Sixty-five percent of people have trouble digesting regular milk. Lactose usually gets blamed for this widespread “milk intolerance,” but lactose is only part of the problem. The other problem is a milk protein called A1 beta-casein.

A1-beta casein is the biggest problem food nobody’s ever heard of. Studies suggest it causes digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain in a significant number of people.

Most regular milk contains A1 beta-casein because most cows have A1-producing European genes. But there’s a fix. You can breed cows to produce a more digestible milk protein called A2 beta-casein, the original protein produced by cows. The milk from these specially-bred cows is called A2 milk. (By the way, Pioneer Pastures cows are A2 cows, and our milk protein shake is lactose and A1 beta-casein-free.)

Here’s the big takeaway. Regular milk contains A1 and A2 beta-casein, but A2 milk contains only A2 beta-casein. Science suggests that A2 milk is easier to digest for some people and may be better for long-term health.

At Pioneer Pastures, we want more folks to drink A2 milk so the benefits ripple through society. It’s why we got into this business.

Below, explore the digestive benefits of A2 milk and dive deeper into the research by clicking the links. You’ll learn why regular milk causes gut issues for some and how A2 solves them.

Why Regular / Non-A2 Milk May Cause Digestive Issues

Two components of regular A1 milk give folks the most digestive trouble:

1. Lactose
2. A1 beta-casein

Lactose intolerant people lack the enzyme (lactase) that digests lactose, the primary sugar in milk. Without lactase, you can’t break down lactose before it reaches the small intestine. When lactose reaches the small intestine intact, it meets gut bacteria that ferment this milk sugar, causing gas, diarrhea, and other GI symptoms.

Most people, including many doctors, blame lactose intolerance for all milk digestion issues. But many folks with so-called “lactose intolerance” don’t actually have problems absorbing or digesting lactose. And so, there must be another cause for milk digestion issues. That cause may be A1 beta-casein from regular milk.

Here’s why A1 beta-casein may be problematic for some. When we digest this milk protein, it turns into another compound called beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7). (Digesting A2 beta-casein, by the way, doesn’t create BCM-7.) The European Food Safety Authority flagged BCM-7 in a 2009 scientific report, noting its wide-ranging adverse effects on the gut and other organ systems. Since then, the scientific research against BCM-7 has continued to mount, especially in the realm of digestion in animal studies.

5 Ways A1 Beta-Casein May Impair Digestion

Regular milk contains A1 beta-casein, which you digest into BCM-7. BCM-7, in turn, may impair digestion via several mechanisms.

As you read this section, understand that most of this mechanistic evidence has been shown in animals, not humans. Human evidence suggests A1 beta-casein causes more digestive symptoms than A2 beta-casein, and researchers are still unraveling why. With this in mind, here are five possibilities based primarily on animal research.

#1: Reduced gut motility

Gut motility refers to the movement of food and fluids through your digestive tract. Proper gut motility keeps you regular and prevents food from lingering in the gut, fermenting, and causing gas, loose stool, and other symptoms.

Specialized “opioid receptors” in the gut control this system. BCM-7 interacts with these receptors, reducing gut motility. Opioid drugs have a similar effect, which is why these drugs cause constipation.

In a 2014 study, rats fed regular milk had reduced gut motility compared to rats fed A2 milk. A 2016 human trial involving 45 Chinese people had a similar finding.

#2: Increased inflammation

In this context, inflammation refers to an unnecessary, damaging immune response that causes digestive symptoms. The gut houses – most of the body’s immune cells, making it an inflammatory hub.

Mice given regular milk (or BCM-7 directly) showed higher levels of gut inflammation. These mice had more immunoglobulins, inflammatory cytokines, and white blood cells — markers of inflammation linked to digestive distress. Mice given A2 milk did not have these problems.

#3: Altered gut microbiome

The trillions of microbes in your gut (your gut microbiome) can either aid or impair digestive health. Everything you consume influences this massive colony.

