By: Jean Shaw

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Probiotics 101: Using Healthy Bacteria To Our Benefit

In recent years, researchers have been examining probiotics as a treatment for a number of health issues, including gastrointestinal disorders. Probiotics, or “good bacteria,” are defined as microorganisms that provide health benefits when taken in specific quantities.

But all probiotics are not alike. And with the increase in products that claim to provide probiotic benefits, it’s important to look for those strains that have been thoroughly researched and proven to be effective. These strains can help to restore the body’s natural balance, boost overall health and strengthen the immune system for individuals of all ages–from infancy to old age.

One example is Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), a probiotic strain that occurs naturally in the human gastrointestinal tract. L. reuteri is one of the few probiotic strains to undergo rigorous testing, including 37 clinical studies involving 3,000 patients, and has been shown to be both safe and effective for all ages, including infants.

Another important characteristic of L. reuteri is its ability to bind easily to the gastrointestinal lining, where it attaches and grows on the intestinal wall. Here, it begins to “defend its territory” by fighting off harmful bacteria.

As additional proof of L. reuteri’s health benefit for infants, a recent study is showing promising results in reducing the symptoms of colic.

Probiotics And Colic

Colic affects as many as 25 percent of newborn children and is characterized by episodes of intense, excessive, inconsolable crying–totaling more than three hours a day–without an identifiable cause.

Although the underlying causes of colic have remained unclear, advances in recent technology have shown that most cases may be caused by gastrointestinal issues, such as infant acid reflux.

A study published in the January 2007 issue of the journal Pediatrics showed that babies given the probiotic L. reuteri reduced their crying time significantly.

The study compared two groups of infants–one was given drops of the probiotic L. reuteri, and the other, drops of simethicone, the ingredient found in most over-the-counter colic drops. After 28 days, the babies given L. reuteri significantly reduced their crying times–from 197 minutes to just 51 minutes a day. By comparison, the crying time of the babies given simethicone decreased from 197 minutes per day to 145. Ninety-five percent of the babies given L. reuteri responded positively in terms of reduction in crying time (a reduction of 50 percent or more) vs. just 7 percent of the babies treated with simethicone.

“This study suggests a potentially exciting role of L. reuteri as a new therapeutic approach to gastrointestinal disorders characterized as colic,” says Bryan Vartabedian, M.D., pediatric gastroenterologist and author of the book “Colic Solved.” “The safety profile of L. reuteri makes it a favorable consideration for parents of newborns diagnosed with colic.”

Parents can get L. reuteri to help treat their colicky infants from BioGaia Probiotic Drops. BioGaia is a Swedish company that exclusively manufactures the probiotic.

By: Wendy Mitchell

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Alternative Medicines – Colon Cleanse And Probiotics

Are you a bit overweight, a little too fat, or bordering on obesity? Have you ever had someone mention to you that your condition is unhealthy? Does the one piece of advice that you hear constantly have something to do with improving your diet?

One thing that you can be sure of is that almost all Americans could answer yes to at least one of those questions. What you might not know is that your liver could be the root cause of your problems and that all of your efforts at weight control have failed because you did not address the role that it is playing in your health. I realize that over the years you have been taught about your liver’s function as a filter for your blood; but you probably never heard it used in the same sentence as weight loss.

Remember that bile that we discussed in Day 12? This yellowish-green fluid is produced in your liver, stored in your gall bladder and secreted into your small intestine. It is here that it takes on the responsibility for your weight.

This bile is used by your body to break down fats and eliminate them. In a perfect world, your liver would continually produce enough bile and keep you healthy. However, in our polluted environment, the bile cannot absorb the nutrients that it needs because your liver is congested with toxins, metals and drugs.

Recent research into bile and its functions has shown the importance of adding foods to your diet that contain lecithin. This is part of the first phase of detoxification aimed at cleaning and resting your liver. It includes eliminating ‘bad’ foods from your diet and reducing your total caloric intake to allow time for your liver to recuperate.

