Probiotic News

How probiotic bacteria protect against inflammatory bowel diseases.

Wed, 23 May 2012 06:50:00 GMT

Some lactic acid bacteria can alleviate inflammation and therefore prevent intestinal disorders. Scientists have now decoded the biochemical mechanism that lies behind the protective effect of the bacteria. In experiments with mice, the researchers succeeded in demonstrating that lactocepin – an enzyme produced by certain lactic acid bacteria – selectively degrades inflammatory mediators in diseased tissue. This new evidence might lead to new approaches for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Yoghurt has been valued for centuries for its health-promoting effects. These effects are thought to be mediated by the lactic acid bacteria typically contained in yoghurt. Evidence from recent scientific studies show that some bacterial strains actually have a probiotic effect and can thus prevent disease. A team of biologists and nutrition scientists working with Prof. Dirk Haller from the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) has now discovered the mechanisms at work behind this protective effect (Cell Host & Microbe).

In experiments with mice, the scientists observed that lactocepin – an enzyme produced from the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus paracasei – can selectively interrupt inflammatory processes. As the scientists observed, lactocepin degrades messengers from the immune system, known as chemokines, in the diseased tissue. As a part of the “normal” immune response, chemokines are needed to guide defense cells to the source of the infection. In chronic intestinal disorders like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the otherwise highly effective defense mechanism against infectious agents is malfunctioning. Chemokines such as “IP-10” then contribute to the tissue damage due to chronic inflammatory processes, preventing the tissue from healing.

“Lactocepin is a familiar element in food technology research,” says Prof. Dirk Haller, who holds the Chair for Biofunctionality of Food at the TUM. “What is surprising, however, is its biomedical effect, namely the force with which the enzyme attacks and degrades very specific inflammatory mediators.” Haller is certain that, based on this mechanism, it will be possible to develop new approaches to the targeted prevention and treatment of chronic bowel diseases as well as skin disorders: “The anti-inflammatory effect of lactocepin is limited to specific areas and up to now it has no known side effects.”

The scientist therefore plans to carry out clinical studies in order to test the possible pharmaceutical application of the enzyme. Questions also remain to be answered in relation to the “production” of lactocepin by lactic acid bacteria. Some bacterial strains, such as Lactobacillus paracasei, produce highly potent lactocepins; however, the effectiveness of other microorganisms has not yet been proven. Dirk Haller therefore warns against false promises: “Not every product labeled as ‘probiotic’ actually earns this name.”

Publication: M.-A. von Schillde, G. Hörmannsperger, M. Weiher, C.-A. Alpert, H. Hahne, C. Bäuerl, K. van Huynegem, L. Steidler, T. Hrncir, G. Pérez-Martínez, B. Kuster, D. Haller (2012): Lactocepin Secreted By Lactobacillus Exerts Anti-Inﬂammatory Effects By Selectively Degrading Proinﬂammatory Chemokines, Cell Host & Microbe, doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2012.02.006 Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2012.02.006

You can read the original article here.

Circles of Learning - practical solutions to improve children’s health and learning.

Wed, 23 May 2012 03:33:00 GMT

Circles of Learning is a registered charity focused on bringing practical solutions to improve children’s health and learning.

Founder, Judith Schulz, says that for the brain to work at optimum level, you first have to look at health as there is a direct relationship between the gut and the brain. Too many of Australia’s children suffer from learning and behavioural problems such as ADD/ADHD and related issues. Judith says, when you change the environment you change the child. This relates to the internal environment of the body and the external environment of lifestyle influences.

Through play, children develop the joy of learning and are able to focus and concentrate, and in turn improve their reading and writing skills.

For good health it is important to eat organic fresh living foods, drink clean filtered or spring water, get plenty of oxygen, sunshine and exercise. For positive energy, look for the good things in life and play, have fun and laugh. Circles of Learning designs and delivers play based programs for schools, pre-schools and for parents and young children. These programs cover the core essentials for a healthy life and have a profound influence on raising children’s learning abilities. Teachers report that “anxious and angry children have calmed down and have become more caring and kind to their class mates” and “children within the autistic spectrum who had major difficulties in communicating, are speaking up and contributing in the classroom”.

When children are nurtured and nourished, they can reach their true potential. For information about Circles of Learning, practical solutions and ways to implement them, contact via www.circlesoflearning.org.au

Probiotics Can Ease Digestive Upset of Antibiotics.

