On this episode of the Get Healthy Alabama podcast we (Dr. George Burroughs and BetyLou Pierce) look at the hottest topic in health and disease: the Microbiome

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Episode 19 - The Role of the Microbiome in Health and Disease

On the past seven episodes we have talked about the Digestive System… literally from top to bottom.

Today, we take a look at the millions of “bugs” that line most of the digestive tract. Bugs that include bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast and parasites.

Collectively, these bugs are know as the “Microbiome” and they play a huge role in determining a person’s overall level of health and disease.

For example, your brain, your hormones, your immune system, your skin, your digestion, your heart, and even your pain levels are ALL strongly impacted by the health of your Microbiome.

Amazing, right?

So, how does one maintain a healthy Microbiome?

What things damage it?

How can I repair it?

These, and many other topics, including Probiotic supplements are discussed on this week’s episode.

You don’t want to miss it!

As always, please leave a comment and share this episode with a friend.

Thanks!

*** To get a copy of The Symptom Survey go to http://www.GetHealthyAlabama.com

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On this episode of the Get Healthy Alabama podcast we (Dr. George Burroughs and BetyLou Pierce) continue our study of the Digestive System by looking at the many important functions of the Large Intestine.

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Episode 18 - More Than Just A “Pathway For Poop”

Did you know that the food you eat has a job… and it’s NOT to “make you feel good?”

The food you eat is meant to nourish you.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good meal but the primary reason I eat isn't for the food to make me happy.

It’s for the food to nourish me!

“How” it does that is through a process called digestion.

Digestion starts with food entering the mouth. It is chewed and then sent to the stomach where it is broken down into small, usable pieces.

When the stomach finishes its job, the food passes into the Small Intestine for further breakdown.

Once the food is completely broken down, the “good” parts of the food - the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids and simple sugars - are ABSORBED into the body so that they can be taken to the muscles, glands and organs.

This is all great, but I have a question:

What happens to the parts of the food that were NOT needed by the body?

The parts that were deemed “not good?”

It’s actually quite simple:

The “unwanted” food - along with toxins and dead bacteria - continues down the digestive tract and enters the Large Intestine (also known as the “colon”) before eventually being eliminated via a bowel movement.

Not very exciting, right?

Well, actually it is.

You see, a lot actually goes on in the Large Intestine.  So much so that it takes about two full days for this unwanted “food” to pass through the Large Intestine.

What happens during that time and how does it impact your health?

THAT is the topic of this episode.

Specifically, we will discuss:

The importance of making sure that whatever enters the Large Intestine LEAVES the Large Intestine. (Toxins laying around can lead to colon cancer)

The first question every doctor should ask a patient

The importance of the “fiber-water” combination

Our favorite herb for dealing with constipation

Our favorite supplements for dealing with hemorrhoids

Our suggestion for eliminating parasites

We also discuss how the Large Intestine is home to so much of our body’s microflora… the bacteria that has a profound impact on our health.

As always, please share this episode with a friend.

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On this episode of the Get Healthy Alabama podcast we (Dr. George Burroughs and BetyLou Pierce) look at the powerhouse of the Digestive System… the Small Intestine

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Episode 16 - The Small Intestine Has A Big Impact On Your Health

The Stomach and Small Intestine are responsible for the breakdown (digestion) of our foods. This breakdown allows nutrients to become small enough so that they can be absorbed into the body and used as nourishment for our cells, muscles, glands and organs.

Get your digestion right and you will probably find your Nervous System (especially the brain), your Immune System and your Hormone Systems all working better.

In fact, your skin should also respond positively to a healthy Digestive System.

Last week, we talked about the Stomach and its role in digestion.

In this week’s episode we continue discussing the Digestive System by focusing on the role of the Small Intestine.

Some highlights:

- We discuss why, although the Stomach needs to be acidic, the Small Intestine needs to be more alkaline.

- The two (actually three) organs that contribute enzymes to the Small Intestine

- The powerful substance that helps eliminates toxins from the body… via the Small Intestine

- What to do if you don’t have a Gall Bladder

As always, we hope you enjoy this episode and share it with a friend.

*** To get a copy of The Symptom Survey to to http://www.GetHealthyAlabama.com 

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On this episode of the Get Healthy Alabama podcast we (Dr. George Burroughs and BetyLou Pierce) continue to look at the Digestive System… specifically the stomach and the number one digestive problem of the stomach: Acid Reflux.

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​Episode 15 - The Stomach… and Acid Reflux

The first thing you should know about the stomach is that it MUST be acidic for digestion to take place.

To ensure its acidity, Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) is secreted into the stomach whenever the presence of food is detected.

This strong acid serves two important purposes:

1) Destroy any harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites that may be in the food.

