Gut-Brain Axis

Man with anxiety

The connection between the gut and the brain is a two-way street. This ‘street’ is referred to as the gut-brain axis. For every 1 message going from the brain to the gut, there are 9 going from the gut to the brain! Your gut and brain are connected through the central nervous system, immune system, and…

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Leaky Gut

LEAKY GUT

Leaky Gut. This is a common phrase around the gut health realm. It’s used as an umbrella term to cover a common idea about the integrity of the intestines as a barrier to the outside world.  First, let’s talk about the structure of intestines. The human intestines are designed to serve as a barrier between…

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Consistency is Key

Consistency is key

Consistency is KEY. (We say this a lot.) The main job of probiotics is to support a healthy balance of bacteria in your body. Your gut is filled with millions of native bacteria. Some have harmful tendencies and some produce needed byproducts that the body uses to modulate many different pathways.   The potentially harmful bacteria…

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Who Can Benefit from Probiotics?

bloated

According to the American Journal of Gastroenterology, gut issues like bloating, constipation, and diarrhea account for over 100 million US outpatient care visits every year. That means 100 million trips to the doctor’s office. Not included in the study are the gut health issues handled by integrative or complementary medicine or other specialists such as…

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Hummus Bowl with Chicken ‘Shawarma’ Recipe

hummus bowl

Hummus is a great way to add fiber in a flavorful way to dinner. Personalize your hummus bowl with your favorite toppings – the sky is the limit! Just imagine your favorite protein or grain, crunchy vegetables, briny olives, pickled onion, and salty cheese on a velvety bed of hummus. Use pita, naan, or even…

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Hydration Motivation

Pouring water

The human body uses water for many processes to maintain homeostasis. It is also used in the body’s efforts to regulate body temperature, deliver nutrients, maintain electrolyte balance, and keep organs working correctly.  As we’ve learned before, one of the primary roles of the lining of the gut is to transport nutrients from the gut…

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Women as Bacterial Hosts

women

Yep. It’s true. Men and women are distinctly different from one another and studies are continuing to find that these differences affect the gut as well. Most science suggests the reason for these differences is due to the different hormones at play.   The female reproductive system is incredible: a reoccurring cycle that requires detailed regulation…

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Inflammation

chronic inflammation

What is the role of inflammation? Like a check engine light, inflammation is there to be an alarm. It lets you know something is wrong. Unlike your late-90s car dashboard lighting up, we shouldn’t ignore it. We need to look into the root cause of why the alarm is going off so we can make changes…

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Probiotics & Medication

flourish probiotics and medication

At Entegro Health HQ, we are often asked the question: Can I take Flourish while on medications or other supplements?  The answer (most of the time) is: YES! A healthy human gut microbiome is filled with a diverse array of bacteria from many different families. Humans have been consuming fermented foods for thousands of years. We…

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Fermentation Station

fermented foods smoked meats

Let’s talk about the wondrous world of fermentation. Fermentation has been a part of human life and in almost every culture around the world since the beginning of time. So, why has it been around for so long and why is it not exactly commonplace in our culture today?   Fermented Foods Defined  Fermented foods…

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