THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, INFLATION CONTINUES TO RISE.

BUT SOME RELIEF AS GAS PRICES TAKE A SUDDEN DROP.

COULD THIS BE AN INDICATOR OF THINGS TO COME OR SHOULD PEOPLE BE PLANNING ON MAINTAINING A STRICT BUDGET FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE?

CUTTING THROUGH THE FOG OF STOMACH ISSUES.

WHY RESEARCHERS ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT COMES OUT OF YOU AS AN INDICATOR OF WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE OF YOU.

AND AS THE COST OF OWNING A HOME CONTINUES TO SOAR, WE EXAMINE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO BUDGET WISELY BEFORE ANY NEEDED RENOVATIONS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GAS PRICES DROPPING ACROSS THE NATION AND IN FLORIDA WITH WORD OF A PEACE AGREEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

TRIPLE A SAYS DRIVER'S ON AVERAGE IN FLORIDA ARE NOW PAYING LESS THAN $4 A GALLON.

THE STATE AVERAGE OF GAS PRICES DROPPED $0.12 OVER THE WEEKEND WITH THE AVERAGE IN FLORIDA.

NOW AROUND $3.80 PER GALLON.

AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO AAA.

WHILE COLLIER COUNTY DRIVERS PAY SOME OF THE HIGHEST PRICES IN THE STATE ABOUT $3 AND $0.91 PER GALLON.

LEE, CHARLOTTE AND DESOTO ARE SHOWING SOME OF THE STEEPEST DECLINES.

WHILE SOME SEE THIS AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AS OIL PRICES DROPPED TO THEIR LOWEST LEVEL SINCE THE MIDDLE EAST WAR BEGAN, STUDIES SHOW PEOPLE ARE STILL FEELING THE STRAIN ON THEIR WALLETS WITH THE CONTINUING RISE IN INFLATION.

>> FGCU ECONOMICS, PROFESSOR DOCTOR VICTOR CLAAR JOINS US NOW TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO INFLATION IS AT THE HIGHEST POINT IN 3 NUMBERS TICKED UP TO IT WAS 4.2% WE ALSO ARE SEEING THE PPI THAT HE'S OVER 6%.

YOU'RE MENTIONING WHICH.

IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

WHAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS?

>> THESE ARE SCARY NUMBERS.

IF YOU REMEMBER THAT THE BED, THE BODY THAT DECIDES WHAT INTEREST RATES ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR CAR LOANS OR STUDENT LOANS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE FINANCE THEIR GOAL FOR ANNUAL INFLATION FOR CONSUMERS IS TO.

2%.

AND THEY'VE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND EVER SINCE WE GET CLOSE, WE GET IN THE THREES ARE LOW FOR YEARS, BUT WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET DOWN TO 2%.

AND 2% MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT.

BUT IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED 2% EVERY YEAR FOR 35 YEARS.

THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR WOULD BE HALF OF WHAT IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 35 YEARS.

SO INFLATION IS CORROSIVE TO YOUR SAVING.

IT IS AN INSIDIOUS AND IT MAKES THE PURCHASING POWER OF YOUR PAYCHECK AND THAT MONEY IN YOUR PIGGY DOWN STEADILY.

SO THE FED STILL NEEDS TO BE LASER-FOCUSED ON INFLATION.

I THINK THE TENSION RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE A WHITE HOUSE THAT'S VERY INTERESTED IN FOCUSING ON CUTTING INTEREST RATES AND STIMULATING DEMAND.

WHEN EVERY ECONOMIST WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU DO THAT, IT STIRS THE FIRES OF INFLATION, EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

>> WHAT HAS CAUSED THIS PPI?

>> TO SOAR ABOVE 6%, WHETHER IT'S THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OR THE PRODUCER PRICE PRICE INDEX, THE GUILTY PARTY IS THE ONE YOU THINK IT IS.

IT'S GAS PRICES BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO PUT GAS IN OUR CAKES TO GO TO CHURCH SCHOOL AND WORK.

