We have all heard the old adage “you are what you eat”, but science is discovering even more of a connection between our digestive tract and our overall health.

Commonly referred to as “gut health”, the gut microbiota, which consist of trillions of microbes, may influence more than bowel regularity and metabolism. These bacterium make up a 6-pound ecosystem inside of every human and produce hormones, communicate directly with our brain via the vagus nerve, and can even produce neurochemicals which influence behavior. Stomach bacteria and mood are connected in ways we never knew before, and scientists are racing to learn more about this fascinating discovery.

Epigenetics is an emerging science that mainstream biologists and medical professionals have largely ignored. It details how our environment can deeply change a human being for the better or worse. Bruce Lipton, PhD has talked about the fact that our health is not controlled by genes for many years, but now, a scientific experiment has proven that the archaic understanding that genes determine reality is largely untrue.

Lipton explains:

“Medicine does miracles, but it’s limited to trauma. The AMA protocol is to regard our physical body like a machine, in the same way that an auto mechanic regards a car. When the parts break, you replace them—a transplant, synthetic joints, and so on—and those are medical miracles.

The problem is that while they have an understanding that the mechanism isn’t working, they’re blaming the vehicle for what went wrong. They believe that the vehicle, in this case our bodies, is controlled by genes. But guess what? They don’t take into consideration that there’s actually a driver in that car. The new science, epigenetics, reveals that the vehicles—or the genes—aren’t responsible for the breakdown. It’s the driver.”

Source: www.everydayhealth.com | Original Post Date: October 26, 2015 –

Bad news for bacon lovers: Eating processed meats — including bacon, sausages, and hot dogs — can increase your risk of colon cancer, according to a report issued today by the World Health Organization (WHO).

A team of 22 health experts from 10 countries reviewed 800 studies on the disease in humans and concluded that, when eaten daily, each 50 grams (gm) of processed meat (the equivalent of about two slices of ham or sausage) increases the risk of colon cancer by 18 percent. WHO also noted that eating red meat, such as beef, pork, and lamb, can cause colon, prostate, or pancreatic cancer.

In heavily polluted areas, we all know that we should try to avoid inhaling whatever toxins are floating around as much as possible. That’s why when pollution gets especially bad in China, people are advised to stay indoors, and it’s one of the reasons behind the rise in surgical masks being worn in Tokyo, Japan.

But a new study has found that when it comes to certain airborne pollutants, called phthalates, our skin can absorb just as much as we’re breathing in. “We’re big sponges for these chemicals,” lead researcher, John Kissel from the University of Washington in the US, told Science News.

Phthalates are a group of ‘semi-volatile’ chemicals that are used to make plastic soft and flexible, or as dissolving agents for other types of materials, and are found in all kinds of cosmetics, fragrances, and household cleaners. Derived from oil, around 2 million tonnes of phthalates are produced across the world each year, and more than 20 different types are in common use.