Are Your Gut Microbes the Key to Health?

Michael Ventresca • October 22, 2020
Did you know a unique collection of microbes in your gut may be the key to your health? The gut microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria, fungi and viruses living in the body that plays a major role in immune function, neurotransmitter production and more. 

Over the past few years, the microbiome has been a hot topic of research. 

The Second Brain
Here are just a few things we now know: the gut microbiome is like a fingerprint, unique to each of us. It is responsible for roughly 70% of our primary immune response. The gut microbiome contains the second largest number of neurons in the body and is responsible for producing roughly 90 percent of the brain neurotransmitter, serotonin. The health of the microbiome is linked to conditions and diseases including anxiety, autism, diabetes, obesity and more. The bottom line is the microbiome plays such an important role in overall health, experts say we should consider it a separate body system. Some are even calling it the ‘second brain’.

Ensuring a healthy microbiome
What can you do to ensure a healthy microbiome? Gut Connection from Country Life is an award-winning probiotic-free formula specifically designed to improve total microbiome health. Available in eight varieties including Weight Balance, Immune Balance and more, all Gut Connection formulas include a clinically effective dose of 630mg of EpiCor, a patented whole food fermentate shown to support a favorable shift in gut microbiota, improve microbiome health and produce an immune response within two hours of consumption. Gut Connection can be taken separately or alongside a probiotic. 


Mike Ventresca is the owner of Vital Choice Healthstore located at 9243 Sprague Road in North Royalton’s Timber Ridge Plaza. The phone number is 440-885-9505. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional.

By Michael Ventresca • October 28, 2026
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By Michael Ventresca • October 14, 2026
Have you ever eaten a meal with garlic or onions, and almost instantly had stomach upset? Does it seem like just about everything you eat causes gas, bloating or indigestion? If this sounds like you, or if you’ve been told to try a FODMAP diet, today’s article could be the missing piece to a very frustrating puzzle. I know it was for me. Most people have heard of lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity, but far fewer are familiar with fructan sensitivity. Fructans are naturally occurring carboyhydrates found in a wide variety of foods but in especially high concentrations in everything from garlic and onions, to asparagus, wheat and even watermelon. For people who have difficulty digesting fructans, these foods can cause gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and sometimes diarrhea. The frustrating part is that fructans are found in so many seemingly unrelated foods that it can feel like almost everything you eat is causing a problem. That was my experience for years. Over the years, I tried a number of digestive enzymes. While many of them helped, none of them were a perfect match for the garlic, onion and pasta found in some of my favorite Italian meals. Then I stumbled across a product called FODZYME. FODZYME contains three digestive enzymes, including fructan hydrolase, an enzyme specifically designed to help break down fructans. FODZYME is a tasteless powder that you sprinkle directly on your food just before eating. The enzymes mix with the food and begin breaking down the fructans as you chew, before they cause problems further down the digestive tract. For me, the difference has been night and day. I am finally able to enjoy foods I have avoided for years. It’s important to note, there is still some trial and error involved regarding dosage. Because the amount of fructans varies from meal to meal, I find I need to adjust how much I use. Sometimes, one scoop is plenty, other times, I’ll use two. But if garlic, onions, wheat, or other high-fructan foods consistently leave you feeling miserable, FODZYME may be just what you need to start enjoying the foods you love. To learn more, or to try FODZYME, please stop in today. Mike Ventresca is the owner of Vital Choice Health Store located at 9243 Sprague Road in North Royalton’s Timber Ridge Plaza. The phone number is 440-885-9505 or visit VChoice.com . This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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