EVERY GROCERY STORE HAS TO PAY FOR SHIPPING OF RASPBERRIES AND TOMATOES AND OTHER COMMODITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

SO ANYTHING THAT'S MOVED FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER LOCATION NOW HAS A HIGHER COST OF PRODUCTION, HIGHER PRICE OF WHOLESALE.

AND IF AMERICAN COMPANIES ARE PAYING 6% OR MORE THAN 6% MORE THAN THEY USED TO A YEAR AGO, EVENTUALLY THAT HAS TO BE PASSED ALONG TO CONSUMERS IN THE FORM OF HIGHER PRICES.

SO EVEN THOUGH GAS PRICES MAY MODERATE, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT PRICES ARE HIGHER THAN THEY'VE BEEN AND INFLATION IS PERSISTENT AND NEVER GOES BACK DOWN.

>> AND WE ARE NOW HEARING OBVIOUSLY THAT THERE POTENTIALLY IS THIS DEAL THAT'S BEING SIGNED IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT OUR ENERGY PRICES?

WE ALREADY KNOW THE THE PRICE OF OIL HAS FALLEN DRAMATICALLY TODAY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS FAR AS LOOKING OUT OF THE NEXT WEEK OR 2 REGARDING GAS PRICES?

YEAH, WE'VE GOT SOME TEMPORARY GOOD NEWS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF IT WAS UNEXPECTED.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN MARKETS.

MARKETS NORMALLY DON'T REACT TO THINGS THAT EVERYBODY EXPECTED.

>> THEY REACT TO UNEXPECTED NEWS.

AND I THINK THIS NEWS ABOUT THE EXTENDED C SPIRE WITH IRAN IS REALLY GOOD NEWS.

IN THE SHORT TERM.

IT WAS UNEXPECTED, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S JUST THAT IT'S NOT A PEACE TREATY.

IT'S NOT A SETTLED NEGOTIATION.

NOBODY'S SIGNING OFF ON ANYTHING THAT'S PERMANENT WERE JUST COMING TO EXTEND THE CEASEFIRE A FEW MORE DAYS WHILE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE.

NOW, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT TOMORROW.

WE HAVE THE FIRST FED MEETING WITH A NEW CHAIRMAN.

HOW DOES THAT >> IMPACT ALL OF THIS?

BECAUSE THIS IS A GAME CHANGER AT THIS IS LIKE THE WORLD CUP FOR FINANCIAL MARKETS.

>> BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A BRAND NEW FED CHAIR AND APPOINTED BY A PRESIDENT WHO WAS REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE PREVIOUS FED CHAIR.

I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING THAT KNOW THAT.

I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING.

THAT'S THAT'S NEW NEWS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT DONALD TRUMP HAD LOST PATIENCE WITH JEROME POWER, J BOW AND HE WANTED SOMEBODY WHO WOULD MORE AGGRESSIVELY CUT INTEREST RATES BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMS TO LIKE IT WHEN IT'S CHEAP TO BORROW, BUSINESSES CAN FINANCE PROJECTS CONSUMERS CAN FINANCE APPLIANCE PURCHASES.

HE LOVES HOT ECONOMY LIKE THAT.

THE TENSION IS THAT WHEN AN ECONOMY GETS TOO HOT, YOU RISK STOKING THE FIRES OF INFLATION AND INFLATION IS ALREADY BURNING.

PRETTY HAWK.

SO THE NEW FED CHAIR, KEVIN WARSH, HE'S BEEN ON THE OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE BEFORE HE'S VOTED IN THESE MEETINGS BEFORE AND HIS TRACK RECORD THERE WAS THAT HE WAS MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION.

THEN HE WAS ABOUT DEMAND AND AN ECONOMIC BOOM AND THE JOB MARKET.

SO IT'LL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS THE NEW FED CHAIR THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS GETTING WHEN HE NOMINATED HIM AND HE WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.

>> IT'LL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT ARE ALREADY OPERATING UNDER VERY, VERY TIGHT BUDGETS.