In mice, drinking A2 milk led to a healthier gut microbiome vs drinking regular milk. Specifically, A2 mice made more short-chain fatty acids, beneficial compounds produced by gut bacteria. Conversely, regular milk drinking mice had more inflammation, possibly because the regular milk encouraged the proliferation of a family of bacteria called Ruminococcaceae.

Bottom line? We need human studies, but animal evidence suggests that A2 milk is better for gut critters than regular milk.

#4: Excess mucin production

Mucin is a protein that structures mucous (mucous lines your gut, lungs, and other organ systems). Proper mucin levels keep your gut running like a Swiss clock. Accordingly, too much mucin impairs gut motility and disrupts the balance of gut bacteria, causing digestive symptoms. In rats, the administration hub of casein hydrolysate (which contains A1 and A2 beta-casein) led to higher mucin production, though the effect wasn’t statistically significant. In the isolated rat intestine, BCM-7 administration increased mucin production, suggesting A1 beta-casein is to blame for the excess production.

#5: Lactose intolerance

Not everyone with milk intolerance has lactose intolerance. Some folks may react to A1 beta-casein instead. Others may react to both lactose and A1 beta-casein in regular milk.

Researchers believe BCM-7 from A1-beta casein may contribute to lactose intolerance via mechanisms we covered earlier:

• Inflammation may decrease lactase production
• Altered gut bacteria may affect lactose absorption
• Reduced gut motility gives lactose more time to ferment

Will switching to A2 milk cure lactose intolerance? Science hasn’t answered this question, but it may be worth a personal experiment.

A2 vs. Regular Milk for Digestion: Clinical Evidence

The strongest evidence for A2 milk improving digestion comes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the gold standard of science.

In RCTs, researchers randomly assign human participants to experimental or control groups. This method reduces researcher bias while allowing science to test one condition vs another.

These RCTs looked at consuming A2 milk (experimental condition) vs. regular milk (control condition) to compare effects on digestion:

1. 2024 RCT from the Journal of Cancer Prevention. Forty people who drank A2 milk for two weeks had less abdominal pain, diarrhea, stomach gurgling, and fecal calprotectin (a marker of inflammation) than when they drank regular milk for two weeks.
2. 2016 RCT from Nutrition Journal. Forty-five people who drank A2 milk for two weeks had less digestive discomfort, better bowel motility, reduced inflammation, and enhanced cognitive function than when they drank regular milk for two weeks.
3. 2014 RCT from European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Forty-one people who drank A2 milk for two weeks had firmer stool and less inflammation than when they drank regular milk for two weeks.

The takeaway? The science strongly suggests that A2 milk causes fewer digestive issues than regular milk in some people.

Running Your A2 Experiment

A well-run human study doesn’t prove that A2 milk helps you. You have to test it in the laboratory of your body.

If regular milk is bothering your gut, run an experiment. Switch to A2 milk for at least two weeks and note any changes. Are things running smoother down there? Do you have less gas, bloating, or stomach pain? If you answer yes to any of these questions, consider permanently switching to A2 milk.

It doesn’t have to be a perfect experiment. If you’ve been avoiding dairy for years, you don’t have to reintroduce regular milk as a control condition. Just try A2 milk and see how you feel.

A quick note. If you have a milk allergy (vs. milk or lactose intolerance), stay away from dairy products altogether, including A2 milk. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns. Allergies are serious business.

Assuming you don’t have a dairy allergy, it’s easy to bring A2 milk into your life. Pioneer Pastures makes the world’s first ultra-filtered A2 milk protein shake that is also lactose free. It’s a simple and delicious way to get more protein in a highly-digestible format. Getting more protein (from A2 milk or other sources) helps support muscle mass, hormonal health, and weight management. It’s a win-win.

Remember, our cows are special cows that only produce A2 milk. There’s no A1 beta-casein to worry about. A better cow, a better milk.

The A2 Revolution is Just Beginning

The A2 revolution is just beginning. It will get much bigger.

