The Link Between Gut Bacteria And Your Kid's Behavior Just Got Stronger

Gut A Funny Feeling?

Ohio State University researchers have found that gut bacteria affect a toddler's temperament. After examining the stool samples of 77 kids aged 18-27 months, the researchers concluded that it was time to step outside and get some fresh air. They also concluded that mood, curiosity, sociability, impulsivity, and — in boys — extroversion were linked to more genetically diverse bacterial species.

Gut bacteria is having a moment lately, even receiving the Very Important Story treatment recently in the New York Times. The paper of record takes a deep dive into research that increasingly suggests the microorganisms swimming around your pipes not only digest food and fight disease, they secrete mood-regulating chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA.

"There is definitely communication between bacteria in the gut and the brain, but we don't know which one starts the conversation," says the OSU study's co-author Dr. Michael Bailey. "Maybe kids who are more outgoing have fewer stress hormones impacting their gut than shy kids. Or maybe the bacteria are helping mitigate the production of stress hormones when the child encounters something new. It could be a combination of both."

Gastrointestinal abnormalities have been linked to "anxiety, depression, and several pediatric disorders, including autism and hyperactivity," the Times reports. Research like that from OSU is focused on how the mood-regulating chemicals get from the gut to the brain, and how that process might be involved in chronic disease. But the implications could be way more pedestrian: Is there a dietary cure for looney toddlers?

"It is possible that effects of diet would emerge if we used a more detailed assessment," says Bailey's co-author, Dr. Lisa Christian. "It is certainly possible that the types or quantities of food that children with different temperaments choose to eat affect their microbiome."

Luckily there is a line of scientifically tested and doctor approved of dietary supplements just for kids aimed at gut health!  My own children have had dramatic success using DNA Miracles OPC-3 Chews, Digestive Enzymes & Probiotics, so much so that I am now a distributor of the products working with physicians to bring them to their patients!  Try them now and receive 10% Off by using THIS LINK and the coupon code: 10offMA at checkout.

Source: Fatherly.com

Acai Berry: Cure For Leukemia

Many people are fully aware that the Acai Berry is rich in antioxidants, but The Food World News reported that scientists at the University of Florida have discovered that the Acai Berry can even help fight leukemia.  

The demonstration and study of the berry has been a very surprising discovery.  It was confirmed by the Agricultural and food Institute of Florida that the extract of the Acai Berry has been proven to be effective it is on cancer cells which is unaffected by other treatments or therapies. When the juice from the berry was tested with leukemia, almost 86% of the cells had self destructed.

Read the entire article on Food World News.

To research other health benefits of Acai Berry extract click here.

32 Signs That You Have a Magnesium Deficiency

1. Anxiety
2. Seizures
3. Dizziness
4. Confusion
5. Cystitis
6. Memory loss
7. Potassium deficiency: may cause extreme thirst, fluid retention, and irritability
8. Muscle cramps
9. Migraines
10. Heart issues
11. Hypertension
12. Depression
13. Blood clots
14. Difficulty swallowing
15. Asthma
16. Liver and kidney disease
17. High blood pressure
18. Calcium deficiency
19. Bowel disease
20. Tremors
21. Osteoporosis
22. Constipation
23. Fatigue
24. Type II diabetes
25. Respiratory difficulties
26. Nausea
27. Fertility/childbearing issues: Getting or staying pregnant, preeclampsia, preterm labor
28. Insomnia
29. Tooth decay
30. Raynaud’s syndrome: may cause cold fingers or toes, color changes in skin due to temperature           changes, and numbness in extremities
31. Personality changes: often similar to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders
32. Hypoglycemia

How to Fix This Problem Now

If you don’t get enough magnesium every day, you’re doing your body a big disservice. This mineral is used in over 300 bodily processes and chemical reactions, so not getting enough may be severely hindering your health and your body’s potential.

Adding more magnesium-rich foods to your diet, such as those listed above, can help you increase your levels. Even if you try to get a variety of foods every day, though, you may still find that you can’t hit your recommended daily value.

That’s where supplementation comes in. You’ve got to pick a supplement that is good for your body. Many supplements have fillers like wheat, dairy, gluten, and sugar, none of which belong in a nutritional supplement.  Many people have had success using Isotonix Magensium which has no binders or fillers - it's a powder you mix with water and drink! And it's GMO free!

If you'd like to try it for yourself at 10% off click this link and use promo code 10offMA

Super Simple & Yummy Mashed Cauliflower

As you probably know by now, I follow the TLS Weight Loss Program.  And most of the time, I really don't miss eating grains.  But once the leaves start to fall off the trees and the temps dip below 50 my family wants spaghetti and meatballs!!!

I've gotten used having to cook "my food" and "their food" but sometimes I just want join the family and dive into a bowl of my home-made meatballs.  It's a recipe I made up myself and I don't know how much of each ingredient I use, but they are delicious every time.

I've tried all sorts of ways to trick myself into not missing the pasta - and before you say "Spaghetti Squash" let me tell you two things... #1 it doesn't taste like pasta and #2 It's not on my list of approved foods (too starchy).  Well, I think I finally found it!  Mashed Cauliflower!!!  It's so creamy and cheesy it felt like a was cheating with each bite, but I wasn't!

Here's  the "recipe" but honestly I never measure anything...

1 bag of frozen cauliflower

Low Fat Parmesan Cheese (the grated kind in the round container with the shaky top)

Unsweetened Coconut Milk

That's it...  3 ingredients!

• I microwaved the bag of cauliflower as per the instructions on the bag
• Threw it in the Ninja (aka food processor/blender) and blended until smooth 
• Poured in a tablespoon or two of Coconut Milk, just to get it creamy
• Put the mixture in a bowl and mixed in some "shaky cheese" (that's what my kids call it).  If I had to guess how much cheese, I'd say 1/4 cup maybe

I used about 1/2 of it under two meatballs and sauce and OMG it was HEAVENLY!  

You could add garlic, salt and pepper but since those were all in my meatballs I opted not to, but if you used this as a substitute for mashed potatoes (which is what people usually do) I think you may need at least some garlic & chives.

I hope you enjoy the Super Simple Mashed Cauliflower as much as I did and if you are also following TLS this recipe falls within the Rapid Results meal plan guidelines.