by Alanna Ketler, Collective-Evolution

I think by now many of us are aware of the important role probiotics play in our digestive health. In case you didn’t know, probiotics are bacteria that reside in our intestinal tract; other types of probiotics are yeast.

We obtain probiotics by eating certain foods and supplements, and there are many different types of probiotics with each one behaving differently in our gut. We’ve been ingesting probiotics for thousands of years, even though the term probiotic itself is fairly new. Probiotics come from any food that is cultured or fermented, including: yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, sauerkraut, kimchi, sourdough bread, miso, tempeh, kombucha, and even beer and wine.

Food Is A Better Source Of Probiotics Than Supplements

There are tons of different probiotic supplements on the market, and while these can ensure you are getting your required dose, they may not me the most beneficial for you to consume. Besides, we shouldn’t have to rely on supplements to guarantee proper nutrition, as a diverse, healthy diet should be adequate for the essential vitamins and minerals we need.

by Alexa Erickson, Collective-Evolution

Obesity is one of our most pressing health problems today, affecting millions worldwide. In America alone, 35 percent of adults battle with it daily.

The main causes are an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and genetics, but considering how many people are affected by this issue and how much strain it is placing on our already overburdened medical systems, researchers are desperate to find other avenues to treat it. And through their efforts, they have now discovered that our gut plays a crucial role in weight management.

New evidence suggests that gut bacteria alter the way we store fat, how we balance levels of glucose in the blood, and how we respond to hormones that make us feel hungry or full. If we have the wrong mix of microbes from birth, we may be predisposed to obesity and diabetes.

Thankfully, researchers are starting to find the differences between the wrong and the right ones, and what factors determine those differences. Their hope is that, with this knowledge, they can prevent and maybe even reverse obesity. We also need to learn how to keep our gut microbes happy in order to avoid weight gain. This begins with redesigning our food choices.

by Arjun Walia, Collective-Evolution

Alternative cancer treatments are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people begin to question conventional treatments and seek out less harmful options. While many in the medical field claim this is dangerous and can cost lives, many patients know that the success rate of chemotherapy is quite low, and question whether the toll it takes on the body is worth the risk.

According to a 2004 report by Morgan, Ward, and Barton, the contribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adult malignancies survival in adults was estimated to be 2.3 percent in Australia and 2.1 percent in the United States. It concluded that, “it is clear that cytotoxic chemotherapy only makes a minor contribution to cancer survival. To justify the continued funding and availability of drugs used in cytotoxic chemotherapy, a rigorous evaluation of the cost-effectiveness and impact on quality of life is urgently required.”

by Arjun Walia, Collective-Evolution

Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) have been a topic of interest for decades, and with the recent release of thousands of previously classified government documents, we now know without question that government, military, and other defence agencies have had a high level of interest in this topic for a very long time.

These files indicate that objects are commonly tracked on both air and ground radar, as well as visually confirmed by the pilots who are sent out to intercept them.

Everything is in a process of investigation both in the United States and in Spain, as well as the rest of the world. The nations of the world are currently working together in the investigation of the UFO phenomenon. There is an international exchange of data. – General Carlos Castro Cavero (1979). From UFOs and the National Security State, Volume 2, written by Richard Dolan.

by Alexa Erickson, Collective-Evolution

As we’ve come to discover time and time again, many secrets hide behind Hollywood’s glamorous doors. Actor Elijah Wood’s recent remarks on Monday about the realities of child star sexual abuse in the industry offer us yet another glimpse behind the curtain.

The interview, given to The Sunday Times to promote upcoming movie The Trust, took a dark turn when the topic of child stars and pedophilia arose. “There are a lot of vipers in this industry, people who only have their own interests in mind. There is darkness in the underbelly,” he told the interviewer.

“What bums me about these situations is that the victims can’t speak as loudly as the people in power,” Wood continued. “That’s the tragedy of attempting to reveal what is happening to innocent people: They can be squashed, but their lives have been irreparably damaged.”

The interview prompted international attention and a slew of questions regarding Wood’s heavy words, which caused the actor to put out a statement clarifying his comments.