Holiday Immune System Support…..The Good, The Bad and Ugly Bugs.

December 12, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Believe it or not, we all have TRILLIONS (with a TR) of bugs living on and in our bodies! There are good bugs, and there are bad bugs. The good bugs, also known as micro-flora, are tiny micro-organisms found primarily on our skin and throughout our digestive tract, especially the colon! These microscopic organisms are vital to our overall health, but especially our immune system. It is believed that 60-70% of our immune system is controlled by these bugs in the digestive tract.

One of the primary jobs of these good bugs is to keep the bad bugs that live in our bodies under control. They also help fight off other bugs, that I call ugly bugs, that invade our bodies and can make us really sick. I call these invaders “ugly bugs” because when they attack, for at least a few days they can make the most beautiful person in the world look ugly. The bad bugs that live within us are normally kept in check by the good bugs, and if we have an adequate supply of these good bugs in our system, they will be able to destroy the bad and ugly bugs before they can do any major damage to our bodies. I recall several years ago that a cousin of mine was going on a mission trip to Africa. I told him before leaving that he needed to start taking probiotic supplements to increase the stores of good bacteria in his gut. He followed my recommendations and started taking them a couple of weeks before departing and continued taking them while he was in Africa. Upon his return home, one of the many stories he shared was particularly interesting to me. He told us that one night everybody on the mission trip became violently ill, vomiting and having diarrhea all night long. Everybody except him that is! He was the only one that did not get sick. Was it the probiotics or good bugs that made the difference? I think so, and so does he!

There are numerous things in our lives that can destroy the good bacteria in and on our bodies. Antibiotics, antibacterials, anti-inflammatories, and antacid/ulcer medication. These are all medications that people consume on a regular basis that destroy the good bacteria. They are also destroyed by stress and by processed foods, two other things that are abundant in our society today! Some of the bad bugs that live within our body feed on these sugary and processed foods as well.

With the stress of the holidays, all the sugary foods at our family gatherings, and hugs and kisses from relatives we haven’t seen in a while, our risk for contracting these bad bugs greatly increases. I know that you want to stay as healthy as you possibly can during the holidays, and I believe that you can increase your chances of that while decreasing your risk of getting sick by following these seven recommendations to help strengthen your overall immune system. As I said these good bugs are responsible for 60-70% of our immune health.

Increase the foods in your diet that contain the good bugs – The foods I’m speaking of are fermented foods, such as yogurt and keifer and tofu. Just be sure you stay away from the fat free and sugar free varieties of these foods. Sauerkraut is another good fermented food, while Kombucha teas are a great fermented drink that does an excellent job supplying and restoring good bacteria to our bodies. If you don’t eat these foods or are unable to get these foods, then my recommendation would be to make sure you take probiotic supplements instead. Throughout the colder winter months it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take probiotics regardless of your natural intake.
Cut the sugar as much as possible – As I said before, some of the bad bugs that live within our body, such as yeast, feed on sugar. I know this is more difficult to do during the holidays, but cut back as much as you possibly can.
Manage the stress – Don’t let the stress of the holidays control you. You control it! Take the time each day to destress by walking, running, meditating, yoga, lifting weights, deep breathing, or whatever healthy activity calms you down.
Get good sleep – Your body needs rest and time to restore the good bugs in your system. A good night’s sleep can make a world of difference in your immune health.
Take your vitamins – As I said earlier, the processed foods that we eat also help destroy the good bacteria in our bodies and they are almost void of the nutrients that our body needs for a healthy immune system. There are many many nutrients found in food that help support our immune system, and when we eat food that doesn’t contain any of these, we compromise our immune system. By taking vitamin and mineral supplements we get the nutrients we need to protect us during the winter months. The most important one you need during the winter months is vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin! With shorter days and less opportunities to get out in the sun, supplementation with vitamin D can be very helpful.
Do not neglect exercise – I know with the business of the holidays our exercise routine is one of the first things to go. Recent studies show that people who exercise regularly are less likely to catch a cold. This falls in line with other studies that show regular exercise greatly increases immune system health!
Support your thymus gland – The Thymus gland is a small gland that sits in the top of your chest wall and is the master gland of the immune system. This gland produces T-cells that fight off invaders in our body, especially viruses. The six previous steps can help support the thymus gland, but there are also thymus supplements available that can give you that extra immune system boost during the winter months.

