PROBIOTICS - PROS AND CONS

Probiotics are a big and rapidly growing business, with annual global sales of products expected to rise to $42 billion by 2016. The term probiotic refers to dietary supplements (tablets, capsules, powders, lozenges and gums) and foods (such as yogurt and other fermented products) that contain “beneficial” or “friendly” bacteria. The organisms themselves are also called probiotics.

They are promoted to improve digestion, strengthen immunity, help in weight loss and even protect against periodontal disease, among other proposed benefits, as well as for general health. Will the friendly bacteria in these supplements and foods keep you healthy?

Proponents claim that probiotics (meaning “for life,” as opposed to antibiotics) confer health benefits primarily by rebalancing the normal microflora in the large intestine (colon). There are many general types of bacteria used as probiotics (two common ones are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium), and many different species as well as strains within species. They have different physiological effects—and thus possibly different health benefits (as well as possible risks). Some yeasts, such as Saccharmyces, can also act as probiotics.

PROBOTICS - THEIR ROLE IN SUPPORTING OUR HEALTH

In recent years there has been a lot of conversation about the gut flora and this thing called the gut brain connection. Never before have people been so concerned about the trillions of bacteria that reside in our gut. The trillions of bacteria inside your body make up your microbiome. A majority of these bacteria reside in your gut and are referred to as the gut microbiota.

Pre-existing science used to think the gut had but one single purpose, to break down our food into fuel for our body. This is no longer the case.  In the past few years science has discovered that the gut plays a vital role in our psychology, in regulating inflammation, and in protecting immunity.

The gut microbiota plays a major role in our psychology through the 100 million nerves that line the gut called.  This neurological superhighway is called the enteric nervous system (ENS).  This system allows the brain and the gut to communicate through a series of hormones, neurotransmitters, and electrical pulses. The pathways of nerves that these two organs communicate through include endocrine, immune, and neural pathways. The discovery of the connection between the gut and the brain explains why emotions and psychological factors can show up in the stomach.

 Related: The Gut Microbiome? How Does It Affect Our Health.

Just as we might take care of the brain by eating antioxidants and omega-3, we should take the same precautions for the stomach. How? By introducing adequate amounts of live microorganisms into our system that incur health benefits on the host, also known as Probiotics. 

EVERYDAY FOODS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.

Unfortunately, summer has ended and cold and flu season has started to arrive.  

Many individuals are quick to receive their flu shot in an effort to prevent a weeks worth of malaise and illness, but did you know that the foods you eat every day can also boost your immune system?  Try incorporating in these four foods as part of your regular diet…well at least from November through February.  

Garlic. Containing an organosulfur compound called Allicin, garlic has been proven to boost immunity by preventing viral illness. In the unfortunate event you do get sick, it has also proven to decrease the severity and length of illness.

How to include this in your diet?  Chop 1-2 cloves of garlic and allow to sit for a few minutes.  Allicin is created when garlic is chopped and exposed to the air. Try incorporating into salad dressing to avoid cooking garlic, which can destroy allicin.  Don’t like salads all that much?  Try a garlic hummus for a great immune boosting snack.

ESSENTIAL TIPS TO BE AWARE OF BEFORE TAKING PROBIOTICS.

There are foods with health halos. And then there are probiotics, which have practically been canonized. The word itself means—no big whoop—"to give life." 

Probiotics are now a nearly $37 billion industry in the U.S. Sales of probiotic-rich yogurt and kefir surged nearly 30 percent in the past three years. And just slapping "contains probiotics" on a product helps it sell better, says San Diego attorney Tim Blood, who specializes in consumer protection in advertising. Not too shabby for bacteria, right?

Indeed, their initial claim to fame was hardly sexy: soothing digestive disorders such as diarrhea, constipation, and acid reflux, which plague 70 million people (mostly women). But that take on pro-b's now feels as dated as a Jamie Lee Curtis Activia ad.

SUPPLEMENTS TO HELP WITH DIGESTIVE ISSUES

Relieve digestive distress—including heartburn, stomach cramps, and constipation—with the help of a few supplement strategies.

Your digestive tract functions as the arbiter of nutrient absorption. However, digestive problems are common, including upset stomach, heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. Aside from the physical discomfort these issues cause, if you have regular problems with digestion, there’s a good chance you’re not making optimal use of the nutrients in your foods or supplements.

Possible Causes

The causes of digestive disorders can vary greatly. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and heartburn are sometimes caused by chronic overeating or by food sensitivities, usually because of eating too many processed foods. Antibiotics can have long-term deleterious effects on the digestive tract. Stomach ulcers are most commonly caused by H. pylori (a bacterium) or long-term use of the drug ibuprofen.  

