Everything You Need to Know About Gallstones – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 333
You’ve probably heard of gallstones, but do you know what they are? Learn about what causes gallstones and nutrients that can help fend them off.
Tag: digestive health
Key Nutrients for Common Digestive Health Concerns – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 114
A large percentage of the United States population is impacted by digestive health conditions, including H. Pylori infections. What nutrients should you turn to in order to support a healthy digestive system? Here’s what you need to know from Amanda Williams, MPH.
Probiotics for Healthy Individuals, Not Just Digestive Issues
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.
Probiotics
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
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.
What do you think about this new study? Leave us a comment to join in the conversation!
Digestive Health and Vitamin D
Up to 70% of Americans suffer from low levels of vitamin D due to low sunlight for much of the year, avoiding the sun during the summer months, and/or insufficient consumption of food sources. Without an adequate amount of this “sunshine vitamin”, you may become …
Probiotics & Digestive Health
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 …
New Link Between Intestinal Bacteria and Depression
Healthy gut microbiota and bacteria helps digest food, fight infection, and plays an important role in keeping the immune system healthy. It is influenced by genetics, but more so by diet, stress and other environmental factors. Numerous studies have investigated the claim that intestinal bacteria can affect behavior. However, a new study has made a discovery regarding the link between intestinal bacteria and depression.
The Study
Published in Nature Communications, the study explores the role of intestinal microbiota in the altered behavior brought on by early-life stress. Premysl Bercik, senior author of Nature Communications and associate professor of medicine at McMaster’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine explains, “We have shown for the first time in an established mouse model of anxiety and depression that bacteria plays a crucial role in inducing this abnormal behavior. But it’s not only bacteria, it’s the altered bi-directional communication between the stressed hosts [in this case mice subjected to early-life stress] and its microbiota that leads to anxiety and depression, which is leading many to look to professionals on how they can reduce these conditions.”
First, researchers subjected the mice to early-life stress using maternal separation during an 18 day period. Newborn mice were separated from their mothers for three hours a day to induce stress, then rejoined them. Bercik and his team then confirmed that mice containing complex microbiota (that had been maternally separated) displayed “anxiety and depression-like behavior with abnormal levels of the stress hormone corticosterone.” The test was repeated in germ-free conditions and found there was an absence of bacteria in the mice that were maternally separated but showed no sign of anxiety or depression. Mice that has been separated in germ-free environments, were exposed to bacteria and within several weeks, tests shows the bacterial composition and metabolic activity had changed. The mice then started exhibiting symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Bercik says that with this new research, “We are starting to explain the complex mechanisms of interaction and dynamics between gut microbiota and its host. Our data shows that relatively minor changes in microbiota profiles or its metabolic activity induced by neonatal stress can have profound effects on host behavior in adulthood.” The next step, Bercik says, is conducting this experiment on humans.
This research suggests that keeping your intestinal bacteria healthy could help if you struggle with mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Of course, until it has been tested on humans, we cannot say for certain.
Healthy Intestinal Bacteria
Levels of probiotics tend to decrease with age and are lowered by other factors including poor diet and obesity. As the level of probiotics decrease, problematic bacteria in the gut generally thrive and increase. According to Archana Gogna, MS, CNS, MBA, healthy bacteria have been studied in numerous clinical trials and have been shown to –
- Crowd out and limit the growth of putrefactive microorganisms that contribute to gaseousness or ill health.
- Create an acidic environment out of the fibers in fruits and vegetables that limit the growth of infectious bacteria and also produce antimicrobial-like substances called bacteriocins that contribute to the control of bacteria like E-coli, and yeasts.
- Help energize the enzymes that improve digestion and the absorption of nutrients. This may help lactose intolerance, as well as other digestive issues that can lead to bloating or constipation.
- Produce certain B-vitamins and vitamin K. They have also shown to facilitate the absorption of minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium, Iron and Zinc.
- Release acetate from the fibers in fruits and vegetables to help us feel full and create CLA out of vegetable fats that helps burn belly fat
- Colonize the skin and mucous membranes and play an important role healthy microbial balance of the skin, vaginal region, breasts and urinary tract.
- Support digestive comfort
- Support daily bowel movements
- Support total body immunity
- Are appropriate to take year-long for many people
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/