Our Microflora

Ms H

We have trillions of bacteria, microflora living on our skin, in our mouth, nose and our intestines These bacteria take residence in our bodies from the day we are born and remain with us throughout our lives. The gut contains the largest numbers of bacteria and the greatest number of species compared to other areas of the body.  The human gastrointestinal tract contains stable population of bacteria that play an important role in nutrition, metabolism, regulation of immune function and protection. We know that the ideal pH in the colon should be between 6.7 and 6.9.  The colon needs to be slightly acidic, which inhibits the growth of undesirable bacteria like Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli. Our beneficial bacteria are made up of hundreds of different species, the principal two of which are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.  

These bacteria are found in the normal microflora of the intestine and research shows that they play an important role in improving digestion and intestinal health as well as helping to regulate the immune system. Some situations and lifestyle habits can damage gut bacteria such as taking antibiotics and drinking highly chlorinated water.  The effective ways to achieve healthy microflora  are the followings.

·      Traditional fermented foods

Eating fermented foods is the most natural way to improve gut flora and get the beneficial of probiotic bacteria. Fermented foods help to balance acetylcholine.  Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that enables the transmission of nerve impulses. Within the context of digestion, it helps increase the movement of the bowel, and can help reduce constipation. Fermented foods inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and are beneficial for people with diabetes. 

·      Probiotic supplements

Many people find it difficult to consume sufficient amount of fermented foods in this case an effective alternative is to take a probiotic supplements

Probiotic supplements help in; easing IBS, improving mood, soothing eczema, boosting immune system, aiding weight loss.

·      Lactic acid yeast wafers

Lactic acid yeast is a modified form of brewer’s yeast that works in your intestines to produce significant amounts of lactic acid. Lactic acid yeast wafers work the same way fermented foods do.

If we take probiotic supplement or/and eat traditional fermented foods will be enough to increase the number of beneficial microorganisms in our gut. These bacteria will then start to ferment more soluble fibre into products like butyric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, and propionic acid, which in order provide energy and improve our ability to absorb minerals, vitamins, and fat.

What's With All The Wheys?

By Frank D Maione  

Whey is quickly digested, which means you get to where you need it fast! Supplements containing whey protein play an important role in nutrition post workout when your body is in a catabolic state and needs a quick dose of protein. In addition to the profit which it has for the muscles, whey protein works as an antioxidant to strengthen your immunity system. Studies have shown that regular supplementation of whey protein promotes a strong immune system.

The effects of whey for your body:
- Helps Build Muscle
- Reduces recovery time and promotes a more rapid muscle recovery
- Increases metabolic rate
- Reduces muscle catabolism that occurs on post-workout

What types of whey are there?
There are 2 main types of whey, concentrated whey protein and whey protein isolate. Concentrate is low in fat, has the highest biological value and contains anywhere from 75% to 80% pure whey protein. Isolate is the purest form available. Isolate is processed to remove lactose and fat and contains about 90% pure protein.

Protein supplements are divided into 3 categories - whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, whey protein blends.Concentrates are the cheapest, but contain the highest levels of lactose and fat, Isolates contain the highest amount of protein per serving and contain no carbohydrates, fats and are more expensive than concentrates. Finally, blends are the most popular protein powders in whey. As their name suggests, these products combine protein isolate with the benefits offered by concentrate to obtain a high-quality product at an affordable price.

How do I choose the best whey supplement?
When it comes to choosing the whey protein supplement that best fits your needs, you need to firstly consider your budget and its quality. As I said earlier, there are 3 types of whey available:
1. Whey isolate - the purest form of whey protein
2. Whey concentrate - not as easily digested and with slightly higher levels of fat & lactose
3. Whey blend - a mixture of the above

Obviously, the more pure a product is, the higher the quality will be. However, price rises exponentially. As thus, protein isolate is the most expensive of all forms of whey protein. In exchange for what you pay, you get the purest form of protein; a strip containing no fat, carbohydrates or lactose. It is the highest quality and will give you the greatest amount of protein per serving with the lowest caloric count. content caloric. Thus, if you have money to spend, you should definitely go for whey isolate.

Pros of whey isolates:
- The purest form of whey protein available
- Contains no fat, carbohydrates and lactose
- An excellent amino acid profile
- More protein per serving
- Ideal for weight loss and muscle development

Cons of whey protein isolates:
- More expensive than concentrates and blends

Whey protein concentrate is not as filtered as isolate, but still remains a high-quality product that's rich in amino acids. Because is not as filtered as insulation you will get less protein per serving and often a higher caloric count. This caloric level work might not interest anyone who wants to gain weight but for a person who wants to lose weight or are preparing for a competition is of top importance. Difference is usually of 2-5g of protein per 30 g serving. A protein isolate may have 25g of protein and 105 calories, while the concentrate may have 21g of protein and 130 calories.

Pros of whey concentrates:
- A good price
- Rich in amino acids
- Great for building muscle mass

Cons of whey concentrates:
- Richer in fats and carbohydrates than protein isolate
- More calories per serving

Up until now you could have thought that the choice was either black or white, the higher the protein quality for a higher price or a lower protein quality for a reduced price. But is there a middle ground? Whey blend, as its name implies, is a mixture of isolate and whey concentrate. Through it manufacturers have found a middle way for price and quality.

But not all blends are made to be equal. Some have less concentrate, others have less isolate and vice versa. The sure way to tell is by looking at the list of ingredients. The protein source that appears first in the list of ingredients is the main source of whey. This is a good thing to know when you research the protein you want to buy. Powders are one of the most popular form of blends available.

