Digestion | NonStop Natural

Top 10 Best Probiotics and Why You Should Make It a Resolution

December 22, 2016 by Tammy Robinson Leave a Comment

By now, you have probably heard that our bodies are filled with billions of bacteria, both good and bad. While most of the time, the good outweigh the bad and keep them under control, it doesn’t take much for the bad guys to take over.

Since about 80 percent of our immune system is located in our gut bacteria, it’s important that we make sure that this good/bad balance stays in check. This is most easily done by taking a probiotic supplement. This means that by taking probiotics, you can help your body to naturally fight off cold and flu viruses.

If you get sick and need to take antibiotics, consuming probiotics can help prevent a yeast infection and restore the delicate balance in your digestive system.

Not all Probiotics are the made the same, however. We are going to let you in on the top 10 probiotic supplements around, so you can pick the one that works best for you.

Renew Life Ultimate Flora

This is a super powerful probiotic supplement. Each capsule has 50 billion cultures and 10 different strains of Probiotics! This delay released formula makes sure that you get all the good bacteria that you need each day.

Healthy Origins Natural Probiotic

This supplement is very good and, perhaps best of all, reasonably priced. Healthy Origins has 30 billion cultures and 8 different probiotic strains for improved digestive health. This product is also shelf stable, so you can buy in bulk and not have to worry about it going bad.

NOW Foods Probiotic 10

With each capsule containing 25 billion active cultures and 10 different probiotic strains, this supplement will greatly improve your digestive and immune system health. This supplement is diary, wheat, and gluten free, which makes it perfect for vegans and those with dietary restrictions.

Nutrition Now PB8

This effective, yet affordable, supplement offers 14 billion active cultures and 8 different probiotic strains. While it might seem a bit skimpy on the active culture end, this product is so affordable that you can always take two capsules if need be.

Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics

Everyone knows this famous internet doctor, so is it any wonder that he’s got his own supplement? Dr. Mercola’s capsules contain 70 billion active cultures and 10 different probiotic strains. A coated capsule ensures no stomach upset and this product has an 18 month shelf life.

Culturelle Digestive Health Probiotic

For those who eat plenty of other probiotic filled food, such as yogurt, but want to add a little extra insurance, Culturelle is a sure bet. With 10 billion active cultures, this single, yet effective, probiotic strain can support a healthy digestive system and help to keep the natural balance of bacteria in the intestines.

Sedona Labs iFlora Multi-Probiotic

This supplement has an amazing number of strains; 16 in each capsule and 32 billion active cultures. This will support a healthy immune system, digestive system, and encourage regular bowel movements. This product is vegetarian, but not vegan. This might be a bit more expensive than most, however, with 2 capsules per serving.

Puritan’s Pride Probiotic 10

Puritan’s rapid release supplement has 20 billion live cultures and 10 different strains, making it effective and well balanced. It does have a lower overall live culture count than some others, but is reasonably priced.

Hyperbiotics Pro-15

While this supplement is on the low side of active cultures at 5 billion, it has more strains than any other product at a whopping 15 per gel coated pills. Not capsules, but a unique gel coated pill ensures that the Probiotics make it past the stomach and into the intestines. This product is designed to get more live Probiotics into the lower part of the intestinal tract where they can do the most good.

Nutrition Essential Probiotic

This is one of Amazon’s top selling probiotic supplements and it’s easy to see why. With a basic formula of 15 million live cultures and tons of positive reviews, this is a good, all around probiotic that appears to get results!

By keeping your immune system healthy, you can avoid those annual flu shots! Also, a healthy digestive tract means healthy bowel movements and while no one likes to talk about that in public, it’s still a fact of life.

It’s a good idea to add Probiotics to your daily diet for three months to allow the bacteria time to “set up house” so to speak, and then a weekly dose should keep you in the pink!

