THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, A LEE COUNTY SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO IS AT THE CENTER OF A NEW ETHICS PROBE.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER GIFTS AND HOW AN ETHICS COMMISSION INVESTIGATION OPERATE.

MAINTAINING BETTER HEALTH THROUGH A BETTER GUT.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONDITION THAT HURTS DIGESTIVE HEALTH AND HOW YOU CAN GET YOUR MICROBIOME IN PRIME CONDITION AND PROVIDING A PATH FORWARD FOR TEENAGE MOTHERS.

THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT OFFERS MORE THAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A DIPLOMA.

HELLO, I'M TEDDY BURNS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AFTER A FEDERAL GRAND JURY WAS TERMINATED WHILE INVESTIGATING LEE COUNTY SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO LAST YEAR.

A NEW INVESTIGATION INVOLVING SIMILAR AM A THIEF JEAN'S HAS BEEN REVEALED THIS TIME COMING FROM THE FLORIDA ETHICS COMMISSION.

THE FLORIDA TRIED IN CONFIRMED THE NEW ETHICS INVESTIGATION IN WHICH A FORMER FRIEND OF SHERIFF MARCENO ALLEGES HE PROVIDED GIFTS AND CASH TO THE SHERIFF WHICH WENT AND REPORTED ON FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS.

I HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH OFF THE NORM AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER WITH THE FLORIDA TRIED IT, WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE SITUATION FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS LATEST ETHICS IN VIOLATION.

CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A PREVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS AN FBI INVESTIGATION WHERE A GRAND JURY WAS CONVENED AND HOW THAT ENDED.

>> SURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

TO UNDERSTAND THE INVESTIGATION HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT WAS RUDE.

IN A FRIENDSHIP AND THAT FRIENDSHIP WAS BETWEEN SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO AND A LOCAL JEWELER.

MAYBE WE CAN ROMANO.

AND IT WAS A VERY CLOSE FRIENDSHIP.

IN FACT, PRIOR TO THE INVESTIGATION, THE SHERIFF.

SO IT ON VIDEO TO DO THAT.

ROMANO WAS SAYS.

CLOSEST FRIEND THAT MOST LOYAL FRIEND CALLED HIM A BROTHER AND SORT OF DESCRIBED HIM AS A MIX BETWEEN THE FASHION DESIGNER GIANNI VERSACE AND JOHN GUY, WHICH IS AN INTERESTING DESCRIPTION.

AND YOU CAN SAY THE.

THIS CENTRAL PART OF THAT FRIENDSHIP REVOLVED AROUND.

GAMBLING IT'S CALLED MARCI KNOW A GAMBLING ADDICT.

AND WE DO KNOW THAT.

THE SHERIFF IS A BIG GAMBLER.

HE DISCLOSED ON HIS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE MADE ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND A 2 YEAR PERIOD, FAMILY OF DR.

SO HE IS AN AVID GAMBLER AND RIMANDO ESSENTIALLY.

ALLEGED THAT HE WASN'T HURT.

COULD GAMBLER AND THEN HE WOULD HAVE TO BAIL HIM OUT OF GAMBLING DEBTS.

>> SO THEN AFTER THERE FRIENDSHIP KIND OF BLOSSOMED, IT ENDED UP BEING THAT MARCY KNOW WAS ACTUALLY PUTTING THEM ON THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFFS PAYROLL.

IS THAT CORRECT?

THE SHERIFF PUT ROMANO ON THE PAYROLL IN 2000.

22 AS A AS A CONSULTANT.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S TENTATIVELY HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT'S AND MARKETING.

BUT WE MODEL SAYS THERE WAS NO WORK REQUIRED FROM THE JOB.

HE'S A JEWELER.

SO IT'S A VERY IT'S A THAT'S A VERY QUESTIONABLE CONTRACT.

TO START OFF WITH AND AGAIN, ROMANO.

ALLEGES THAT HE WAS GIVING THIS MONEY TO PAY BACK.

THE GAMBLING DEBTS THAT HE AND TAKEN CARE OF FOR THE SHERIFF.

AND THE INVESTIGATION.

I WENT TO A GRAND JURY.

IT WAS BEING VERY SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATED AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, AND SOME POINT WE WERE ALL KIND OF WAITING FOR AN INDICTMENT TO COME DOWN.