2) Activate Pepsin… a digestive enzyme that plays a major role in the breakdown of protein.

When all is well, digestion in the stomach works like a charm. However, when things aren’t working well, symptoms appear.

Bloating, gas, indigestion and heartburn are all signs of improper stomach digestion.

Possible causes are:

Poor food choices
Insufficient Digestive Enzymes
Diluted Digestive Enzymes

Undigested food in the stomach can cause additional problems.

Specifically, undigested food can begin to “rot”. This rotting food can then produce MORE acid.

Excess acid can begin to move up into the esophagus causing heartburn.

What’s the solution?

We DON’T recommend medications like Prilosec, Pepcin, or Nexium.

Why not?

Because they only mask the symptoms… they DON’T correct the underlying problem.

Plus they are linked with increase chance of stomach cancer, bone fractures and kidney disease.

Instead, we recommend a few simple, common sense tactics that are not only easy to employ… they’re safe and effective at CORRECTING the problem.

You can find out all about them by listening to this episode!


*** To get a copy of The Symptom Survey to to http://www.GetHealthyAlabama.com 

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It’s amazing how much impact the Digestive System has on a person’s overall health. It’s also amazing how little is taught about it… what it is and how it works. On this episode of the Get Healthy Alabama podcast we (Dr. George Burroughs and BetyLou Pierce) look at the Digestive System, from beginning to end… and everything in between.

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Episode 14 - Understanding The Digestive System

The Digestive System impacts overall health in ways that most people aren’t aware of.

For example, did you know that chronic diseases (and leading causes of death) such as cancer, heart disease, and Type II Diabetes are strongly linked to dysfunction of the Digestive System?

Or that top researchers believe that EVERY AutoImmune disorder begins in the Digestive System?

Not to mention that nearly 80% of the Immune System is found in the Digestive System… as is 90% of Serotonin production.

The message is simple: your health and well-being is strongly connected to the health of your Digestive System.

However, despite this connection, most people know very little about their Digestive System.

This episode will change that.

We will lay out for you the Digestive System from beginning (mouth) to end (anus).

Along the way we will teach you about the organs of the “gut”: the Stomach, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine.

We will also share with you a fascinating tidbit about “where” the Digestive System is located (hint: it’s NOT in your body).

Our hope is that, by the time you’re done listening, you’ll have a much better understanding of one of the most important influences on your health: the Digestive System.

Enjoy… and share it with a friend!


*** To get a copy of The Symptom Survey to to http://www.GetHealthyAlabama.com 

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“How can I get help?” and “How can I help a loved one who is struggling with an addiction?” - On this episode we dive deep into these questions with Addiction expert Ann Marie Powell of Bradford Health Services.

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Episode 12 - Understanding Addiction with Ann Marie Powell - Part 3

On this episode, we (Dr. George Burroughs and BetyLou Pierce) sit down with addiction expert Ann Marie Powell as she shares powerful insight into each of these two questions:

1) Where can someone with an addiction problem go to get help?

2) How can I help a loved one who is struggling with an addiction?

Ann Marie explains the importance of professional care for dealing with addictive behavior and how, if left untreated, it can become a chronic and progressive disease that can cause a lot of pain… for a lot of people.

She also shares with us the importance of professional care (support) for the family members of someone dealing with addiction.

Ann Marie then discusses the “Three C’s” and why they are so important for anyone who is trying to get a loved one into care.

You didn’t Cause it

You can’t Control it

You can’t Change it

Until you grasp these “Three C’s” there’s a good chance you won’t allow yourself to “get out of the way”

This episode is truly another “must listen”.

Hope you enjoy it… and share it with a friend.

Thanks! 

- To learn more about Bradford Health Services, check out their website BradfordHealth.com or call them, 24 hours per day, at (866) 977-7158 

P.S. - If you haven’t already, subscribe and leave a rating, along with a review.

*** To learn more about the Physical, Nutritional, and Emotional factors of health, download a free copy of our ebook: 3 Causes Of All Disease at http://www.GetHealthyAlabama.com 

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On this episode we (Dr. George Burroughs and BetyLou Pierce) continue our discussion with Addiction expert Ann Marie Powell of Bradford Health Services.  Specifically she shares with us some of the causes and contributing factors that can lead to addiction.

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​Episode 11 - Understanding Addiction with Ann Marie Powell - Part 2

In Part 1 (episode 10) addiction expert Ann Marie Powell shared with us what addiction is and how most families are impacted.

We learned that addiction is NOT a moral failing but a disease, and that people battling an addiction should be treated as such.

In this episode, Part II, Ann Marie discusses factors that may cause and contribute to the development of addictive behavior.

She starts by talking about how, for many people there is a genetic predisposition involved.