In the ‘Fat-Flush Plan’, there are specific rules to follow like do not mix milk and meat or do not mix fruits with vegetables. As in most good diet change plans, this book also advocates moderate exercise. In Phase II, you are instructed to increase your daily intake of calories and add more exercise; and in Phase III, these regimens are increased to even higher levels. All of this is designed to bring your body back into balance.

If you can answer yes to any of the questions listed below, get yourself a copy of Ann Louise Gittleman’s book:

Do you drink caffenated beverages
Are you taking presciption or OTC drugs
Do you eat foods with hydrogenated fats
Do you take birth control pills
Are you on hormone replacement therapy
Did you take antibiotics 2 or more times in the last year
Do you avoid fat at all costs
Do you crave sweete and high-carb foods
Do you eat carbs 2 or more times daily
Does at lease one meal contain processed foods
Do you eat less that 2 servings of protein daily
Do you drink less than 64 ounces of water daily
Do you sleep fewer than 8 hours a night
Do you lead a high stress life
Do you skip meals because you are too busy
Do you have a sedentary lifestyle

What I found about the ‘Fat-Flush Plan’ is that it referenced the connection between liver problems and free radicals. This fits in nicely with my belief in looking at our bodies as a large operating system consisting of many sub-systems that are continually interacting with each other. This means that if one system gets out of whack the others the other systems have the ability to take on the duties of the poorly functioning system. It does not present a problem until the healthy systems get overloaded and begin to fail also.

Day 13 of my experiment and so far nothing at all unusual to report. I am just not used to taking medications on a schedule like this. I think it is having a positive effect on my psoriasis though.

By: Franchis

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Active Yogurt And Constipation

Anyone who is looking for a natural aid to alleviate constipation should consider yogurt. Yogurt became popular in the 1970s when many people joined the health food craze that swept through the United States. Today yogurt can be purchased in most any grocery or convenience store. However, not all yogurts will alleviate constipation. Many yogurts are tainted with additives. If you are looking for a yogurt to help you with your constipation you will have to purchase one that is natural and made by using the cultures of friendly bacteria – or probiotics. When you go to purchase yogurt, take a look at the label. Look for the live bacterial cultures Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillis. If these are on the yogurt label then you can feel confident that the yogurt can help you with your constipation.

Many people enjoy eating yogurt. The fact that studies are showing that it improves gastrointestinal conditions such as constipation, gas, bloating, diarrhea and the infection that causes gastric ulcers is an added bonus. The good news about yogurt is it can usually be enjoyed by people who are lactose intolerant. The probiotics that aid in constipation also help to digest the lactose that is present in the yogurt. Many people prefer to purchase plain yogurts. Most plain yogurts do not have the additives and extra sugar that health conscious people want to avoid. People can flavor their yogurts by adding preserves or fresh fruit to it. Yogurt is also a good replacement for mayonnaise and sour cream and it can be used in dressings, dips, smoothies and in desserts.

Individuals who are interested in self care understand that there is a link between their health and their diet. Microbial cultures have undergone intense scrutiny because of their ability to prevent and/or cure a host of diseases and ailments. The first clinical trials on probiotics took place in the 1930s. Researchers focused on probiotics and constipation. Probiotics were found to have significant impact on the intestinal tract and they helped to alleviate constipation. Probiotics are showing that they are a non-invasive and important means that can prevent and treat a host of diseases and ailments. In addition to alleviating constipation, probiotics have a host of other healthy benefits. It can help to relieve diarrhea, decrease diaper rash, enhance immunity, it promotes healthy bacteria in the colon, and it can reduce carcinogens in the body.