If you have any other questions about immune health please contact me by emailing [email protected] or clicking on the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone!

Healthy Blessings and Happy Holidays,

Dr. Phil

P.S.

If you want to start 2016 off right and live a more healthy, balanced, and vibrant life, then I encourage you to check out my Fine in 49 Online Health Course. In 49 days you’ll learn how to take control of your health and why it’s so important to start right now! Our next class begins on Monday January 4th! Click here to sign up today, and don’t miss this chance to start 2016 in a new direction for your health.

Better Health? Better Brain? Better Eat Bugs

September 28, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

This week I attended a continuing education course conducted by the Institute for Brain Potential. The course was titled The Gut-Brain Connection, and it detailed the connection between the two.

You might be thinking, “What connection? What exactly does my brain have to do with my gut?” Interestingly enough, medical science is now showing that there is more to this connection than you can imagine. What is now being proven through medical studies is that we, as human beings, each have two brains. Now I know that some of you may have been told a time or two that you don’t even have one whole brain, much less two, or I’m sure you probably know or live with someone that acts like they have half a brain sometimes, but the fact is that we each have two. The brain that everyone is familiar with sits on top of your shoulders encased in your skull, and the more unfamiliar brain is found in the center of your body, in the gut. The upper brain is part of the central nervous system whereas the lower brain is part of the enteric nervous system. What science is now showing is that these two nervous systems are interconnected, meaning that if something disrupts one, it can disrupt the other.

There are a couple of good illustrations I use to explain this connection to people. The first one is this: Think about a time when you have been really nervous, maybe you had to stand up in front of a crowd and give a speech or presentation. Thinking about what you were going to have to go through with your upper brain caused a disturbance in your lower brain. The most common effect is butterflies in the stomach, but it could have been as serious as nausea or diarrhea. All of that because of your nervous emotions and thoughts! The second example I share with people is the medications that are used to treat neurological and nervous system issues. These medications work through the central nervous system (upper brain), and if you have ever taken any of them then I’m sure you are familiar with the major side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. All effects on the gut! If we take a look at the inverse relationship to see how the enteric nervous system (lower brain) can effect the central nervous system then a great illustration is the little known condition called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is the term used to describe an imbalance in the normal flora or good bacteria found in the gut. People suffering from this dysbiotic condition tend to have trouble with memory, focus, and concentration. These people often describe it as having a “foggy brain.” Dysbiosis is a condition that is typically overlooked by most medical professionals, but it is a problem that is becoming more and more common. Many psychological and neurological problems or disorders that people are suffering from today have now been linked to dysbiosis. As I learned in the course this week, fortunately dysbiosis is a condition that can be corrected with proper diet and supplementation. If you think that you may have dysbiosis then I would highly recommend that you contact me or your health care professional to find out what you can do to correct it. Some of the more common symptoms associated with dysbiosis are chronic bad breath, foul smelling gas, itchy skin, rashes, and bowel dysfunction, such as: loose stools, diarrhea, or constipation. Dysbiosis most often occurs in people who have taken multiple antibiotics, take anti-inflammatory medications on a regular basis, or people who deal with chronic stress. Studies are also showing that babies born by Ceserean Section are more likely to develop dysbiosis of the gut.