AND IT'S SUDDENLY JUST SORT OF STOPPED THE CHANGE TO A A STAND STILL, NOBODY WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I'VE SORT OF MY REPORTING COME TO FIND OUT.

THAT'S IN A WAY THE MORE SU INVESTIGACION DIED THE DAY THAT TRUMP WAS RE-ELECTED IN NOVEMBER, IF NOT DIRECTLY, CERTAINLY INDIRECTLY.

AFTER OF THE ELECTION AND AFTER THE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE.

FIRE THE TURNING.

IN TAMPA, THE MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE FIRED THE ACTUAL PROSECUTOR WHO WAS IT?

INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING THE CASE?

MIKE GORDON.

HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW THEM ARE IT WAS BECAUSE MY COURT AND PARTICIPATED IN THE PROSECUTIONS OF THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTIONS.

>> NOW AS THE EVIDENCE IS COLLECTED AND THE GRAND JURY IS TERMINATED HIM.

WHAT INVOLVED IN THE FLORIDA ETHICS COMMISSION DECIDING TO COME BACK TO THIS CASE AND PICK IT UP FOR THIS TYPE OF ETHICS PROBE.

>> ONE OF THE ACTIONS THAT WAS TAKEN BY RELYING ON SELF WAS TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ETHICS COMMISSION.

AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'S DONE.

YOU HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT OR THAT OR THE ETHICS COMMISSION DOESN'T INVESTIGATE.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONCE THAT COMPLAINT IS RE IS UP.

ACCEPTED BY THE.

ETHICS COMMISSION.

IT'S DETERMINED WHETHER NICELY LEGALLY SUFFICIENT TO ALLEGATIONS ON THEIR FACE.

WOODS WOULD YOU KNOW?

OUR ACTUAL WOULD BE ETHICS VIOLATIONS IS TRUE.

AND IN THIS CASE THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE AND THE INVESTIGATION.

WAS STARTED AND WE LEARN THAT.

TO VARIOUS SOURCES AND ICE.

ALL ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, DOCUMENTED PROOF THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION.

>> WITH THESE ETHICS INVESTIGATIONS, THEY HAVE 150 DAYS OF CONCEPTION TO PROCESS THIS AND MAKE A DETERMINATION.

SO WHAT POWER DOES THE TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION HAVE AND DO WE EXPECT ANYTHING TO COME FROM WHAT THEIR FINDINGS WILL BE?

>> ONCE THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED.

HE GOES TO A LAKE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ETHICS COMMISSION HEARING WHERE THE ETHICS COMMISSION LOOKS AT THE CASE.

LOOKS AT THE REPORT AND THAT HERMAN'S WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S PROBABLE CAUSE TO THE OFFICIAL.

FINALLY, THE LAW, IF PROBABLE CAUSE IS FOUND AND THERE WILL BE A HEARING, A PUBLIC HEARING.

IN TALLAHASSEE.

WHERE THE SHERIFF WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE HIS CASE, WHICH WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD THAT YET.

SO THAT'S THE NEXT POTENTIAL STEP.

IF PROBABLE CAUSE IS FOUND.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE OTHER SIDE, THE PROSECUTION AS IT WERE AND THAT CONSIST OF THE REPORT ITSELF LARGELY.

AND AT THAT POINT AFTER HEARING BOTH SIDES, THE OF THE COMMISSION WOULD VOTE AND AND THEY WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU FEEL A VIOLATION OCCURRED OR NOT.

AND IF YOU THEY COULD BRING DOWN, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAINT SENTENCES I'M FROM PUBLIC CENSURE TO FINES AND YOU CAN EVEN GO AS FAR AS TO RECOMMEND A RECOMMENDATION TO REMOVE THAT OFFICIAL FROM OFFICE THEY CAN TO.

THE COMMISSION CAN'T REMOVE OFFICIALS THAT THEY CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE GOVERNOR WHO'S BEEN VERY QUIET AND THIS, TOO.

SO THE INVESTMENT OF A MYSTERY OF FROM THE BEGINNING IS WHERE IT IS.

THE GOVERNOR STAND ON THIS.