Over half the world has trouble digesting milk. If we can change that number by a few percentage points, we could improve hundreds of millions of lives.

Start with your diet, though, because that’s the only diet you have complete control over. Good luck with your A2 experiment.

Link to original article: A2 Milk for Digestion: Why It Beats Regular Milk

Try these delicious Pioneer Pastures High Protein, Low Sugar, A2 protein shakes (easier on your digestion)

The post A2 Milk for Digestion: Why It Beats Regular Milk appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Cat Ebeling, BSN,co-author of the best-sellers: The Fat Burning Kitchen,The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging&The Diabetes Fix

Headaches, skin rashes, skin breakouts, brain fog, depression, anxiety, ADHD and even anemia may be sly symptoms of gluten intolerance–even if you have tested negative for celiac disease. And even if you’ve never had any of the digestive discomfort that most people recognize as the primary symptom of gluten intolerance.

You see, conventional tests done by your doctor may only be showing you a small part of the picture. While the standard gluten lab test may turn up negative, you can still be having a serious physical and mental reaction to gluten and other components in wheat, rye and barley.

Here’s the reason–

Wheat contains more than just the ‘gluten’ that you react to. Wheat contains several proteins including gliadin, alpha gliadin, glutenins, agglutinins, and prodynorphins that can cause reactions.

When wheat is eaten, the body begins to break down these proteins in the digestive tract. Enzymes called tissue transglutaminases (tTGs) are produced. During this process, additional proteins are formed called deamidated gliadins and gliadorphins. Yes, I know that is a lot to ‘digest’, but stay with me on this–

Celiac disease does major damage to the small intestine and destroys its sensitive lining that absorbs nutrients from food. When you are tested for celiac disease, you are tested for only ONE specific gliadin, alpha gliadin and tissue transgluaminase, tTG-2.

But here’s some VERY important points to consider:

• People can and do react negatively to other components in wheat and gluten that are not included in the standard celiac/gluten intolerance test.
• Even if you test negative for celiac disease you can have serious negative reactions to other wheat proteins or transglutaminases.
• For every ONE case of celiac disease diagnosed, 6.4 cases of gluten intolerance remain undiagnosed — many with NO gastrointestinal symptoms at all. That means that only about 15 percent of people with gluten issues are actually diagnosed.
• Gluten intolerance can be a real health problem. This is called Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or NCGS.

Silent Celiac Disease

The common symptoms that most physicians recognize as being associated with celiac disease are bloating, gas, indigestion and diarrhea. What is less common are some of the other physical symptoms—some of the serious—of gluten intolerance, that may not even include any digestive symptoms at all.

Gluten intolerance can manifest itself in a variety of ways in different body systems, making it a tricky masquerader. This insidious condition can affect nearly every system in the body including brain, nervous system, bones, teeth, skin, endocrine system, liver, blood vessels, and of course the digestive system.

Brain Fog

Brain fog can happen as a result of inflammation, and inflammation is one of the hallmarks of this health issue. Brain fog can occur in the morning when you first wake up, hours after you’ve ingested gluten, or can happen right after eating foods containing gluten. Brain fog makes you feel excessively tired and fatigued, with a feeling of fogginess, making it hard to focus or think clearly.

Depression and Anxiety

At least a quarter of those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance report anxiety or depression frequently. Studies show that those with celiac disease or NCGS have reported that they are much more likely to feel anxious, have panic disorder, social phobias, ADHD or depression.

Another way to look at this is if you have any issues with anxiety, depression, or ADHD, you should strongly consider eliminating ALL gluten from your diet for at least 2-3 weeks to see if you have an improvement in symptoms. It is very possible that these symptoms are a manifestation of either silent celiac disease or NCGS.

Headaches and Migraine

Headaches and migraines have a strong connection to gluten reactions as well. In fact, people with celiac disease and NCGS report having headaches and migraines at a much higher rate than the rest of the population. If you have frequent headaches or migraines, it’s time to consider removing gluten from your diet.

