The researchers of this study plan to further evaluate whether gut microbial changes are the reason that certain diseases worsen under stress. It's a vicious cycle-stress alters the gut microbiota, which leads to worsening of symptoms, which adds more stress… and on and on.

When Prevention Magazine is touting it, you know people are listening-cell phone radiation is hazardous to our health. The National Institutes of Health has reported that cell phone radiation increases the amount of glucose in the area of the head closest to the phone.

Did you ever think that what goes on in your gut could affect your heart? It may seem far-fetched, but it's not. Think about it: the intestinal lining is connected to the bloodstream, which acts as a direct communication line with the heart and the rest of the body.

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are high in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These fatty acids have been associated with heart health, joint health, brain health, gut health… the list goes on and on. The two often go hand in hand, and for most conditions, researchers don't know the perfect ratio of EPA to DHA. But for infant health, DHA is the fatty acid that shines.

Optimum heart health involves paying attention to a lot of different factors. There's cholesterol (but not just cholesterol-there's good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, total cholesterol, oh my!), triglycerides, blood pressure, and inflammation markers like C-reactive protein - not to mention omega-3 levels and even vitamin D! Trying to look after your ticker is enough to make your head spin.

Food allergies and sensitivities are essentially the result of a breakdown in gut mucosal immune regulation in response to food antigens that pass through the gut. The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) makes up about 80 percent of the body's immune system, and it resides in and around the gut. The job of the immune system in the gut is to respond to foreign invaders, like pathogens, by destroying them

House renovations can introduce a host of toxins from building materials, and can put pregnant women and children at risk of toxin exposure. If you can avoid renovating during these times, that would be ideal. However, if renovation must be done, be sure that all dust is properly cleaned up each day, and that the renovation area is well sealed off from living areas.

A recent study found that dieters who got adequate sleep lost more fat weight than dieters who cut back on their sleep.  They also experienced less hunger. This is just one of the many benefits of a good night's sleep. 

Omega-3 fatty acids are wonder nutrients that offer many benefits to the body, from head to toe. Now, even the mouth is included in the long list of body areas that function better after intake of omega-3s.

Did you know there is a link between Alzheimer's disease and cholesterol levels? This has been known for sometime, actually. Middle-aged adults with high total cholesterol levels-even moderately high-are more likely to develop Alzheimer's. And, very high HDL (good) cholesterol levels in older adults puts them at reduced risk of Alzheimer's.

Lead is a neurotoxin, associated with lowering IQ levels in children and with fertility problems in adults. Lead can remain in the body for many years. Experts are still discovering the adverse health effects of lead, and as this occurs, acceptable levels of lead in many products are continually lowered.

The saturated fat content alone is enough to clog our arteries, and experts having been telling us for a while now that a diet high in red meat is linked to a higher risk of developing colon cancer…not to mention that raising cattle is highly energy intensive.

Parabens are antimicrobial preservatives used widely in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and even food and beverages. Referred to as "weak xenoestrogens" (which means they have mild estrogenic properties) parabens may be able to interfere with natural hormone activity in the body. They've even been associated with breast cancer development, and scientists have found high concentrations of parabens in breast tumors.

Being as passionate as I am about digestive health, I talk a lot about the good bacteria in your gut and how important they are for a healthy body―especially a strong digestive and immune system. While there's a lot more to the connection that scientists are still working to understand, it gives you a pretty good idea about just how important the bacteria in your gut really are when it comes to developing a strong and healthy body

Think about it, when was the last time you washed your hands with soap that wasn't antibacterial? Heck, it's almost impossible just to find normal soap these days, and instead every label and package screams "antibacterial" in a way that makes plain old soap seem downright ineffective.

What if there was a better, safer way to help people we love who are suffering from depression, anxiety, even insomnia? What if we could find a way to deal with addiction―from everyday food cravings to a need for alcohol and even drugs―that focused on the body as a whole rather than just the symptom?

The article, which focused on how our country's beef supply is inspected, stated that the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, "is not accomplishing its mission of monitoring the food supply for…dangerous substances, which has resulted in meat with these substances being distributed in commerce."

When it comes to good health, we simply can't ignore the impact that our emotions have on our bodies…even the gut! When you experience emotions like anger, anxiety or stress, healthy digestion slows down, and that can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation and other problems.

Little things like taking the stairs instead of using the elevator can make a BIG difference. Don't believe me? Just try it! And if it's only one or two floors, why not go back down and then climb right back up? It only takes minutes, and even if you feel silly, chances are nobody will see you―they're probably all taking the elevator!

Bacteria are everywhere, but at very low amounts they pose no threat to our health. It's when the levels of bacteria are much higher that we need to worry, especially folks who are more vulnerable to bacterial infections, like infants, older adults, pregnant and nursing women, and people who are immunocompromised .