SEE, HE'S REMOVED PUBLIC OFFICIALS FOR SEEMINGLY LESS THAN SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE OUT THERE SHERIFF MARCENO.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A WILD CARD AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE.

>> WELL, 150 DAYS IS NOT A LONG TIME.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ON YOUR REPORTING AS THIS INVESTIGATION UNFOLDS.

BOB NORMAN OF THE FLORIDA TRIED IT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.

>> I APPRECIATED.

>> AND AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS, YOU CAN FIND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE WTC YOU DOT ORG.

AND AT FLORIDA, TRIDENT DOT ORG.

WELL, COMING UP, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR BODY, BUT YOU MIGHT BE OVERLOOKING IT WHEN IT COMES TO LONG-TERM HEALTH.

WE'RE FINDING HAS HEALTHY DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IS CORE FOR PREVENTING CERTAIN DISEASES.

WHETHER IT'S MANAGING YOUR IMMUNITY, MAINTAINING YOUR METABOLISM OR KEEPING YOUR DIGESTION IN TUNE.

YOUR GUT HEALTH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO YOUR OVERALL HEALTH.

ROUGHLY 70% OF THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM RESIDES IN THE GOT.

AND AS THE CENTRAL FOR FIGHTING INFECTION AND REDUCING INFLAMMATION.

BUT FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS DIGESTIVE HEALTH IS A MAJOR CONCERNED WGCUS JENNIFER CRAWFORD HAS MORE ON THE IMPACT IN AN UNHEALTHY DIGESTIVE SYSTEM CAN HAVE ON THE HUMAN BODY AND HOW YOU CAN KEEP YOURS IN TIP-TOP SHAPE.

>> GUT HEALTH IS NOT SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT DISORDERS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IMPACT AT LEAST 50 TO 60 MILLION AMERICANS EVERY YEAR GASTROENTEROLOGIST.

DOCTOR SAHIL KIAHNNA JOINS US NOW FROM THE MAYO CLINIC.

DR.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON SIGNS OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES?

>> THE HUMAN GOT IS IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGAN SYSTEMS.

IT CONNECTS THE INSIDES OF HER BODY TO THE OUTSIDES AND GIVES US THE ATTRITION.

AND WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING WELL, PEOPLE CAN GET ALL SORTS OF SYMPTOMS.

GOING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

SOME PEOPLE CAN HAVE TROUBLE SWALLOWING.

SOME CAN HAVE FOOD STUCK IN THERE, FOOT PIPE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO SWALLOW THE MOST COMMON THINGS THAT WE SEE THAT PEOPLE GET HIS ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT FEET OF BLOATED AFTER THE EATING BAN AFTER EATING OR BEING OTHERWISE IN THEIR BELLY.

AND THEN THE NORTH HAS SYMPTOMS THAT COMMONLY AFFECT OUR PATIENTS INCLUDE CONSTIPATION, DIARRHEA, AND THINGS THAT ARE ON THE U.S.

SIGNIFICANCE ARE THINGS THAT AND SICK SIGNIFIED BAD THINGS HAPPENING COULD BE BLOOD IN THE STOOL.

NOT FEELING WELL HAVING BLACK STOOLS, SOME TO GET NAUSEA, VOMITING SAYS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF SYMPTOMS THAT IMPACT PEOPLE WHO HAVE G I DISORDERS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MORE COMMON DISEASES THAT YOU TREAT?

WE TREAT ALL SORTS OF DISEASES WITHIN GASTROENTEROLOGY PEOPLE WITH INDIGESTION, PEOPLE WITH BLOATING, PEOPLE WITH DIARRHEA, PEOPLE WITH CONSTIPATION.

THAT'S THE MOST COMMON PHENOTYPE THAT WE SEE AND THEN WE ALSO SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ULCER DISEASE EOSINOPHILIC OR ALLERGIC DISEASE OF THE GUT INFLAMMATORY DISEASES SUCH AS ULCERATIVE COLITIS OR CROHN'S DISEASE.

SOME INFECTIONS OF THE GUT LIKE C-DIFFICILE INFECTION AND AT TIMES PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEVELOPED COLORECTAL CANCER ARE ALSO SEEN WITHIN GASTROENTEROLOGY >> NOW, WHY IS IT TOUGH TO DIAGNOSE THESE DISORDERS LIKE CELIAC DISEASE?