A 2018 review of multiple studies published in Nutrients found that the prevalence of headaches reported in those who had diagnosed celiac disease was 26 percent, significantly higher than control groups without celiac sensitivity. The review also noted that headaches and migraines, were often reported as the first symptom of celiac disease—a far cry from the usual digestive issues.

To back up this up, another study in the medical journal Headache found that 56% of people with reported gluten sensitivity, and 30% of those with diagnosed celiac disease, suffered from chronic headaches compared to only 14% of people in the non-celiac control group.

Skin Rashes and Eczema

People with silent celiac disease (no digestive symptoms) or NCGS can also develop painful burning rashes, psoriasis, or other undefined dermatitis. This occurs after consuming foods with gluten in them, although it may be very difficult to discover the connection if there are no corresponding digestive symptoms to go with this.

The most common skin disorder connected to gluten causes is a painful rash called dermatitis herpetiformis. DH is actually a skin condition closely linked to celiac disease or NCGS.

One of the hallmarks of this skin condition is that the reaction to gluten occurs primarily in the skin, but no obvious intestinal discomfort is apparent. While people with DH are at the same risk for the complications suffered by people with celiac disease, as many as 20% of people with DH may have a normal intestinal biopsy.

DH can be diagnosed definitively with a skin biopsy. If you have odd itchy rashes or scaly skin, eliminate all gluten from your diet and see what happens. You may notice a positive result immediately.

[Personally, I suddenly started having horrible, burning, extremely itchy rashes all over my face and neck in my mid 40’s. I had no digestive symptoms to speak of. Although I went to several doctors no one could find a cause. It took me two full years of eliminating possible irritating foods, lotions, and soaps to figure out a connection. Once I removed all gluten from my diet, no more rashes!]

Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is a very common trait linked to both celiac disease and NCGS. Some research notes that it may often be the FIRST noticeable connection to celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, and up to 75 percent of those who have been diagnosed with anemia may also be gluten intolerant. Studies show that anemia is reported as the most frequent symptom of adult celiac disease or NCGS.

Gluten disorders interfere with absorption of iron, vitamins and other minerals in the gut and anemia tends to be one of the first signs of malabsorption. Even worse, anemia makes one feel tired and weak, further exacerbating the fatigue that gluten can cause.

Long Term Damage Caused by Celiac Disease or NCGS

If the above health symptoms don’t get your attention about the possibility of eliminating gluten from your diet, take a look at the list below. These diseases often result from long-term exposure to gluten—whether it is celiac disease, silent celiac disease or NCGS. These include:

• Epilepsy
• ADHD
• Schizophrenia
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Thyroid Disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Dementia
• Gluten Ataxia

One study actually found a very strong link to gluten sensitivity and neurological conditions of unknown origin. And for some people with gluten sensitivity, the primary symptom they experienced was neurological dysfunction. The data suggests that nearly 60 percent of people with neurological dysfunction of unknown origin test positive for anti-gliadin antibodies.

What about you? Are you or anyone you know experiencing any of the above health issues? Even if you have tested negative for gluten or don’t have any of the usual digestive reactions to gluten, gluten may still be the root cause for some of your nagging health problems.

There is no ‘for-sure’ test for non-celiac gluten sensitivity, but as many as 1 out of 20 Americans may have this malady. And unfortunately, many doctors still do not believe that NCGS even exists in spite of it being validated as a real clinical condition.

Since conventional medical doctors may still be hesitant to connect gluten to various health issues. I still believe the very best test for gluten reactions is to do an elimination diet for 30 days, and then reintroduce it for 48 hours, eating it at every meal. Record all physical, mental and emotional symptoms ranging from 1 hour after gluten ingestion to 48 hours after the last gluten consumed.

The majority of studies here have investigated whether or not certain health issues are signs of gluten intolerance, and whether or not they can be addressed by going gluten free. And it turns out, these health problems—including the serious health problems—improved or totally resolved when following a gluten-free diet.