5 HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS THAT IMPROVE DIGESTION

By now, we’re all aware that eating yogurt and high-fiber foods is good for your gut. But if regular doses of probiotics and roughage don’t seem to be cutting it in the digestion department, you might want to think about bringing in some extra helpers.

Turns out, there are plenty of natural remedies that can help your GI tract do its thing—and stave off unpleasantries like cramping, nausea, gas, diarrhea, constipation. 

Here are 5 expert-backed options to try.

FERMETED DRINKS TO KEEP YOUR GUT HAPPY.

You know the drill. Sunday fear becomes Monday blues becomes a slow start to another week that you’re not really feeling. 

If that’s a cycle you want to break, hitting up a healthier life is the best way to a zippier you. And recent scientific research suggests that one way of contributing to a holistically balanced body lies in getting your gut in a good place.   

CAN PROBIOTICS HELP WITH TREATING DEPRESSION?

There’s no denying the mind-gut connection, but are probiotics alone enough to treat depression? While mental health is complicated and there’s no quick, easy fix guaranteed to work for everyone, a new study shows a strong link between probiotic use and improved depression symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Here’s what went down: Researchers had people who were depressed and had IBS (real talk: dealing with gut problems on the reg will 100 percent mess with your mood) take either a probiotic every day or a placebo pill. Participants who took the probiotic had fewer stomach problems, and more improved moods than the other group.

Related: 5 Benefits of Probiotics other than Digestion

“This study shows that consumption of a specific probiotic can improve both gut symptoms and psychological issues in IBS,” says gastroenterologist Premysl Bercik, MD, the study’s lead researcher. “This opens new avenues not only for the treatment of patients with functional bowel disorders but also for patients with primary psychiatric diseases.”

Related: Could your Gut health affect your sleep?

Considering that IBS can become self-reinforcing—often people stress that they will experience gut problems, which in turn causes it to actually happen—it’s encouraging that probiotics can serve as a solution to both.

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HOW TO BOOST YOUR GUT HEALTH

Conventional wisdom says that if you’re dealing with a touchy gut, you should just start taking probiotics and eating more yogurt and sauerkraut. But when British nutritionist Jeannette Hyde hears this kind of advice, it makes her cringe.

“If you just throw a ton of prebiotic and probiotic foods at somebody who’s got gut problems, you can actually make things worse,” she says. “I get a little bit shocked when I see scientists say things like, ‘Lentils are prebiotic—they feed the good bacteria in the gut and everybody should eat loads of them.’ That is the absolute last thing I would do with somebody with gut problems. They could be on the toilet for days.”

To set the record straight, Hyde wrote The Gut Makeover, a four-week, systematic plan for rebalancing the bacteria in the digestive tract with minimal misery. All of the hacks within are backed by science, yet laid out in a way that’s been proven to work outside of the lab, based on Hyde’s years of clinical practice.

6 Probiotic Added Foods That Are Probably Not Worth Buying.

Packaged foods made with a shot of probiotics are kind of like those boxed cereals that boast about being fortified with extra vitamins or minerals. You know you're probably better off just eating something that doesn't come in a box or bag, but the added dose of nutrition makes the item in question seem so…wholesome.

But is it, really?

In the case of probiotic-added foods, the answer is still largely up for debate. (Vitamin-fortified ones are another story.) More and more, patented probiotic blends like GanedenBC30 are showing up in packaged foods—and manufacturers say that these strains can give you a health boost. 

Fermented Foods? Can They Help Your Gut Health.

When it comes to understanding the role of bacteria in our health, consider this – we are actually more bacteria than we are human.

A healthy balance of the bacteria in our gut governs the functioning of many systems including the immune system and metabolism. It plays a critical role in our mood and brain function – and it helps us maintain our body size.

The health of the gut is central to every aspect of health. It is through our digestive system that we absorb all of the goodness from our food, a process that is essential for life. Yet today, many people suffer with an array of gut-based illnesses or dysfunction, which can have a broad-reaching impact on many other areas of our health.

Fermented foods are like a big hug for your gut and a wonderfully nourishing addition to your diet, whether you have experienced gut dysfunction or not. Fermented foods are foods that have been through a process of lactofermentation in which natural bacteria feed on the sugars and starches in the food creating lactic acid. This process preserves the food and produces beneficial enzymes, B-vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and are a source of probiotics.