Camel Milk – Yes, It’s a Thing Now: What You Should Know

August 5, 2016 by Tammy Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you heard yet about camel milk? Yes, we mean the camel hump day commercial type desert camel.

Apparently it’s the latest health craze and people say that even those allergic to everything can drink camel milk. It’s also reported to cure everything from diabetes, IBS, and autism.

No, we aren’t kidding.

Although it’s hard to understand who, except the starving, would have ever tried to milk a smelly, obnoxious, kicking, grunting, spitting, foul breathed camel, but someone did and now, it’s a thing.

Before you plop down your hard earned money for a pint of hump juice, get all the facts.

Can Camel Milk Help Diabetics?

Well, it’s a big maybe. Although people are claiming that it can, literally, “cure” diabetes, there is no proof. There are a few studies which have found that this type of milk might improve control of blood sugar, but these were just preliminary studies. Another limited study found that camel milk might help those with Type 1 diabetes use less insulin. This study involved only 24 individuals, but it might prove to be a good jumping off point. Further studies are really needed to see how this works and if it can be used to lessen people’s dependence on insulin.

Doesn’t Camel Milk Stop or Prevent Allergies?

There were even fewer studies done regarding any benefit for allergies, however, these studies were poorly done and of little benefit. There should be better, larger studies coming out in the near future, but as of today, all we have a personal stories about how drinking camel milk helped with food allergies or sensitivities.

Can It Help Autistic Children?

Again ,this is another big maybe. In one small study, 60 autistic children received raw camel milk for a two week period, 24 children received pasteurized camel milk, and 11 received cow milk. Blood tests showed that both groups of children who received camel milk had less oxidative stress, as well as showing improvement in both cognitive and behavioral tests for autism.

This was a very small study, however, and more tests need to be done before anyone can list camel milk as a cure for anything.

The Good News

Now there is some good news to report; camel milk is very high in vitamin C. It is also lower in vitamin A than cow’s milk and appears to be tolerated by those who are lactose intolerant. Camel milk is slightly lower in total fat and saturated fat, however, it still has just as much protein and calories.

There are a few interesting facts about camels and camel milk that you might find interesting.

Camel milk, unlike cow’s milk, cannot be made into butter.
While it can be made into cheese, it is a difficult process.
It also doesn’t curdle like cow’s milk does.
The Abu Dhabi Officer’s Club offers camel burgers.
They also serve camel milk based cappuccinos, called camelccinos.
Bubonic plague has been transmitted to humans by eating camel liver.
People in Northern Kenya enjoy drinking camel blood.
Some parts of Australia serve Camel lasagna.
One ancient Roman emperor, Heliogabalus, loved eating the heel of the camel.

Oh, and in case you were interested, camel milk appears to come from the type with one hump, not two, although the reasons for this aren’t clear, at least, not to me.

The FDA recently approved the sale of camel milk in the US, but with a mere 3,000 camels in the US and imports being tightly restricted, the cost of camel milk is astronomical when compared to cow or goat milk, especially when one considers that there really are no proven benefits.

This One “Healthy” Food Can Cause Brain Damage and Cancer

July 10, 2016 by Tammy Robinson Leave a Comment

Many people believe that exchanging tofu and soy for meat, eggs, and milk is a much healthier decision, when the truth is that nothing could be further from the truth.

Processed soy and today’s high tech methods to do so, might remove the toxins and anti-nutrients that are naturally present in soy, but it also leaves behind carcinogenic residue which is caused by high temperatures, high pressure, and petroleum solvent “baths”.

The worst type of soy are the types that American’s love the best; soy protein isolate and hydrolyzed plant protein. These types of highly processed soy contain a compound called phytates, which block the absorption of minerals and contain trypsin inhibitors that block proper digestion.

How Bad Is It?

