The bacteria in your body outnumber your body’s cells 10 to one. Most of these bacteria reside in your gut.

Most of these bacteria reside in your gut, and the majority are quite harmless.

Having the right gut bacteria is even linked to numerous health benefits, including weight loss, improved digestion, enhanced immune function, healthier skin and a reduced risk of many diseases (1, 2Trusted Source).

Probiotics, which are a certain type of friendly bacteria, provide health benefits when eaten.

They are often taken as supplements that are supposed to colonize your gut with health-boosting microorganisms.

This article examines the health benefits of probiotics.

Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy. People have used it for centuries in cooking and medicine.

Many people claim it can relieve a wide range of health complaints, but you may wonder what the research says.

Apple cider vinegar has various healthful properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. What’s more, evidence suggests it may offer health benefits, such as aiding weight loss, reducing cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving the symptoms of diabetes.

However, little research exists, and further studies are needed before it can be recommended as an alternative therapy.

For powerful detoxification, you shouldn’t turn to radical cleanses, punishing fasts or unpleasant purges.

Instead, choose natural detoxification because it’s better for you and — even more important — it lets your own detox pathways rid your body of toxins as intended. Your liver, kidneys, intestinal tract and skin already remove an astonishing amount of toxins and poisons from your system, every minute of every day.

But a few simple tips and tricks can make it easier for your body to detox naturally so you feel clean, clear and energetic every day.

What is natural detoxification?

You’re detoxing naturally right now. Every time you sweat, sneeze, cry, poop and pee, your natural detox pathways are removing toxins, poisons and waste from your body.

Everything you eat, drink, inhale and absorb brings in plenty of bad things, along with nutrients and healthy ingredients. All those toxins have to be broken down, processed, and eliminated from your system.

Your digestive system is the entry point for the bad stuff which then travels through your body. It gets sorted out and removed mostly by the superstar detox organ: your liver. Since your liver has more than 500 jobs, your daily detox upgrade should start with more attention and support for this key detox organ.

1. Give your liver the tools to do its job.

Nothing is more important for natural detox than strong, healthy liver function so it’s a good idea to provide some targeted TLC. Research suggests that milk thistle, or silymarin, can protect the liver from specific toxins, including certain drugs and perhaps even alcohol.

Cider vinegar has become famous for its health-supporting qualities that go way beyond the kitchen, including its use as a natural detoxification staple. To help flush out environmental toxins in the liver every day, mix 1 teaspoon cider vinegar into an 8-ounce glass of filtered water, adding honey or other flavors if you want.

Magnesium is essential for natural detox and is also used in at least 300 separate enzyme systems — but it can be hard to get enough of it every day. Good magnesium food sources are leafy green vegetables, black beans, oatmeal, avocados, nuts, seeds and bananas. Getting extra magnesium as magnesium citrate is a proven way to keep your bowels moving regularly — a crucial step in the natural detox process.

Antioxidants are very helpful for healthy liver function because they can prevent or even stop damage caused by oxygen free radicals. Since antioxidants neutralize troublesome free radicals, they support your body’s natural cleansing processes. Get antioxidants in colorful fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains and tea. To increase your antioxidant intake, try a well-absorbed antioxidant supplement.

2. Enjoy a little bit more sleep.

When you’re asleep, your cells and tissues are mending themselves. Since you’re not eating, your elimination processes finally have the opportunity to get caught up. Even your brain detoxes and flushes out toxic molecules that build up during your waking hours.

A big part of why you feel so refreshed after a good night’s sleep is due to the detoxification that happens during this daily down time. One study suggests that the most popular sleeping position — on your side — is the best way to encourage removal of waste products in the brain. So if you’re not one already, turn into a side sleeper and enjoy a long, detoxifying snooze.

Even an extra half hour of sleep can make a difference. Create this opportunity by getting in bed a full hour before you want to be asleep. This gives your body time to wind down and de-stress, and sends a signal to your brain that it’s okay to rest.

3. Get probiotics every day.

Your gut bacteria are important for natural detox because they help determine how food is processed. These little bugs also heavily influence whether incoming calories are burned — or stored. So they matter a lot to the digestive system, which is one of the major highways that transports toxins and poisons out of your body.

