Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Eczema is a common skin condition that causes dry, red, itchy skin. For many, it can be a daily challenge. The National Eczema Association reports that it is very common and effects over 30 million Americans. According to their website, the word “eczema” is derived …
Humans have about two pounds of bacteria in the intestines. Probiotic refers to the lactic acid producing strains required for overall health and digestion. The pressures of modern existence make it difficult to maintain a balanced population of normal, healthy microbes. Poor food choices, illness, …
Most research performed on the benefits of Probiotics have focused on the benefits they provide for digestive health, specifically in individuals with gastrointestinal disorders and conditions. However, a new study says that a daily dose of a multi-species probiotic could help improve intestinal health even in healthy individuals.
According to Archana Gogna, MS, CNS, MBA of InVite® Health, “Probiotics are friendly bacteria that make up the microbiome in the gut or digestive tract and are the gateway to good digestion and regularity. Naturally present in the body, bacteria accounts for two pounds of bio-mass in the intestines; this bacteria needs to be predominantly-friendly, health-promoting species. Research shows that species of probiotics, when naturally present or consumed in adequately supportive quantities, may confer the greatest health benefits to individuals of all ages. These include lactobacillus, which inhabit the small intestine, mouth and vaginal tissue, and Bifidobacterium, which are more numerous and are major inhabitants of the large intestine (colon). Both create many important metabolites out of our food and these perform a number of functions including burning fat, controlling our appetite, fueling digestion and detoxification, and supporting immunity. The third critical group of probiotic bacteria known as bacillus, are spore-bearing bacteria that carry around their own “house” (and are the only ones to do so). This makes them resistant to heat, moisture and light, stomach acids and digestive enzymes and they are readily able to colonize the small intestine.”
Read Archana Gogna, MS, CNS, MBA’s full article, “Probiotics are Healthy Bacteria” by clicking here!
The study, performed by Dutch probiotic firm Winclove and Swiss pharma company Mepha Schweiz, investigated the effects of multi-species probiotic on gut health and quality of life in a group of 40 healthy people.
The Swiss-Dutch team reported, “Our observational study shows that gastrointestinal symptoms are quite common in otherwise healthy adults.” After a six week supplementation regimen, researchers reveal that the study’s total gastrointestinal symptom score was significantly reduced from an average of 10 at baseline to six and that the percentage of participants who were “fully resolved” of symptoms including GI pain, bloating, and flatulence, significantly increased from baseline.
The team of researchers noted that, while the benefits of probiotics on digestive health have been widely studied, “The beneficial effect on healthy people has been less explored than the effect on symptoms of chronic gastrointestinal diseases.”
The study tested a multi-strain probiotic containing: Bifidobacterium lactis W51, Bifidobacterium lactis W52, Enterococcus faecium W54, Lactobacillus acidophilus W22, Lactobacillus paracasei W20, Lactobacillus plantarum W21, Lactobacillus salivarius W24, and Lactococcus lactis W19.
New Study: Lactobacilli Bacteria May Help Protect Breast Tissue Recent research from Spain indicates that over 700 different bacterial species live in the milk ducts of a woman’s breasts. The bacteria living in us and on us are referred to as the microbiome; there are …
Bacteria is often thought of as an unhealthy and unwanted element in the body. But certain strains of bacteria are actually considered “good bacteria”, as they aid in proper digestion and overall health. Probiotics are live microbes that “help to process indigestible fibers and help …
Contacts have become less of a rare commodity and more of a necessity for those with vision problems who do not want to be troubled with wearing glasses every day. But as common as contacts are, so are the bacterial infections they can harbor.
Many contact wearers use their contacts in ways that can be harmful to their eyes. One
specific case of a bacterial infection was recently reported by CNN. Chad Groeschen, a 39-year-old contractor, had an itchy eye that he assumed was due to allergies. He soon noticed the health of his eye worsening – it became “goopy” and he had a problem fully seeing out of it. Groeschen soon visited the Cincinnati Eye Institute and was diagnosed with a bacterial infection that was destroying his cornea (the outer layer that protects the eye). CNN reports, “Groeschen had been using extended wear contact lenses, and only taking them out every week to clean.” The FDA has approved these type of lenses, however, the American Academy of Ophthalmology warns that this type of use “increases the risk of infection.”
It turns out that contact lenses help to incubate bacteria in the eye. A new report by the CDC found that out of 41 million adult contact wearers in the U.S., 99% wear, wash or store their lenses in “unhygienic ways”.
Some mistakes that can jeopardize your eyes are:
According to Dr. Jennifer R. Cope, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC, “Individuals are likely doing at least one, if not more, of these behaviors. We think there’s an event where maybe you seed the contact lens or your case with one of the microorganisms that can cause infection and then subsequent behavior can allow that to amplify so it’s causing an infection.”
If you are one of the many who think contact lenses are great for wearing overnight, think again! Dr. William J. Faulkner, director of urgent services and one of the doctors treating Groeschen at the Cincinnati Eye Institute, reports that this kind of thinking “…probably caused an infection with Pseudomonas, one of the worst types of bacterial infection in the eye. The infection became so bad that some of the cells in his cornea started to die. Now that the infection has cleared, Groeschen still has scaring from the damage and there is a good possibility he will need a cornea transplant.”
Always practice good eye health practices and if you notice any prolonged pain, redness or swelling in the eye, take out the contacts and see your eye doctor immediately. Don’t wait until it’s too late to treat your bacterial infections!
Source: http://www.cnn.com