Many people question whether they should try to receive their probiotics through foods or through supplements. The choice is purely personal. Taking supplements is very convenient, especially for the individual who do not always have yogurt readily available to him or her. Another reason that people are opting for supplements is that most probiotics do not adhere permanently to the intestines. They work as they are metabolized and grow. It is important that these good bacteria are consumed daily to maintain their effectiveness. Supplements can ensure an individual that they are getting their daily dosage of probiotics into their system. Individuals who want to go the food route need to make sure the yogurt they consume has the probiotics bacteria in it. Eventually we will probably see more probiotics foods added to the marketplace such as juices, cereals, cheeses and even energy bars. Until then, always read the food labels on yogurt and purchase ones that have ‘live active culture’ on their labels.

It may surprise many people to learn that many mainstream medical professionals are embracing probiotics. Less than 10 years ago probiotics were considered an alternative medicine. However, the research that is being done on these good bacteria is prompting many physicians to tell their patients to supplement their diets with probiotics — especially if the patient has undergone a treatment of antibiotics. Antibiotics are necessary to kill the bad microbes that are making someone ill. However, antibiotics also kill off the good microbes. Supplementing the diet with probiotics after an antibiotic treatment can strengthen the immune system and get the good bacteria back into the gut.

If you are suffering from constipation or other gastrointestinal problems you should seriously consider the benefits of eating yogurt on a daily basis. If yogurt doesn’t turn your taste buds on then consider purchasing probiotic supplements. Using something natural to alleviate constipation will certainly be easier on your system than using harsh laxatives, stool softeners or enemas. Your constipation will not only be alleviated by probiotics, but your entire digestive tract can benefit from them.

By: The Colon Cleansing & Constipation Resource Center

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What Happened To Our Bodies Natural Probiotic Production?

There are many advances in our health care we can be thankful for today. Prior to the 1900’s poor sanitary conditions including unfit sewage waste systems as well as contaminated food and water were assessed to be the main causes of death aside from natural causes. Once we began to understand more about the invisible world full of bacteria, things like indoor plumbing and the sterilization of medical instruments were established. As time has passed, we have become more and more conscience about our personal hygiene. This has resulted in a significant decrease in infectious diseases.
Yet, while there has been a great decrease in deaths due to infectious diseases, starting with the introduction of penicillin in the 1940’s, new issues within the disease related causes of death cropped up. The causes of death went from infectious diseases to chronic disease conditions. The main influences of death are not from poor hygiene, they are dying from the decrease and elimination of something else.
And this is where our discussion turns to the endangered internal species as a result of antibiotics. The sad truth of this problem is – the destruction of bad bacteria by means of antibiotics also kills our amazing probiotic bacteria friends.
While antibiotics have helped us eliminate so many diseases, the constant abuse of these medications, which includes prescribing them for illnesses that are virus related, such as the flue or even the common cold. Virus related illnesses are those that antibiotics cannot help. Instead, they simply kill off both good and bad bacteria inside your intestinal tract without any rhyme or reason.
With the misuse of antibiotics comes the introduction of the antibiotic resistant bacteria. This has only introduced more problems as more powerful antibiotics are created with the unfortunate results of the super antibiotic-resistant bug just keeps getting worse.
So, where does this leave us? What is the solution?
It is not a secret that both bad and good bacteria are destroyed when taking these medications. So, why is it that along with our prescriptions for antibiotics, we are not then prescribed with probiotics to replace what has been lost through antibiotics?
Although antibiotics have really reeked havoc on good bacterial growth, we have added to their damage by our more modern lifestyles. Fast food, soda, diet products, processed foods and the total lack of eating well-balanced meals are also to blame. We are living in a world of convenience which is running at a very fast pace. This causes a great deal of stress, lack of proper amounts of sleep, emotional distress and so forth. Our bodies are simply bombarded day in and day out. Our factory of health is exhausted. And we have only ourselves to blame.
How do we prevent our good bacteria from becoming part of an internal extinct species? The answer is simple.
Helping our intestinal tract is just a matter of introducing the probiotics our bodies have lost and continue to lose daily. It’s as easy as eating good unprocessed foods, organic fruits and vegetables if we can afford and acquire them. We can also add them by way of probiotic powders, probiotic liquids and probiotic supplements. In the next article I’ll be talking about some of the more common foods that we can buy to encourage our healthy probiotic bacteria to grow and outnumber the bad bacteria.

