by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

Watermelon is such a delicious juicy snack, refreshing and hydrating, and loaded with electrolytes and beneficial phytochemicals.

In fact, I personally love to start the day in the warm months of the year with fresh watermelon juice mixed with lime and occasionally carrot juice too.  It’s one of the best electrolyte drinks you can consume, PLUS it comes with some powerful heart health nutrients…

If you’ve never heard about how powerful watermelon and watermelon juice can be for improving heart health, blood flow, and reducing heart attack risks, then check this out…

Watermelon contains about 20 mg of lycopene per pound of watermelon (more than tomatoes).  Most clinical studies on lycopene show that doses of 10-30 mg have profound benefits on lowering heart disease, reducing LDL oxidation, improving artery function, and reducing prostate cancer.

The lycopene in watermelon also helps lower blood pressure and inflammation in your body.

Watermelon is also loaded with a nutrient called citrulline which is proven in studies to boost nitric oxide and improve your blood flow (yes, even down there), as well as exercise performance.

This is another reason why watermelon helps boost heart health and improve blood pressure too.

Watermelon is also shown in studies to help your kidney health, eye health, and reduce cancer risk.

Since heart disease and heart attacks are still the #1 killer, I’m personally doing everything I can to improve my heart health and live longer, and that now includes eating more delicious juicy watermelon!

But did you know that although most of the powerful nutrients that protect your heart, improve blood flow, and lower blood pressure are from unique plant foods like fruits, berries, cacao, coffee, and green tea… There’s actually a really important one from a type of MEAT that is even MORE important…

Duke MD Says: “The #1 Food that Helps Prevent Heart Attacks is NOT Actually a Plant Food”

There are many powerful nutrients in plant foods such as polyphenols, flavanols, lycopene, and bioflavonoids in foods like citrus, berries, dark chocolate and more that help improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and reduce your risk of heart attacks.

However, there’s actually ONE particular nutrient that is ONLY found in certain types of meat that is significantly more important for the strength of your heart than anything else.

If the levels of this one unique nutrient in your heart are LOW, your chances of heart problems skyrocket.

(Hint: it’s NOT omega-3 fats this time.)

This common deficiency doesn’t show up on standard blood work panels.

“Almost everyone forgets their heart is a muscle. And like any muscle… it needs protein-like nutrients to stay strong,” says Dr. Rick Cohen.

Dr. Cohen’s natural solution has helped thousands of people enjoy a healthy heart without living constantly on drugs.

And he has recently released a short video revealing what this uniquely powerful nutrient found in certain types of meat is, and how to get it.

Watch it here:

>> Dr Rick Cohen Reveals the #1 “Heart Strengthening” Nutrient Backed by 600+ Studies 

The post Watermelon for Heart Health, Arteries, and Blood Flow appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

You’ve been told over and over in the media that foods like oatmeal and quinoa are good for you, and you should eat lots of them. But what most people don’t realize is that these two particular foods contain compounds that can actually harm your health and your digestion in many ways…

And as your favorite Nutritionist, I’ll explain why in this quick blog post, so you can avoid further harming your health and digestion with these so-called “healthy” foods…

1. Oatmeal and Oat Milk

While oatmeal is touted as a healthy carb and a source of fiber, unfortunately there are more cons than pros with this food…

The first problem with oats is that they are loaded with a compound called phytic acid (phytates) that significantly lowers your absorption of certain minerals and vitamins, such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

So whenever you eat oats, the phytic acid causes you to absorb less of these vitally important minerals which could cause health problems if you eat oats too frequently, since most people already don’t get enough minerals like magnesium and zinc.

The second problem with oats is that they contain one of the highest residue concentrations of the toxic herbicide glyphosate, which can damage your gut, and have been linked to other health problems like cancer, hormone issues, and more.

The next major problem with oats is that they are a significant source of mycotoxins in the diet, which are mold based toxins that can cause an array of gut problems, hormone problems and more.

Lastly, oats can also contain high levels of the toxic heavy metal Cadmium, which is linked to health problems as this toxic heavy metal accumulates in your body.

2. Quinoa

Quinoa is another food that is pitched as a health food or a “superfood”. Unfortunately, this is another example of a food that has more downsides than good sides.

First off, quinoa is high in compounds called saponins, that have been shown in some studies to cause gut damage and contribute to “leaky gut”.