There have been many health problems linked to high soy diet including:

Thyroid issues
Premature puberty and developmental problems in children
Brain damage and cognitive issues later in life
Reproductive problems
Soy Allergies
Certain types of cancer

While some studies have shown that soy can lower cholesterol levels, there have also been studies showing that it does the exact opposite. There is currently a petition before the FDA, asking them to reevaluate the evidence and remove the “soy prevents heart disease” claim that was approved in 1999.

Soy mimics the hormone estrogen, which can help women going through menopause as it can relieve symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, but for infants and young children, this is not something desirable.

Infants have bodies that are still under development. This makes them more vulnerable to hormones such as estrogen. Don’t feed your child soy based formulas. Soy naturally contains a toxin called antinutrient. This is an inhibitor that blocks the body from making a digestive enzyme as well as stopping the body from absorbing many minerals, such as calcium, from their meal. You could be depriving your baby of much needed nutrients when you feed them soy products or soy based formulas.

Is There a Safe Type of Soy?

Yes, there is! Fermented soy products reduce the antinutrient and phytic acid levels to a minimum while increasing the beneficial compounds, such as Probiotics, which improve the digestion process.

Fermented soy also reduces the isoflavones, which are the estrogen mimicking part of soy, to the point where they no longer influence the body.

If you love soy, but want to be healthy, the following types of soy are all healthy options you can enjoy as much as you like:

Miso – This is a fermented soybean paste that has a buttery texture to it and is often the base of miso soup.
Tempeh – This fermented soy product has a firm texture and a nutty, mushroom like flavor that most people love.
Natto – Another fermented soybean product that is sticky and has a very strong cheese flavor. It is loaded with vitamin K2 and has tons of healthy bacteria that are good for the digestive system
Soy Sauce – Look for traditionally made soy sauce, which is made from fermented soy, salt, and enzymes.

So while those soy burgers and soy cheese sound like a healthy option, they really aren’t.

The basics of healthy eating haven’t changed much over the years. Eating unprocessed, fresh, natural, and fermented foods are always your best option.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Weed (You Won’t Believe #4!)

July 6, 2016 by Tammy Robinson 1 Comment

If you are one of the millions of American’s who regularly indulge in a little Mexican agriculture, then we probably don’t need to tell you the many benefits of toking up. However, there are still millions of American’s who really don’t have a clue about the “Devil’s Lettuce”, AKA, marijuana.

There is perhaps no plant on this earth (with the exception of poppies) that has been more condemned than marijuana. This is a plant that governments all over the world have tried to control, outlaw, and criminalize, but to no avail. Why? Because you can’t keep a good thing hidden forever.

Despite the fact that NEVER, in the history of the world, has anyone ever died from an overdose, been injured or gotten a disease from excessive consumption of this plant, it remains a controversial subject, especially by those who have never indulged.

Cannabis is one of the most healing plants on our good earth. Dozens of studies have found that it can do everything from lower blood pressure to suppress cancer.

For those of you who want scientific proof that cannabis is a good thing, we are going to spell it out for you. For those who love their evening blunts and want to know what else cannabis can do for you – we are going to list the top 10 scientifically known health benefits.

Suppresses Cancer

Let’s start off with the big C; cancer. Everyone is looking for ways to avoid it, prevent it, and cure it. While there haven’t been enough studies to show that marijuana can “cure” cancer, there are studies which have found that cannabis can inhibit the growth of tumors in lab animals. Other studies, done in vitro, show it kill cancer cells in a petri dish, but then again, so does just about any substance.

Helps Relieve PMS

While men may not fully understand this, women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome will be buying new bongs or papers once they hear this; studies show that cannabis can ease the cramps, pain, headaches, and mood swings that PMS brings each month. Using marijuana to ease the discomfort most women experience during their period goes back to Queen Victoria. It’s been used for centuries to help with the pain of child birth, migraines, and more.