CURRENTLY WITH THESE INCREASED NUMBERS FOR INFLATION.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO WORKING FAMILIES OUT THERE, TOO, REALLY TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS NEXT STRETCH OF TOUGH TIMES ECONOMICALLY.

IT.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE CPI NUMBER WAS SO HOT OVER 4%.

THIS TIME IS BECAUSE THE CPI REFLECTS WHAT TYPICAL FAMILY'S PURCHASE.

SO ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY WEIGHTED ITEMS IN THAT SHOPPING CART.

IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF IT THAT WAY, EVERY MONTH IS TRANSPORTATION COSTS, INCLUDING GAS.

SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN JUST HOW PERSISTENT THESE PRICE INCREASES ARE.

NO PRICES FOR GAS HAVE MODERATED AT THE PUMP.

AND WE'RE ALL THANKFUL FOR THAT.

BUT THEY'RE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE $3 OR SO A GALLON.

THEY WERE A YEAR AGO.

SO IF YOU GO TO THE PUMP, I THINK THESE DAYS THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER OR NOT PRICES WILL BE HIGH BECAUSE THEY WILL BE HIGH.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS HOW HARD YOU'RE GOING TO SWALLOW WHEN YOU SEE WHETHER THEY'RE HIGHER THAN THEY WERE LAST WEEK ORDERING THE LAST BILL UP.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LOTS OF UNCERTAINTY.

SO MY ADVICE FOR FAMILIES IS.

TREAT EVERY DOLLAR VERY CAREFULLY AND FIT BIG THINGS IN FIRST FIT IN YOUR RENT PAYMENT.

YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENT, YOUR BUDGET FOR GASOLINE AND THE BUDGET.

YOU'VE GOT TO PUT GROCERIES ON THE TABLE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS COST MORE THAN THEY DID 5 YEARS AGO.

AND ONCE YOU'VE PAID FOR THOSE THINGS AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR FAMILY FED AND HOUSED AND YOU CAN GET THEM TO AND FROM THE PLACES THEY NEED TO GO, THEN ONLY THINK ABOUT THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU COULD SPEND MONEY ON.

IT'S A SERIOUS TIME.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND ARE YOU ARE FOR JOINING US OF HAVING HERE.

>> FROM THE CONTINUING SAGA OF GAS PRICES TO THE RISE IN COMMON.

GOOD.

YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL OF THE ECONOMIC HAPPENINGS BY VISITING WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, WE HAVE SMART HOMES, SMART CARS AND NOW SMART UNDERWEAR.

WE LEARN WHY THIS NEW TECH IN THE HEALTH FIELD MAY HOLD THE KEY TO SOLVING GUT HEALTH ISSUES.

ONE OF THE LATEST WORKOUT TRENDS WEARING WEIGHTED VEST WHILE EXERCISING SOCIAL MEDIA HYPES THE VESTS FOR THEIR ABILITY TO HELP ADD MUSCLE AND BURN MORE CALORIES.

BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE AWARE OF BEFORE YOU ADD A WEIGHTED VEST TO YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE.

>> THEMSELVES WON'T BUILD STRENGTH WHEN COMBINED WITH STRENGTH TRAINING, THEY CERTAINLY CAN HELP DO THAT.

WE DID BEST CAN HELP YOU EXPEND MORE CALORIES WHEN YOU'RE EXERCISING.

SO IT HAS THAT BENEFIT.

>> DOCTOR JESSICA THOMAS SIC IS A SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALIST AT CLEVELAND CLINIC.

SHE SAYS IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT BUYING A WEIGHTED VEST, THERE ARE SOME DO'S AND DON'TS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR STARTERS, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BEST FITS SECURELY AND HE'S MADE WITH THE BREED.

THE BULL MATERIAL.

YOU ALSO DON'T WANT IT TO BE TO HAVE A RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IT'S BEST TO CHOOSE A VAST THAT IS 5 TO 10% OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT.

ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO OFFER MUCH BENEFIT AND CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE YOUR RISK FOR INJURY.

SHE ALSO ADVISES AGAINST ONE WEARING A VEST DURING CERTAIN EXERCISES.

>> WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL WITH THINGS LIKE BIKE RIDING AND THAT'S A HIGH RATE OF REQUIRES ADDITIONAL BALANCE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NEW TO IT, YOU KNOW, CAN THROW OFF YOUR BALANCE A BIT.

SO JUST BEING CAREFUL OF THE ACTIVITIES, I THINK WALKING OR RUNNING OR TO SAVE POISED TO START USING WEIGHTED VESTS.

>> RESEARCHERS ARE FOLLOWING THEIR NOSES WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING BETTER GUT HEALTH.

SOME SCIENTISTS HAVE STARTED EXTENSIVE STUDIES ON FLATULENCE.

RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND RECENTLY UNVEILED A SMART UNDERWEAR DEVICE.

CLINICAL TRIALS ARE UNDERWAY FOR THE FIRST OF ITS KIND.

A WEARABLE DEVICE FOR MONITORING GUT MICROBIOME ACTIVITY AS GAS IS BEING PASSED.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE ON THIS NEW RESEARCH TOOL.

>> FOR MORE ON THE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES BEING DONE ON FLATULENT.

I'M JOINED BY DR.

JULIE GOT A HEALTH EDUCATOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE FLORIDA WELLNESS INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO MOST PEOPLE WOULD RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT PASSING GAS, BUT FOR RESEARCHERS, THERE TRULY ARE BENEFITS TO STUDYING FLATULENT, INCLUDING AND OVERALL LOOK AT DIGESTION.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POSITIVES AND PURPOSES THAT COME FROM THE STUDYING OF BREAKING WIND?

>> I SUPPOSE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF AWARENESS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE GAS, INCLUDING BLOATING, ACID REFLEX FOR BEING YOU NAME IT.

ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THAT GESTION.

WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE SYMPTOMS, THEY'RE VERY COMMON, BUT THEY'RE NOT NORMAL.

SO IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE EXCESSIVE GAS, IT REALLY JUST MEANS YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IS NO LONGER OFFICIANT.

OR YOU OVER A 2 YEAR.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS FOR IT.

BUT ANYTIME YOU HAVE CONSISTENT GAS THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, IT MEANS THAT YOU'RE NOT BREAKING DOWN THE FOOD AND THEN THAT ALSO MEANS YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE NUTRITION FROM THE MEAL THAT YOU ATE.

SO IT'S A CONCERN BECAUSE DIGESTION IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING.

AND IF YOU HAVE A NORMAL DIGESTIVE SYSTEM THAT'S WORKING EFFICIENTLY, THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO THINK ABOUT NOW YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE BETTER HEALTH.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, THIS MEANS THAT IT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE OF THE THINGS CAN BECOME.

>> SO THAT I DID SOME REPORT THAT ITS CITY PERSON SHOULD PASS GAS AT LEAST 15 TO 20 TIMES A DAY.

IT'S WEIRD TO GET A DOCTOR RECOMMENDATION ON THAT.

BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT ZONE, MAYBE IT'S TOO LITTLE OR WAY TOO MUCH.

WHAT SHOULD THEY DO THEN CONSULTED DR, REALLY?

OR IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO ON THEIR OWN TO KIND OF HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM?

>> WELL, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S AN INCORRECT NUMBER.

I THINK THAT REALLY.

>> THE THE OCCASIONAL GAS WOULD BE JUST FINE.

BUT IF YOU'RE PASSING THAT MUCH GAS.

>> THE GAS IS SIMPLY AN BROKEN DOWN FOOD.

SO IF YOU HAVE AN BROKEN DOWN FOOD SITTING IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, THIS MEANS THIS IS FROM AND SING.

THIS IS NOT ABLE TO BE PASSED THROUGH.

NORMALLY.

AND NOW YOUR ABSORBING TOXINS AND PUTTING THOSE INTO THE BLOODSTREAM.

NOW YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS OVERWORKING TRYING TO HANDLE WHAT'S IN THE BLOODSTREAM.

THAT SHOULD HAVE JUST BEEN AND NOT TOXINS AND WASTE PRODUCTS.