IT'S ESTIMATED AT LEAST 80% OF PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THIS AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER, WHICH IS TRIGGERED BY GLUTEN IN FOODS AND PRODUCTS.

BUT PEOPLE CAN SUFFER FOR YEARS UNTIL ITS FINALLY DIAGNOSED IF IT EVER IS WHY?

WHY ARE THESE HARD TO DIAGNOSE?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CELIAC DISEASE.

IT'S ESTIMATED ANYWHERE BETWEEN ONE AND 2% OF THE POPULATION PROBABLY HAS AN UNDERLYING DELIAC DISEASE TROUBLE THAT'S ELECT AND SOME OF THE OTHER DISORDERS IS THAT SYMPTOMS CAN BE OVERLAPPING.

SOME PEOPLE PRESENT WITH CELIAC DISEASE WHEN THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OFF DIARRHEA LOSING WEIGHT.

BUT OTHERS CAN JUST PRESENT AS CONSTIPATION.

ALL ARE HAVING ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT IN NOT FEELING WELL WHEN THEY CONSUME GLUTEN.

SO THERE'S A WHOLE RANGE OF SYMPTOMS THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT DISEASES CAN PRESENT.

AND THAT'S WHERE SITTING DOWN WITH THE PATIENTS TAKING AN ADEQUATE HISTORY, SEEING HOW THEIR SYMPTOMS HAVE PROGRESSED OVER THE YEARS.

HOW THEY HAVE REACTED TO SOME OF THE COUNTER TREATMENTS THAT THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS.

IS REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL.

AS THE FIRST STEP DURING THE PHYSICAL EXAM, A DETAILED PHYSICAL EXAM IS THE SECOND STEP.

AND THEN COMES TESTING THAT WE DO WITHIN GASTROENTEROLOGY TO HELP OUR PATIENTS OUT.

>> WHAT BLOOD TESTS ARE THERE AT COULD BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE SOME EFFECTIVE ONES FOR DIAGNOSING CERTAIN DISORDERS, LIKE CELIAC?

>> CELIAC DISEASE.

THERE IS A BLOOD TEST THAT YOU CAN MEASURE THE ANTIBODIES AGAINST GLUETN, IN THE BLOOD THAT.

BLOOD TEST IS UPWARDS OF 90% ACCURATE WHEN SOMEBODY DOES HAVE CELIAC DISEASE, THERE'S ALSO A GENETIC TEST THAT CAN BE DONE TO SEE IF PEOPLE HAVE CELIAC DISEASE OR NOT.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE TESTS ARE ONLY ACCURATE THE BLOOD TESTS AND EVEN THE BIOPSY TESTS THAT YOU DO FOR CELIAC DISEASE IS ONLY ACCURATE WHEN SOMEBODY IS CONSUMING GLUETN.

SO IF I HAVE BEEN ON A GLUTEN-FREE DIET FOR X, Y OR Z REASON MYSELF AND I DO A CELIAC DISEASE BLOOD TEST DOESN'T IMPACT THE GENETIC TEST, BUT IT WILL IMPACT THE CYTOLOGY OR THE ANTIBODY TEST TO CELIAC DISEASE AND WE CAN BE RELIABLE.

>> BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL CAUSES FOR INCREASING CASES THAT WE'RE SEEING NATIONWIDE?

>> FOR CELIAC DISEASE WE THINK THE CAUSE IS MOSTLY GENETIC AND THEN.

ONE IN 4 PEOPLE HAVE GENETIC DISPOSITION TO GETTING CELIAC DISEASE AND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

WE ARE SEEING INCREASING PREVALENCE OFF CELIAC DISEASE OVER THE YEARS.

PART OF WHAT WE THINK IS ENVIRONMENTAL HOW OUR FOOOD HAS BEEN ENGINEERED DIFFERENTLY.

PART OF IT IS WHAT CONTAMINANTS ARE WE EXPOSED TO?

AND THAT'S THAT'S NOT JUST FOR CELIAC DISEASE.

THAT'S WHERE ALMOST EVERY OTHER G I DISEASE, THAT'S ALL THAT.

AND WE'RE SEEING INCREASED PREVALENCE.

WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF DEADLY G I DISEASES SUCH AS COLON CANCER IN YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS.

IF YOU PREVIOUSLY LOOKED AT WHEN DO WE START DOING COLONOSCOPIES?

FAR LOOKING FOR LOOKING FOR COLON POLYPS, IT WAS AGE 50.

NOW WE SAY IT SHOULD BE DONE AT AGE 45 BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF COLON CANCER IN PEOPLE IN THEIR 40'S.

SO A LOT OF G I DISEASES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY AFFECTING OLDER PEOPLE ARE NOW IMPACTING YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS.

>> NOW THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE DISORDERS THAT ARE LIFELONG CONDITIONS.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO REALLY REDUCE OUR RISK OF GETTING THEM?

>> MOST IMPORTANTLY, ONE SHOULD TRY TO FOLLOW, A HEALTHY BALANCED DIET AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ONE SHOULD, TRY NOT TO GO INTO FAD DIETS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE UNLESS YOU DISCUSSED WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN.

MOST IMPORTANT, G I DISORDER AND I IN MY MIND IS WHAT WE CALL AS METABOLIC, LIVER DISEASE AND ALSO G I DISORDERS THAT CAN BE TIED DIET RELATED THING.

ONE IN 3 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS THAT.

THAT'S A PREVENTABLE.

AND UNLESS, OR IF SOMEBODY HAS THAT ILLNESS THAT'S A TREATABLE ILLNESS.

AND IN TODAY'S WORD, THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT PART IS IF SOMEBODY HAS G I SYMPTOMS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO SEE A PRIMARY DOCTOR.

AND EVENTUALLY A GASTROENTEROLOGIST JUST SO YOU CAN GET EARLY ASSESSMENT AND PERHAPS EARLY CONTROL OVER A G I DISEASE THATS ABOUT TO BUBBLE UP >> AND FINALLY, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC FOODS THAT YOU WOULD ADVISE THAT YOU SHOULD ADD TO THE DIET TO REALLY HELP IMPROVE AND HEAL YOUR GUT HEALTH.

>> IN MOST PEOPLE BARRING CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS EATING FOODS THAT ARE RICH IN FIBER.

RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

THE AVERAGE AMERICAN DIET UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS LOW IN FIBER FOR MOST PEOPLE.

WED RECOMMEND A HIGH-FIBER DIET OR IF YOU WERE TO BUY ONE SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUR HEALTH, I WOULD THINK ADDING A FIBER REGULAR, GOOD OLD FIBER SUPPLEMENT WOULD BE HELPFUL >> ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US TODAY?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZ ABOUT THIS GUT MICROBIOME THAT'S OUT THERE.

IF YOU GOON THE INTERNET AND LOOK FOR USEFUL GUT BACTERIA.

THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE.

THERE'S TESTS OUT THERE THAT ACTUALLY HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF MICROBES ARE LIVING IN YOUR BODY OR INTESTINES AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T RECOMMEND ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY SHOULD GO AND GET A GUT MICROBIOME TEST BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS NOT ACTIONABLE.

PEOPLE ASK ME A LOT OF TIMES.

WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY MICROBIOME HEALTHY AND THE ANSWER IS VERY SIMPLE.

EXERCISE WELL, EAT WELL.

EAT LOTS OF FIBER, DRINK A LOT OF WATER.

AVOID SMOKING DONT DRINK TOO MUCH ALCOHOL AND THAT HELPS KEEP YOUR MICROBIOME HEALTHY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GREAT TIPS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, DR.

KHANNA >> YOU'RE MOST WELCOME, PLEASURES ALL MINE >> AND HERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SAYS THE SMALL INTESTINE IS ANYTHING BUT SMALL AND THAT IT WOULD COVER AN ENTIRE REGULATION TENNIS COURT WHEN FULLY UNFOLDED TO KEEP UP WITH OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE AND HEALTH STORIES YOU NEED TO KNOW LOG-ON TO WGNO.

YOU DOT ORG.

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MAINTAIN STRONG DIGESTIVE HEALTH IS BY MAKING SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR BODY.

AND THAT MEANS MORE THAN WHAT YOU'RE EATING, AS WGCUS KATE CRONIN SHARES THAT ALSO INCLUDES ANY SUPPLEMENTS YOU MIGHT BE TAKING.

