By Glenda Feilen

Dr. David Samadi, Chairman and Professor of Urology and Chief of Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, recently reported on a research study involving stomach cancer - where 77,000 cases of stomach cancer were evaluated.
 
It was found that the main culprits causing this problem were: alcohol, bacon, processed meats (1.8 oz. – which would be equivalent to one hot dog a day), and obesity. The nitrates and nitrites in the lunch meat and barbecued food, as well as bacon and alcohol, irritate and inflame the stomach lining. Evidently, these are dangerous foods we are putting in our stomachs!

Another new research study revealed that wine, tea and yogurt, along with fruits and vegetables, are extremely good for your gut. We live well with trillions of bacteria, fungus, and viruses. They are friends that help with digestion, commonly referred to as " friendly bacteria."
 
The research included 1100 participants. It found that soda and processed carbohydrates decreased good gut bacteria and caused problems in digestion and in the body. It also found that those who ate sugary, processed, and fatty foods easily developed inflammations and cancer.

It was determined that those who had taken a lot of antibiotics, medications, and laxatives did not have the diversity of bacteria to maintain a healthy gut. Those who drank wine, tea, and ate yogurt and fibrous fruits and vegetables increased the diversity of the bacteria of the bowel and were healthier.

Arthritis and many other diseases are related to what goes on in your gut. Dr. Marc Siegel, Professor of Medicine at N.Y.U. Medical Center, says, “The answer of a lot of our diseases is in our gut.”
 
Of course, lifestyle and getting enough sleep were also important along with what you eat.