Another problematic compound in quinoa are lectins, which are a type of antinutrient that can damage the cells of your intestines, and contribute to several gut disorders and immune system problems.

Many friends and colleagues of mine have reported feeling abdominal pain after eating quinoa, bloating, and loose stools or diarrhea, as well as triggering of autoimmune conditions such as skin conditions.

But oatmeal and quinoa aren’t the only so-called ‘health foods’ that can backfire… take a look at these starches that can quietly sabotage your gut… See below:

Sweet Potato vs Pasta vs Squash (the #1 WORST starch for your gut & energy)

According to the best-selling author and world-renowned heart surgeon, Dr. Steven Gundry, there’s one starch people over 40 should never eat.

This starch can damage your gut and disrupt your hormones… It contains a toxin that damages the lining of your intestines, causes bloating, embarrassing gas, and a bulging belly.

Do you know the starch I’m talking about? Make sure you do by clicking the one below you think it is, and get the answer from Dr. Gundry himself on the next page:

>> Sweet Potato

>> Pasta

>> Corn

>> Squash

The post Why I Stopped Eating Oatmeal, Oat Milk, and Quinoa appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

One of the questions I get most as a Nutritionist is whether rice is good for you or not, and if you should choose brown rice or white rice.

Over 90% of people get this answer wrong, and they’ve been told by misinformed dieticians and doctors that brown rice is healthier because it has more “fiber”.

However, this is harmful advice, and brown rice is NOT healthier than white rice!

Let me explain why…

Brown rice contains the hull of the rice plant, and that hull does contain some fiber, but it also contains some significant toxins such as lectins that can harm your gut lining, cause brain fog, and trigger autoimmune reactions in some people.

I’ve had dozens of my friends and clients that saw dramatically improved digestion, more energy and clarity of mind, and autoimmune skin conditions that went away once they switched from brown rice to white rice.

Brown rice also contains significant amounts of toxic arsenic since the arsenic is in the hull, and not the white starch part of the rice. This is yet another reason that white rice is a lot better choice in my opinion.

A word of warning on white rice: While white rice is mostly just starch, and therefore can be used as a great source of muscle glycogen by healthy people that exercise frequently and intensely, I would urge caution for people with Diabetes to be careful with the quantity of white rice they are consuming and monitor their blood sugar carefully.

Now that we’ve talked about why we should avoid brown rice if we want to avoid many of these health issues, let’s take a look at a fun little quiz below and a few more foods…

Sweet Potato vs Pasta vs Squash (the #1 WORST starch for your gut & energy)

According to the best-selling author and world-renowned heart surgeon, Dr. Steven Gundry, there’s one starch people over 40 should never eat.

This starch can damage your gut and disrupt your hormones… It contains a toxin that damages the lining of your intestines, causes bloating, embarrassing gas, and a bulging belly.

Do you know the starch I’m talking about? Make sure you do by clicking the one below you think it is, and get the answer from Dr. Gundry himself on the next page:

>> Sweet Potato

>> Pasta

>> Corn

>> Squash

The post Brown Rice vs White Rice: The Worst Rice for Your Gut and Energy (Surprise, it’s not what you think) appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

If you’ve been led to believe that oat milk, peanut butter, almonds, and spinach are good for you, today’s email might shock you and is important to read, because these 4 “healthy foods” could be contributing to health problems in your body.

Let’s take a quick look at why…

1. Oat Milk

Oat milk has become a popular “plant milk” in recent years.  I see people all the time ordering “oat milk lattes” at coffee shops, and they probably have no idea how terrible that oat milk is for them.

Oat milk is basically oats soaked in water, with some added seed oils (canola oil usually), and added sugars and thickeners.

First of all, unless you get organic oat milk, your standard oat milk is contaminated with the harmful herbicide glyphosate which is known to cause serious damage to your gut, disrupting your microbiome health, and if that’s not bad enough, you probably already know that glyphosate is linked to cancer too.

Next, another reason I would never drink oat milk is because it’s usually processed with added seed oils such as canola oil, which are highly inflammatory in the body, contain large amounts of harmful omega-6 fats, and are linked to poor metabolic health such as Diabetes and obesity.

The next reason I would never drink oat milk is that it usually contains thickeners and gums such as carrageenan, which are highly irritating to your gut and can cause gut issues.

There’s also almost zero nutrition in oat milk compared to dairy milk (which contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals and protein).

