not contain the bacteria listed on the label. Even those that do may not carry the correct mix of bacterial strains to benefit your health. And low-quality products may not be manufactured in the proper way to help the bacteria survive the harsh trip through your acid-laden GI tract. For this reason, using a high-quality probiotic supplement is the only way to guarantee the most health benefits. Consider Only a High-Quality Probiotic Supplement To be honest, I was very frustrated with the low-quality probiotic solutions I found on the market today. And seeing the need for more abundant immune-boosting probiotic bacteria in the diets of my patients (especially my older patients)... I decided to take matters into my own hands and develop my own advanced formula. A formula with the best mix of proven probiotic strains. One based on my two decades of research and patient treatment. It's called BACTIPROآ®. Six Powerful Probiotic Strains in
The variety of strains ensure powerful support for immune health, digestive health, and more. You'll find strains from both the crucial Bifidobacteria family and the Lactobacillus family. In addition to their overall immune benefits, they work in different areas for more comprehensive support:
And since few people get enough fiber in their diet today ... BACTIPRO also includes the breakthrough fiber product Fibersol-2. With 6 full grams of healthful fiber per daily serving, this helps support intestinal regularity Plus, it provides prebiotics that encourage the growth of even more friendly bacteria. You can think of prebiotics as "food" to nourish the probiotic microbes. In fact, many doctors today are improving their patients' health by providing patients with prebiotics as well as probiotics. Researchers have found this is an important part of a treatment regimen, helping to regulate and balance their patients' intestinal bacteria. Plus, in each tasty BACTIPRO wafer, you'll find a powerful antioxidant blend of 8 fruit-based nutrients, including resveratrol and grape seed extract. Antioxidants help protect and repair your body's cells from damage caused by free radicals. It's particularly important for older individuals to minimize the impact of these free radicals on your body by boosting antioxidant intake. BACTIPRO also contains a robust complex of phytonutrients from 26 different fruits and vegetables. These include compounds important in immune system health, which also help optimize the body's inflammatory response. And unlike many cheap and inferior probiotics on the market, BACTIPRO is manufactured under stringent quality controls to ensure the potency and stability of the bacterial strains. I'm confident in the research behind the ingredients in BACTIPRO - and in the processing that provides you with a source of high-quality probiotic strains. In fact, I'm so confident that BACTIPRO can help support both your immune and digestive systems, I arranged a special offer for you. Claim Your Own Risk-Free Trial Bottle of BACTIPRO Because cold and flu season is upon us... And because BACTIPRO has the powerful potential to help enhance your immune health and soothe your digestive concerns ... I've made special arrangements for Medix Select to send you a risk-free trial supply at no charge. This way you can try BACTIPRO for yourself.
No worries, though, you can easily cancel at any time. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. I'll also send you my Doctor's Guide to Probiotics and Your Health. In this information-packed report (a $20 value), you'll discover more complete details about probiotics and their many benefits for your immunity and digestive health. Plus, I'll tell you how to use probiotics effectively when you've been prescribed antibiotics. And you'll see some additional probiotic foods and beverages that can enhance your health. Just to recap, here are 9 benefits of BACTIPRO:
Click Here Now for Your Own Trial Bottle of Immune-Boosting BACTIPRO! Now it's Easy to Support and Defend You deserve the peace of mind that you are doing something smart and positive for your immune system and digestive health as you grow older - especially when flu season is hitting with a vengeance. And today it's easy, since you can get a full bottle of BACTIPRO to try for yourself. So why not take this small step to provide your immune system, gut, and overall the health the support it needs? Join me and thousands of happy BACTIPRO users by taking action now!
Click Here Now for Your Own Trial Bottle of Immune-Boosting BACTIPRO!
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David Brownstein, M.D. believes holistic medicine will be THE medicine of the 21st century. He is a board-certified family physician and one of the foremost holistic practitioners in America. He teaches other physicians and the public about his success using natural treatments and nutritional therapies. He has had great success in resolving numerous medical disorders, including arthritis, thyroid disease, chronic fatigue, hormone imbalance, diabetes, and many others. Dr. Brownstein is the author of 14 health books, and editor of the popular monthly newsletter Natural Way to Health.
The remaining 15% are non-beneficial microbes, but their minority status helps keep them in check.
A big part of your emotions are likely influenced by the nerves in your gut.
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