According to Dr. Chris Kresser, this test by Cyrex Laboratories offers a comprehensive blood panel that will screen for all wheat and gluten proteins. Even then, it should not totally replace a gluten challenge. Note: this blood test will need to be ordered by your physician or another healthcare provider.

Whether you may have silent or atypical celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, it is important to eliminate gluten from your diet to avoid long term damage to your bones, brain, nerves, digestive system, and more.

If you suffer from celiac disease, NCGS, or just want to AVOID gluten completely and you love bread, I have some NEWS for you!!!

My friend Kelly came up with the most delicious, healthy and most important gluten free bread! Click here to enjoy the world’s healthiest bread!

References
https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/related-conditions/dermatitis-herpetiformis/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/gluten-sensitivity-vs-celiac-disease-562964
https://www.verywellhealth.com/surprising-signs-you-may-have-a-gluten-allergy-4147574
https://www.verywellhealth.com/celiac-disease-and-migraine-563110

The post ‘Silent’ Celiac Disease May be Destroying Your Health appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at TheAlternativeDaily, a leading publisher of daily alternative health tips that I personally read every day…The original article can be found here:

While the subject of our bathroom habits is usually either brushed under the rug or discussed in the form of embarrassing jokes, it is actually a complex and important area of health that should not be ignored.

We’ve talked about healthy bathroom habits and ways to resolve constipation, and today we will discuss the buoyancy of poop in particular. Whether your poops bob at the surface or dive to the bottom can be a sign of many things to do with your health and nutritional status.

Here are some of the hidden wellness messages that can be deciphered from the contents of your toilet.

Poor digestion of fats

A common conclusion in the health community is that floating poops are a sign of poor digestion. When the floating stool sticks to the side of the toilet bowl and is difficult to flush, or an oily sheen appears on the surface of the water, fats in the diet are likely left undigested.

So what can be done about floating poop? Talk to a trusted health practitioner about the health of your liver, gallbladder and pancreas, all of which are involved in producing the bile that is used to digest fats.

Too little fiber

While many sources seem to indicate that sinking poops are preferred, others suggest that floaters are a sign that the diet contains a good amount of fiber. This is because those who eat more fiber, also known as prebiotics, have greater colonies of bacteria in the lower gut. This leads to poop that contains more gases produced by the bacteria. The gases make waste less dense and cause poop to float.

Regardless of whether you are seeing floaters or sinkers in the toilet, make sure that your diet contains lots of vegetables, fruit, nuts and legumes to ensure that an adequate amount of fiber is being consumed. The goal is to get at least 35 grams each day.

If fiber is a new thing in your diet, start slowly! Otherwise the number of bacteria feasting on all that fiber may increase too quickly and cause digestive discomfort.

Celiac disease

Some experts believe that floating poops could be a sign of celiac disease. Gluten leaves the gut inflamed and unable to digest food properly. Stools may float and be grey or tan in color, and have a foul odor. A particular concern is if you see floating, soft, diarrhea-like stool frequently or for an extended period. If this is you, consider getting tested for celiac disease, or better yet, simply decide to eliminate gluten from your diet!

Constipation

On the other hand, sinking poops can be a sign of chronic constipation. Constipation can occur when a person doesn’t have enough digestive motility (i.e., the intestines are not working to push the waste along). There are many causes of constipation, such as poor diet, anxiety, lack of exercise and not drinking enough water.

Common solutions are to drink more water to help hydrate the bowel and the stool, take magnesium supplements to relax the intestine, and use herbal remedies such as aloe vera juice and cayenne pepper, which are known to improve elimination.

Does the floater vs. sinker debate really matter?

In the end, many health experts do not emphasize the buoyancy of poop (or lack thereof). More important is the frequency, shape, color and smell. Use the following checklist to determine if you are a healthy pooper:

• Eliminate at least once per day (but not more than three times).
• Have poops that are smooth and about the shape of a banana, not too hard and not too soft.
• Color should be an even medium brown with no visible bits of food, fat, blood or mucus.
• Smell should be fairly neutral, not overly unpleasant.