Having lots of different types of bacteria helps your “microbiome” stay balanced throughout the digestive tract. Create and maintain a diverse array of bacterial strains in your gut by eating probiotic foods with lots of good bacteria, like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, sour pickles, kimchi and miso. And consider adding a probiotic supplement with several different strains.

4. Eat more detoxifying foods.

Plenty of everyday foods can boost your body’s detoxifying ability, starting with onions and garlic. Garlic and onions contain lots of sulfur, one of the key elements used to detoxify radiation and pollution. Onions and garlic have been shown to have other powerful health effects including cancer-preventive qualities and active support for healthy digestion. Other sulfur-containing detox foods include eggs, red peppers, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cottage cheese.

Artichokes are great because their ingredients move toxins out and purify and protect the liver by increasing bile production. Detoxifying herbs and spices like parsley, turmeric, rosemary, ginger, fennel seed and cilantro are powerful cleansers and can perk up all your meals.

5. Drink enough water — but not too much.

Water flushes toxins out of your body mostly through your kidneys. Drink at least half your weight in ounces every day but don’t flood your system with water. Drinking too much water affects the balance of key electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride.

Start your day — really! Do this right when you wake up — with a cold glass of water with the juice of ½ a lemon. Experts say it wakes up your liver and flushes toxins. The lemon juice helps with detox by working to keep your body’s alkaline balance.

If you don’t exercise much now, think about how you can add it to your life. Sweating helps some but it’s the exercise itself that detoxes poisons out of your body, including excess stress chemicals. Exercise also boosts circulation in the lymph network, which filters and extracts bacteria along with other damaging cells and substances.

While it’s true that some of us detox better than others, the “cleaner” you keep your diet and living environment, the fewer the poisons that will need to be removed. For most of us, this is a matter of trying to strike the balance between enjoying life and doing what we know is right for our bodies.

Don’t worry about being perfect. Instead, know that every move you make to support your natural detox pathways is a step in the right direction.

Written by Women’s Health Network

If there’s one thing that’s been proven time and again, it’s that there is no magic pill for weight loss.

If there’s one thing that’s been proven time and again, it’s that there is no magic pill for weight loss.

And yet, “quick fixes” keep popping up everywhere…and they’re usually pretty problematic (I see you, detox teas). Another example: garcinia cambogia extract—an ingredient most commonly found in weight-loss supplements.

Uh, what exactly is garcinia cambogia?

Garcinia cambogia—a.k.a. Malabar tamarind—is a fruit commonly grown in India and Southeast Asia, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). The rind of the fruit is often used to flavor curries and to preserve food.

That rind, however, also contains a chemical called hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is where the plant’s weight-loss claims come into play—HCA has been studied for weight loss through appetite suppression, per the NCCIH (which is why supplements that contain garcinia cambogia extract are also thought to help you lose weight).

So…is it true? Can garcinia cambogia help you lose weight?

While, yes, there have been studies on garcinia cambogia and weight loss, they haven’t necessarily been reliable (nor are they recent, for that matter).RELATED STORYHow to Lose Weight Fast Without Crash Dieting

In a research review set to be published in 2019, researchers found that only five randomized, controlled studies of garcinia cambogia’s effect on weight loss have been done in the last 50 years, according to Scott Kahan, M.D., M.P.H., director of the National Center for Weight & Wellness, who carried out the study. (FYI: there have been more than 14,000 studies on unfounded therapies for weight loss in that time, he says.)

What’s more: In those five studies, participants saw very little weight loss. “The most positive study showed that several months of taking garcinia cambogia may lead to one pound of weight loss, at best,” says Kahan—placebo pills were usually more effective.ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW

Well, is garcinia cambogia harmful?

According to Kahan’s research, there are very few severe side effects of garcina cambogia (he only found a few examples of diarrhea, brain fog and, in rare cases, liver damage). And according to the NCCIH, garcinia cambogia is pretty safe for short-term use (12 weeks or fewer).

But while garcinia cambogia itself may not be terrible, the ingredients it comes packaged with in some weight-loss supplements can be.RELATED STORYIs Your Supplement Toxic?