Lastly, oat milk is also high in an anti-nutrient called phytic acid, which reduces your absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, potentially contributing to deficiencies in certain nutrients.

And while some people genuinely can’t digest dairy, most people would be better off nutritionally with just real grass-fed milk.

2. Peanuts, Peanut Butter

While peanut butter does contain a small amount of protein and vitamins/minerals, the cons outweigh the pros on this food.

First of all, peanuts contain one of the highest concentrations of aflatoxin, which is a mold toxin that is created in peanuts due to storage in moist conditions.

Peanut butter is also very high in inflammatory omega-6 fats and due to the processing of peanut butter, those omega 6 fats are in a harmful oxidized state.

Most people already get too much omega 6 fats from vegetable oils (soy, corn, canola, etc), and this contributes to insulin resistance, heart disease, brain inflammation, cancer, and lots more health problems, since most people are currently eating 5-10x more omega-6 fats than we should be eating in a healthy diet.

Lastly, peanut butter also contains medium amounts of oxalates, which are plant-based antinutrients that when consumed in excess can contribute to kidney stones, thyroid and gut problems, joint problems and more.

We’ll talk more about oxalates in the next food…

3. Spinach

Spinach is promoted as a healthy green, but contains FAR more downsides than good sides. Spinach is one of the highest oxalate foods that’s commonly eaten by modern humans (in addition to beet greens, beets, almonds, and other veggies and nuts).

The amount of oxalates in a serving of spinach is extremely high, up to 600 mg in a normal sized bowl.

The “safe” amount of oxalates in a daily diet according to world renowned oxalate expert Sally Norton should be between 100-200 mg per day total to avoid a lot of the health problems caused by high oxalate plants.

So you can see how concerning spinach is with the extremely high oxalate levels.

As mentioned above, eating too much oxalates too frequently can cause serious issues such as kidney stones, thyroid problems, gut damage, skin issues, and joint pain.

In fact, some people have even gotten “oxalate poisoning” by eating green smoothies too often and had to go to the ER for kidney failure.

4. Almonds, Almond butter, and Almond Milk

Although almonds and almond milk are marketed as healthy, they also contain many downsides, including all of the negatives mentioned above about too much omega 6 fats and too much oxalates.

They’re probably ok in your diet occasionally, but I personally avoid eating almonds too often because of these issues with excess oxalates and omega 6 fats.

Almond milk also has some of the same issues as oat milk in that it often contains added gums and thickeners like carageenan (irritating to your gut), and is pretty pathetic in terms of nutrition content compared to dairy milk.

Now let’s take a look at a fun little quiz below and a few more foods…

Bananas vs Oranges vs Apples… (the #1 WORST fruit for your gut & energy)

According to the best-selling author and world-renowned heart surgeon, Dr. Steven Gundry, there’s one fruit people over 40 should never eat.

This fruit can damage your gut and disrupt your hormones. Both sapping you of energy and forcing your body to create “sticky” fat cells that can NOT be “burned off” with normal diet and exercise.

Do you know the fruit I’m talking about? Make sure you do by clicking the one below you think it is, and get the answer from Dr. Gundry himself on the next page:

>> Apples

>> Bananas

>> Oranges

>> Grapes

The post Why I Mostly Avoid Peanut Butter, Almonds, Oat Milk, and Spinach appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

Most people that have a hard time sleeping well or falling asleep have already tried the normal things like magnesium and melatonin.

And those certainly can help some people to sleep better.

But what if there’s something more basic with your food intake that’s preventing you from sleeping well, and the solution is actually super easy?

What I’m talking about is carbohydrates…

Most people aren’t aware of this, but if you’re not eating enough carbohydrates, this can really harm your ability to sleep deeply. Let me explain quickly…

When you don’t eat enough carbohydrates, your body still has a large need for glucose inside the body for dozens of different reasons like hormones and proper functioning of your organs, so it needs to break down protein to create more blood sugar and it does this by elevating stress hormones.

The elevation of cortisol and other stress hormones assists your body in a process called Gluconeogenesis (breaking down protein to fulfill blood sugar needs)…

So if you don’t eat enough carbohydrates, this spikes your cortisol and other stress hormones and makes it harder to sleep.

One reason why people wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep is because they didn’t eat enough carbohydrates throughout the day, and their body is running out of easily accessible glucose, so the body spikes cortisol to create more blood sugar.

