Luann Lavin, Nurse Practitioner
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  • Home
    • Purchase Coaching
    • Alzheimer's Advocate
    • Micronutrient Testing
    • Microbiome Testing
  • Education
    • Blog
    • Probiotic Rich Foods
    • Philosophy
    • About Luann
    • Contact Me
    • Sign Up for Emails
  • Store
    • Personal Consult
    • Educational Videos
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February is Heart Healthy Month.....

2/27/2017

 
     Did you know that probiotics and probiotic rich food have a definite connection to your heart health?  Specifically our Beet Kvass, which is known for its vascular health and lowering of blood pressure.  The microbes from these foods not only provide signaling for healthy lining of your coronary arteries, but they also have a more direct effect of lowering your blood pressure by decreasing inflammatory processes in your gut and throughout your entire body.  It is interesting to drink Beet Kvass and feel the energy of the microbes exploding inside your body.  Peripheral edema or swelling of your ankles can most definitely be attributed to very poor interstitial tissue and vascular breakdown in your extremeties or your legs.  Making a good habit of drinking Beet Kvass on a daily basis as your morning or evening cocktail can turn this ugly breakdown around.  
     What about the salt used to make Beet Kvass?  Isn't this bad for my heart?  The answer to this question is a simple "no!"  The salt used in making the Beet Kvass is effective in breaking down the beet fibers to allow for microbial growth.  The microbes overpower the salt content of your Beet Kvass to provide probiotic richness and microbial energy to work in your body.  The healthy tissues of your body do need an appropriate amount of sodium in order to work properly and not shut down.  When your cells shut down, the result is inflammation and cell wall breakdown which can present itself as edema or swelling of your legs,
          Give Beet Kvass a try!  It is absolutely delicious, better for you than a glass of wine,.......although it looks exactly the same and surprisingly more refreshing...... and it has the added benefit of being heart protective and vascular protective for all the arteries and veins in your body.   Serve your next Beet Kvass in your favorite cocktail glass and know you are doing your heart a big favor!


Probiotics and your skin care..........

2/21/2017

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     ​We are still in the middle of the winter season, which means cooler temperatures, harsh winds, blasting heat, and an ongoing battle with dry skin. As the temperatures continue to drop, the humidity in the air also decreases. The lack of moisture and the constant change from a hot to cold environment takes a serious toll on your skin. Tightness, redness, flaking, itchiness—we've all been there. Now is the time to call in the reinforcements and get back our healthy glow.  Probiotics 101!
     One of the best ways to defeat dry, stressed-out skin is by working probiotics into our skin care routine and diet. We have both "good" and "bad" bacteria in and on our bodies. Probiotics are the "good" kind that help maintain total body wellness, including keeping the gut healthy and improving our skin health.
Just as oral probiotics help balance the microflora in our digestive system, scientific studies have shown that applying topical probiotics can be hugely beneficial too.  A yogurt facial once monthly will let you know the power of active bacteria!  No fruit, no sweetners, just plain probiotic homemade yogurt!
     Surprised?  One of the ways probiotics repair and moisturize our skin is by helping produce hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a natural substance our body produces and is a major contributor to the elasticity, tightness, and strength of our skin.  When the production of HA increases, our skin becomes more hydrated. In addition to preventing the loss of hydration, probiotics strengthen our skin so that it can act as a physical barrier to the negative effects of winter by keeping out pathogens, bad bacteria, pollution, and other toxins. This ALSO helps keep hydration in our skin so it doesn't evaporate. All of these benefits from probiotics will reduce the inflammation and redness that appear as a result of dry winter skin.
     Want to keep that skin glowing?  Keep the probiotics coming.  
​                                              Probiotics 1o1!
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Suffering from elevated Cholesterol.... add some probiotic rich foods!

2/20/2017

 
​     For those of you with high cholesterol levels, the LDL partical count is the most important number you want to know about yourself.  High LDL  partical counts can be the most important factor in determining heart health and heart disease prevention.  Unfortunately, not all providers have received the most recent education on testing or how to decrease LDL-particle counts.  Below is the new standard that is being discussed in medical school today and important knowledge to know about sooner than later.
  • Dietary Recommendations
    • Low-carbohydrate Paleo diet and intermittent fasting (if patient has high LDL-P due to insulin resistance).
    • Mediterranean Paleo diet (if patient has high LDL-P due to genetic causes).
    • Cold-water fatty fish and shellfish.
    • Monounsaturated fat.
    • Antioxidant-rich foods.
    • Polyphenol-rich foods.
    • Eat fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, kvass) to support gut microbiota.
    • Eat soluble fiber from a wide range of fruits and vegetables, especially sweet potatoes and yams.
    • Use resistant starch to feed gut flora and improve insulin sensitivity.

The Garden of You....

2/20/2017

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     The average adult is carrying between 3-5 pounds of microbes or bacteria!  This makes your microbiome (or your gut) one of the largest organs in your body.  In our entire body the microbial cells outnumber the human cells by up to 10:1.  If we measure by DNA cells, each of us has about 20 thousand human genes but we are carrying some 100 trillion microbial genes.... so we are at least 99 -100% microbe!
     Scientists are still sniffing out the productive purpose all of these 100 trillion microbes. For example, those on our skin don't necessarily exist for our benefit, but by taking up residence on us, they make it harder for other, nastier microbes to infect us.  
     We believe the intestines to be the largest and most important microbial community in the body.  This is where most of the nutrients from your food are absorbed into the bloodstream.  Because microbes work alongside your digestive system, intestinal microbes are the gatekeepers of our metabolism.  They have the potential to influence what we eat, how many calories we derive from it, what nutrients and toxins we are exposed to, and how drugs affect us.   Eventually, our microbes just slough off and pass right on out with our morning cup of coffee.  But the more probiotic rich our diet, the better our body will work.   
     
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