Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash According to research published in the journal Science by researchers from the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, the promotion of a select group of gut bacteria by a diet …
A new study published in the journal Nature from researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany report that not only can many common non-antibiotic drugs alter gut bacteria, but they can also contribute to antibiotic resistance. The human gut is home …
Fiber can be found in vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains. And it’s important. Its job is to bulk up the stool and retain water. Bacteria then helps to digest the fiber, producing healthy ingredients for the colon and promoting healthy bowel movements. Without enough fiber in your diet, you could experience constipation. Too much can result in loose stools, bloating and diarrhea. So much fiber is the right amount of fiber? In the Standard American Diet, 10% of our diet is fiber, when we really need 35-40%, according to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA).
Fiber is an element that we do not digest or absorb. It quickly passes through your digestive tract and left intact. There are two kinds – soluble and insoluble. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Soluble fiber dissolves with water and creates a gel-like substance that helps to lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels.” Insoluble fiber absorbs water, “which adds bulk to your digestive tract and helps to move things through quickly.”
New research has shown that fiber is actually more important to the bacteria in our gut, than to our overall body. Here’s what that means –
In order to digest food, we need to bathe it in enzymes that breakdown its molecules. Those molecular fragments then pass through the gut wall and are absorbed into our intestines. But our bodies make a limited range of enzymes, so that we cannot break down many of the tough compounds in plants. These indigestible molecules are called Dietary Fiber, and they are only indigestible to us – not to the bacteria that survive on fiber and are able to break it down.
Probiotics are the “good” bacteria that live in the gut. They are the key to good health and the gateway to healthy digestion and regularity. Without them, problematic bacteria in the gut thrive and increase, leading to digestive issues like bloating and constipation. Dr. Andrew Gewirtz of Georgia State University explains that one way that fiber benefits health is by giving us, indirectly, another source of food. “Once bacteria are done harvesting the energy in dietary fiber, they cast off the fragments as waste. That waste – in the form of short-chain fatty acids – is absorbed by intestinal cells, which use it as fuel.”
5 Reasons to Take Probiotics and Why They’re So Good For You!
A low-fiber diet can disturb an otherwise healthy relationship between the bacteria in the gut, as seen in numerous studies. With less fuel, the intestinal cells grow slowly and without a constant signal from bacteria, the cells slow their production of mucus and bacteria-killing poisons, edging bacteria closer to the intestinal wall and kicking your immune system into high gear.
If you are having trouble incorporating more fiber into your diet by consuming beans, whole grains, nuts, berries, and vegetables, flaxseed powder may be what you need. Flaxseeds are one of the world’s healthiest foods, as they supply a number of essential nutritional ingredients. Flaxseeds are a source of lignans that support the health of the hair and skin, and breast health. Because flaxseeds supply all three families of omega-3 fatty acids, it also supports heart and brain health and circulatory health. A non-GMO, domestically grown, organic flaxseed powder will provide the protein and fiber your diet needs.
If you are like many others, you think grabbing yogurt is both delicious and beneficial; of course its organic and contains live and active probiotic cultures. But how beneficial are these cultures? And how much do you need? Heres what reports are saying. What are …
Photo by Drew Hays on Unsplash Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic have uncovered differences in the bacterial composition of breast tissue of healthy women vs. women with breast cancer. Importance of Bacteria Bacteria that exists in your body is often thought of as unhealthy, but …
Trillions of bacteria live in our gut – both healthy and unhealthy. When the body has more unhealthy bacteria than healthy bacteria, it can cause digestive problems such as bloating and gassiness. Research has shown that balanced levels of “good” bacteria is needed for proper digestion and overall health. A new study says that cocoa may be an important factor for digestive health, as well.
Cocoa, derived from the cacao bean, is chocolate in its natural form (without all of the additives) that contain essential minerals and polyphenols. Its benefits are generally reversed when milk, cholesterol from milk solids, and an enormous amount of refined sugar are added, creating the chocolate we all know and love today.
Because of cocoa’s natural components, it offers excellent antioxidant protection. Studies have shown that cocoa increases circulation to the brain and heart, improving healthy blood flow due to its flavonols, which may also help manage blood pressure.
In order to reap the benefits of cocoa, our bodies must break it down and absorb its nutrients; this is dependent on the bacteria that live in our intestines. Numerous studies have shown that its consumption actually increases the levels of good bacteria in the gut.
Researchers from the Department of Food and Nutritional Services at the University of Reading in the UK measured higher levels of good bacteria (Probiotics) Lactobacillus and Bididobacterium species in the intestines of human volunteers who drank high-cocoa chocolate milk for 4 weeks. The same team a few years earlier proved that components in cocoa can reduce the growth of Clostridium histolyticum bacteria, which are present in the guts of individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.
In a 2014 study, unveiled at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, researchers from Louisiana State University tested three cocoa powders using a model digestive tract. “In our study, we found that the fiber is fermented and the large polyphenolic polymers are metabolized to smaller molecules, which are more easily absorbed. These smaller polymers exhibit anti-inflammatory activity,” said John Finley, Ph.D. Finley went on to note that combining the fiber with prebiotics is “likely to improve a person’s overall health and help convert polyphenolics in the stomach into anti-inflammatory compounds.”
Supplementing with cocoa allows your body to obtain all of the nutritional component that occur naturally in pure dark chocolate, without the saturated fat, sugar or calories commonly found in chocolate bars. A high-quality non-GMO supplement may also contain other ingredients like kiwi or black raspberries to support respiratory health, and protect your genes and DNA throughout the aging process. These powerful nutrient-rich ingredients may also provide further support for the digestive tract, including the mouth, stomach and colon.