On the other hand, if you give your body MORE healthy carbs throughout the day (fruit, honey and starchy roots are my favorite carb sources), then your cortisol will stay low, and you won’t get that spike in the middle of the night waking you up.

Most people need anywhere from a minimum of 150 grams of carbs per day on the low end, up to maybe more like 300+ grams a day for more active people.

So people eating lower carb diets often just aren’t getting enough carbs, and this is why cortisol is spiking and not allowing you to sleep deeper at night.

I don’t necessarily recommend grains for your carbs (although white rice and sourdough bread are 2 of my carb sources that are easier on the body), but I prefer to get my carbs through fruit, honey, coconut water, juice, and starchy roots like potatoes and sweet potatoes.

I’ve recommended a spoonful of honey or a banana maybe 30-60 min before bed to a lot of my friends and clients suffering from sleep issues, and the majority of them tell me that they are sleeping MUCH better without waking in the middle of the night after adding more carbs to their daily diet.

With that said, you don’t want to miss this powerful tip below involving a cherry trick for sleeping deeper…

Why 3 AM Wake-ups Pack on Belly Fat

Sarah, 52, was trapped in a nightly nightmare:

Every night around 3 AM, her eyes would POP open…

Did I pay the electric bill?
What if mom’s test results are bad?
Are we saving enough for retirement?
Why did I snap at my daughter today?

Her mind would RACE for hours.

She’d stare at the ceiling, exhausted but wired, watching the clock tick toward 5 AM… 6 AM…

Then she’d drag herself through another zombie day.

Desperate and gaining weight fast, she finally went to her doctor…

“Every 3 AM wake-up is spiking your cortisol… Every cortisol spike is packing fat onto your belly.

No wonder you’re gaining weight at such a fast pace! Your broken sleep is destroying your body.” her doctor told her.

Then he recommended her a 30-second cherry trick that stopped the racing thoughts and repaired her broken sleep.

Results:

• Week 2: Sarah was sleeping through the night waking up refreshed
• Month 6: Sarah sleeps like a baby every night, she’s down 24 lbs, has a sharp mind and endless energy

Get The 30-Second Cherry Trick That Stops 3 AM Wake-ups and Racing Thoughts (works tonight!)

The post Eat these CARBS 1-hr before bed to sleep deep (and avoid 3am insomnia) appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

What the Microbes in Our Mouth and Pomegranate Have to do with Artery Plaque and Preventing Heart Failure

For years, we’ve been told that plaque buildup in arteries is just a natural part of aging or genetics. But what if that sticky sludge in your arteries started with what’s in your mouth?

A person’s oral health plays a bigger role in heart health than most people realize. And emerging research is showing that the pomegranate can help reverse some of the damage.

Let’s break it down:

The Oral Microbiome: More Than Just Bad Breath

Your mouth is home to over 700 species of bacteria, most of them beneficial. But others, like Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, can be major troublemakers.

These bacteria form biofilms that clings to teeth and gums. But they don’t just stay there.

When oral health is poor, these microbes can enter the bloodstream, triggering system-wide inflammation that can affect:

1. Blood vessels
2. Heart valves
3. Brain function
4. Immune response

In fact, researchers have found oral bacteria in arterial plaque, linking gum disease to atherosclerosis, heart disease, and even stroke.

What Is Arterial Plaque?

Just like dental plaque, arterial plaque is made of gunky substances that build up over time. It’s mostly:

• Oxidized LDL cholesterol
• Calcium from diet or supplements
• Dead white blood cells
• Inflammatory compounds floating around in the blood
• Pathogenic microbes from the mouth

This plaque builds up and narrows arteries, restricting blood flow, which is a recipe for heart attack or stroke.

Pomegranate—Nature’s Artery Cleanser

In a 2004 Israeli study, researchers gave patients with severe (70–90%) blockage, 1 ounce of pomegranate juice a day for one year. That’s not much.

The results?

A stunning 35% reduction in arterial plaque, while the placebo group saw a 9% worsening.

The pomegranate group also had:

• 21% drop in systolic blood pressure
• 21% drop in systolic blood pressure
• Improved blood flow

And that’s not all. Other studies have shown that pomegranate extract can reduce harmful oral bacteria, improve gum health, and lower inflammation.

The Mouth–Heart–Brain Connection

Bacteria that cause gum disease don’t just impact your heart. This bacteria has been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

This mouth-body connection is gaining traction in both mainstream and functional medicine, and it’s changing how we view plaque in all its forms. Oral health = Overall health.