5 Foods To Heal Digestion.

Studies estimate that 60 to 70 million Americans currently suffer from digestive diseases, including celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and lactose intolerance, as well as general gassiness and bloating. Leaky gut syndrome is another common digestive disorder that occurs when the digestive tract becomes damaged, allowing proteins like gluten, bad bacteria, and undigested food particles to pass into the bloodstream. Over time, these particles cause inflammation, an immune reaction, and continued poor digestion. 

But no matter what the specific condition, it's safe to say that there are a lot of people feeling uncomfortable each time they eat—and looking for a quick solution!

Singling out the root cause of all those tummy troubles can be difficult, but it's likely that for most of us, our diets and lifestyles are to blame. The typical Western diet, heavy in refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and low-quality protein sources—with very little in the way of fresh fruits and vegetables—can wreak havoc on our bodies and, in particular, on our digestive systems. But the good news is that, while bad food choices can cause major damage to the digestive system, good food choices can have the opposite effect. By introducing certain foods into your diet, you can begin repairing your gut and healing digestion naturally.

5 Health And Performance Benefits of Probiotics

To put it simply: Bacteria follow the food you eat. The easiest way to manipulate your gut flora is by enriching your diet with a variety of probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are the actual bacteria that live in your gut. Prebi- otics are the substances that the bacteria eat. Food sources are the best way to get both of these, since the diversity of the bacteria in supplements is not as smart as nature; your second choice could be a high-quality, specific-flora supplement.

Once you've established a healthy colony, you have to care for it. Just as you wouldn't plant a garden and not feed or water it, you can't just pour some kefir on top of a bad diet and expect those beneficial microorganisms to grow and flourish. You need to feed them! Fiber from a balanced diet is one way to nourish your gut microbiome.

Every day scientists are discovering more benefits of having teeming, diverse gut colonies. Some probiotic health and performance benefits we know for certain include:

5 Gut Health Mistakes You May Be Making Unwittingly.

A healthy, balanced diet rich in probiotics and prebiotics is the key to developing a thriving, diverse gut colony. But you can't expect your happy and healthy microbiome to withstand the gut bombs many of us throw their way—sometimes every single day.

Here are some common enemies of your beneficial bacteria and how to protect your microbiome from harm.

The Dangers of Antibiotics - Are Antibiotics Safe and Effective?

Really informative video about the dangers of too much antibiotics. Hope you find it useful. Let us know what you think.

6 Surprising Inflammation Causes.

The last time you were bitten by a mosquito or stubbed your toe, you likely noticed some redness and swelling, plus maybe a little heat and itchiness. Those are all classic signs of inflammation, a part of your body's natural response to infections and injuries. Thankfully, acute inflammation like this usually only lasts a few hours or a couple days.

But lower-grade inflammation can be lurking in your body—without any of the telltale symptoms of that itchy bite or throbbing toe—for months or even years. "This is the inflammatory response gone awry," says Joel Linden, PhD, a professor in the division of inflammation biology at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology in California.

The Gut Microbiome? How Does It Affect Our Health.

We can carry up to 2 kg of microbes in our gut. Within the tens of trillions of micro-organisms that live there are at least 1,000 species of bacteria consisting of over 3 million genes. What is more, two thirds of the gut microbiome - the population of microbes in the intestine - is unique to each individual. But do you know how your gut microbiota could be influencing your health?

Most of us are aware that the bacteria in our gut play an important role in digestion. When the stomach and small intestine are unable to digest certain foods we eat, gut microbes jump in to offer a helping hand, ensuring we get the nutrients we need.

In addition, gut bacteria are known to aid the production of certain vitamins - such as vitamins B and K - and play a major role in immune function.

Intestinal Bacteria May Protect Against Diabetes

A high concentration of indolepropionic acid in the serum protects against type 2 diabetes, shows a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Indolepropionic acid is a metabolite produced by intestinal bacteria, and its production is boosted by a fibre-rich diet. According to the researchers, the discovery provides additional insight into the role of intestinal bacteria in the interplay between diet, metabolism and health.

The findings were published in Scientific Reports. The study was carried out in the LC-MS Metabolomics Centre of the University of Eastern Finland together with a large number of partners from Finnish and Swedish research institutes.

Probiotic truth digestive disease and digestive problems

Here is a really informative video from Dr. Pompa about probiotics and digestive disease. Let us know if you found it useful.

5 Benefits Of Probiotics Other Than Digestion.

While we typically think of bacteria as a bad thing, certain microorganisms, in the right doses, may actually help keep us healthy. For years doctors have been suggesting probiotics as a way to help an irregular gut, but thanks to a growing body of newer research, it now looks like they can do much more than settle an upset stomach. 

"The microbes that colonize our body really do have an impact on health, and that impact seems to extend far beyond the gut," says Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD, executive science officer for the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics.