What are the benefits of healthy bacteria?

Our colon contains 400-500 varieties of good bacteria, fungi, yeast, and virus.

Good bacteria helps acidify the colon which helps stop to slow down the growth of harmful bacteria.

Good bacteria improves the immune system by stimulating the formation of antibodies.

Good bacteria helps produce Vitamins K, B, & E.

The bacteria lactobacillus acidophilus helps kill toxins.

Good bacteria helps reduce bowel gas and fights bad breath.

Good bacteria helps form 30 different neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine.

Good bacteria helps stop diarrhea and loosen up constipation.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is when aspects of a body's immune system reddens and swells as a response to infection and/or injury. This is the body's attempt to heal and protect.

Acute inflammation is immediately after an injury lasting from a few moments to a few days.

Chronic inflammation is an over-responsive immune reaction lasting years. Many diseases (IBS, arthritis, cancer, depression, heart disease) are now being linked to chronic inflammation.

Long term inflammation can be linked to "wear and tear" conditions as well as lifestyle habits (stress, weight, smoking, alcohol, poor diet). 

What is REM sleep?

REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement sleep and is the phase of sleep during which dreaming occurs. REM sleep follows the 3 stages on Non-REM sleep and is also know as active sleep.

REM sleep happens about 90 minutes after falling alseep and initially lasts about 10 minutes. Each stage of REM sleep gets longer; the last one can last up to an hour. We can have from 4 to 6 sleep cycles a night meaning we can experience REM sleep 4 to 6 times every sleep.

During REM sleep the body repairs tissues, build bones, and strengthens the immune system.

Adults can spend about 20% of their sleep in REM whereas babies about 50%.

REM is sometimes called paradoxical sleep because oxygen consumption is also very high, often higher than when awake.