Probiotics May Be Good for Your Bones

Kate

A probiotic supplement could be good for your bones, a new study suggests.

Researchers studied 90 women, 75 to 80 years old, all generally healthy but with low bone mineral density. They measured their bone density at the start of the study, and then randomly assigned them to a placebo or to two daily doses of freeze-dried Lactobacillus reuteri, an intestinal tract microbe that occurs naturally in many, but not all, people.

After one year, they measured the women’s bones again. The reduction in density in the shin bone was nearly half as large in women taking L. reuteri supplements as in those taking the placebo. Side effects, most commonly gastrointestinal symptoms, were similar in the treatment and placebo groups. The study is in the Journal of Internal Medicine. […]

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These Two Supplements Are Your New Secret For GI Distress

These Two Supplements Are Your New GoTo Solution For GI Distress

Kate

Whether you drank some sketchy water on vacation, battle irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or caught a nasty stomach bug, you’ve likely felt the urgent call of gastrointestinal distress before. Although typically not life-threatening for adults in the developed world, loose, watery stool can be unpleasant and inconvenient. Diarrhea will generally clear up within a few days, but there are plenty of natural remedies to combat the situation and even prevent it in the first place. Besides the tried-and-true rest-and-rehydrate method, two supplements—probiotics and glutamine—can bolster the immune system and offer some much-needed relief. If you’ve got the runs, you might want to run out and grab these supplements.

Popping a probiotic in times of gastrointestinal distress can reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea symptoms. Probiotic supplements contain healthy bacteria to support the microbiome, a collection of trillions of bacteria that live in our gut. The microbiome is intricately connected with digestive health and the immune system. In fact 70 to 80 percent of the immune system lives in the gut alongside the microbiota. Scientists believe that the immune system and the bacteria that live in the gut “co-evolved” to communicate and support one another. “Good” bacteria helps stimulate and “prime” the immune system to keep it in tiptop fighting shape against “bad” bacteria that can make us sick. In addition, some “good” bacteria produce toxins to fight off “bad” bacteria themselves. So a healthy gut equals a healthy and strong immune system.

Taking antibiotics, stress, diet, infections, and many other factors can change the makeup of the microbiome and create an imbalance between good and bad bacteria, weakening the immune system. In addition, diarrhea can flush good bacteria out with it, making it even harder to fight off whatever may be causing your digestive discomfort. […]

 

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Beneficial Properties of Probiotics

Beneficial Properties of Probiotics

Kate

Probiotics are live microorganisms which upon ingestion in sufficient concentrations can exert health benefits to the host.

This definition of probiotics was derived in 2001 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and has been the term of reference for science and regulation thereafter.

Demand for food containing probiotics are expanding globally due to the continuous generation of research evidence indicating their potential health benefits to consumers.

Hundreds of different bacteria species are the natural and predominant constituents of intestinal microbiota.

Among the numerous intestinal microbes, those anticipated to exhibit potential health benefits to the host through modulation of the intestinal microbiota are commonly selected as probiotics. Species belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been reported to be the beneficial probiotic bacterial strains. The representative species include L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. plantarum, B. lactis, B. longum, and B. bifidum.

Some of the major health benefits attributed to probiotics include:

  • improvement of gastrointestinal microflora
  • enhancement of immune system
  • reduction of serum cholesterol
  • cancer prevention
  • treatment of irritable bowel-associated diarrheas
  • antihypertensive effects
  • improvement of lactose metabolism

This article reviews past studies involving the use of probiotics in:

  • strengthening the immune system
  • prevention of bowel diseases
  • modulation of hypocholesterolemic effect
  • enhancing dermal health
  • promoting oral health

Additionally, potential uses of probiotics for the management of anxiety and depression as well as boosting dermal and oral health are also discussed. […]

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How to Choose the Right Probiotic for Your Imbalance

Kate

It is really no surprise that we are seeing more and more research linking beneficial microbes to health benefits outside the digestive system. Most of this research tracks the many health benefits delivered by different strains of probiotic supplementation.

The most fascinating and user-friendly findings from this research indicate that we can support specific systems of the body through particular strains of probiotics.

For example, according to one study, if you were having mood issues, you could increase your dose of Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum to boost mood and help the nervous system respond to stress.

In this article, I’ll share with you a list of some of the most researched strains of probiotics and their associated benefits so that you know what to look for when you are on the market for some quality beneficial bacteria. I’ll also guide you through my step-by-step approach to successfully repopulating your healthiest gut microbiome.[…]

 

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