How to Use Pomegranate for Better Health

• Drink unsweetened pomegranate juice daily, you only need 1–2 oz
• Brush with a probiotic toothpaste or rinse to balance oral flora
• Avoid mouth washes that kill germs!
• Floss daily, yes, it matters
• Avoid sugar and refined carbs, which stick to your teeth and feed plaque-forming bacteria
• Use xylitol gum or mints, which reduce harmful microbes

Bottom Line

Oral plaque and arterial plaque are more connected than you think.
Bacteria in your mouth can fuel inflammation throughout your body.
And pomegranate may help slow or even reverse that process.

It’s a powerful reminder that a healthy smile starts with a healthy body—and vice versa

With all of this said, if you want to prevent a deadly heart attack, you NEED to see this below…

“Most Heart Attacks Start Quietly… and It’s Not Cholesterol”

The post Pomegranate: Nature’s Artery Cleanser appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

I recently wrote a newsletter last week about how wild blueberries have powerful health benefits for your gut, inflammation, and for preventing fat gain too… Wild blueberries are even more powerful than regular blueberries for health benefits.

If you missed that newsletter, you can read it here about WILD blueberries and preventing fat gain.

But today, I want to also talk about frozen blueberries vs fresh…

You Absorb 3x More Blueberry Polyphenols from Frozen Blueberries.

Yes, it’s true… It turns out that frozen blueberries have their cell walls cracked open, which allows a type of polyphenol (anthocyanins) to be released and absorbed 3x better in your body than fresh blueberries.

If you’ve ever used frozen blueberries in yogurt or cereal, you’ll see the difference compared to fresh blueberries…

When you use frozen blueberries in yogurt for example, as the berries thaw, you’ll see streaks of blue starting to color the yogurt as you stir it. But with fresh blueberries, those blue anthocyanins stay inside the cell wall and are not absorbed as well in your body.

And those anthocyanins that are 3x better absorbed in frozen blueberries help fight inflammation in your body, while also helping prevent fat gain, and being beneficial for your heart and artery health too.

So the lesson here is that while fresh blueberries are definitely healthy, you get more significant health benefits from frozen blueberries.

Add frozen blueberries to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, cereal, and anything else that you love berries on!

While blueberries contain some unique anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, there’s ONE food below that might be the MOST powerful…

Do you wake up in the morning with stiff joints or pain in your hips, back, knees or elbows? Then chances are you’re feeling the effects of chronic inflammation taking its toll on your body.

The good news is that it is NEVER too late to help get this under control. And the best part is there are certain foods that help you do this naturally, without the need for prescriptions medications.

3-Sec Quiz: What is the #1 Anti-inflammatory Food?

A: Cherries
B: Pineapple
C: Cacao
D: Black Pepper
E: Other

Make your selection above or click here to skip straight to the answer.

Remember, it’s NEVER too late to get chronic inflammation under control. You just need to know how to do it.

Click here to discover the #1 anti-inflammatory food =>

The post Frozen blueberries vs Fresh blueberries: 3x more inflammation killing polyphenols in this one… appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

You may have heard that blueberries are packed with beneficial phytochemicals (polyphenols), but new research shows that WILD blueberries may also help you fight inflammation and even drop body fat right down at the cellular level.

In a recent published study Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition scientists looked at what actually happens after you eat wild blueberries. Turns out, once your gut microbiome processes the powerful polyphenols in these berries, they transform into potent compounds that directly impact fat storage and inflammation inside your body.

Wild blueberries are particularly more powerful than standard berries at the store (Don’t worry, wild blueberries are easily available frozen at most health food stores)…

Here’s what the study found:

Researchers exposed fat cells to wild blueberry compounds: isoferulic acid (IA) and vanillic acid (VA). These two compounds helped reduce fatty acid synthase, which is an enzyme your body uses to create and store fat.

That’s a direct hit to one of the key drivers of weight gain.

Meanwhile, a third compound called syringic acid ramped up another antioxidant enzyme known as HO-1, which helps defend your cells against oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

And all of this happened at real-life, food-based doses.

This means wild blueberries don’t just taste good or “fight free radicals.” They can actually change how your body manages fat and inflammation, which are two of the biggest culprits behind metabolic problems, fatigue, and chronic disease.

But there’s a catch: your gut bacteria play a massive role in unlocking these benefits.

