NSAIDs: A Pain in the Gut
The gut-protective effects of curcumin and probiotics Millions of people use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to alleviate the pain of arthritis, headaches, and other painful conditions.[1] Well-known NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin. Many other NSAIDs (diclofenac, etc.) are available by prescription. Although NSAIDs may relieve pain, their use is associated…
How the Gut Microbiome Influences COVID-19
Can probiotics reduce the risk? The COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, killing nearly five million people to date. The disease has a broad range of outcomes, however, with many people developing only mild to moderate symptoms like sniffles, cough, shortness of breath, and fever.[1] This extreme range of symptoms is caused by variations…
Can Probiotics Soothe IBS?
Evidence supports the use of probiotics for IBS and enhanced quality of life Constipation, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea and other digestive problems are not fun, especially for people who suffer from them frequently. The results of a recent international survey of over 73,000 adults are striking: 40% of participants said they suffered from one or…
Combating Age-Related Immune Decline: Can Nutrition Help?
A look at nutritional factors that keep immune defenses strong, even in older adults The immune system is a critical component of health throughout life. However, on the front and back end of the years we spend on this planet, our immune defenses aren’t particularly impressive. In infancy, while the immune system is developing,…
Vaccine Efficacy, Part 2 of 2: Can a Healthy Gut Microbiome Improve It?
The influence of probiotics on the immune response Vaccines are among the greatest successes of modern medicine, helping to protect entire populations against a wide range of infectious diseases.[1] However, there is considerable variation in the efficacy of vaccines amongst individuals.[2] The magnitude of antibody titers induced in individuals receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine,…
Response to CBS News Report: Do Probiotics Actually Do Anything?
They got a lot right, but we have a few (cited) details to add to the conversation By Mike Grochocki, RD, LDN On June 28th, 2020 the CBS News show 60 MINUTES aired a segment on probiotics, which have become wildly popular in both professional and retail nutritional supplement markets. The main question CBS…
How Gut Health Keeps Kids Healthy
A blend of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli supports pediatric respiratory and skin health Achoo! Sniffle, snort! Scratch, scratch, scratch. Is allergy season here again? Or are we stuck in the dregs of cold and flu season? Wait, is there a season where kiddos aren’t dealing with some kind of infection or allergy? Could probiotics help?…
Building a Better Gut Microbiota
Prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic strategies for success “Happiness for me is largely a matter of digestion.” ― Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living[1] As Chinese scholar Lin Yutang observed, a healthy gut is a core component of a happy life. Each person’s gut contains approximately 38 trillion microbes, comprising hundreds of different species (collectively,…
Gut Microbiota Diversity in the Young and Old
A factor in disease conditions and aging? In recent decades, there has been an explosion of information regarding the role that the human microbiota plays in both health and disease. Projects such as the National Institutes of Health Human Microbiome Project,[1] and similar collaborative efforts in other countries, have focused on the collection of…
It’s Not Just Antibiotics that Potentially Harm Gut Health
Which of these prescription medications are YOU taking? Most people are aware that antibiotic medications can alter the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. In addition to the science we have proving this, many of us have personally experienced upset bellies and changes in stool patterns upon taking an antibiotic. However,…
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