Gut health

Emma’s Book Boosters: For Gut & Digestive Health

Brain Maker ~ The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect Your Brain               – For Life
As you must know, I am totally obsessed with gut health! Dr David Perlmutter is the author of Grain Brain and in this book he focuses on the relationship between gut health and brain health. With plenty of studies, this book makes for a fascinating read. Imagine if we could treat Alzheimer’s and autism by optimising gut health!

 

The Digestive Health Solution
Written by one of my favourite naturopaths, Benjamin Brown, this book explores the drivers of gut issues. With over 25% of the population suffering IBS, Ben’s evidence-based five-step plan is easily accessible and solution focused. As Ben states, “If your insides aren’t happy, then you aren’t happy!”

 

The Diet Myth ~ The Real Science Behind What We Eat
With global obesity at record-breaking highs, it’s easy to become confused about what to eat. Professor Tim Spector delves into our microbiome and explains why it holds the key to optimal health. He highlights that the way our microbiome interacts with us, and explains why some people gain weight and others suffer health issues. He calls upon clinical research and his own case studies to explain it all, in a user-friendly way.

 

Receive Emma’s healthy recommendations straight to your inbox!
Email Address

By |July 15th, 2015|Book Reviews, Gut health|0 Comments
Read More

Nurture your baby: Nurture your microbiome

Key message: Gut health is an important factor in the wellbeing of mothers and their babies. Researchers have discovered that gut health starts as early as in the womb, and can be influenced by factors including diet during pregnancy, medicines given in the first few years of life, and birth and feeding choices.

Action point: Watch the documentary Microbirth, a fascinating documentary on how the events at birth shape our future.

Nurturing the health of our little ones also means taking care of another tiny creature – our microbiome
We all want our babies to have the best possible start in life. Most of us know the choices we make during pregnancy and the first few years of our babies’ lives affect their long-term health. Now science is discovering that baby’s health may well start in an often-overlooked area of the body – the gut.

In the past decade there has been growing awareness of the important role of the human microbiome – all the bacteria, viruses and fungi that live on and in our bodies. Imbalances in this population, which lives in many of our tissues but is particularly concentrated in the gut, have been linked to diseases from diabetes to dementia.

Researchers are now finding that gut health starts as early as in the womb, and can be influenced by factors including diet during pregnancy, medicines given in the first few years of life, and birth and feeding choices.

 

Check out these three research facts about infant and mother gut health:

 
Research fact one:  A mother’s diet may have a significant role to play in their unborn baby’s immunity.
Until recently it was generally thought that babies are born with a sterile gut and they pick up microbes on their journey through their mother’s vagina […]

By |July 4th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Preconception & Pregnancy, Research|0 Comments
Read More
  • Permalink Gallery

    Happiness is a gut feeling: Research shows a link between gut bacteria and mental health

Happiness is a gut feeling: Research shows a link between gut bacteria and mental health

Key message: Research shows a link between gut bacteria and mental health.

Action point: Start adding fermented foods such as kombucha, pot-set yoghurt, kim chi, sauerkraut and kefir to your diet on a regular basis for a hit of gut friendly probiotics.
 

While most people think of the brain when considering moods, new research shows that our gut health may, in fact, have a large part to play in our happiness.
Your second brain
Sometimes referred to as the ‘second brain’, hidden in the walls of the digestive system, this ‘brain in your gut’ is revolutionising medicine’s understanding of the links between digestion, mood, health and even the way you think.

Our lower gastrointestinal tract is home to almost 100 trillion microorganisms, most of which are bacteria. They are mostly ‘good’ bacteria that help us digest food and release the energy and nutrients we need. They also crowd out bacteria that can trigger disease.

Recently, researchers have been investigating just how much power these tiny microbes wield over our mental health. They have found when things go pear shaped in our guts, they can also go pear shaped in our brains.
The role of serotonin
The chemical serotonin is largely responsible for maintaining mood balance with a deficiency of serotonin leading to depression. While serotonin is a well-known brain neurotransmitter, an estimated 90 per cent of the body’s serotonin is actually made in the digestive tract.

New research published this year shows that certain bacteria in the gut are important for the production of peripheral serotonin1. As well as having a role to play in mood, altered levels of peripheral serotonin have been linked to diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Peripheral serotonin is produced in the digestive tract by […]

By |June 27th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Research|0 Comments
Read More

A healthy gut may well be the hidden key to weight loss

 
Key message: Studies have shown that ‘bad’ bacteria in your gut can increase your appetite and slow down your metabolism, contributing to weight gain.

Action point: Take a broad spectrum high strength probiotic every morning when you get up to help innoculate your gut with beneficial bacteria
 
Can’t shift those kilos? Your gut may be the problem.
But I’m not referring to the size of your waistline. I’m talking about the tiny residents that make up 90 per cent of our living cells – microbes.  Researchers are now beginning to understand the extent of gut flora’s role in gut health and obesity.

Studies have shown that ‘bad’ bacteria in your gut can increase your appetite and slow down your metabolism, contributing to weight gain. They may also be responsible for other health problems such as diabetes.