That’s why gut health is about a lot more than just digestion. A well-balanced microbiome helps convert plant compounds into usable fuel, regulates inflammation, balances hormones, supports immunity, and even affects how your body stores and utilizes fat.

Targeted support, like the unique polyphenols from wild blueberries, cranberries, pomegranate, and even grapes, can help feed your good bacteria and keep this system running smoothly.

The bottom line is that wild blueberries aren’t just another trendy super-food. When your gut is in good balance, they become a metabolic ally, helping your body manage fat and inflammation with real studies to back it up.

And you don’t have to go foraging in the forest to find WILD blueberries, as most health food stores actually carry wild blueberries in the frozen fruit section. Add them to your smoothies, cereal, buckwheat pancakes, salads, yogurt, and possibly even on top of your healthy homemade ice cream.

Now that you know just how powerful wild blueberries are for your health (more powerful than regular blueberries), let’s take a look at a fun little quiz below and a few more foods…

QUIZ: Which of these snacks are terrible for your waistline?

According to leading gut health expert and former heart surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry, there’s a handful of “health snacks” that are terrible for your waistline.

One of these foods is even considered a staple in every healthy diet.

Let’s see if you can guess which one it is:

A. Sourdough Bread
B. Cottage Cheese
C. Olives

This is critical news if your goal is to have a slimmer waistline.

Answer revealed here >>

PS: There’s good news too… There is one simple snack that yields a power punch for your microbiome. This means a healthier digestion, less occasional bloating, and even a slimmer feeling physique. Write this name down.

The post Wild Blueberries Stop Fat Gain, Fight Inflammation, and Improve Gut Health (Better than Regular Blueberries) appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

As you probably know, I am very health-conscious, always digging through the latest research studies, books, and podcasts to keep up on cutting-edge health information.

Lately, I have been researching microplastics, and the amount we actually ingest and that get stuck in our organs is pretty scary.

So much of our food and drinks are packaged in plastic, and we store everything in those handy zip-lock bags that shed plastic into our food. There’s plastic in our kitchen utensils, our pots and pans, our clothing (anything synthetic is basically plastic), our mattresses, bedding, rugs (breathing in microplastics from your carpet that get lodged in your lungs and into blood stream), flooring, furniture, and on and on.

Plastic particles have now been found in studies in most of our organs, blood, lungs, ovaries, testicles, placentas, and brain tissue.

One recent study estimated the average person’s brain now contains the equivalent of a plastic spoon’s worth of plastic fragments. A plastic spoon. In your brain. And these particles are linked to inflammation, hormone disruption, fertility problems, heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.

For years the message has basically been, “sorry, you are full of plastic, there is no real way out, do your best to avoid it.”

But I recently saw this groundbreaking study and wanted to share it with you.

Researchers in South Korea found that a specific strain of healthy bacteria in kimchi can actually grab onto nanoplastic particles in the gut and pull them out of the body through normal digestion.

Scientists isolated the bacteria, called it CBA3656, and tested it in the lab, where it bound to 87% of the nanoplastics they threw at it. Then they fed it to mice, who excreted more than twice as much plastic in their stool compared to the control group. Twice as much. From bacteria in a fermented cabbage dish people have been eating for thousands of years.

Now, I do want to be honest with you. This was a study in mice, not in humans, and eating a jar of kimchi tomorrow is not going to suddenly detox you. But real, living, traditionally fermented foods are doing things in our bodies that modern medicine is only just beginning to measure.

traditionally fermented foods The kind with real “live bacteria” still in them, not the pasteurized supermarket versions sitting on the shelves. You’ll find them in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Or, you can easily make them yourself.

Here is what I am doing about it.

I have gone through our house and replaced everything synthetic I can find with natural fibers, from clothing and bedding to food storage and cookware. And to clear out the tiny plastic particles that may already be in my body, I am eating traditionally fermented foods every single day.

You can start small. Swap one synthetic thing at a time, and add one real fermented food to your plate this week. The more I learn, the more I realize the health fixes we are looking for have been sitting in our grandmothers’ kitchens the whole time.

For more on plastic found in everyday items… in this case, your food… keep reading:

3 Foods Loading Your Organs, Brain and Blood With Microplastics

According to Dr. Rick Cohen – a renowned Duke University MD – these 3 “micro-plastic foods” are secretly poisoning Americans…

Because they’re packed with tiny pieces of plastic that can…

💔 Spike heart attack risk by 450%
🧠 Build up inside your brain
☢️ Damage every organ in your body

Here’s a quick hint:

– Food #1: This is one of America’s favorite seafood, and everyone orders it at restaurants…
– Food #2: It’s a common veggie you probably have in your fridge right now…
– Food #3: This is something you sprinkle EVERY day on your meals…

Want to know exactly what these 3 foods are?