Eases Tourette’s Syndrome

Many people enjoy a good laugh at the expense of those who suffer from Tourette’s, but this neurological condition is no joke. This disease causes uncontrollable facial tics, grimaces, shouting, snorting, and grunting noises, which makes public appearances anything but comfortable. The Hanover Medical College in Germany found that Tourett’s subjects who consumed a cannabinol extract had a significant reduction in their symptoms within minutes. Just one dose lasted for several hours when compared to the placebo group.

Possible Alzheimer’s Prevention

One study, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, found that regular consumption of marijuana could prevent the onset of many neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease. The main culprits when it comes to these type of brain diseases are oxidative stress, intro-cellualr dysfunction and chronic inflammation of the brain. THC and cannabinoids reduce inflammation in the brain, protect cells from oxidative damage, and encourage the health of brain cells on several levels. There is a definite need for more studies, but since there is no harm in consuming even large amounts of marijuana, it can’t hurt and appears that it will help.

Stops Seizures

This is perhaps one of the most commonly known medical uses for marijuana. Cannabis definitely has a relaxing effect on the brain and body. The antispasmodic properties of this plant have been proven, not only in studies, but in real life scenarios, all over social media sites, as well as the internet.

Crohn’s Disease and IBS

The very basis of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and Crohn’s disease is a relentless inflammation of the colon and stomach, along with uncontrollable spasms. As with Alzheimer’s disease, cannabis brings the hammer down on inflammation and is a natural antispasmodic. While pot may not cure these debilitating diseases, they can make life almost normal again. One study found a full 45 percent of those suffering from Crohn’s disease had complete remission after just 8 weeks of smoking 2 blunts a day.

Migraine Relief

While migraines have been around for centuries, the cause has eluded scientists for just as long. Since medical marijuana was legalized in California, doctors have stated that they have successfully treated almost half a million cases that conventional medicines were unable to treat. That, friends, is the power of this one tiny plant!

ADHD and ADD

Ritalin might just be on the way out if a few more studies can back up a study done at USC, which found that marijuana eased the symptoms of ADD and ADHD far better than Ritalin, without the harmful side effects. If your child suffers from ADHD, speak to your doctor about medical marijuana as a safer alternative.

Relief from MS Symptoms

Again, this isn’t a cure, but 11 studies to date have shown that many people have found relief from the symptoms of multiple sclerosis via cannabis. Subjects reported less pain, relief from muscle stiffness, and fewer spasms after smoking marijuana. Talk show host Montel Williams has been very outspoken about his love for marijuana and how it helped him live an almost normal life after being diagnosed with MS.

Stops Glaucoma

Along with seizures, this is perhaps one of the most documented uses for medical marijuana. Glaucoma causes extreme pressure in the eye, which can lead to blindness if not treated promptly. Cannabis relieves the pressure instantly, which can literally save your eyesight. Studies‘ regarding this go back as far as the 1970’s and has been highly documented. There has not been a single study or case where marijuana failed to help a patient suffering from glaucoma.

Keep in mind that while marijuana might not be a “cure all”, it certainly doesn’t hurt anyone or anything. This plant needs to be removed immediately from the Schedule 1 drug list so it can be properly studied, researched and its benefits available to everyone.

10 Dangerous Signs of Dehydration (#3 is Really Shocking!)

June 4, 2016 by Tammy Robinson Leave a Comment

When most people think of dehydration, they think of people who have heat stroke, or children who are very sick with fevers or vomiting. The truth is, you only need to have an inadequate consumption of water to be considered dehydrated. Skipping two or three glasses of your regular 8 glasses a day minimum is enough to make you dehydrated.

Why it Matters

Every single cell, every single organ, every single function in your body needs water to work. This is why you can go 3 weeks (or more) without food, but only about 3 days without water. Your body will suffer when you are dehydrated, even though you may not feel or see the effects.

