“Banned” Food is the Secret to PERFECT Gut Health
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted November 9, 2017
Q: I’ve been seeing all of this research on how good chocolate is for your health. But I gave it up a long time ago, and it all sounds like a lot of baloney to me. Would you really recommend it to patients?
— Judy Q.
Dr. Scott: First off, I understand your skepticism… I really do. Most of the time, when something makes our taste buds happy, it’s usually terrible for our health.
And let me make a clear and important distinction here – when researchers are talking about chocolate, they mean real cocoa. Not the sugar-loaded junk in your supermarket candy aisle.
But as far as cocoa is concerned, it’s time to officially lift the ban. Because a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that it can make your tummy and tongue happy at the same time.
I’m sure you’ve heard before that good health starts in your gut. There are trillions of bacteria in our guts that support our immune system, digest our food, improve our metabolism, and work with us to make us healthier (or not).
When the bacteria are in perfect balance you are healthy. If not, you end up with digestive problems (and whole-body problems).
Chronic bacteria imbalance results in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and diseases far from your gut including allergies, asthma, arthritis, and even cancer.
It is in your best interests to keep your gut bugs as happy as possible.
That’s where cocoa enters the picture.
Cocoa has many benefits including acting as a powerful antioxidant, lowering cholesterol, slowing down mental decline, and keeping our hearts healthy.
But the new study showed that cocoa is great for our digestive tract.
When we eat chocolate, we don’t digest all of it, and this leaves some cocoa for our gut bacteria. The gut bacteria then take cocoa and change it into smaller components that we can then absorb.
This is great news for our bodies, because many of these small molecules digested by our gut bacteria support our good health.
Many studies have shown that cocoa helps to reduce inflammation in the gut. Cocoa also seems to promote the growth of good bacteria over bad bacteria – further improving our health.
But here is what no one is telling you about chocolate studies – scientists use very high levels of cocoa to see the results they are seeing.
The cocoa they use is like Baker’s chocolate or powered cocoa – think chocolate before sugar and fat are added.
So, before you rush out and grab a Snickers bar, thinking you are doing your body a favor, think again. The sugar in that kind of chocolate will wipe out any benefit you might be getting from the small amount of cocoa in the bar.
If you want to get the benefit of anti-inflammation, and better gut health, look for a bar that is 80 percent cocoa or above.
Want me to answer your question next? Email me at askdrscott@livingwelldaily.com
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
"Sinful Trio" SLASHES Metabolic Syndrome Risk
Are you tired of hearing your doctor’s endless “don’t eat this, don’t drink that” lectures? Well, this Easter Sunday, I’ve got news that might just have you hopping happily to your pantry. Turns out, some of life’s tastiest pleasures could help protect you from one of today’s most common health threats—metabolic syndrome. Let’s dig into...
Microplastics’ Hidden Link to Chronic Disease EXPOSED
By now, you’ve heard about microplastics. These tiny fragments of plastic have invaded virtually every corner of our planet. We’re just beginning to understand the scope of the threat, but we know microplastics pose a serious risk to our health. If you’re like many folks, you’ve shrugged off those dangers, thinking there’s nothing you can...
Shakespeare’s “Remembrance” Herb Protects Memory
You probably have a jar of rosemary sitting in your spice rack. Perhaps you sprinkle it on potatoes or add it to roast chicken. But what if this humble herb could hold the key to fighting one of the most devastating diseases we can face as we age? It turns out a hidden compound inside...
Is Your Gut “Good”? How to Check
I always get asked, “How do I know if my digestion is working right?” Well, the answer is pretty simple, but it’s also a little gross. A simple test you can do at home reveals whether your digestion is normal or not. Your digestive system processes everything you eat—extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste. The time...
Hidden Sugar Trap Fuels Lung Cancer
We’ve long known that smoking is the main villain behind lung cancer. But what if your dinner plate has quietly joined forces with the enemy? A new study from the University of Florida reveals that the typical Western diet could be laying the groundwork for aggressive lung cancer growth by feeding tumors with stored sugar....
Mailbag: Can A Diabetic Enjoy Desserts? The Surprising Answer
“If you have diabetes, may you eat a very few sweets in a week?” —Sweet Tooth Hi Sweet Tooth, Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body either resists the effects of insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar in your blood) or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels....
Sleepless Nights? Beware of this Deadly Danger
We all have that friend who brags about their four-hour-a-night sleep schedule like it’s some kind of superpower. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” they proclaim while chugging their third energy drink of the morning. Well, science has bad news for these sleep-skimping show-offs. You might be accelerating your appointment with the Grim Reaper far more...
Drive-Thru Disaster Hits Fast Forward on Aging
Ever wonder why some of your high school classmates look like they’re aging much faster while others seem frozen in time? It’s not always just good genes or expensive creams—it could be what they’re ordering at the drive-thru. A troubling new study revealed that a fast-food habit doesn’t just expand your waistline—it fast-forwards your biological...
The “Salty” Truth About Your Mood
You know salt gets a bad rap for raising blood pressure. But what if I told you it might be messing with your mood, too? According to a new study out of China, eating too much salt could trigger depression—not just through vague “bad diet” effects, but by activating specific immune cells in the brain....
Ancient Herb Has a Modern Secret for Youthful Skin
You can spend hundreds—maybe even thousands—on anti-aging creams, lotions, and potions that promise to turn back the clock. But let’s be honest… most of them do little more than moisturize and smell nice. Now, a new study is turning that entire anti-aging skincare industry on its head—and the secret comes from an herb that’s been...