By: Kimberly Shannon

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Good Bacteria: Can Contradict Overdose Of Antibiotics

Antibiotics are present everywhere, destroying the bacteria that can be responsible to make you sick. But a germ free, antiseptics might do extra damage than good & the attack of antibiotics might weaken their very purpose.

Human immune system relies on a moderate assisting of probiotic bacteria, which live with satisfaction in your digestive system & stir up your body to improved health. Probiotics help in digesting foodstuff, make stronger your immune system & defend against their harmful seed cousins, the more harmful bacteria damages, for example salmonella, an often cause of food poisoning. The haphazard destroying of ‘bad & good’ strains is excessively harsh, Pochapin said – actually, some physicians point towards the decreased number of bacteria in your body as the reason behind the theatrical rise in gastrointestinal disorders in your locality.

Pochapin stated that the number of bacteria is more in human beings than cells in their body. People live in synchronization, not enmity, with most bacteria. Every human being has an inimitable colony of intestinal flora, where from 400 to 450 various types of bacteria, that trace itself onto the human immune system & plays a vital role in maintaining health. It starts to grow just after birth, is shaped by each baby’s diet & environment & opposes transformation during maturity.

The communication among intestinal flora & intestinal lymphoid tissue untimely in life is decisive for the growth of suitable immunoregulatory action of the intestine. Crohn’s disease & Inflammatory bowel disease may symbolize, in part, an unusual reaction to intestinal bacteria (intestinal T-cells — WBC that grows up in the thymus gland — of Inflammatory Bowel Disease suffers are jittery reactive against bacterial proteins, stimulating bigger making of antibodies). Antibiotics have restricted durable efficiency for IBD, as antibiotic opposed to injury of bacteria to grow. Probiotics, though, can assist control the intestinal flora & they might aid amplify the mucosal blockade to more harmful bacteria — giving an enhancement to the immune system.

In efforts to promote probiotics from the world of holistic ritual, where it is tangled with phoney herbal treatments, Pochapin presented simple recommendations on how to add probiotics into your lives — through supplements, foods & temperance in antibiotics. Pochapin observed potential future remuneration of supplementing baby formulas & baby’s food with LGG to strengthen the immune system. “It as well would overturn the drift of over-using antibiotics in kids,” he said.

By: Franchis

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The Benefits Of Yogurt: 3 Reasons To Eat Yogurt Everyday

Yogurt is milk that has been fermented with good bacteria or probiotics, most commonly lactobacilli bulgaricus and lactobacilli thermophilus. The presence of these good bacteria in our intestines bring 3 key benefits of yogurt, including increased B vitamins, improved digestion, and enhanced immune system. Because of its many benefits, natural health proponents suggest that yogurt is one of those health foods that we should consume everyday.

The benefits of yogurt include:

1. Higher Amounts of Vitamins

L. bulgaricus and l. thermophilus produce biotin, which is a B-vitamin. As a result, yogurt can contain as much as 30 times more vitamin B12, 50 times more vitamin B3 and 14 times more vitamin A than milk. Vitamin B12 is essential to maintain a healthy nervous system, produce lots of energy, and ensure optimal brain functioning. Vitamin B3 helps the body release energy from carbohydrates and regulates cholesterol. Vitamin A is crucial for healthy skin and eyesight, and helps the body fight infections.

2. Healthier Digestive System

The good bacteria in yogurt helps the intestines maintain the right acidity. This helps prevent digestive problems such as constipation and diarrhea. In fact, people who are lactose intolerant will often find that they can eat yogurt without any problems. Having the right Ph balance in the digestive system also helps the body absorb more minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc.

