The Gut - The Root of All Health (Part 3): The Destroyed Gut (Part 4)

9. Additives & Preservatives

An example of a preservative is benzoic acid. This is used in the food industry as it prevents molds, yeast and some bacteria. It is usually used in acidic food and beverages like fruit juice, sparkling drinks, soft drinks, and pickles.

An experiment was conducted on piglets who were fed with diet that contained benzoic acid. The end result was that the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract were reduced. Click HERE to read about it.

Colouring which is a food additive can cause digestive disorders. Click on LINK to read more about this.

10. Pesticides, Herbicides & Fertilizers

Glyphosphate a herbicide wrecks the digestive system by killing the beneficial bacterias. Glyphosphate is used in GMOs. Click on LINK to read.

11. Stress

The dreaded 'S' word! STRESS! It is known as the number one killer today.

*The American Medical Association has stated that stress is the basic cause of more than 60% of all human illness and disease. (*taken from HERE)

Stress can also cause digestive disorders, upset stomach, abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome. *Exposure to stress leads to changes in the composition, diversity and number of gut microorganisms. (*taken from HERE). Stress changes the balance of our beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Do click on LINK and read on how stress wreaks havoc on the microflora in our gut.

That was what my gastroenterologist told me. Stress triggers IBS.

The ABCs - I is For Inflammation & Inflammatory Food (Part 4)

FIGHT & FLIGHT

When our body perceives that we are under an attack, it triggers a release of the stress hormone called 'cortisol' from our adrenal glands. In our normal, everyday life, cortisol is needed to convert proteins into energy, to release glycogen (which functions as the secondary long-term energy storage) and to counteract inflammation.

No human can live without cortisol.

But imagine constantly living with your body constantly under 'threat'. Immediately pictures of those humans in Walking Dead come to mind. You get my drift. They must be ridden with all sorts of inflammation as they are constantly on high alert.

Being on a constant mode of high alert will cause your immune system to crash. And when the immune system crashes, inflammation will be having a party.

Even though we have become an advanced society (I mean, who would have thought that babies could navigate the iPad better than us adults?), depression and stress is on the rise. (Yes, I am a very good example of a stress-machine. And my gut is paying the price!) And when the human body is under stress, the *CRP rises too.
(*CRP is the pro-inflammatory marker for the silent inflammation that happens in our bodies)

So go and de-stress and give your body a break!

Fishy Friends

It all started out as a holiday project.

And now, they have become a part of the family.

We even talk to THEM!

Yes, we talk to fishes.

Cute little ones.

Our Clown Loaches

The dominant fish will turn its black stripes to a lighter shade of gray to show its dominance. 

Some of the Cardinal Tetras that we have. The algae eater is in the earthen pot. 

They love to eat vegetables too! Only the organic ones! See how clean they eat! Every single scrap. We have some lean and mean eating machines!

Guppies, Cardinal Tetras and Harlequin Resbora fish. 

It is very therapeutic and helps reduce stress. I can gaze at them for an hour and just feel the stress melt away. As I am allergic to pet hair/fur, this is the best option.

How I love my fishy friends.