This is the everything-you-need-to-know-to-be-as-healthy-as-possible newsletter, brought to you by Kristy Russ, pharmacist and health consultant. I have close to 20 years experience in helping people improve their health.

I help people get healthy, and more importantly, stay that way so they're not miserable and just slowly dying for the last 20 years of their lives, which IS the "norm" today.

For even more information go to www.antioxidants-make-you-healthy.com


Hi,

Hard to believe it's the end of June already.

What's even harder to believe is that I have a child graduating from grade 9 and going into high school next year (In Canada, high school is only grades 10-12). I'm positive I just took her to her first day of kindergarten a couple of years ago...

Since my last article discussed fiber, and fiber is usually linked with "digestive" issues, I decided to dedicate today's article to a really common problem that nobody talks about...

5 Ways To Beat Belly Bloat

You know what I'm talking about: As the day goes on, the waistband of your pants gets tighter and tighter and your stomach feels like you've swallowed a beach ball.

Yes, it's too much gas. But why does it happen?

Our diet. The high carb, high fat, and highly processed foods that have become the staple of our modern diet all lead to an over production of gas in the bowels.

Here are 5 easy changes to help you stop the bloat:

• Increase your fiber.
  Of course you've already done that since last time, right? Admittedly, if you increase too much too fast, the opposite problem happens. If you consume it regularly, however, it keeps everything moving through your bowels so food doesn't just sit there which causes bloating.

  Like I mentioned last time, most people don't even come close to getting the recommended amount. If you're having difficulty getting your daily quota, there is a great product called Fibergy. It is a tasteless powder that you can add to pretty much anything- you don't need much so it's easy to put in dishes and sauces so your family has no idea how healthy they're eating. ;)

• Switch to rice.
  Some foods arrive in your large intestine intact, and the digestion process is what causes the bloating gas. Trigger foods are different for everyone, but a common culprit is carbs. Try swapping carbs like potatoes, corn and pasta for brown rice- it's one of few starches that doesn't cause gas.
• Try going dairy-free.
  Many people have difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. Also, the older you get, the less you produce of the enzyme that breaks it down. If it's not getting digested, it can lead to bloating (and other uncomfortable symptoms).

  Some dairy products have less lactose than others (like hard cheeses) so may be less of an issue. Also, the good bacteria in yogurt and kefir help digest lactose. Experiment and see what helps.

• Eat more probiotics.
  These "good" bacteria improve digestion and help break down food more effectively thereby preventing gas production. Try to eat a serving of probiotics every day.

  Good sources are yogurt (make sure it still has active culture in it- many are processed right out) and kefir. If you're not into those, use a good quality probiotic (most aren't manufactured properly and the bacteria doesn't survive the stomach acid so you get none to your intestine where it's needed). I recommend Usana Probiotic.

• Chew on fennel seeds.
  If all else fails, keep a small bag of these with you. They help dissolve gas bubbles to get rid of bloat. If you know you're going to be eating something that will cause bloating, chewing on a few of these ahead of time can prevent it.

  Bonus: Fennel can help relieve heartburn too (probably for the same reason).

Go ahead and try these tips today to beat that belly bloat.

Another Grateful Customer...

I've never felt so good about my body before. I lost 17 lbs and 4 pant sizes. Now that I'm 5 months pregnant with my first baby I feel so good about how I look and feel and still weigh less than my 'pre-Healthy for Life' weight."

Juleene K.

What program is she talking about?

Because Laughter Really IS Good Medicine...

Wive's Duties

Three men were sitting together bragging about how they had given their new wives duties.

Terry had married a woman from America, and bragged that he had told his wife she was going to do all the dishes and house cleaning that needed to be done at their house. He said that it took a couple days but on the third day he came home to a clean house and the dishes were all washed and put away.

Jimmie had married a woman from Australia. He bragged that he had given his wife orders that she was to do all the house cleaning, dishes, and the cooking. He told them that the first day he didn't see any results, but the next day it was better. By the third day, his house was clean, the dishes were done, and he had a huge dinner on the table.

The third man had married a Canadian girl. He boasted that he told her that her duties were to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything, but by the third day most of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye. Enough to fix himself a bite to eat, load the dishwasher, and call a landscaper.

Proud to be a Canadian Woman!

Happy Canada Day! (And Happy Independence Day to my American subscribers)

See you next time...

Good Health to You,

Kristy Russ, BScPharm
Pharmacist and Health Consultant

P.S. Discover the secret of "true prevention". You'll not only feel better now, but you'll also have that quality of life in the future that you've always imagined for yourself. Click here to find out more.