SO GAS IS A SYMPTOM THAT SIMPLY SAYS THINGS ARE NOT WORKING.

NORMALLY.

>> SO WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO THEN TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE CONCERNS?

IS IT AS SIMPLE AS MAKING SURE WHAT YOU'RE EATING?

WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN YOUR BODY IS SOMETHING THAT YOUR BODY CAN PRODUCE OR IS THERE A CERTAIN ISSUES RIGHT NOW IN ITS CERTAIN FOODS MAY BE ARE LEADING TO LIKE BEANS OR BROCCOLI ARE KNOWN TO PRODUCE MORE GAS.

SHOULD THOSE BE AVOIDED IF PEOPLE ARE FEELING THESE ISSUES WITH THEIR GUT HEALTH?

>> LISTEN, A LOT OF ANSWERS HERE.

SO ONE JUST LET'S ADDRESS THE BEANS IN THIS COUNTRY.

USUALLY WE JUST EAT BEANS FROM A CAN IN COUNTRIES THAT USE BEANS IS THE NUMBER ONE PROTEIN.

THEY'RE SOAKING THEM FOR.

24 TO 48 HOURS, WHICH BREAKS DOWN THAT CELL WALL.

AND IT'S MUCH EASIER TO DIGEST.

SO, YOU KNOW, BEANS IN HOWEVER, THE FACT IS MEANS THEY PROBABLY WEREN'T SOAKED PROPERLY.

AND GOSH, YOU'RE PUTTING SOMETHING IN THAT IRRITATES THE SYSTEM.

YOU CAN'T BREAK DOWN ONCE AGAIN AND NOW YOU HAVE GAS FROM IT.

SO BEANS ARE FINE IF YOU COULD.

IF YOU PREPARE THEM CORRECTLY.

SAME THING WITH SOME OF THE VEGETABLES AS FAR AS BROCCOLI.

A LOT OF TIMES AND NOT STEAM ENOUGH.

SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T BREAK IT DOWN AS WELL, WHICH I'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS.

OKAY.

IF THAT'S A GASSY FOOD FOR YOU THAN YOU PROBABLY WANT TO AVOID IT I'VE BEEN A DOCTOR FOR 35 YEARS.

AND I REALLY HAVE PUT MOST ATTENTION ON DIGESTION.

NUMBER ONE.

AND SO WHAT I'VE BEEN RECOMMENDING TO MY PATIENTS FOR YEARS AND YEARS IS A HIGH-QUALITY DIGESTIVE ENZYME BECAUSE THEIR FOOD SOURCE HAS CHANGED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BEING FED THE SAME FOOD AS WE WERE WHEN WE ARE A LITTLE ON THE SOIL IS CHANGE.

WE CAN GO ON A WHOLE SHOW ON THAT.

HOWEVER, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?

I HAVE PEOPLE TAKING HIGH QUALITY DIGESTIVE ENZYME.

IT IS MUCH HEALTHIER TO TAKE AN ABSORBENT THAN IT IS TO TAKE SOMETHING OVER THE COUNTER THAT JUST SQUASHES THE SYMPTOMS RATHER THAN BREAKS DOWN THE FOOD THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

>> AND NOW AS MORE PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR OWN HEALTH INTO THEIR OWN HANDS, THERE, THERE IS MORE TECHNOLOGY TOOLS THAT ARE CATCHING UP.

AND THAT INCLUDES AN APP THAT IS CALLED THE TRACK.

MY APP.

NOW AS SOME PEOPLE MIGHT LAUGH AND THINK THAT THAT'S A JOKE.

THERE ARE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO COULD PROBABLY BENEFIT FROM USING SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO LOG THEIR DIGESTIVE PASSAGES.

>> YEAH.

AND IF YOU IF THEY'RE AWARE NOW, THEY ACTUALLY SAY HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT THE HECK DID I HAVE FOR BREAKFAST.

I'M SUPER GASSY.

THIS AFTERNOON.

AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU JUST ARE AWARE OF THIS WAY AND NOW YOU'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING ATTENTION ON AND SAYING ALLAH, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T HAVE EATEN THE BAGEL.

