Everybody already knows we need healthy bacteria in our gut. Well almost everybody.

Yogurt has been a popular gut bacteria building food, but not everyone does well with dairy.

Fermented foods were widely used as a means of preserving food, before refrigeration was invented.

Sauerkrout is a classic fermented food. There are many others as mentioned in this video.

These types of fermented foods help to build healthy gut flora. Problem is many store products have been pasteurized, killing any beneficial bugs. Homemade is always a better way to go, unless you can verify that a fermented food still contains live healthy bacteria.

Fermented Food List

• Sauerkraut
• Table olives
• Salami
• Kefir
• Yogurt and cheese, from quality sources, if not sensitive to dairy.
• Fermented fish
• Miso
• Tempeh

If you take probiotic pills it is important not to start out too aggressively.

Of course this claim is based mostly on herbal folklore.

Fennel seeds though have been used to help with digestive issues for a long time.

In some countries, they give you some fennel seeds to chew on after your meal, instead of a mint.

Fennel Tea and in Recipes

Fennel seeds are very versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. They have a mild licorice flavor. They can be added to your meal during cooking, or sprinkled on a salad. In small amounts the taste is very subtle.

To make fennel tea, just warm some water and add the seeds. Let brew for about 15 minutes. Strain the seeds with a coffee filter, or just chew on them. They soften up nicely after being in the hot water. The tea tastes pretty good by itself, or you could add some stevia, if you require additional sweetness. Blending with peppermint tea is good too.

Fennel seeds have been traditionally used to help with gas, bloating and to help with digestion.

Note: pregnant women should consult with their doctors before trying fennel seeds.

And yes, at the top of the pyramid is dark chocolate. He tells us how to know the difference between healthy chocolate and not so good chocolate.

An optimum diet should contain lots of variety. This helps to ensure a good range of nutrients. Eating a rainbow of colors from a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables each day forms the base of the pyramid.

I like his one sentence summary of everything he knows about nutrition.

Stop eating refined, processed and manufactured food, it’s that simple.

More tips in this video

• To lose weight stop eating  flour and sugar
• Eat fresh food
• Eat fruits and vegetables rich in phytonutrients
• Reduce consumption of high glycemic load carbohydrates
• If you are going to eat pasta, eat less and don’t overcook
• Avoid anything with high fructose corn syrup
• Have a saturated fat budget
• Non farmed salmon is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids
• Avoid GMO soy
• Try a variety of mushrooms
• Cover the spectrum of colors

Please share your favorite healthy eating tips below in the comment box, thanks.

This video shares some great information about how digestion affects the brain and overall health, energy and well being.

Learn more about your digestive system and improve your life. Watch the video to get all the details.

Please share your feedback on the comment form below.

Search Herbfest.net for digestive herbs

Learn about the digestive process

• How digestion affects the immune system
• How the gut affects mood
• Importance of the lining of the digestive tract
• Endocrine system gut c0nnection

Poor digestion is a big obstacle for healing. Good digestion starts with eating quality foods and avoiding junk food. This makes life easier on the digestive system.

In this short clip, he talks about solving acid reflux at night.

During the day you need stomach acid to digest your food.

He recommends, do not eat right before bedtime.

See Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DrTeitelbaum

Here is what he has to say about nighttime acid reflux:

• Melatonin
• Elevate your upper body to keep acid from coming up
• Baking soda in water
• Don’t eat right before bed

During the day, most people are upright and gravity helps to keep things down in the tummy. When you lie down, gravity is no longer helping you. Hence the idea of elevating the upper body. There are special pillows and cushions that can be used, or you could be inventive and put a couple old phones books under the head of the bed.

He spoke for almost 2 hours, sharing a lot of useful information about energy, overcoming pain and good nutrition.
We will try to post a few more videos shortly and share some of this wonderful information.

I learned a lot from this video interview with Dr. Tom OBryan.

He says gluten can cause all kinds of problems from autoimmune to gut problems like irritable bowel. It is not just a gut problem.

The base of the food pyramid tells to eat lots of whole grains, but it may be time to rethink this strategy.

I don’t know if it really affects 7 out 0f 10 people, but Dr. Tom is the expert on gluten sensitivity, not me.

I like what Dr. Tom says, ” You should feel like a million bucks. If you don’t we are missing something.”

Check out the video for information about testing and learn more about gluten sensitivity and Celiac disease.

It may just be that that health problem you have is related to gluten intolerance.

It is a guaranteed formula for causing excess acidity in the body. And on top of that, a sure fire plan for weight gain.

Some health food gurus say, if you are going to have dessert with your meal, just eat it first, and give it a few minutes to digest, before the main meal.

