After following more than a thousand South Florida beachgoers for a year, experts at the University of Miami discovered an alarming trend among people who frequently swam in the ocean. Compared to non-swimmers, those who spent time in the water experienced more gastrointestinal illness, more respiratory problems, and a significantly higher rate of skin disorders, even though beach areas were clean and the water unpolluted.

The culprit? Microscopic bacteria that thrive in the sub-tropical water temperatures. Such bacteria can enter the body through ingestion or skin contact and could potentially upset the healthy balance of bacteria in the digestive tract, which is essential for optimal digestion and immune function.

Experts warn that the harmful bacteria may pose a particular threat for children as well as older adults who may be lacking in healthy gut bacteria, and recommend taking the following precautions if planning a day at the beach:

• Avoid swallowing ocean water.
• Do not swim if you are ill, have diarrhea or open wounds.
• Shower and wash your hands before and after swimming.
• Take children on frequent bathroom breaks/diaper changes.

Research also shows that taking a daily high-potency probiotic supplement can help boost the numbers of good bacteria in the gut and help ward off potential harmful invaders. As a general rule, adults should look for supplement with at least 15 billion active cultures per once-daily serving.

active cultures, bacteria, beach, children, contact, diarrhea, Digestion, Digestive Tract, gastrointestinal illness, Good Bacteria, gut, harmful, healthy, healthy balance, High Potency, immune, ingestion, microscopic bacteria, ocean, Older Adults, optimal, precautions, Probiotic, problems, respiratory, skin, skin disorders, sub-tropical, supplement, swim, swimming, temperatures, unpolluted, water Hide

Each year more than 100 million Americans are prescribed acid-blocking drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for heartburn and acid reflux, but a recent series of studies may have PPI users thinking twice about whether or not they really need them—or want them.

CBS this week ran a segment about drugs like Prilosec® and Nexium® that stated that “more than half of prescriptions for these drugs are unnecessary”. What’s more, PPIs often come with serious side effects that many people are unaware of—including a nearly 75 percent greater risk of developing a severe intestinal infection known as C. diff, as well as an increased risk of developing pneumonia, and a greater incidence of bone fractures (due to the fact that PPIs block calcium absorption in the body).

Essentially, taking PPIs upsets the healthy bacterial balance in your intestines (which is where the majority of your natural immune defenses can be found), leaving your body vulnerable to illness and infection. However, experts had some good advice about smarter, safer alternatives to harmful acid-blocking drugs, many of which include simple changes in diet and lifestyle that could reduce the chances of heartburn and reflux happening in the first place:

• Limit caffeine intake
• Avoid fatty and/or spicy foods
• Avoid chocolate
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Get plenty of exercise
• Quit smoking

A natural heartburn relief supplement made with ingredients such as ellagic acid (from raspberries and pomegranates) may also help ease the pain and discomfort of occasional heartburn, and a daily digestive enzyme with added HCl can help ensure complete digestion and prevent the onset of heartburn and reflux symptoms. Daily supplementation with a high-potency probiotic supplement may also help to reestablish and maintain a healthy bacterial balance in the intestinal tract.

acid reflux, acid-blocking, alcohol, bacterial balance, bone fractures, c. diff, caclium, caffeine, chocolate, Diet, Digestion, digestive, drugs, ellagic acid, enzyme, exercise, fatty, foods, HCl, healthy, heartburn, illness, Immune Defenses, infection, intestinal tract, lifestyle, natural, nexium, pneumonia, pomegranates, prilosec, Probiotic, proton pump inhibitors, raspberries, side effects, smoking, spicy, supplement, symptoms, weight Hide