Get the answer below from Dr. Cohen himself:

>> 3 “micro-plastic foods” to AVOID at all costs.

The post Kimchi: This fermented food removed 87% of microplastics from the gut in a study appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

You might have heard before that real sourdough bread is a lot easier to digest and better for your health than regular bread. I’ve even written articles about sourdough before and why it’s a better choice than regular bread.

Most regular bread from the store or restaurants is a disaster for your gut, your blood sugar, and your weight. But sourdough is quite different!

Recently, I decided to do a test on myself and see how my body reacted to eating homemade sourdough bread every single day, 2-3x a day for 60 days.

Luckily, my girlfriend has gotten really good at making homemade sourdough the right way, and uses quality ingredients like organic flour.

And we’ve been LOVING having a piece of homemade sourdough bread every morning with grass-fed butter and organic strawberry jam with our morning coffee… It’s sooooo good!

So how did my gut feel, and how did my body handle eating sourdough bread twice a day?

Well first thing is that I didn’t gain any weight. I know, I was shocked too… bread is notorious for causing weight gain, but that’s low quality grocery store bread made with cheap flours contaminated with glyphosate, containing added inflammatory seed oils, and other additives.

But with eating sourdough 2-3x a day for 60 days, I honestly felt great every day, had a lot of energy, and stayed about the same weight.

But here’s the cool thing… My GUT has felt happier than I can remember in a long time.

The sourdough has seemed to improve my gut health. My daily poops are more regular than ever, and well formed (sorry if that’s TMI, but it’s important to take note of for your gut health).

And I haven’t had any bloating at all surprisingly. I’ve even had 3-4 slices of homemade sourdough on some days, and still no bloating!

When I looked into some of the research on sourdough bread, it makes a lot of sense why I saw an improvement in gut health.

Sourdough contains both prebiotics and postbiotics that are powerful for gut health. While probiotics generally get the most attention (and the probiotics in sourdough are killed during baking), but the PRE and POSTbiotics have their own powerful benefits for your gut.

Some studies even show regular sourdough consumption improves the microbiome diversity of your gut.

I even ran across a study showing that the pre and post-biotics in sourdough can boost your production of natural GLP-1 in your body, which controls your appetite. This might be why I found myself quite satisfied and not craving junk foods, even while enjoying sourdough 2-3x a day.

Also, the fermentation process (24-48 hours) of a good REAL sourdough breaks down both the phytic acid in normal bread and also the FODMAPs, which are what causes bloating when you eat normal bread.

Phytic acid is an anti-nutrient in most bread that blocks mineral absorption, but with sourdough fermentation, the phytic acid has been broken down so that you actually absorb more minerals from your food.

And it’s even shown that a good sourdough fermentation breaks down the gluten in bread to be more digestible too.

I even have a couple close friends that usually can’t eat gluten or they get a terrible reaction, but they’ve been able to eat high quality sourdough bread with no problems at all.

Research also shows a much healthier blood sugar response from eating sourdough compared to regular bread.

Overall, after 60 days of eating high quality homemade sourdough bread 2-3x EVERY DAY, I personally found that my energy was great, I didn’t gain any weight, I’ve had no bloating, and basically perfect poops and a happy gut!

Now that we’ve talked about why sourdough bread crushes regular bread for health benefits and a happy gut… let’s look below at a few more starchy food options, one of which could be damaging your gut and harming your hormones…

Sweet Potato vs Pasta vs Squash (the #1 WORST starch for your gut & energy)

According to the best-selling author and world-renowned heart surgeon, Dr. Steven Gundry, there’s one starch people over 40 should never eat.

This starch can damage your gut and disrupt your hormones… It contains a toxin that damages the lining of your intestines, causes bloating, embarrassing gas, and a bulging belly.

Do you know the starch I’m talking about? Make sure you do by clicking the one below you think it is, and get the answer from Dr. Gundry himself on the next page:

>> Sweet Potato

>> Pasta

>> Corn

>> Squash

The post I Ate Large Amounts of Sourdough Bread for 60 Days and This Happened to my Gut appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.