She then explains how head/brain injuries can play a role by disrupting brain neurotransmitters.

She concludes by diving deep into the connection between emotional trauma and addiction.

This connection to emotional trauma highlights the importance of education and of equipping people with coping skills.

These two strategies must be put into place if we ever hope to PREVENT addictive behavior.

This episode is truly a “must listen”.

Hope you enjoy it… and share it with a friend.

Thanks! 

- To learn more about Bradford Health Services, check out their website BradfordHealth.com or call them, 24 hours per day, at (866) 977-7158

​
P.S. - If you haven’t already, subscribe and leave a rating, along with a review

*** To learn more about the Physical, Nutritional, and Emotional factors of health, download a free copy of our ebook: 3 Causes Of All Disease at http://www.GetHealthyAlabama.com 

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On this episode Dr. George Burroughs and co-host BetyLou Pierce sit down with Addiction expert Ann Marie Powell of Bradford Health Services to discuss all things Addiction.

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Episode 10 - Understanding Addiction with Ann Marie Powell - Part 1

When you hear the word “addict” what comes to mind?

A horrible person who should be ostracized from society…

…or a person with a disease that needs to be treated?

Someone we should scorn… or someone we should love?

On this episode, we sit down with Addiction expert Ann Marie Powell of Bradford Health Services to discuss all things addiction.  

The misconceptions and the truths.

It is truly an amazing interview packed with useful information.  So much so, that we decided to break it up into three separate episodes:

Part 1 - What is addiction?

Part 2 - What factors contribute to the development of addictive behavior?

Part 3 - What can be done to treat and prevent addictive behavior?

In this first episode, “What is addiction?” Ann Marie shares with us what the latest research teaches us about addiction:

- How it is a brain disease… and should be treated as such

- Why it is NOT a moral failing

- Warning signs of potential addictive behavior

- The impact of the “feel good” chemical Dopamine on addiction

- Addictive behaviors that are celebrated… yet may be dangerous

- Why judgment is often motivated by fear

- The similarity between Type II diabetes and addiction

- How addictive behavior is the sign of something deeper

This episode is powerful and Ann Marie does a wonderful job at explaining things.  

(You can contact Bradford Health Services at (866) 441-5398 or at https://bradfordhealth.com)

Be sure to listen… and share, as everyone, in some way, is affected by addiction.

Enjoy! 

- To learn more about Bradford Health Services, check out their website BradfordHealth.com or call them, 24 hours per day, at (866) 977-7158

P.S. - If you haven’t already, subscribe and leave a rating, along with a review.

Thanks!!! 

*** To learn more about the Physical, Nutritional, and Emotional factors of health, download a free copy of our ebook: 3 Causes Of All Disease at http://www.GetHealthyAlabama.com 

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On this episode Dr. George Burroughs and co-host, BetyLou Pierce talk about 22 ways to boost your Immune System. Interestingly, all 22 start with the letter “S” .. and yes, Sex is one of them.

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Episode 9 - Sex… and 21 other ways to boost your Immune System!

Ask someone what you could do to boost your Immune System and they will probably suggest some supplements.

That’s a great answer.

In fact, it’s such a great answer that we devoted our last episode to it (see Episode 8 - Your Body Does NOT Have An Immune System).

However, what about other ways?

What else could you do to strengthen your Immune System?

On this episode we share with you 22 ways to boost your Immune System. Interestingly, all 22 start with the letter “S” .. and yes, Sex is one of them.

Here's the other 21... broken down into the three factors of health:

PHYSICAL Factors:

Sleep

Sweat

Spine (alignment)

Smile

Speak

Sing

Senses

NUTRITIONAL Factors:

Sugar (avoid)

Sunlight

Saturate

Soil

Sensitivities

Stool

Supplements

EMOTIONAL Factors:

Self (worth)

Serve

Silence

Stress

Socialize

School

Sabbath

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. And, if you haven’t already, subscribe and leave a rating, along with a review.

Thanks!!!

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On this episode we - nutritionist BetyLou Pierce and chiropractor Dr. George Burroughs - take a look at what we believe are the 3 causes of all diseases.

We begin by tackling the current medical (allopathic) philosophy of “treating” sickness and disease with drugs and/or surgery and why it is limiting your body’s ability to truly heal.

We then discuss a broader perspective… a “holistic” approach that seeks to identify and correct the CAUSE of whatever is ailing you.

This holistic approach helps us transition smoothly into discussing what we believe are the 3 causes of all diseases.

Ultimately, we hope you learn two things from this episode:

1) When facing a health challenge, don’t just ask “What should I take?” Also ask “What is causing this?”

2) The cause of all health problems usually can be traced to a breakdown or weakness in the Physical, Nutritional, and/or Emotional factors of health.