In 2017, for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the weight-loss supplement Fruta Planta Life, which is marketed as “Garcinia Cambogia Premium” and contains garcinia cambogia extract and sibutramine (Meridia), an appetite suppressant that was removed from the market in 2010 due to safety concerns. Sibutramine had been shown to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, cause jaundice, and trigger seizures—pretty nasty stuff.

Another thing to note: since garcinia cambogia extract diet pills are supplements, not drugs, the FDA doesn’t regulate their use or review their effectiveness or safety unless their use becomes linked to multiple hospitalizations, says Sue Decotiis, M.D., a medical weight-loss expert. That means that it’s up to manufacturers to decide how much garcinia cambogia extract their pills pack, as well as what other health-impacting ingredients (like sibutramine) are added to the mix.

I probably shouldn’t take garcinia cambogia…right?

Uh yeah, it’s best to skip it. Possible side effects aside, Kahan says any weight-loss supplement containing garcinia cambogia is a waste of money.

And honestly, that goes for weight-loss supplements in general. “Unlike medical therapies, supplements and various diets and practices are not bound by strict requirements for clinical evaluation and evidence,” says Kahan, adding that “it’s unlikely that all the advertised claims are true.”

Basically, diet supplements—including ones containing garcinia cambogia—aren’t worth the risk, or money. If you want to lose weight, speak to your doctor first, and focus on combining a healthy, balanced diet with regular exercise, suggests Kahan.

Written by Womens Health

Turmeric has been making lots of headlines lately. Touted as a “superfood,” its popularity has surged. The ancient spice has moved well beyond Indian dishes like curry, and you can now find it in everything from soups to smoothies to even lattes.

In fact, it’s become so popular that Starbucks is testing out the turmeric latte trend in the U.K., reports Metro. And that’s actually late to the game: The yellow-hued lattes have been popping up in local U.S. coffee shops for the past year—Los Angeles, New York, and other cities have all hopped on the “golden milk” train.

That’s because health-conscious consumers are hoping to cash in on some promising findings from research done on the spice.

Most notably, turmeric is praised for its anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, research shows that 400 to 500 milligrams (mg) of curcumin—an antioxidant and the active compound in turmeric that gives the spice its yellow pigment—may give you pain relief similar to taking 2,000 mg of acetaminophen, or Tylenol, according to Brian St. Pierre, M.S., R.D., C.S.C.S., director of performance nutrition at Precision Nutrition.

Plus, one German study found that consuming curcumin may be useful in preventing prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men, according to the American Cancer Society. Other studies have found that turmeric may also prevent heart disease, other forms of cancer, and even kill bacteria or viruses, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Sounds great, but before you get too excited, you need to read the fine print. These studies showing amazing health benefits of turmeric are mainly based on the consumption of concentrated curcumin—meaning, way more than you would get from sprinkling the spice on your dinner or in your drink. To put it in perspective, curcumin only makes up an average of 3 percent of the weight of 5 mg of dry, pure turmeric, according a 2006 study published in Nutrition and Cancer.

Plus, depending on how the latte is made, any potential benefits you might get from the turmeric could easily be outweighed by the added sugar and calories from your drink, she says—especially if you like a sweeter brew and add in your own spoonful of sugar. (Here’s how eating too much sugar messes with your entire body.)

Bottom line: There’s nothing wrong with using turmeric if you like the taste—it adds a nice flavor to your roasted vegetables, eggs, and other savory dishes. Just don’t assume a sprinkle or shake of the spice is going to do your health any major favors. With any other popular health food, like olive oil, kale, or avocados, it’s not a shortcut that can magically cure all of your health woes.

That said, if you want to try to reap some benefits of the spice, you’d likely need a more concentrated dose than what you’d find in food alone. The commonly recommended dose is 500 mg daily, and you’d probably need a supplement to get there, according to St. Pierre. Like with any new medication, you’d want to talk to your doctor first.

If you really want to fight inflammation—a common precursor to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—you should be supplementing your diet with fatty fish, like salmon and tuna, says Gans, since research overwhelmingly supports the anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Your better bet is sticking to the more tried-and-true ways of protecting your health.

Written by Mens Health