If you know that you have dysbiosis, then here is what I would recommend that you do! First, eliminate all white foods from your diet. That includes anything made from sugar, processed flour, and dairy. I would also recommend eliminating all starchy foods such as white potatoes or white rice. Second, increase vegetables in your diets and proteins rich in Omega 3s such as fish and nuts. Third, you need to be taking a good broad spectrum probiotic. Probiotics are the good bacteria, or good bugs, that I have spoken about in previous blogs. If you are suffering from dysbiosis, then don’t wait and start this protocol immediately! Your brain will thank you, your gut will thank you, and your whole body will thank you, as well as the people around you I’m sure!

If you’re interested in having a health coach help you achieve a new level of wellness, then please fill out the contact form or click on the “Ask Dr. Phil” Microphone! Also just below here is an email signup box to sign up for our monthly newsletter if you haven’t already! All you have to do is enter your email address and press enter. In our newsletter is a recap of selected blogs, a funny story, patient testimonials, product reviews and a money saving coupon code for products in our online store!

One last thing! There is an exciting product I recently discovered that you may be interested in. This product can provide a genetic nutrition and fitness assessment based upon your unique DNA and lifestyle. Click here for a short video detailing the assessment. If you’re interested in achieving a new level of wellness, then please contact me through the channels above! Also just below here is an email signup box to sign up for our monthly newsletter if you haven’t already! All you have to do is enter your email address and press enter. In our newsletter is a recap of selected blogs, a funny story, patient testimonials, product reviews and a money saving coupon code for products in our online store!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

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Splenda – The Lesser of Two Evils

March 14, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

My last two entries have been about the potential health hazards of artificial sweeteners,

specifically aspartame. Many people have asked me over the past year or so about alternatives. Today I want to address one that I am continually asked about, Splenda.

I recently had a conversation with someone who asked me what I thought about the use of splenda as an alternative to aspartame. I think you can gather how I feel about it from the title of this entry. I am asked this question often, and every time I tell people that it is the lesser of two evils. Splenda isn’t a natural or healthy alternative to aspartame. Even though it’s made from sugar, it is chemically altered through the addition of three chlorine atoms to reduce its calories. Little is known about the long term effects of Splenda on humans due to the limited amount of human trials. Nearly all FDA trials were conducted on animals.

According to a study performed in 2008 by Duke University researchers, Splenda can destroy the good bacteria inside your gut, contribute to weight gain, and prevent prescriptions from being absorbed. This trial was conducted on rats just as most FDA trials were, and in their study the rats that were given Splenda over a 12 week period gained more weight than the rats that were not given Splenda and continued to gain weight after the fact. They also found that the sugar substitute caused a decrease in micro-flora, (good bacteria in your gut) which aids in absorption of vitamins and protects you from harmful bacteria. If you have been using Splenda, then I recommend you begin taking probiotics to restore the good bacteria in your gut that plays such an important role in your overall health.

There are some good natural alternatives to the low calorie and no calorie artificial sweeteners, and I will discuss my personal favorite, which happens to be no calorie, in the next blog. If you have had any adverse effects due to Splenda or any other artificial sweeteners tell us about it in the comments section below, and as always if you have any questions fill out the contact form or leave a voice message by clicking on the microphone.

Healthy Blessings,
Dr. Phil

Cut the sugar as much as possible – As I said before, some of the bad bugs that live within our body, such as yeast, feed on sugar. I know this is more difficult to do during the holidays, but cut back as much as you possibly can.

Manage the stress – Don’t let the stress of the holidays control you. You control it! Take the time each day to destress by walking, running, meditating, yoga, lifting weights, deep breathing, or whatever healthy activity calms you down.

Get good sleep – Your body needs rest and time to restore the good bugs in your system. A good night’s sleep can make a world of difference in your immune health.

If you have any other questions about immune health please contact me by emailing [email protected] or clicking on the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone!

Healthy Blessings and Happy Holidays,

Dr. Phil

P.S.

This week I attended a continuing education course conducted by the Institute for Brain Potential. The course was titled The Gut-Brain Connection, and it detailed the connection between the two.

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My last two entries have been about the potential health hazards of artificial sweeteners,

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