How the Microbiome Is Revolutionizing the Pursuit of a Healthy Life
What’s good for the microbiome is good for the body We often think of the human body as made of human cells, but it’s time to revise that perspective. As it turns out, the number of microbial cells in our bodies exceeds the number of human cells.[1],[2] We have ignored them far too long….
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…
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…
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: A Probiotic for All Ages
The benefits of L. rhamnosus GG for gut health and immunity Today’s probiotic story began in 1983, when Drs. Sherwood Gorbach and Barry Goldin, colleagues at Tufts University, were poring over stool specimens from healthy adults – a task few of us would envy. They managed to isolate “a strain of bacteria of a…
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…
Fighting Live Viruses with Dead Bacteria
Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 for respiratory health, immune function, and antiviral support Lactobacillus plantarum is a type of lactic acid bacteria found in a variety of fermented foods. The heat-killed version of a specific strain of this bacteria, L. plantarum L-137 (HK L-137), has been shown to enhance immune activity, support respiratory health, and…
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?…
Immunobiotics for Immune Health
The case for killed probiotics From yogurt to miso, kombucha to kefir, the friendly bacteria found in fermented foods play an important role in our health: there is no shortage of studies demonstrating the efficacy of probiotics (or “good bacteria”) in helping a myriad of conditions.[1] Most probiotic foods and supplements work by delivering…
Bouncing Back After Antibiotic Use: Probiotics to the Rescue!
Restoring balance and healthy function to the gut and beyond Chances are if you are the owner of a human body, you’ve taken at least one course of antibiotics in your lifetime. Whether it was bubble-gum flavored amoxicillin for that ear infection in childhood or penicillin for the case of strep throat that roared…
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…
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