A 2010 study found that mice without a protein known as toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) in their gut gain excessive weight and develop full-blown diabetes and fatty liver disease when fed a high-fat diet (1).

TLR5 is important for ‘policing’ the bacteria in your gut. Without TLR5, bad bacteria can get out of control. It was found that these bad bacteria produced a low-grade inflammation in the mice, causing them to eat more and develop insulin resistance.

But that wasn’t the researchers most intriguing discovery. Even more interesting was what happened when they transferred the gut flora from the overweight (TLR5-deficient) mice into the guts of skinny mice. The skinny mice immediately started eating more and eventually developed the same metabolic abnormalities the overweight mice had.

In other words, obesity and diabetes were “transferred” from one group of mice to the other simply by changing their gut flora.

But there’s good news – the reverse can also be […]

By |June 13th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Research, Weight Loss|0 Comments
Read More

Emma’s Empirical Evidence (part 2): Gut health

In this 6-part series, I look into some recent science in the field of health and wellness. As a clinical naturopath I read so much research and want to share with you some highlights. Happy Reading!
Zonulin and Leaky Gut
The small intestine is protected by a protective barrier that keeps toxins and nasty bacteria/parasites out of the body. The permeability of this barrier is regulated by a protein called zonulin.
Researchers have found that a high concentration of zonulin leads to a “leaky gut”, something that I treat every day in clinic. The BIG news is that after they followed a gluten-free diet, antibody levels of patients went back to normal. This study reveals how restoring the zonulin-dependent intestinal barrier function can heal and protect against immune, inflammatory and neoplastic disorders. Read more

Zonulin is Related to Insulin Resistance
Speaking of zonulin, this study found that people with higher zonulin levels had higher inflammation levels, a higher BMI, higher fasting insulin and higher cholesterol! This suggests that there is a close relationship between intestinal permeability and obesity-associated metabolic disturbances in humans. In other words, insulin resistance caused by obesity may lead to a leaky gut! Read more

Probiotics and Prebiotics May Reduce Inflammatory Symptoms
This study provides a thorough investigation into intestinal microbiota, immunity, gut dysbiosis and inflammation. It concluded that using probiotics and prebiotics can alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory diseases. Specifically, encouraging the population of good bacteria in the gut can help push out the bad guys. This is why I recommend drinking kombucha and eating fermented foods on a daily basis, especially if you have food intolerances.

Fermented Foods are Beneficial for Human Health
If you need more convincing, here’s a study that found that the probiotic qualities of […]

By |June 5th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments
Read More

How to Easily Give Your Child a Supplement

I posted the blog article below nearly 18 months ago and wanted to update you. Over the last year Sophia has been through an extensive gut protocol as she had Strep gut, a parasite and consequently gut dysbiosis. This was causing her terrible constipation and no matter what she ate, her bowels weren’t getting better. After extensive stool testing with Bioscreen Medical we were able to identify her bacterial colony counts. And it was astounding – no Lactobacilli despite taking this probiotic every day!
I have long held the belief that gut health is at the seat of both chronic disease and optimal wellbeing. Despite all my efforts to keep Sophia well, we weren’t getting good results until I looked further into her gut health. With the intensive protocol complete, Sophia no longer suffers constipation and she is no longer getting tired patches.
Throughout all of this, jelly vitamins have been a staple. I now use a tablespoon of Great Lakes gelatin for every 250ml liquid, its the only one that is clean and free from nasty chemicals. I also use chemical free Hoppers food colourings to make them colour coded. Toddlers are so visual and Sophia loves this part! This week I am using some herbs in Sophia’s jelly vitamins to help clear a residual cough. Every day she has three which can contain anything from vitamin D to zinc to probiotics. All I know is that without them, I wouldn’t be able to get half of the supplements in!
Key Message – Using jelly vitamins as a vehicle for herbs and supplements is super easy!
Action Point – purchase some Great Lakes Gelatin, a silicon mini muffin tray and some  Hoppers food colouring and get started!       […]

By |April 13th, 2015|Children, Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Recipes|0 Comments
Read More

Got Milk? The Dairy Debate

Are you a firm believer in the benefits of milk? Do you believe it is integral to healthy bones, and a healthy life? There have been campaigns promoting milk since the 1940s, so why wouldn’t you believe milk is necessary for a healthy diet. However, you may want to consider this – just because something is accepted as the norm, does not necessary mean it shouldn’t be questioned.
I am a firm believer that dairy is bad for us. I understand that this is still a controversial stance to take, so I wanted to share with you some peer reviewed studies that explores the possibility that dairy consumption could in fact be more harmful than good.
Healthy Bones
The high calcium found in dairy is its most noted nutritional ‘quality’. We know calcium to be important in maintaining healthy bones. Which is true, however, numerous clinical studies question our ability to absorb the calcium from milk, making the high levels of calcium irrelevant to humans. A study published in the Paediatrics journal in 2005 found that milk consumption does not improve the bone health of children, while another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition involving 72,000 women and conducted over 18 years found that milk had no protective effect on bone fracture risk.
On the other hand, adequate calcium intake from plant based foods such as leafy green vegetables and beans has been proven to decrease the risk of osteoporosis. Exercise is another way of maintaining healthy bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Cancer Risk 
Dairy consumption has been linked to an increased risk of some cancers. Most notably it has been linked to breast, prostate and ovarian cancers. A Swedish study found that consumption of […]