3. Stronger Immune System

Once in our intestines, the probiotics in yogurt help our bodies fight disease. They produce substances that kill harmful bacteria and fungi that would otherwise make us sick. They also prevent the production or reduce bacterial toxins. In the early 1900s Dr. Eli Metchnikoff found that the bacteria in yogurt reversed bacterial infection. His research showed that l. bulgaricum displaced harmful bacteria and reduced the toxins they produced. Probiotics have also been found to reduce allergies, increase the amount of immune system cells, prevent tumors, and protect against pollutants like pesticides, mercury and radiation.

It would be wise to eat yogurt every day for overall good health. However, choose yogurt from stores carefully. Some contain too much sugar and others have been processed to the point where the amount of beneficial bacteria is almost nil. This is why many people prefer to make their own yogurt. Whether you make it yourself or buy a good-quality one from a store, yogurt is a super food that can help keep our bodies healthy.

By: Alexis Rodrigo

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Probiotics: They Are Protector Of Your Body

Probiotics are the good bacteria that everybody has in their gastrointestinal tract. Your alimentary canal is a habitat of more than 500 different types of bacteria, where some are bad & some are good. Mainly 80 percent bacteria present are helpful bacteria with the left over 20 percent being of a mix up of the harmless or potentially bad ones. Of the billions of bacteria developing in your canal, most of them exist in the large intestine.

The two most ordinary probiotics are the Bifidobacteria which is the most widespread probiotic in your large intestine & Lactobacilla, who comprise the majority of the probiotics living in your small intestine. About 70 percent of your immune system is situated in your digestive zone. As a result, flourishing community of benevolent bacteria is very essential for your health.

Any over-growth of the harmful bacteria can overwhelm or lower your immune system. Even though, nobody realise it that every person consuming potentially bad bacteria on an every day basis. Even your apparently ‘clean’ dishes will have the less caring types of bacteria living on them. Harmful bacteria are everywhere. They are in your office, in your car or even in your home etc.

Though for the most part, this is not a difficulty for a healthy person. The good bacteria keep the harmful bacteria under their control. You can intake good bacteria through your diet. Fermented milk products, for instance, live yogurt plus fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut are both kinds of foodstuff that contains a great number of healthy bacteria. If you would like to boost your levels of good bacteria, eat those foodstuffs stated above & as well consume a high fibre diet. This is for the reason that good bacteria like to consume fibre. With an abundant supply of soluble fibre they will grow & when they develop, they crowd out the harmful bacteria & so preserve the correct balance inside your gut.

Lactobacilli not only facilitate to normalize the immune system, as well they synthesis carbohydrates, milk sugar & proteins into the type that human body can use. As well, they generate acids & compounds that aids in creating a surrounding that is unfavourable for probably bad bacteria. In addition, lactobacilli are the most widespread probiotic that are found in the vagina. Here the acidic compounds they produce help in keeping other microorganisms, together with Candida, in checks.

By: Franchis

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What Is A Probiotic And How Can It Help?

Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria for the small and large intestines. Probiotics, which means “for life”, have been used for centuries as natural components in health-promoting foods. This beneficial bacterium is important in recolonizing the intestinal tract with good bacteria during and after antibiotic use as well as supporting overall health and wellness.

Probiotics are not the same thing as prebiotics which are non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial microorganisms already in the human colon. Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. The use of good probiotics is important in healing many chronic gastrointestinal problems that are so often associated in those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and IBS.

One study performed in a 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 60 individuals with IBS, probiotics treatment with lactobacilli showed markedly beneficial to slowing down the bowels and reversing IBS. Two Scientific studies over the last 50 years show that probiotic organisms can improve the nutritional quality of foods, produce antibiotics, anti-carcinogens, and substances that break down and recycle toxins for their human host.

Historically, people used fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut both as food preservatives to limit spoilage, and to support their intestinal and overall health. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut also contain probiotics. Today probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are added by food manufacturers to fermented foodstuffs to improve their nutritional value.

There are, however, other foods that may contain added probiotics, such as sour cream, fruit juices and buttermilk. Food ingredient suppliers are now making it easier to add probiotics and prebiotics to foods and beverages by offering blends of synbiotics with the right proportion of pro- and prebiotics to obtain the desired beneficial health effects, as well as improved survival of the live bacterium strains.

Beneficial bacteria thrive and work with your digestive tract and immune system, along with Essential Fatty Acids, to protect you against illness and disease. It is also important to have a healthy balance of beneficial microbes to avoid sickness and disease and to keep your body stay nutritionally sound. Probiotic beneficial bacteria are involved in every aspect of your health. Along with beneficial bacteria, we show how supplements such as Essential Fatty Acids and Green foods provide the foundation for good health and provide a nutritional base for probiotics to grow and flourish in the body.

The most common form for probiotics are dairy products and fortified foods. Probiotics are products aimed at delivering living bacterial cells to the gut ecosystem of humans and other animals, whereas prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates delivered in food to the large bowel to provide fermentable substrates for the friendly bacteria to grow and thrive.

Probiotics are available to consumers mainly in the form of dietary supplements and foods. Because candida infection is very common due to overuse of antibiotics, several studies suggest that probiotics may be effective at preventing candida overgrowth as well as reversing it; candida is a good target pathogen for future probiotic research.

Although they are thought to be essential for health, because they can sustain themselves in the body under normal circumstances, there is no recommended daily intake of probiotics. By consuming foods with probiotics, you can increase the number of healthy bacteria, boost your immunity, and promote a healthy digestive system. If you can not eat the foods that contain friendly bacteria, there are always probiotic supplements available from your local health food store. As always, it is best to check with your doctor or health care provider before starting any new supplements with medications. Probiotic formulas are a safe and effective means to deliver friendly bacteria to where it is needed, the colon.

By: Darrell Miller-1603

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Bacteria: Improves Your Immune System

When anybody hears something about “probiotic,” the first thing comes in mind is yogurt. Though, there is much more to probiotics. In fact, they are over 100,000 billion bacteria & more than 500 various kinds are present in human beings. They control metabolic action, mostly in the colon but in the gut also.

Their intestinal functions consist of absorbing nutrients, digesting food & assisting prime your immune system to better fight with infection. Amusingly enough, 70 % of your immune system is truly in the digestive region along with bad & good bacteria. These useful bacteria facilitate your bodies to function perfectly. But poor diet, illness, aging, stress, infection by food poisoning & the use of medicines can upset the balance between good & bad bacteria. That is where probiotics can aid.

The word, meaning “for life,” demotes to healthy bacteria that serve a particular health purpose. “Probiotics are products including one or more live microorganisms in a concentration & formulation enough to give a particular health advantage’, says Gregor Reid, M.B.A., and Ph.D, teacher of immunology and microbiology & doctor at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.

The main reason behind consuming probiotics is to aid your body to fight against harmful bacteria. Confidence in the helpful results of probiotics is based on the knowledge that intestinal flora can defend humans from infection & disorder of this flora can increase vulnerability to infection. Probiotics are usually used to improve intestinal disorders due to a disturbance of the ordinary flora in the intestinal region, which builds you more vulnerable to sickness. Probiotics can assist bring back the stability & amplify the quantity of healthy bacteria.

Although people don’t need probiotics to be healthy, there is mounting proof that they can get better immune system, uphold usual GI function & avoid infection. Probiotics also have been proved effectual in controlling certain illness & conditions like lactose intolerance, coli infections, other gastrointestinal infections, yeast infections and lactose malabsorption due to chemotherapy. Additionally, there is inadequate proof proving that probiotics have cholesterol lowering advantages & assist to decrease the threat of cancer. Though, more investigation is essential to establish a positive basis for consuming probiotics for particular health advantages. Though, there is no certified suggestion on average, you require 1 billion to 10 billion Colony Forming Units (CFU’s) to get supposed health benefits. Normally the suggested time to take probiotics is daily, as probiotics do not persevere.

By: Franchis

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