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.

9 WAYS TO A HEALTHIER GUT

Two thousand years ago, Hippocrates is said to have noted, “All disease begins in the gut.” As I see it, he was right: Our intestines contain trillions of microbes of many species that metabolize food and make vitamins accessible to us. Adding up to about 4 pounds of body weight, these good bugs protect us against “bad” microbes like tetanus and E. coli, the culprit behind traveler’s diarrhea. They are central to our health.

“Probably one of the most important services your microbes provide is immunity,” says Martin Blaser, director of the Human Microbiome Program at NYU Medical Center and chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. But for decades, researchers say, we’ve been inadvertently annihilating microbes through various behaviors: excessive use of antibiotics, scrubbing ourselves with antibacterial soap, and more. The microbes that live inside us amount to a vast community, Blaser explains, and when its balance is disrupted, the bad guys can flourish.

What can we do to support our beneficial bacteria? The single quickest way to change gut microbes for the better is to be selective about the foods we eat. Certified organic, high-fiber, and fermented ingredients show promise in helping to bolster gut health. But so does plenty of exposure to dirt, like you get through gardening. Conversely, processed foods and products like hand sanitizers include chemicals that harm good bacteria.

TOP 6 FOODS TO IMPROVE YOUR DIGESTION

Have you ever heard the saying, “You are what you eat?” It’s true—and you are what you digest and absorb, too. You could be eating the healthiest food in the world, but if you are not able to break down your food efficiently and absorb the nutrients, then you are missing out on a big opportunity for nourishment.

The first place that many people look for digestive assistance is in the pharmacy or supplement section of a grocery store. But it hasn’t always been that way. Throughout history, different cultures have used various healing foods to aid digestion and other health ailments. If you are someone who experiences digestive discomfort such as bloating, gas, heartburn, acid reflux, constipation, loose stool,or diarrhea, it’s time to start using food as medicine to support a healthy intestinal tract.

Here are the top six foods that can aid with digestion.

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.

TOP 13 PROBIOTIC FOODS

Really good video about probiotic foods that can boost your gut microbiome. Let us know if you found it useful.

Related: What Are Probiotics And Why Are They So Good For You.

5 COMMON MEDICATIONS THAT CAN DAMAGE YOUR GUT AND MESS WITH DIGESTION.

You know that eating the wrong foods can leave your digestion and gut health in a pretty sorry state. (We’re looking at you, sugar and refined carbs.) But those aren’t the only things that can do a number on your GI tract.

Some medications and supplements could also have an impact—and leave you nauseous, crampy, or constipated as a result. Here’s a look at 5 common culprits, plus what you can do to safeguard your stomach if you have to take them.  

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.  

6 Problems That You Can Cure With Herbs.

Your Medicinal Herb Garden

Before Walgreens popped up on your corner market, and before Western medicine invented synthetic cure-alls for disease, the only medicines available to people were growing in fields and herb gardens.

And just because we have potent medicines now doesn't mean that herbs aren't still the medical powerhouses our ancestors knew them to be. In their new book, Grow It, Heal It: Natural and Effective Herbal Remedies from Your Garden or Windowsill, Christopher Hobbs, a botanist, and Leslie Gardener, an herbologist, outline the healing power of herbs and which ones you can grow on your balcony, patio or small patch of yard to cope with anything that ails you.

What Are Probiotics And Why Are They So Good For You! Part 2 of 2

Probiotics and Digestive Health

Probiotics have been studied most in regard to digestive health.

The strongest evidence has to do with antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

When people take antibiotics, especially for long periods of time, they often suffer from diarrhea for a long time after the infection has been eradicated.

This is because the antibiotics kill many of the natural bacteria in the gut, which shifts the balance and allows the “bad” bacteria to thrive.

Dozens of studies have provided strong evidence that probiotic supplements can help cure antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Probiotics have also been shown to be beneficial against irritable bowel syndrome, a very common digestive disorder. They can help reduce gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other symptoms.