>> WITH SO MANY SUPPLEMENTS BEING PROMOTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THESE DAYS, IT CAN BE TEMPTING TO WANT TO TRY THEM ALL.

BUT TAKING TOO MANY CAN ACTUALLY BE ON SAFE.

>> SO THEY CONSIDER SUPPLEMENTS LIKE MEDICATIONS WHEN YOU TAKE TOO MANY, IT IS A BURDEN TO THE BODY, PARTICULARLY TO THE CANYON, TO DELIVER.

IN ADDITION, IT CAN INTERACT WITH THE MEDICINES ARE ALREADY TAKING, AND PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF HAVING MEDICINE OR SUPPLEMENT INTERACTIONS.

THEY REALLY NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR EXCESS AND THE SIDE EFFECT.

>> DR.

YOU FANG.

LIN SPECIALIZES IN INTEGRATED MEDICINE AT CLEVELAND CLINIC.

SHE SAYS STOP WANTS TO BE TREATED THE SAME AS MEDICATION, MEANING IT'S BEST TO MAKE SURE YOU REALLY NEED THEM AND AREN'T JUST TAKING SOMETHING YOU RANDOMLY SAW PROMOTED ONLINE.

DR LIN SAYS IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT MANY SUPPLEMENTS DON'T HAVE SCIENTIFIC BACKING AND ARE NOT FDA APPROVED.

HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE ANY, SHE RECOMMENDS FIRST CHECKING TO SEE IF THEIR THIRD-PARTY TESTED AND SCREENED FOR HEAVY METALS AND CONTAMINANTS.

>> ANYTHING BEYOND THE VITAMINS AND MINERALS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT INVOLVES.

BUT HANNAH KOHL'S OR NUTRACEUTICAL.

SO THOSE ARE EXTRA COMING FROM PLANTS.

YOU WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR AGAIN, THAT ISN'T AN HERB INTERACTIONS OR EVEN TALKS A CITY OR CONTAMINANTS.

SO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH THE PROVIDER WAS TRAINED IN ASSESSING THE NEED AND ALSO THE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECT AND INTERACTIONS TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

>> DR LIN WARNS THAT WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR THINKING OF GETTING PREGNANT SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY SUPPLEMENTS.

CERN TYPES CAN BE HARMFUL TO THE BABY.

FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M KATIE CRONIN.

>> HELPING TEENAGE MOTHERS WITH BOTH DIAPERS AND DIPLOMAS.

THE PROGRAM THAT HELPS YOUNG MUMS GET THEIR LIVES ON TRACK AND BUILD TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE.

IN FLORIDA, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE NEARLY 12,000 TEEN BIRTH STATE.

5 AND FOR YOUNG MOTHERS, BALANCING SCHOOL AND BEING A NEW PARENT CAN SEEM LIKE A DAUNTING TASK.

WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE LEARNED ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO MAKE SURE TEEN MOMS HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BUILD TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE.

>> ALL THE TEEN HERE, I'M PROUD OF THEM FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THAT BEEN STOPPING THEM FROM BLOCKING THE STAGE OF THE STAFF OF THE FROM GET EDUCATIONS.

LET THIS STOP WOMEN FROM ANYTHING WHAT THEY WANT TO BE WHERE THEY WANT TO DO.

>> MICHELLE HEMINGWAY KNOWS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.

SHE WAS 19 WHEN SHE GOT PREGNANT.

NOW SHE'S WATCHING HER OWN DAUGHTER.

GO THROUGH IT KALANI ALSO IS 15 OLDEST SIBLING IN HER FAMILY.

A SINGLE MOM AND SHE HAD HER DAUGHTER AT 14 WHEN SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT.

HER FIRST TASK WAS BREAKING THE NEWS TO MOM.

>> ALICE THING THAT SHE WILL KICK ME OUT.

SO SKIP TOWN.

>> HEMINGWAY WAS SHOCKED, ANGRY AT FIRST, BUT SHE NEVER LEFT >> IT WAS KIND OF ROUGH, BUT I WANT TO BREAK DOWN AS A PARENT AND THEN SHE HAD A BABY.

SHE SAY I DON'T WANT THE BABY AND MORE, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT IT THE SUPPORT HER AND BE THERE FOR AS LONG AS HER FAMILY AND EVERYBODY ELSE TO SUPPORT HAITI SHOW HER IS BILL K.

>> THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM IS EXACTLY WHAT THE YOUNG PARENTS EDUCATION PROGRAM IS BUILT AROUND.

STUDENT STRUCK THEIR BABIES OFF AT THE DAY CARE CENTER.

NEWBORNS TODDLERS, NO AGE RESTRICTION, THEN HEAD TO CLASSROOMS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

TEACHERS HELPED GUIDE THROUGH SELF-PACED ONLINE COURSE WORK.

THE STUDENTS STILL HAVE TO PASS STANDARDIZED TESTS FOR A DIPLOMA.

KIMANI MALLORY WAS 18.

HER SON JUST TURNED ONE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRADE SCHOOL NEXT DOOR.

SHE'LL GRADUATE WITH HER DIPLOMA.

THEN CONTINUE ON TO EARN A WELDING CERTIFICATION.

>> I REALLY SAY TO GRADUATE BECAUSE AT THAT POINT WHERE I'D LIKE WAS VERY DISCOURAGED ABOUT SCHOOL AND I DROPPED OUT AND I CAME BACK SOME LIKE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GRADUALLY.

>> THE PROGRAM HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH HARRY CHAPIN, FOOD BANK TO CREATE A PANTRY IN MANY WAYS.

IT REFLECTS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, REMOVE AS MANY BARRIERS AS POSSIBLE.

SO THESE YOUNG WOMEN CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

>> THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN TAX FOR THAT.

THEY DON'T DO THINK PRETTY MUCH SPOIL THE GIVE US LIKE ANYTHING.

ONE.

WE HAVE A PANTRY FULL OF SNACKS INFLOWS INTO THE RESOURCES.

THE IT'S PRETTY NICE TO LIKE HATE.

>> BRITTANY VASQUEZ IS 16, CAMILLA IS 7 MONTHS OLD.

SHE'S RAISING HER ALONE.

>> I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A PARTNER OF THE LAND.

TURNS OUT IT WAS HIM WAS IN THE PERSON.

I THOUGHT WAS A PERSON THAT.

HAD A TO FACE.

YOU CAN SAY, BUT I HAVE MY MY HOW MY PARENTS, MY DAD TO GET DEPORTED A MOMENT NOW.

>> IT'S A BABY.

SHE TRANSFERRED HERE NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> LONG.

A LOT OF FRIENDS.

IT WAS HARD.

I'M A PART OF IT IS LEAVING MY TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD SOME SOME TEACHERS HOUR.

VERY CLOSE.

LIKE I COULD TELL THEM ANYTHING.

AND THEN WE JUST HOPE WE CAN.

BUT IT WAS HARD TO SEPARATE FUND.

THEN THE I GOT HERE AND I HAVE BETTER TEACHERS.

THAT WAS THAT WILL HOLD ME.

TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

BE A PART OF MY JOURNEY.

>> IN LEE COUNTY WHERE TEEN BIRTH RATES ALREADY OUTPACED THE STATE AND THE NATION.

THE SALE MOTHERS ARE STILL HERE.

STILL SHOWING UP THE PIECE IN THE NEXT ROOM.

DIPLOMAS WITHIN REACH.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THE PROGRAM, THAT'S NOT ASKING THEM TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE 2 OF >> AND THEY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WRONG.

BUT YOU'RE REALLY NOT.

YOU HAVE FRIENDS TO COUNT ON.

IF YOU COME HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TEACHERS.

HAVE DIAPERS WIPES.

YOU HAVE HOPE YOU HAVE HOPE DO.

WE DON'T HAVE A CLINTON YOURSELF.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M ELIZABETH ANDARGE.

>> THE YOUNG PARENTS EDUCATION PROGRAM IS FREE AND ENROLLMENT IS OPEN NOW TO STUDENTS GRADES 7 THROUGH 12.

ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM WITH OVER 39 PLAYS AND 154 SONNETS.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED PLAYWRIGHT OF ALL TIME.

AND ONE LOCAL GROUP IS LOOKING TO TACKLE HIS COMPLETE WORKS IN ONLY 3 DAYS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HEAD WGCU DOT ORG.

WE'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.