MAYBE THE BAGEL UCHEE CREAM CHEESE.

LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME BREAKING DOWN DAIRY WHEN PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING DI JUST OF COMPLAINTS SUCH AS EXCESSIVE GAS AND ANY IS ANYTHING THAT I'VE MENTIONED.

I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN GOING VERY DOWN TO THE THE BASICS.

I TREAT THEM LIKE A 62 YEAR-OLD THAT'S BEEN DROPPED OFF AT THE FRONT DOOR.

YOU FEED THEM PROTEIN.

YOU FEED THEM STEAMED GREEN VEGETABLES.

YOU DRINK WATER, YOU ELIMINATE THE SUGARS IN THE CAR, THE HYDRATES, AND EVEN SALADS.

BECAUSE SALADS ARE COMPLICATED TO BREAK DOWN SOUTH.

IT'S PROTEIN AND VEGETABLES.

PRETTY MUCH.

THAT'S RICE START WITH ALL THE PATIENTS.

YOU SEE CHANGES IN YOUR DIGESTION WITHIN 3 DAYS OF JUST BEING VERY, VERY SIMPLE.

THAT GIVES YOU LOTS OF FOODS THAT YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM.

IT JUST TAKES OUT THE.

LEE'S E FOODS SUCH AS GRAB A SANDWICH OR HAVE A PIECE OR JUST MAKE SOME PASTA.

SO STAY AWAY FROM THE CARBS.

EAT THE VEGETABLES, HAVE LOTS OF PROTEIN, DRINK, WATER, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A CHANGE JUST FROM DOING THAT.

>> AND THEN AS MORE HEALTH ISSUES FOR PEOPLE TO RISE.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GOT INVOLVED THE UNVEILING OF THEIR SMART UNDERWEAR TRACKS.

HYDROGEN BEING RELEASED DURING FLATULENT.

WHY HAS THE STUDY OF FLATULENCE BECOME MORE OF A STRAIGHTFORWARD METHOD OF FINDING OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN A PERSON'S GUT.

>> WELL, I HOPE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WERE BECOMING MUCH MORE GOT AWARE FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW, IS TAKE PEPTO-BISMOL IN TOMS, ENROLL AIDES AND JUST IGNORE IT ALL AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SIDE EFFECTS TO THOSE MEDICATIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY ARE NOT SO, YOU KNOW, THE ENGINE AT ALL.

THE INNER WEB DATA, PEOPLE ARE REALLY STARTING TO GET EDUCATED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STEPPING UP FROM THE POINT OF SAYING, WELL, OK, LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

YOUR GAS SEEN.

I DON'T CARE IF THAT RUNS IN YOUR RUNS IN YOUR FAMILY.

YOU'RE GASSY FOR A REASON.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> WELL, DR.

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

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU.

>> WHETHER IT'S MAINTAINING GOT HEALTH OR ANY OTHER HEALTH RELATED TOPIC.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG FOR THE LATEST MEDICAL FEATURES COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, FINDING THE BEST WAY TO BUDGET FOR ANY HOME RENOVATION AS THE COST FOR HOME OWNERSHIP INCREASES HOW YOU CAN GET THE MOST OUT OF ANY NEEDED MAINTENANCE.

OWNING A HOME IN FLORIDA CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A FINANCIAL TOLL, ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA HOMEOWNER'S GUIDE, THE AVERAGE FLORIDA HOME NEEDS BETWEEN 14,000 AND $18,000 IN ANNUAL MAINTENANCE.

AND THAT COULD GET FAR WORSE AS SUMMER APPROACHES.

THAT IS WHEN MANY AIR CONDITIONING UNITS ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR AND TESTS.

PEST INFESTATION ALSO REACHES THE SEASONAL HIGH, ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, ANGIE FLORIDA COMES IN SECOND IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO MOST EXPENSIVE STATES TO MAINTAIN A HOME RIGHT BEHIND TEXAS.