A better option is to make a healthier dessert and include some plant foods that contain natural enzymes. Pineapple and basil are both known for their digestion benefits.

The Secret to Good Pineapple

The secret with pineapple is this; it must be fresh. Canned pineapple won’t do a thing for your digestion. The best way to make this recipe is to cut up a fresh pineapple and chill it yourself. Frozen pineapple from the store is a distant runner up to be used only for convenience sake.

Grow African Blue Basil

Video: How to Grow African Blue Basil.
Special thanks to HerbFest.net

Bromelain is the enzyme in pineapple that is responsible for it’s digestive benefit. The canning process destroys bromelain. Bromelain is good for breaking down protein, this is what makes it such a valuable enzyme.

What can I say about Basil? Well it’s green for starters, almost any green plant is going to be good for the body and alkalinity. Go Green! Basil has been praised by herbalists as a tonic for digestion.

I think I will make some of this myself this afternoon and enjoy it as an afternoon snack. I still have some nice basil plants growing in my garden.

Food Enzymes

Benefits:

• Supplements the body's production of important enzymes.
• Provides a blend of enzymes to digest proteins,carbohydrates and fats.
• Provides hydrochloric acid and bile salts to help digest proteins and fats.
• Helps prevent or relieve occasional indigestion.

Pineapple Basil Sorbet, Dessert Ingredients

• Fresh pineapple, chilled / frozen
• Fresh Basil leaves, grow it yourself and pick if you can!
• Ice cubes
• Coconut milk

Stick it all in the blender and give it a whirl, super quick and easy.

Nutrition in a Pineapple

Vitamins B1, B2, B12, C, PP, carotene, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iodine, manganese

In todays world there is no shortage of food for most people, of course there are exceptions.

Starvation and undernourishment still exist.

For many though, the digestive system never gets a break. We eat all day long, every day.

A cleansing and detox diet can help an overworked digestive system get a break.

I am not talking about doing a water fast. How about just eating lighter and healthier for a period of time and taking a break from some of the worst offenders?

Some of these would include:

• Alcohol
• Sodas and caffeinated beverages
• Excessive meat and animal protein
• Junk food of all types
• Dairy products like cheese and milk
• Fried foods

The liver is key for detoxification. Giving it  a little break is a great idea. With all the toxins in today’s world the liver gets overworked a lot.

You may feel crummy the first few days. But every time I do something like this I feel a lot better, both mentally and physically. And if I have a few extra pounds, they go bye bye.

What are the good things to eat?

• 1 salad per day with oil and vinegar dressing. I like olive oil and apple cider vinegar.
• Lots of water, add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime
• Fish is better than beef or pork, consider researching species without excess mercury and other pollutants like pacific salmon and sardines.
• Fresh fruit
• Nuts and seeds, preferably raw, go light on these
• Strive for organic food as much as possible

Remember, this is a vacation, a temporary break. Anyone with a health condition, should consult their doctor first.

There are many veggies that you would not even think of putting in your mouth.

How about a big hunk of ginger for example?

There is a way to get the benefit of pounds more vegetables per day without having to eat them. 

Juicing and smoothies are the answer

When you juice, you can take a few pounds of produce, some of which you would never think of eating, and turn it into a couple glasses of juice.

The best part is the vitamins and other nutrients absorb more easily into you body. It’s almost like a direct infusion of nutrition. Very little digestive energy is needed.

You can’t help but feel good after drinking a glass of freshly made juice.

Choosing the Best Quality Produce

Always try to choose organic, locally grown produce as often as possible. If you can’t get your hands on organic or locally grown, just do the best you can with what is available. A juice drink made from celery, greens, an apple and a nice hunk of ginger is still better than a candy bar and chips any day.

I have found that vegetable blender smoothies are easier to make than a glass of juice. Cleaning a blender is easier than cleaning a juicer. The nutrients in juice are more bio-available though than a smoothie, because the fiber slows absorption. On the other hand fiber is good.  So take your pick, smoothies or juice or how about both? Love to hear your thoughts. please use the comment box below.

I would love to hear about your holiday, please use the comment box on our site, or on Youtube.

Now it is time for a little inner cleanse.

I am going to do a new version of my detox boot camp for the next 5 days.

Check out the video for the details.

Details for the Detox Boot Camp on this go round:

• Vegetable blender smoothies with protein powder 2-3x day
• 1 meal consisting of organic garden salad and small serving of fish or clean meat, meaning from the health food store or farmer’s market, no hormones or antibiotics. Olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and herbs for dressing.
• Parasite cleanse with an herbal formula
• Breathe of Fire, a yoga breathing technique
• Plenty of purified water
• Digestive enzymes

Always consult with your personal health professional before embarking on any cleanse program.