This post might not be for the squeamish, but give it a chance! From a scientific standpoint, human feces can be very interesting; if nothing else, all the buzz around using methane gas (harvested from manure) as an energy source is huge. So hold on for this one: here’s 5 crazy facts about poop that may surprise you. (more…)
There’s not much gray area when it comes to probiotics and our health and more and more studies suggest positive effects from taking probiotics. A boost in immune function is a prime example. [1] While many have speculated antibiotics – by decreasing bacteria – are responsible for rising obesity, one recent study found lower levels of bacteria could actually cause a person to be overweight. [2] The human gut is home to a plethora of bacteria — some good, some bad — and as “good” bacteria, probiotics could help maintain […]
The thousands of metabolic processes needed for life depend on enzymes. Enzymes are essential for digesting food, initiating cellular activity, and breaking down and removing toxins. Inadequate enzyme levels result in organ dysfunction, chronic illness, and disease. In today’s world, enzyme deficiency is becoming more commonplace. Fortunately, protecting against enzyme deficiency is simple. Here are 7 facts you need to know about these two essential front-line enzymes. (more…)
One of the most common (and unpleasant) side effects many patients complain about when using prescription antibiotic drugs is antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). [1] One possible countermeasure to this longstanding and potentially serious concern may lie in the use of probiotics. While this may sound like a common sense solution to natural and holistic healthcare experts, much of the mainstream medical community is just now catching on to the idea. [2] (more…)
Xylanase (pronounced zy-lan-ase) is a naturally-occurring enzyme that can have beneficial impacts on human health and digestion.[1] Fungi and bacteria produce xylanase, and it's produced by insects, crustaceans like snails, and even seeds.[2] Mammals, including humans, do not produce xylanase, but some of our gut bacteria do. Scientifically speaking, it is an enzyme that breaks down xylan, a type of hemicellulose, by cleaving the molecule’s beta 1,4 backbone into a simple sugar called xylose. Xylan is the second most common polysaccharide in nature and is a component of plant cell […]
