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Support Your Second Brain: The GI Tract

Did you know you have two brains? Our gastrointestinal tract has been dubbed our "second brain" because it contains 500 million nerve cells! Find out how to keep our amazing gut healthy. Modern gastroenterology suggests our “gut instinct” stems from the 500 million neurons contained in the gastrointestinal tract, in the network of nerves contained in the walls of everything from our esophagus to our stomach and intestines. That network—the enteric nervous system (ENS)—is what’s known as the “second brain.” And for good reason. The ENS is the body’s second-largest concentration of nerves behind only the brain (and ahead of the spinal column). In fact, there are 30 to 40 percent as many neurotransmitters identified in the gastrointestinal tract as there are in the brain. The Body’s Prime Source of Serotonin The ENS controls digestion, including everything from the biomechanics of the stomach and intestines to the alkalinity that allows digestive enzymes to ...

Sensitive Stomach

What’s a sensitive stomach? The term “sensitive stomach” is a non-medical way to describe a stomach that’s easily upset. People with a sensitive stomach may experience recurring gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. Someone who has a sensitive stomach might connect their sensitivity to certain foods or situations. Others might experience discomfort or digestive disruptions without being sure of the cause. At some point, everyone experiences stomach upset. But if you regularly deal with discomfort, indigestion, or changing bowel habits, you may have a sensitive stomach. What causes a sensitive stomach? Some people with chronic stomach discomfort are more sensitive to certain foods — like dairy, spicy foods, alcohol, or fried foods. Others may find that they have food intolerances which, unlike food allergies, are not life-threatening sensitivities. Unlike those with food allergies, people with food intolerances may be able to tolerate small...

The Benefits of Kelp

Kelp isn’t a new commodity. People have been harvesting and gathering seaweed for centuries. Some people groups are just becoming aware of its incredible value for our health while others have harvested it for centuries and have made it a part of their typical diet. Nutrients: Sea kelp is a natural source of vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E, as well as minerals including zinc, iodine, magnesium, iron, potassium, copper and calcium. In fact it contains the highest natural concentration of calcium of any food - 10 times more than milk. One tablespoon of dried kelp contains between one-half milligram and 35 mg of iron! This iron also has a measurable amount of vitamin C that increases the bioavailability of the iron. Kelp contains alginic acid, which protects the plants from bacteria where it grows, and in the body it can reduce radiation exposure and help with the prevention of heavy metals being absorbed in our bodies. Key point here, kelp is the largest source of iodine,...

Herbal Tea Guide

If you are like most people, reaching for that hot cup to sip in the morning is a top priority to getting the day started. While most drinks like coffee and black teas are popular for the morning jumpstart, switching out the caffeinated beverages with an herbal tea can be soothing and comforting, while also providing your body with antioxidants and other medicinal properties that promote health. The simple aroma from a freshly brewed cup of herbal tea invokes in us a calm and warmth, and helps provide a feeling of peace and relaxation. Aside from the pleasure herbal teas provide, they also offer healing properties, and because they are naturally caffeine-free, they are suitable for drinking any time of the day.  One of the easiest and most nutritious ways to drink herbal teas is by infusing the herbs in hot water for at least 10 minutes, and up to 8 hours maximum. Studies have shown that it takes at least four hours for a significant amount of minerals to extract into the wate...

Insights on the Ketogenic Diet

From what I'm seeing on the Internet the ketogenic diet is a raging buzz word. It certainly was not so nine years ago when I first got so sick that almost everything I ate made me feel unspeakably ill. I can only say that the diet I undertook to deal with my symptoms was a desperate avoidance of almost every kind of reactionary food. Basically I became a grass grazer (lots of green leafies, coconut oil (which I discovered gave me energy and kept me from being too much of a skeleton) and just a few other simple foods -- See my horrendously constrained, but wonderfully restoring diet . Yes, call it strict, but it helped me tremendously!) Later a friend whose son has Doose Syndrome, a very rare form of epilepsy , looked at this blog and wrote back commenting on my keto diet. Never heard of a keto diet before so looked it up, and looked up the treatment for people with Doose. It was a bit hard to understand, eating to feed the brain ketones to burn instead of glucose that most peo...

Gluten-Related Neurological Symptoms and Conditions

There's no question that gluten can affect your neurological system: people with both  celiac disease  and non-celiac  gluten sensitivity  report symptoms that range from headaches and brain fog to peripheral neuropathy (tingling in your extremities). Neurological illnesses such as epilepsy, depression, and anxiety also are common in those who react to gluten. In addition, a serious autoimmune condition called gluten ataxia affects a small number of people. Finally, there are some hints that conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder also may be affected by gluten intake in a few individuals. However, it's not yet clear from the research who might be affected, and whether a  gluten-free diet  can help some people. Here's a rundown of the neurological conditions impacted by gluten. Depression, Anxiety Lead the List Research shows that people with celiac disease suffer from much higher-than-average rates of  depression...

Avocado and Sunflower-seed Dips (raw)

Back in the day when I was juicing a lot, I had a lot of leftover veggie pulp. The juice I would drink early in the morning on an empty stomach, wow it went down well, and a couple of hours later I would put real food in my body. The veggie liquid not only hydrated my body but also filled it with nutrients. My digestion was so bad in the early days of candida, but I found this method worked for "feeding" myself. Wow, it took time! So these are veggie pulp crackers. I added some minced garlic and herb seasonings to the pulp and put them in my dehydrator. Really tasty! An avocado dip with 2 avocados, lemon juice and a touch of zest, salt and pepper.  Since I blended this instead of mashed it, I probably added a bit of zucchini to give it a bit of moisture for blending but not to dilute the dip itself.  Dehydrated tomato flakes and walnuts for garnish. Sunflower seed dip. Sunflower seeds soaked in a little water for 3-4 hours, zucchini pieces to g...