The more points you answer “yes” to above, the better your poop health is! Ideally you will experience a mix of floaters or sinkers on different days, along with some that just hover in the water and don’t go to either extreme.

How does your poop stack up? Make sure you take a moment to check it out next time you go! If your toilet habits need a little upgrading, try these smoothie recipes that help promote good poops.

Constipation? Eat this Vegetable to Flush Out Trapped Poop:

Could eating one vegetable fix stuck poop for good?

According to a breakthrough study from researchers in India…

The answer is YES.

See, most people don’t realize that a single vegetable, eaten daily by villagers in one remote region, is the reason they have the lowest rates of constipation in the entire country.

Out of 1.4 billion people.

Scientists discovered this vegetable contains a rare compound that gently “wakes up” the bowels…

So poop slides out effortlessly instead of getting stuck.

The crazy part?

This vegetable has been used for over 3,000 years in ancient medicine.

But most Americans have never heard of it.

=> Constipated? Eat THIS vegetable

To smooth satisfying poops!

Sources:
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM197205042861804
http://www.livescience.com/36689-poop-health-signs-disease-infection.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9299672
http://www.nature.com/ajg/journal/v98/n4/abs/ajg2003199a.html
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/8995945

The post Does Your Poop Sink or Float? (And Why It Matters) appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at TheAlternativeDaily, a leading publisher of daily alternative health tips that I personally read every day…

By Krista Hillis, TheAlternativeDaily.com

There are some things that remain unchanged from child to adulthood — and giggling when you toot is one of them. Whether you blame it on the dog or your husband, passing gas is a normal bodily function. However, is it possible to fart too often? Are your daily farts trying to tell you something? If you have noticed that you’re overly gassy lately, here’s what you need to know.

What are farts, anyway?

The average person farts nearly every day, so what is it that we’re passing? Also known as “flatulence,” a fart is simply an internal build-up of gas. More specifically, farts are made up of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, methane and hydrogen. What a lovely little gaseous cocktail, eh

Although these gases are formed during the process of respiration and digestion, the true cause of excessive gas will depend on personal circumstances. For the most part, farts are silent and odorless. It’s estimated that only around one percent of farts produce a foul smell.

No need to be embarrassed. It’s quite natural and, in many cases, healthy! In fact, a healthy person may pass gas around 15 to 20 times per day. But is that a “normal” standard?

What causes farting?

There are a number of reasons why gas gets trapped in the body, including swallowing air, constipation and changes in microflora. When someone begins to experience an excessive buildup of gas, this may mean:

• You’re suffering from intolerances or food allergies
• You’re experiencing bacterial overgrowth
• You are constipated
• You are experiencing symptoms of IBS, Crohn’s, etc.
• Fermentation is occurring within the gut

More often than not, farting is harmless. It is a normal metabolic function. And for those who consume plenty of fiber-rich foods, increased flatulence may indicate a diet that promotes positive health. Take beans, for example, a food that’s known to cause gas. This is due to the type of carbohydrates which ferment in the gut.

In that sense, I’m not going to throw out a “magic” number. How many times you fart during the day may vary. Do not focus too much on how often you’re farting, but why you are passing more gas than usual. What other symptoms, if any, have you noticed?

Am I an excessive farter?

If you have noticed that you’re overly gassy lately, start to keep track. How many times did you break wind throughout the day? What did you eat? Start to document these key pieces of information.

Although tooting more than 23 to 25 times daily is considered to be more than normal, if you’re farting more than that, there’s still no need to panic. A good rule of thumb is this: if excessive gas and bloating affect your quality of life, then it’s best to get a professional opinion.

In many cases, it’s something as simple as lactose intolerance. If you’re suffering from excessive gas and bloating, however, you may want to focus on the following possibilities:

1. You’re a fast eater

Do your loved ones often tell you to slow down when you’re eating? Do you eat quickly when you’re on-the-go? Perhaps you chew a lot of gum? Either way, when you eat rapidly, you tend to swallow more air. Once that air (made up of various gases) gets into your body, it has to come out somehow. If you don’t burp it up, you may find that it’s coming out the other end.

