January 2, 2018

The latest medical research is clear: You have a second brain! And it’s even more important now to eat foods that bring you life. Here’s what I mean…

Even as humans seem to get closer by the day to the next scientific breakthrough—going to Mars, for example, doesn’t seem out of the question during our lifetime—maybe the most groundbreaking discovery so far in this century is the fact that we have two brains.

Obviously, there’s the one in our noggins.

But the second one, which on a number of levels is more powerful than our first one, has only recently come to light.

Our second brain is in our guts.

And it has 100 million neurons—far more than even the spinal column and peripheral nervous system.

Combine that with the discovery of our gut microbiome—the trillions of microscopic bacteria that live in our guts and play an increasingly important role in our health—and it shows just how important our nutrition really is.

Because, when you feed your stomach, you’re feeding a lot of things. All those microbes, along with a second brain that exerts quite a bit of influence over your first one.

So, how does this affect your happiness?

Well, consider this.

Most antidepressants work to control serotonin levels. Even just a decade ago, researchers and doctors thought that serotonin was a head-brain thing. It turns out that over 90% of our serotonin lives in our guts! So, that Prozac is affecting more than just your first brain. It’s primarily doing its work down in the second brain.

But, let’s turn that idea around and look at it positively. When you eat whole foods—good grains, leafy greens, mushrooms, and all the other high-quality, organic plants that fuel our systems as nothing else can, you’re feeding not only your microbiome.

No, you’re also providing direct nutrition to your second brain.
Here’s a principle to live by, even as we discover more and more about how amazing our bodies are—Eating vegetables is ALWAYS a good idea.

Want to be happy? Eat more plants. Eat more food that heals your body. Eat less food that causes inflammation.

And now, the data is in: Even your stomach agrees with me!

Here’s even more great info: Watch below…

The post The Second Brain: How What You Eat is the Secret to Lasting Happiness appeared first on Wellness Training Institute.

September 6, 2016

To start, let me start with a disclaimer: This post is about supplements I generally recommend to my patients. 

However: You shouldn’t take anything, let alone a supplement, without seeking your physician’s advice first. So, do that. The following list is what I see every day in my practice as common deficiencies in the modern American diet.

Vitamin D

What does it do?

Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones, helps promote heart health and aid against other diseases, clear skin, and aids in regulating blood pressure.

Where’s it found?

The sun. Animal products. Mushrooms.

All three of which aren’t necessarily good for you.

What happens if you don’t get enough?

If you don’t get enough, you die. But only usually only after you develop one or more of the following: cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment in older adults, severe asthma in children, and cancer.

What should you know if you’re taking it?

Make sure you choose a formula that’s not petroleum based. That goes for all supplements by the way. 

Magnesium

What does it do?

Magnesium serves a role in over 400 processes in the human body. That’s a lot of processes. A short laundry list: Regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure and making protein, bone, and DNA.

Where’s it found?

Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt, bananas, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and more.

What happens if you don’t get enough?

Bad stuff:

The early signs of not having enough magnesium in your diet are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. As the deficiency gets worse you’ll start getting numbness, tingling, cramps, seizures, personality changes, heart palpitations, and coronary spasms. Severe magnesium deficiency leaves your body unable to process calcium and potassium.

What SHould you know if you’re taking it?

Recommended daily allowance is 400 – 420 mgs per day for men, 310-320 mgs for women.

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CoQ10

What does it do?

CoQ10 is a naturally occurring antioxidant that’s necessary in the creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which helps direct energy within the creation of your body’s cells. In short – it’s your energy!

Where’s it found?

Although it occurs naturally in the body, sometimes (usually because of poor dietary habits) you don’t produce enough. CoQ10 is especially important if you’re on a statin. Statins deplete CoQ10 levels.

What happens if you don’t get enough?

More bad stuff:

Heart failure, chest pain, and high blood pressure.

What SHould you know if you’re taking it?

For most people, having the proper balance of CoQ10 in the body will help you feel more energetic.

Probiotics

What do They do?

They’re bugs, essentially. Good bugs. Your gut has trillions upon trillions of these little bacteria and yeasts and their presence in there is essential to your life. Think of it this way: These guys are responsible for keeping your gut healthy. Your gut’s role in your health is rivaled only in importance by your brain. That’s how important probiotics are.

Where Are They found?

They occur naturally in your digestive system. Among other places. A great place to get them in your diet is from (real, non processed) pickles, sauerkraut, fermented vegetables, and kombucha.

What happens if you don’t get enough?

Once again: Bad stuff.

Microbial gut imbalances have been linked to tons of autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to Crohn’s disease, Meniere’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, inflammatory bowl disease (IBS), Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac disease, and Grave’s disease, just to name a (horrific) few.

What Should you know if you’re taking it?

It’s always best to get what you can from your diet (see above). If you need a supplement, make sure there’s a list of ingredients on the label. You don’t want any harsh chemicals. You also want them to be a fresh as possible, given that these things are alive and tend to lose potency over time.

B Vitamins

What do They do?

B Vitamins—specifically B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12—serve as an essential catalyst in your body’s process of converting food into energy. I’m not sure what B’s 4, 8, 10, or 11 did wrong to get kicked out of the club.

Where are they found?

B vitamins are found in whole, unprocessed foods.

What happens if you don’t get enough?

A B Vitamin deficiency can cause peripheral neuropathy, seborrheic dermatitis, glossitis, and cheilosis, and, in adults, depression, confusion, and seizures. Which all sound terrible.

What Should you know if you’re taking it?

Each of the B vitamins do different things.

Here’s a handy chart from Wikipedia with the details:

Wrapping Up

Given our culture’s current and collectively terrible diet, supplements are often necessary. The rule of thumb, though, is to get as many nutrients as possible through a good diet. Put simply, eat good foods, breathe good air, and develop other healthy habits.

If you have questions not answered here, we have decades of experience with this stuff. We even have our own white labeled line of supplements, which have been vetted to make sure they are very clean, and very effective. Send along your questions here, call us at (586) 554-7515, or come to a FREE Wellness Dinner Seminar!

The post The 5 Supplements that You Should (Probably) be Taking Every Day appeared first on Wellness Training Institute.