Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
In Episode 3, Jerry Hickey, Ph. discusses which specific strains of probiotics have been proven to help protect you from winter time infections, helping you boost your immunity.
Your mouth is full of bacteria, which is mostly harmless. But, as your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, some of the bacteria can become harmful and impact your overall health.
A new study published in the journal Gastroenterology by researchers from Kings College London has found that people who drank red wine had an increased gut microbiota diversity (a sign of gut health) compared to non-red wine drinkers, as well as an association with lower levels of obesity and ‘bad’ cholesterol. If there was ever a time to reach for a glass of red wine, it’s now!
Researchers explored the effect of beer, cider, red wine, white wine and spirits on the bacteria in the gut and overall health of a group of 916 female twins in the UK. They found that the gut microbiome of red wine drinkers was more diverse compared to non-red wine drinkers. This was not observed with white wine, beer or spirits consumption.
Dr. Caroline Le Roy, author of the study explained, “While we have long known of the unexplained benefits of red wine on heart health, this study shows that moderate red wine consumption is associated with greater diversity and a healthier gut microbiota that partly explains its long debated beneficial effects on health.”
Think about your gut the same way you think about your skin. Your skin is the first line of defense from the environment. When you get a cut for instance, bacteria is able to penetrate the body and cause damage. But, if our skin and immune systems are healthy, we wont have to worry about that bacteria, as our immune system will be able to fight it off. Your gut works in much of the same way.
The gut lining seals our external environment from our internal one, but it allows particles like the nutrients from our food in, in order for our bodies to use them to create the energy we need. If there are things getting into our gut that harm our bodies (antibiotics, microbial imbalances, pesticides, and processed foods), our immune system will be triggered to repair the damage. But if consistent harmful factors are introduced, the cycle of an unhealthy gut begins.
Researchers of the study believe the main reason for the association between red wine and your gut is due to the many polyphenols in it. Polyphenols are defense chemicals naturally found in many fruits and vegetables. They have numerous beneficial properties – including antioxidants – and act as a fuel for the microbes present in our system.
The study also found that red wine consumption was associated with lower levels of obesity and ‘bad’ cholesterol,which was in part due to the gut microbiota.
Dr. Le Roy further explains, “Although we observed an association between red wine consumption and gut microbiota diversity, drinking red wine rarely, such as once every two weeks, seems to be enough to observe the effect. If you must choose one alcoholic drink today, red wine is the one to pick as it seems to potentially exert a beneficial effect on you and your gut microbes, which in turn my help weight and risk of heart disease.” Cheers!
Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash A team of researchers from the Shanghai Mental Health Center at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, set out to investigate if there was evidence to support improvement of anxiety symptoms by regulating intestinal microbiota, or gut bacteria. …
In a new study carried out by a team of Japanese-based scientists and published in the journal mSphere, the scientists examined the effects of poor dental hygiene on the respiratory health of elderly Japanese people. The results shed light on the importance of tongue microbiota …
There’s no question about it – we’re all addicted to our cell phones. Whether we’re sending 5 texts a minute, scrolling through Facebook, or chatting with our friends about our weekend plans, we are always using our devices to stay connected. While staying connected to friends and family has been shown to have positive affects on our mental health, cell phones can a negative effect on our physical health. Now it turns out that our skin isn’t too happy with cell phones either. Here’s why.
Director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York reports that our cell phones are dirtier than we think. “I once saw a study showing that our phones have more bacteria on them than a public restroom,” reports Joshua Zeichner.” This is because are cell phones are magnets for bacteria. As we use our phones throughout the day, makeup, facial oils, and toxins actually build up on our screens. And, according to Zeichner, each time we reach for our phones we are reintroducing these germs into our skin, clogging our pores which can lead to breakouts.
Here’s what you need to do.
There are a few things you can do to minimize your skin-to-phone contact. First, try to use the speakerphone or Bluetooth setting so you’re not holding your phone to your face as much. You may also want to clean your phone at least twice a day with a wipe that contains alcohol to clear your device of oil, makeup and bacteria.
The best thing you can do for your skin after a long hard day being pressed against your face and in your hands is cleanse! A superior cleanser will contain ingredients to provide hydration for your skin and antioxidant support with Green tea and Vitamin C. Witch hazel is another powerful ingredient that can help to tone your pores. Do not use products that contain harsh and damaging chemicals like parabens, colorants, and benzoic acid!
Nickle is commonly found in jewelry, glasses frames, laptops, computers, and yes – even your phone! Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash that appears where your skin touches something you are allergic to. In this case, a reaction to the nickel in your phone could be the reason why you are sprouting rashes or bumps on your hands or face.†
Here’s what you need to do.
If you have questions or concerns about a reaction you may be having, speak with your doctor. In the meantime, you’ll want to get a phone case cover that’s either plastic or glass in order to have a barrier between you phone and your hands/face.
Do you find yourself slouching, constantly looking at your phone? You may have text neck! Shereene Idriss, dermatologist in New York, reports, “The delicate quality of the skin on our necks make it very susceptible to the repetitive tilting that goes along with looking down. Following the appearance of creases, come the loss of inherent elasticity (or bounce) of the skin, which gives way to the second top complain of ‘creepy skin.'”
Here what you need to do.
Simply practice good posture. If you catch yourself slouching to look down at your phone, hold you phone up to your face at an eye-level so your neck isn’t bent. If you’re noticing “creepy” or sagging skin, you’ll want to revamp your skin care routine. A superior toning serum is able to act as a protective barrier for your skin and tone it for a brighter appearance.