2. Your gut is imbalanced

As mentioned, a small percentage of farts are those stinky bombs that make this act so embarrassing. You would think that rotten farts indicate something is the matter, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Generally speaking, stinky gas is generally caused by the breakdown of sulfur.

Since there are many healthy foods that contain sulfur, including broccoli and beans, stinky gas does not automatically indicate poor health. With that being said, if you notice that the stench of your farts is overly awful — and your diet is less than ideal — this could mean you’re suffering from an underlying condition.

If you’re farting often, you may think that you’re unhealthy. But the truth is, passing gas can mean that your gut is being properly fed. The healthy microbes that live in our gut, are known to promote a wide range of health benefits. In order for these microbes to get nutrients, we must eat foods that cause gas.

When there’s undigested food in the large intestine, including fiber and other hard-to-digest carbs, these microbes get to work. In turn, more gas is created — as well as short-chain fatty acids, which promote the growth of other beneficial bacteria.

Farting is healthy, just not too much

I think this is important to mention, as it’s often recommended that we eat more probiotics. However, fiber is equally critical. Based on a recent study, published in Cell, researchers found that microbes need fiber in order to maintain optimal health. When they do not get natural fiber as a food source, they can actually begin to eat the layer of mucus that lines the gut — potentially leading to infection.

So, passing wind while consuming a healthy diet is fairly normal — but excessive gas could also mean you’re suffering from SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Normally, the majority of bacteria is found inside the colon, but in this case, bacteria begins to invade the small intestine.

In turn, individuals experience poor nutrient absorption and symptoms often associated with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Along with increased flatulence, you may also experience bloating, fatigue, skin rashes and weight loss. If this is the case, you will need to address your current diet. Implement herbal remedies, including the use of lemon balm and oregano oil.

3. You’re sensitive to gluten or dairy

Even if you have been eating dairy your whole life without any noticeable issues, your system can change as you age. Over the course of time, your body may no longer produce enough lactase. The same is true for those who can not properly break down gluten — which is the case among those with celiac disease.

Whenever you believe something in your diet is to blame for any abnormal symptoms, including excessive flatulence, it’s best to try an elimination diet. Stop eating all dairy, for instance, and then see how you feel. Continue this process, focusing on FODMAP carbohydrates, including wheat, dairy, onions, garlic, legumes and stone fruit (cherries and peaches).

Although many FODMAP carbohydrates are healthy, they can be hard to break down. Each individual is different, so it’s best to keep a food journal and identify key triggers. Once you better understand the cause, you can create a more effective action plan.

Listen to your body

From hormonal changes to constipation, there are a number of reasons why you may be tootin’ more often. As mentioned, unless you fart a lot (30 or more times daily), or you’re finding that excessive flatulence is affecting your quality of life, your body is more than likely just doin’ its thing.

Like all symptoms, your body is trying to communicate with you. The more in-tune you are, the easier it will be to maintain positive health. So, listen to your body. In this case, your farts will do all the talking.

The original source of this article is found here

“Speaking of digestive issues…”

This “pooping trick” helps people slim down fast after 40

One of the reasons why losing weight after 40 is a struggle has NOTHING to do with your diet, your metabolism, or even exercising…

And everything to do with keeping your bowels active.

If you’re having pooping problems, your body isn’t digesting food and eliminating toxins properly.

So your bowels get clogged, leaving you with up to 10 pounds of toxic poop stuck in your gut.

The good news is, Stanford researchers have found a way to jumpstart the bowels and release up to 10 pounds of stuck poop to eliminate bloat and shrink your belly.

It’s already helping thousands of people lose weight and stay slim with LESS effort…

> Discover the “pooping trick” people over 40 are using to slim down fast.

The post What Your Farts Are Trying To Tell You appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.