Pros of whey blends:
- A good mix of protein isolate & concentrate
- A good value for the price asked
- A very good profile of amino acids
- Less fat / carbs / lactose than protein concentrates
- Plenty of manufacturers to choose from

Cons of whey blends:
- More carbs / fat / lactose than isolates
- Some mixtures contain more protein than necessary

Original article at: Mr Supplement [http://mrsupplement.ca] Best Priced Sports Nutrition and Bodybuilding Supplements Canada has to offer. Free Shipping on orders over $99.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Frank_D_Maione/1673252

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Does Apple Cider Vinegar Cause Weight Loss   

by Morgan Mason

The Creation of Apple Cider Vinegar

To understand how apple vinegar is created, it is helpful to understand how all vinegar is created. Vinegar is a by product of fermentation. Fermentation is a process by which the sugars in foods (oftentimes fruits are used to make vinegar) are broken down by bacteria and yeast. During the first stage of the fermentation process, those sugars become alcohol. As the alcohol is allowed to ferment further, it eventually becomes vinegar.

Can Apple Vinegar Help You Lose Weight?

The belief that this cider vinegar assists with weight loss started in the 1950s when D.C. Jarvis published this belief in his book, Folk Medicine. This weight loss fad has taken legs again recently as some companies have begun to sell the product as a dietary supplement. However, drinking apple cider vinegar does not seem to directly cause individuals to lose weight. If you take the concoction as recommended by its proponents (which is right before meals), it may result in you feeling a bit fuller faster or having a decrease in appetite. It is the reduction in the intake of calories that is causing any resulting weight loss in those who choose to drink apple cider vinegar for weight loss.

Experts Weigh In On Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Weight Loss

Medical and nutrition experts indicate that the claim that vinegar can be used to lose weight is not supported by scientific evidence. The two schools of thought for using vinegar to lose weight are that (1) apple cider vinegar will cause reduced hunger and food cravings; or (2) it will somehow trick your metabolism into burning fat faster that it would under normal conditions without the apple cider vinegar. According to the experts, neither of these theories is accurate.

The consensus is that this product does not cause weight loss. You will be better off saving your money and just reduce your caloric intake on your own.

http://goarticles.com/article/Does-Apple-Cider-Vinegar-Cause-Weight-Loss/4133273/

The Reason Why High Carb Diets Will Not Work

By Rich Carroll

In reading various publications, there seems to be considerable backlash against low-carb diets. The Atkins Diet, popular in the 1970's as a low carbohydrate, fat burning answer to weight loss has made a comeback in some circles, and many publications have come back with the argument that it will not work for long-term fat loss. We are in agreement. But the argument seems to go that if low carbs are a bad thing, high carb diets are a good thing, especially for athletes training for endurance. We would like to illustrate the reason why high carb diets will not work.
With what we have been told in the past few years, carbohydrates are the good guys of nutrition. As a result, people have been devouring breads, cereals, and pastas to drive their percentage of carbs to total calories above 75%, and cutting back on fats. The result is people are eating less fat and getting fatter. Eating excessive amounts of carbohydrates, when they are converted to sugars, are easily converted to storage in excess body fat, as the total that can be stored as glycogen before it turns to fat, even for trained athletes, is only about 1200 calories worth. For the average person, perhaps 400 grams can be stored in the muscle, and another 70 to 90 grams in the liver. So why would you want to consume more than you are capable of storing?
So what actually happens when you start eating those carbohydrates? First, glycogen levels are filled for both the muscle, to promote growth and repair, and liver, to keep the brain working properly. As we pointed out earlier, that doesn't account for that much, maybe a couple of cups of pasta. After that, it's all surplus. With the rapid rise in blood glucose, the pancreas secretes additional amounts of the hormone insulin into the bloodstream. Since insulin's job is to get it out of the bloodstream, it sends it into long term storage, which are fat cells. The result is, even though you haven't consumed one morsel of fat, and carbohydrates themselves are fat-free, is the body puts on fat, which is the reason why high carb diets will not work. To make matters worse, as insulin levels signal the body to store more fat, because it thinks it is in famine mode it won't release the fat you already have in storage.
Do you wonder why you get hungry perhaps two hours after a high carbohydrate meal? As has been pointed out, insulin's job is to quickly lower the blood sugar level. That accomplished, blood sugar is low, and cravings, usually for sweets, kick in. If you don't satisfy those yearnings, your mood turns sour and you feel like crashing, all the while not burning any stored fat while your energy levels plummet. So the answer to why high carb diets will not work is because they do not moderate insulin response. By limiting or eliminating the intake of refined sugars and keeping carbohydrates on a moderate level, about 40% of the diet, you can avoid those disastrous insulin spikes. Generally, non-carbohydrate foods, that is proteins and the so-called good fats, do not produce as much insulin. Also, natural fiber can minimize the insulin response.

In the final analysis, high carbohydrate diets will not work, but neither will low or no-carb diets. Carbohydrates are neither the devil nor a panacea for fat loss, but must be in balance with the rest of your diet. But remember, carbohydrates don't come from just sweets and pasta, but from fruits and vegetables as well as a number of different foods, and most if not all of them have other characteristics that have more overall positive qualities. We hope you will use them to the greatest advantage.

There is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to have the nutrition experts control your diet, and still consume delicious meals, and that is with meal delivery plans through 

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