I AM JOINED BY ANGIE HICKS, THE CO-FOUNDER OF ANGIE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ANGIE'S LIST THIS TAKES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

FIRST, YOUR COMPANY WAS FOUNDED MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, WITH $50,000.

AND IT IS NOW A BILLION-DOLLAR HOME SERVICES COMPANY.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW YOU GOT STARTED AND WHY?

>> YEAH, WE STARTED.

WE STARTED THE BUSINESS.

MY CO-FOUNDER HAD BOUGHT A HOUSE IN COLUMBUS THAT NEEDED A LOT OF RENOVATIONS AND HE HONESTLY JUST HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH A CONTRACTOR.

AND WE REALLY THOUGHT THERE SHOULD BE A BETTER WAY FOR HOMEOWNERS TO SHARE INFORMATION ON THE CONTRACTORS.

THEY'RE HIRING SO THAT THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM EACH OTHER'S EXPERIENCES.

AND THAT'S WHAT FORMED ANGIE'S LIST.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS PRE INTERNET DAYS.

YOU WOULD CALL IN AND AS FOR THE NAME WILL PLUMMER, YOU TALK TO ME MOST LIKELY.

AND THEN WE EXPANDED CITY BY CITY.

MAINLY STARTED IN THE MIDWEST AND THEN EXPANDED NATIONALLY OVER THE FIRST DECADE OR SO THAT WE WERE IN BUSINESS.

AND HOW DID IT EVOLVE INTO A BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY?

WELL, QUITE HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN BUSINESS MAYBE 5 YEARS.

AND THEN THE INTERNET CAME ALONG AND THAT REALLY HELPED THE BUSINESS TAKE OFF BECAUSE IT WAS A REALLY EASY WAY FOR HOMEOWNERS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE NAMES OF PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, PAINTERS, THAT THEY MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR.

SO WE REALLY EXPANDED THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE STAYED TRUE TO OUR ROOTS OF JUST BEING THERE TO HELP HOMEOWNERS FIND GREAT CONTRACTORS AND 4 TO REALLY HELP CONTRACTORS BUILD THEIR BUSINESS AND ALLOW THEM TO REALLY SHINE FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY DO.

THERE WAS THIS NEW GLOBAL SURVEY.

THE RESULTS WERE RELEASED AND IT COMPARES.

>> HOMEOWNERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO THOSE AROUND THE WORLD.

>> WHAT COUNTRIES WERE INVOLVED AND WHY IS THIS KIND OF SURVEY IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, IT REALLY WAS OUR FIRST.

WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT JUST WHAT HOW US HOME AND HOME OWNERS COMPARED TO ONE ANOTHER.

BUT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING IS TO FIND OUT HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER AREAS, THE WORLD WITH A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES AND FLOOR AND NOT EXCUSE ME.

YOU'RE IN FLORIDA.

A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES IN EUROPE.

WE ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF COUNTRIES IN ASIA AND IN SOUTH AMERICA AND ORDER TO GET A BROADER PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND ONE THING THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, RING TRUE, EVEN THOUGH EVERY COUNTRY WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAS IT HOMERS REALLY VIEW THEIR HOUSE AS A SANCTUARY AND WANT TO MAINTAIN IT?

YOU KNOW, IT'S A PLACE WHERE THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY LIVE EVERY DAY THEY RAISE THEIR FAMILIES.

SO THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT DECISION THAT INVESTMENT RANG TRUE ACROSS ACROSS THE GLOBE.

BUT WHAT REALLY STUCK OUT FOR US HOMEOWNERS IS HOW WE FOCUS ON MAINTENANCE AND REALLY BEING PROACTIVE, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ECONOMY TODAY.

>> WHAT FINDING SURPRISED YOU MOST?

>> WELL, WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, 72% OF AMERICANS RENOVATE THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN IT.

WE ARE VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING OUR HOMES.

49% DO SO PROACTIVELY, WHICH IS WHICH IS GREAT, REALLY GETTING AHEAD OF THINGS BEFORE THEY SNOWBALL INTO SOMETHING SOMETHING BIGGER.