10 Signs Your Body is Dehydrated

Decline of Brain Function

Your brain, perhaps more than anything else, needs to be sufficiently hydrated. At any given time, the brain will contain more than 20 percent of the blood supply in the body. Brain cells are also about 85 percent water. The electric current that runs the brain operates on, you guessed it, good old H2O. If you want your brain to work at its best (not to mention making you feel your best) be certain you stay fully hydrated and drink water all day long.

Skin Issues and Early Aging

Your skin is made up of approximately 75 percent water. When it becomes dehydrated, it can develop problems such as dermatitis and eczema. Your skin will also greatly slow down the regeneration of new skin cells and collagen. This can result in premature aging of the skin. Although these problems are mainly cosmetic, they do alter a person’s quality and enjoyment of life. Who wants to go through life with itchy, dry skin?

Kidney Damage

As you know, your kidneys are the body’s main source of water removal. When there is a water shortage in the body, the kidneys go through a process called rennin angiotensin. This process tightens the vascular system and tells the kidneys to save water by slowing the process of urination. Over time, this process leads to kidney stones and even kidney damage. The color of your urine is a pretty good indicator of hydration. Light yellow or colorless urine means you are drinking plenty of water.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Although no one knows the exact cause or reason behind rheumatoid arthritis, one thing is certain; studies show that mild dehydration can cause joint pain and that those who suffer from RA are often dehydrated. While it is not fully known whether drinking enough water could prevent or less arthritis or RA symptoms, there does appear to be some type of connection.

Injuries from Overheating

You don’t have to be digging ditches in the hot sun to suffer from injuries due to heat. Think about your car; without sufficient water, a car can overheat even on a snowy day. Heat injuries range from cramps to headaches, heat exhaustion heat stroke. Be certain that, no matter the weather outside, no matter what you are doing, you stay hydrated to avoid damaging your body by overheating it due to lack of fluids.

Infections

One of the most common types of infection is a urinary tract or bladder infection. In fact, about 50 percent of adult women will get this type of infection at least once in her lifetime. When you become dehydrated, the body does not have sufficient water to flush out the bacteria that naturally congregate inside the urinary tract. When you are fully hydrated, your body will naturally remove these bacteria. Doctors say that a full 30 percent of all bladder infections are caused by a simple lack of water.

Digestion Problems/GERD

Stomach or digestion problems range from simple heartburn or indigestion to GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder). The stomach also needs sufficient water to produce enough stomach acid and enzymes to digest food properly. The acid and enzymes, called chyme, also need to be diluted before the stomach dumps food into the intestines. If the body does not have enough water to do this, digestion can be delayed and GERD can develop from undiluted acid entering the esophagus. Drinking water before, during, and after each meal will greatly help the stomach perform its natural digestion process.

Chronic Constipation

Everyone has to go, but what happens when you can’t? Could this be due to a lack of water? You bet! In order to help the body conserve water, the colon will restrict unnecessary water loss by reabsorbing the water. This results in hard, dry stools. Believe it or not, carbonated water (not necessarily sodas, but seltzer water) shows great results for those who suffer from chronic constipation, although scientists aren’t sure why this works so well.

Chronic Headaches

Studies have found that even very mild dehydration (1%) can lead to chronic headaches. You can easily lose 1% of your body’s water reserve with simple daily activities and you are likely to lose as much as 3 to 5 percent after a hard workout through sweat! Many studies have found that staying hydrated can help to avoid headaches, stop headaches, and keep moods more stable.

Sudden Death

In severe cases, dehydration can result in sudden death. Losing 15 percent or more of the fluid level in the body results in death, beginning with organ failure, coma, and then death. Very hot and very cold weather is hard on the body and causes it to need more water. This is especially true of the elderly. Our sensation of thirst begins to diminish after 50 years of age, so we don’t always recognize that the body needs more water. Low blood volume occurs as the blood thickens due to lack of water, which can lead to a drop in oxygen and heart failure if the heart cannot pump enough of the thickened blood to the body’s organs, including the brain. Although dehydration this severe is not common, it is certainly not unheard of.