Garden of Life

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Garden of Life

Inside each of us live vast numbers of bacteria without which we could not remain in good health. There are several thousand billion in each person (more than all the cells in the body) divided into over 400 species, with most of them living in the digestive tract. Certain of these bacteria help to maintain good health, and these friendly bacteria are known as probiotics, meaning "for life."

 

Without certain friendly bacteria, we are not able to properly digest food and absorb vitamins and other nutrients. But digestion is only the beginning of the health benefits probiotics provide. Other benefits include:

 

 

The manufacture of B vitamins Enhanced immune system activity Production of substances that kill or deactivate disease-causing bacteria Improved digestive tract efficiency Management of cholesterol levels Protection against many toxic pollutants Recycling of estrogen, supporting hormonal levels and maintaining strong bones

These friendly bacteria are healthier when combined with a whole foods based diet rich in complex carbohydrates (vegetables, whole grains, legumes) and low in unhealthy fats, sugars, and dairy products. Not surprisingly, the diet that is best for people is also ideal for healthy bacteria—creating a win-win health benefit.

**Joseph Brasco, M.D. is a board-certified gastroenterologist whose undergraduate study was done at Rutgers University. Dr. Brasco attended the Medical College of Wisconsin, graduated with high honors, and did his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Illinois. Dr. Brasco currently serves as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Garden of Life.

pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, numerically equal to 7 for neutral solutions, increasing with increasing alkalinity and decreasing with increasing acidity. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.

 

While the term pH is helpful in determining the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, it is also applicable to diet. The acid-alkaline system of eating is based upon the classification of foods as being acid-forming or alkaline-forming, and is not made on the basis of how foods taste, but rather on the residue left after the food has been metabolized.

 

Since our body tissues and blood are slightly alkaline, we need more foods that break down into alkaline elements. Fruits, vegetables, almonds, and all sprouted seeds tend to be alkaline-forming foods. Slightly acidic (yet good for you) foods include whole grains, nuts, and seeds. The most acid-forming foods to avoid include processed foods, refined flour, and sugar products. (Encyclopedia of Natural Healing pp. 165-166)

 

When the body is too acidic, disease and infections can proliferate; the body should be slightly alkaline to guard against acid-formers like stress, lack of exercise, or poor dietary habits. To find pH balance, it is helpful to know your dietary and supplementation needs, correct preparation of whole foods, how to choose high-quality foods while avoiding processed foods, and learning more about nutritious foods; including chlorophyll-rich plants (like green superfoods such as cereal grasses), the best fatty acids, and the dangers of food chemicals like aspartame, MSG, and food colorings.

-- Diana Gonzalez Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - the longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously - live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

-Unknown