By |January 27th, 2015|Community Cleanse, Gut health, Hormones, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments
Read More

Emma’s Book Booster: For the dieters & cleansers

Toxin Toxout
Written by the same two incredible researchers who wrote “Slow Death by a Rubber Duck”, this book focuses on how to get harmful chemicals out of your body and life. Using themselves as guinea pigs, they get in depth in their experiments and then provide steps you can take to reduce your body burden.

I loved the section on which detox methods actually work!

Fat Resistance Diet
Research shows that losing weight is not about counting calories in and calories out, it’s far more complicated than that. Leptin resistance is becoming more and more common in my clinic and this book delves into the research behind it. Leptin controls your metabolic rate; it is a natural fat loss hormone. But, just like insulin resistance, many people become leptin-resistant, putting them in a fat storage mode. There is a fat resistance diet that is interesting but it’s the research that I loved.

The Leptin Diet
I have done so much research on leptin resistance and how to treat it. Leptin controls appetite, energy and metabolic rate and communicates directly to your brain, telling us how much fat is in storage. This book highlights 5 easy lifestyle guidelines to help balance leptin.  A great and easy read that is a perfect start if you are struggling with weight loss.

Receive Emma’s healthy recommendations straight to your inbox!
Email Address

By |December 30th, 2014|Detox, Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Mojo, Nutrition, Research, Uncategorized|0 Comments
Read More

6 Foods You Need To Eat Daily!

Following on from my last blog “6 Foods You Should Never Eat” which received a lot of feedback, here is my list of 6 foods to make sure you eat every single day. I am always asked by my clients what I eat and these feature all the time. Food really is medicine and by eating to support your health, you will save a lot of heartache, time and money in the long term.

Fermented foods – to optimise your gut health, add in some Kim chi, kefir or kombucha to your diet. All these foods contain both pre and probiotics to help keep the right balance between good and bad bacteria in our gut. Research has shown that a healthy gut is essential for reducing the risk of cancer, autoimmune disease and diabetes.

Avocado – a delicious bounty of anti-inflammatory essential fatty acids, which form the building blocks for healthy hormones. Avocado is also packed with vitamin E which helps your skin stay smooth, supple and wrinkle free

Asparagus (when in season such as now!) -1 cup contains 65% of your daily folate requirements, which gives you boundless energy! A natural diuretic, asparagus is perfect for bloating and fluid retention, especially around PMT. Asparagus is rich in prebiotic fibre, which helps to keep your gut microbiome happy.

Quinoa – high in the relaxing mineral magnesium, quinoa contains all nine essential amino acids making it the perfect protein hit. A seed and not a true grain, quinoa has high nutritional value. High in magnesium, iron, Vitamin B3 – B6 and phosphorus to supercharge your day!

Organic foods – if you have access to them optimise your nutrition with organic food. It has more flavour, a higher nutritional template and less […]

By |November 8th, 2014|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Mojo, Nutrition, Preconception & Pregnancy|0 Comments
Read More

6 Foods You Should Never Eat!

I was recently asked by a journalist what were the foods that I would avoid and it really had me thinking. What are the foods that would never touch Sophia’s lips, what foods do I shun? Well let me tell you my tip 6 and the reason behind it!
Gluten – putting the current “gluten free’ fad aside I would definitely avoid it, especially if you have an autoimmune condition. Research shows  gluten promotes the release of a compound called zonulin, which regulates how permeable your gut lining is. Zonulin is the link between leaky gut and eating too much gluten .
Sugar – highly inflammatory and acidic, sugar feeds the pathogenic bacteria in your gut and causes gut dysbiosis.
Commercial cooking oils – this includes corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil. These are too high in omega 6 essential fatty acids, which need to be in balance with omega 3 essential fatty acids. The ideal ratio is 2:1 but for most people it’s at an unhealthy 16:1. This imbalance fuels inflammation in all your cells.
Low fat dairy – when you remove the fat, you are also taking out the fat soluble vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin A. Most low fat dairy products have too much sugar to compensate the lack of flavour! Look for under 5g of total sugar per 100g.
Additives – although essential for the long life storage of foods, additives have many detrimental side effects – from asthma, to eczema to behavioural issues. Ditch the additives and chose more fresh whole foods instead.
Swordfish and shark – as they are big fish at the top of the aquatic food chain, they accumulate heavy metals, […]

By |October 29th, 2014|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Nutrition|0 Comments
Read More
How to Heal Your Adrenals Naturally

How to Heal Your Adrenals Naturally

Adrenal fatigue is one of the most under diagnosed illnesses in western society. Download a copy of my free ebook to learn about the symptoms and how to heal your Adrenals naturally.

Great! Your ebook is being sent to your inbox...