IN YOUR DAILY DOSE: You’ll discover that exposure to two types of microbes may reduce risk of allergies and obesity.

MAKING CHANGES: The addition of another family member may give your children the support they need to be healthier as they grow older.

FACT OR FICTION: What’s the link between peanuts and dynamite?

In The News

A new study from the University of Alberta followed babies into childhood and discovered those who came from homes with pets - 70 percent of which were dogs - had a lower incidence of asthma and obesity.

The researchers used fecal samples to determine what bacteria lived in the gut of each of the children, finding those who had healthy communities of two different bacteria had little asthma and much lower rates of obesity. Many of these children grew up in homes with dogs where bacteria may have been transferred from the pet’s fur or paws, or after petting.

SOURCE: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170406143845.htm

Daily Health Tip

Pets do more than improve the health of your gut microbiome. They also help to reduce your blood pressure, increase your activity level and improve your mood. Before buying a pet, be sure you’re ready for the responsibility that comes along with caring for a creature totally dependent on you.

Making Changes

Although dogs may help improve the bacterial climate in your gut, there are other strategies you may use to improve the health of good bacteria and reduce overgrowth of bad bacteria.

What you eat affects the growth of bacteria in your gut that outnumbers the number of cells in your body. This bacteria is responsible for the strength of your immune system and impacts the inflammatory response in your body - which in turn affects your heart health, risk of stroke and potential for suffering immune mediated diseases, such as lupus.

You may make significant impact on your gut microbiome by making just a couple of changes to your diet. Researchers have discovered people eating a variety of vegetables have a more diverse microbiome (important to health). Sugar feeds the bad bacterial growth in your intestines.  Here are several strategies that may help you:

1. Consider using a quality probiotic and prebiotic supplement - the first to add a diverse microbiome to your gut and the second to feed them.
2. Reduce or eliminate your sugar intake, smoking and alcohol consumption as each negatively affects your gut bacteria, your immune system and your heart health.
3. Increase the amount of non-carbohydrate fiber you eat daily as it feeds your good bacteria and found in vegetables.
4. Reduce the amount of carbohydrates you eat each day as these foods metabolize into sugar in your body.

Daily Affirmation

Focusing on the goal at hand helps me to avoid distractions.
My ability to succeed relies on me focusing on the goal at hand. Focus allows me to have a clear mind to make sound decisions. I condition my mind to avoid distractions and remain attentive.

Fact or Fiction?

Peanuts are a staple in some people’s diets. But, did you know that one ingredient in the peanut can be used to make dynamite? Dynamite is highly explosive, consisting of nitroglycerine and an absorbent material.  Essentially the peanuts can be processed to produce glycerol which in turn is used to make the nitroglycerine. However, there are other ways of manufacturing the glycerol, so while not completely true, it isn’t completely false either.

Have a wonderful day!

Your Healthy Life America Team