AND THIS IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU KIND OF LAY IT OUT AGAINST THE BROADER PICTURE THAT WE'RE LIVING IN OUR HOUSES 5 YEARS LONGER THAN THAT NORMAL.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN.

OUR HOUSE CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, ARE CHANGING, NEEDS AN INTEREST.

SO THAT'S GREAT.

AND ONE INTERESTING STAT THAT CAME OUT FOR FLORIDA IN PARTICULAR IS THAT 56%, OF FLORIDIANS VIEW THEIR HOME OF THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT, WHICH IS ABOVE WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE U.S.

IN GENERAL, WHICH IS JUST A 42%.

>> HOW DO AMERICAN HOMEOWNERS DIFFER FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE APPROACH HOMEOWNERSHIP?

>> WELL, US HOMEOWNERS ARE VERY MAINTENANCE MINDED.

>> AND WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS BEFORE THEY BEFORE THEY SNOWBALL.

YOU KNOW, SO THEY'RE MAKING THEIR THEIR TO DO LIST AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE CHECKING OFF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AROUND THEIR HOME, WHICH PUTS US WHICH PUTS US AHEAD OF OTHER COUNTRIES AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT MAINTAINING.

AND WHAT STRESSES HOMEOWNERS MORE IN THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT COMES TO UPKEEP.

YEAH.

I MEAN, WHEN IT COMES TO THE STRESS IS, I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SURPRISING PER SE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU UNEXPECTED EXPENSE CAN STRESS US UNEXPECTED TIME.

WE HAVE TO SPEND TAKING CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS.

SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT HOMEOWNERS MAKE A LIST OF ITEMS THAT THEY WANT TO TACKLE A CRITICAL AND YOU USE THE CRITICAL EYE AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THAT LIST INDEPENDENT OF YOUR BUDGET AND THEN START TO LAY AGAINST ALLY AGAINST THAT LIST.

SOME BUDGET START WITH STRUCTURAL ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH HURRICANE SEASON, JUST GETTING KICKED OFF.

MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT OUR HOMES PREPARED AND READY FOR THAT EXTREME WEATHER.

AND THEN AND THEN TACKLE THEM ONE BY ONE.

DO YOU KNOW?

DON'T TRY TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE CAN GET REALLY ANXIOUS FOR SURE WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING OUR HOUSE.

AND THEN SET ASIDE A BUDGET.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE COST OF OWNING A HOME MIGHT BE THEIR MORTGAGE OR THEIR INSURANCE.

THEY SHOULD REALLY HAVE A BUDGET FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE.

AND THAT SHOULD BE ABOUT ONE TO 2% OF THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME.

BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE THAT BUDGET, THEN THAT HELPS TO REDUCE THAT ANXIETY.

YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY OF THE AIR CONDITIONER GOES ON.

THE FRITZ AND YOU'RE NOT STRESSING ABOUT THAT ON TOP OF BEING JUST POT.

>> WHAT SHOULD HOMEOWNERS DO IF THEY FEEL THAT THEY'VE ALREADY FALLEN BEHIND ON THEIR REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST ADVICE?

>> WELL, I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY BEHIND.

THAT'S WHAT WE JUST NEED TO KIND OF START TO SINK, GAIN SOME GROUND.

SO START WITH SOME SMALL PROJECTS TO GAIN SOME CONFIDENCE A FEW AS YOU CAN, BUT DON'T TRY TO DO THEM ALL AT ONCE BECAUSE THAT CAN BE VERY OVERWHELMING.

SO START WITH A FEW GAIN, SOME CONFIDENCE AND THEN START WITH THE NEXT ROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANGIE HICKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, IT'S A CLEAN POWER MILESTONE.

>> AS SOLAR POWER PRODUCTION SURPASSES COLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE GET AN UNDERSTANDING ON HOW THIS COULD LEAD TO MORE GREEN ENERGY COMING TO THE FLORIDA ELECTRIC GRID.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HAD TO WGCU DOT ORG.

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT MORE OF OUR STORIES, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.