When someone is diagnosed with a serious disease (or suddenly drops dead!), the typical reaction is shock.

Oh no!  How could that be?  He or she seemed so healthy! 

Well, although people may be surprised by illness, it’s no surprise to your body.

Because contrary to what you may think, disease does not suddenly jump up out of nowhere and bite poor unsuspecting you in the derriere.

Instead it is created through a methodical process with steps that are carefully carried out, day after day, until you arrive in the land of the diagnosed.

And although there are many “ingredients” that go into the disease “recipe,” most diseases stem from one very significant area…

Your GUT!

Here’s what I mean:

Your gallant gut

Now, you might be thinking, “What would my gut have to do with my high blood pressure?”

Quite a bit actually.

Or you might say, “My friend had skin cancer.  The skin is a long way from the intestinal tract.”

Not as long as you think.

You may also wonder, “My doctor told me my bone density is decreasing.  How does my gut impact my bones?”

Very effectively.

Your gut literally affects every cell in your body from head to toe in one way or another!  And if it’s not healthy, trust me, it’s just a matter of time before your doctor says, “We have a problem here.”

When you consider that it houses between 70 - 80 percent of your immune system, is solely responsible for your body’s nourishment and waste elimination, and interacts with every other system in your body, it ain’t no mystery that the result of an unhealthy gut microbiome won’t be pretty.

Here are just some of the ways your gut affects your health:

Digestive help

Your gut microbiome breaks down starches and fibers that you eat, thereby reducing gas and bloating and encouraging regular bowel movements.

Better digestion and BMs can lead to improved blood sugar control (listen up, you diabetics), weight loss and protection against diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

In addition, when your wastes are being eliminated like they should be, this helps reduce inflammation and keeps your pH in a healthier alkaline range.  This means less chance of skin problems, aches and pains and inflammatory conditions.

Also, your body eliminates old, worn-out hormones and heavy metals through the GI tract.  If your BMs are not up to par, these substances may instead be reabsorbed into circulation, increasing your risk of hormone-dependent cancers (like breast cancer) and toxicity to your brain from metals like mercury or aluminum.

Complete immune protection

As I mentioned above, most of your immune system is in your gut.

In addition to fighting off infections and viruses, your immune system also protects you against diseases like cancer.  Right now, chances are excellent that you have pre-cancerous cells flowing through you, but it’s your immune system’s job to destroy those cells!

Plus having a proper-functioning immune system means you are less likely to suffer from allergies, food and environmental sensitivities, asthma and autoimmune conditions.

Proper nutrition

Having a healthy population of intestinal bacteria helps to enhance your absorption of nutrients from your foods and supplements.

When you have nutrient deficiencies, you are rolling out the red carpet for disease and early death—it’s a given.  Most diseases have their roots in one or more nutrient deficiencies, including heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis.

Your gut also helps produce vitamins for you!  Your gut flora is directly involved in the production of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, D and K.

Ulcer prevention

Studies have shown that the beneficial bacteria strains L. acidophilus, L. salivarius and L. casei can slow and even help kill H. pylori (the bacteria that causes most ulcers).

Blood cholesterol control

Friendly bacteria can help reduce blood cholesterol by creating acids that counter excess cholesterol production.

In addition, having regular bowel movements can help your body to better eliminate old, worn-out cholesterol from the intestinal tract (instead of risking reabsorption into your bloodstream and creating elevated cholesterol levels).

Food cravings

Each species of bacteria in your gut (both good and bad) has their own “dietary preference.”

Depending on which species has the “upper hand” in your gut at any time, the microbes can influence your food choices and cravings by releasing signaling molecules into your gut. 

And the preferred food of harmful bacteria and yeasts is sugar!  So if you crave sweets, that’s a sign your gut flora isn’t as healthy as it should be (and also that you may soon be looking at a weight problem).

Inflammation signaling

Your gut is the starting point for inflammation throughout your body—it’s the “gatekeeper” for your inflammatory responses.  While some inflammatory responses are helpful (such as when you get stung by a bee or fall and skin your knee), many of us are in harmful inflammation OVERDRIVE.

The healthier your microbiome is, the more inflammation is kept under control.  Inflammation is an underlying factor behind most diseases, especially heart disease and cancer, as well as allergic responses.  

Mental health

Research has shown that problems in your gut can directly impact your mental health, eventually making you depressed and anxious.

But the opposite is also true—better, healthier bacteria can help encourage better mental health!

Plus most of your body’s serotonin is manufactured in your gut, so if it’s unable to do its job, depression can result…and all the antidepressants in the world can’t change that!

Take care of your gut, so it can take care of YOU!

Here are 4 very effective ways that you can enhance the health of your precious gut microbiome, and help keep it strong and healthy for a lifetime!

1- Remove the bad stuff

Remove, reduce and avoid things that can harm your gut microbiome, such as:

• Foods that you are sensitive or allergic to
• Cigarette smoke
• Soda
• Excessive alcohol (especially beer)
• Refined carbs and sugars
• Processed and fast food
• Antibiotics, acid reducers and birth control pills
• Regularly lacking sleep
• Stress

2- Support the helpful good guys

This involves replacing and supporting your supply of beneficial bacteria, and this is done with a full-spectrum probiotic supplement like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula.

Contrary to what you may think, your friendly intestinal inhabitants are not “permanent residents”—they only “vacation” inside of you for about 12 days.  So it’s crucial to make sure you consistently help replenish your supply of troops in your protective intestinal army.

Note that Super Shield contains all three of the H. pylori-fighting bacteria strains I mentioned earlier!

And all 13 of Super Shield’s outstanding, well-studied strains carry out their unique “specialties” in how they enhance your health, plus together they provide strong support for your gut wall and protection against dangerous pathogens.

3- Dietary reinforcement

Reinforcing a healthy gut flora balance means nourishing your friendly flora with gut-loving foods like fresh vegetables and fermented foods.

“Fermented foods” includes sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir (a fermented milk drink that tastes like drinkable yogurt), kimchi (Korean fermented cabbage), and kombucha (a tangy tea-based drink).

Note that soy-based products like tempeh and miso are also fermented foods, but I hesitate to recommend soy because most of the soy grown in the US is now genetically modified.

4- Repair the damage

Omega-3 essential fatty acids have been shown to help support intestinal health and counteract inflammation in all areas of the body. 

Omega-3 EFAs are abundant in fatty fish, but since fish is not a regular part of most people’s diets, top-quality fish oil supplements like VitalMega-3 are a convenient way to get the Omega-3 EFAs your body so desperately needs.

Note if you have high blood pressure or cholesterol concerns, I urge you to consider VitalMega-3!  Fish oil has been medically proven to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol!

Treat your gut like the precious gold that it is and it will return the favor handsomely!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia