Cold and flu season are upon us, that time of year when body aches, fever, chills, and nasal congestion combine and can stop you in your tracks, leaving you bedridden for days. Statistics show that the flu annually sickens millions of Americans, kills tens of thousands, and results in billions of dollars in medical expenses and sick days. Complications… Continue reading Natural Remedies for Cold and Flu
Tag: probiotics
What You Need to Know About Probiotics
Probiotics are not only live microorganisms found in supplements and some fermented foods such as yogurt and pickles, but they have also been found to have a variety of health benefits. These benefits include vitamin K and B production, the breakdown of insoluble (indigestible) fiber, immune system support, the improvement of mental health, improvement of… Continue reading What You Need to Know About Probiotics
Keeping Your Gut in Check
Here, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a primer on how your gut functions and what you can do to get it working its best. Your digestive system is busy. When you eat something, your food takes a twisty trip that starts with being chewed up and ends with you going to the bathroom.… Continue reading Keeping Your Gut in Check
Probiotics Can Protect the Bones of Older Women
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have demonstrated that probiotics, dietary supplements with health-promoting bacteria, can be used to affect the human skeleton. Among older women who received probiotics, bone loss was halved compared to women who received only a placebo. The research opens the door to a new way to prevent fractures among… Continue reading Probiotics Can Protect the Bones of Older Women
Five Ways A Healthy Gut Makes A Healthy Brain
The idiom “trust your gut” means relying on intuition, rather than thoughtful, deep analysis, to make a decision. But research shows there is actually a tangible connection between gut health and brain health, and that linkage can affect emotions and cognitive processing. Research conducted at the California Institute of Technology by Elaine Hsiao showed how… Continue reading Five Ways A Healthy Gut Makes A Healthy Brain
What You Need to Know About Prebiotics and Probiotics
With summer right around the corner, you may be starting to think about “suiting up,” and shed those few pesky pounds that just won’t go away, but most likely won’t succeed. Clearly, this has become an increasing source of frustration for many Americans. In fact, a recent report emphasizes just this. The incidence of obesity… Continue reading What You Need to Know About Prebiotics and Probiotics
A New Use for Probiotics: Treating Hay Fever
A probiotic combination, already in use to maintain digestive health, may also help reduce hay fever symptoms, if it’s taken during allergy season, according to new research. Many published studies have shown a probiotic’s ability to regulate the body’s immune response to allergies, but not all of the probiotics show a benefit, University of Florida… Continue reading A New Use for Probiotics: Treating Hay Fever
An Anti-Cavity Supplement?
An anti-cavity supplement may be closer than you think. University of Florida Health researchers have identified a new strain of bacteria in the mouth that may keep bad bacteria in check — and could lead to a way to prevent cavities using probiotics. And that could lead to the development of an oral supplement. While… Continue reading An Anti-Cavity Supplement?
Natural Remedies for IBS: Do They Work?
Should you use complementary health remedies to combat Irritable Bowel Syndrome? The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health, offers an overview: Probiotics There is some preliminary evidence that suggests these microorganisms may improve symptoms of IBS; however, benefits have not been conclusively demonstrated, and not all… Continue reading Natural Remedies for IBS: Do They Work?
Dairy Products Boost Effectiveness of Probiotics
The success of probiotics for boosting human health may depend partly upon the food, beverage, or other material carrying the probiotics, according to research published in July 2015 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. A release from the society quotes corresponding author Maria Marco, PhD, an associate professor… Continue reading Dairy Products Boost Effectiveness of Probiotics