Probiotics are well known for their beneficial effects on the gut. But these beneficial bacteria have far-reaching effects that you wouldn’t think had anything to do with the digestive tract. One of the main reasons for this is due to the fact that over 70% of the immune system resides in the gut, in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). These beneficial gut bacteria “communicate,” in a sense, with the immune system. When there is a healthy balance of good bacteria, the immune system responds properly. When there is an imbalance, the immune system might miss the message altogether. Then the sniffles begin.

A recent study found that daily consumption of the probiotic strains Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei helped protect study participants against the common cold, as well as reduced symptoms for those who contracted colds. Just more proof that the gut is connected to other systems of the body. Our gut health is truly at the heart of our total-body health. So next time you reach for a tissue, reach for some probiotics, too.

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Feeling a little heavier after the holidays? Here’s some food for thought: The number of Americans who are overweight or obese has reached a record high, and experts estimate that if the trend continues, 75 percent of adults will be overweight and 41 percent will be obese by the year 2015. Now more than ever we need to make a change.

New Total DIET Success™ from ReNew Life puts the power of healthy weight loss in your hands with a simple, twice-daily formula designed to help you lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight. Together with a high-fiber, low-calorie diet and regular exercise, it works on three levels to help with appetite control, calorie burning and fat metabolism. And unlike a lot of other weight loss programs, Total DIET Success™ can be taken daily for as long as needed to manage weight. Try it today!

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