Tue, 15 May 2012 05:03:00 GMT

Probiotics — live micro-organisms that offer some benefit to their host — significantly reduce the risk for diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics, a review of 82 trials has concluded.

Most of the studies tested species of Lactobacillus, found in yogurt, cheese and other foods. Others tested combinations of Lactobacillus with other probiotic organisms.

The studies covered children and adults, both inpatients and outpatients, and included data on several different antibiotics used in varying doses and regimens. Over all, the use of probiotics reduced the rate of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 42 percent.

The studies found no evidence that one probiotic was significantly more effective than another, and none that any brand of yogurt would be more effective than probiotics bought in a drugstore.

Most of the studies failed to document the strains used or the potency of the preparations.

“Our study won’t tell you whether it’s better to use one probiotic or another,” said Sydne J. Newberry, an author of the report and a researcher at the RAND Corporation. “It looks like it would be a relatively harmless thing to try, but more work is needed before we can say whether one is better than another.”

The meta-analysis appeared last week in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

You can read the original article here.

Thank you, from Progurt at the Sydney Mind Body Spirit Festival.

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:57:00 GMT

Progurt would like to thank everyone that came down to the Sydney Mind Body Spirit Festival over the weekend and stopped by. The Show was a real success and it was great to see everybody trying Progurt and having such a great time.

Wishing you all the best in your health, from everyone here at Progurt.

Progurt at Mind Body Spirit Festival-Sydney. May 3-6, 2012.

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:12:00 GMT

Progurt will be exhibiting at the 2012 Mind Body Spirit Festival - Sydney, at the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre from Thursday May 3 - Sunday May 6. From 10AM to 7PM every day.

Come down and say hello! Sample some Progurt, Prebiotic and Magnease and have a look around. There is something for everyone searching for a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. It's always a great weekend with good energy and some exciting products. You can read all about the Show here. Look forward to seeing you down there!

Digestion problems for women.

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:13:00 GMT

Almost all Australian women admit to digestive discomfort, but half have never tried to do anything about it.

Did you know?

Probiotic foods such as yoghurt and miso contain live bacteria that can help your gut.

A survey of 1000 women has found 91 per cent experience bloating, diarrhoea, cramping or gas at least once a month and 55 per cent experience these symptoms every week. Despite 93 per cent saying their digestive issues impact on their day-to-day life, only 50 per cent have tried to seek help.

Sharon Natoli, director of Food & Nutrition Australia, says many people are embarrassed to admit discomfort. "They think it's not polite to discuss their bowels, but it's important to seek help. There is a lot that can be done."

Naturopathic nutritionist Jan Purser says digestive problems can occur if you take antibiotics or your diet is high in processed and sugary foods.

"Stress also affects the gut directly, and some people have more sugar, alcohol and coffee when they are stressed, which all affect gut health."

Other causes can be poor diet or undiagnosed food intolerances.

Natoli says a lack of exercise can also contribute. "The bowel is surrounded by muscles that help push food through the digestive system. Exercise involves all muscles, including those around your bowel, and can particularly help constipation."

Dietitian Geraldine Georgeou says if you suffer from digestive issues you need to have it checked out. If you don't get solutions, keep hunting.

"Often people who seek advice are told to simply eat more fibre, drink more water and stress less, with little direction," she says.

"Underlying gastro illnesses can present as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The most common is coeliac disease. If left untreated, it can lead to diseases including gastric cancer and osteoporosis. And simple IBS can still be quite debilitating." What can you do?

Natoli suggests keeping a food and symptom diary to check for any patterns. "Include what you eat, when you exercise, rate your symptoms and record your stress levels. Take this to your GP and dietitian. A GP can help rule out conditions such as coeliac disease. A dietitian can help you work out how to meet your nutritional requirements and manage your symptoms."

Purser recommends taking probiotics, drinking lots of water, cutting down on processed foods and having no more than two caffeinated drinks a day.

5 steps to address gut problems

1. See your GP to rule out any diseases. 2. Keep a food and symptom diary to check for patterns relating to food intake and lifestyle. 3. Consult a dietitian for advice before eliminating major food groups. 4. Get regular exercise. 5. Maintain a balanced diet while trialling food eliminations. Common foods that contribute to symptoms include high amounts of milk, wheat, legumes, apples, pears, onions and garlic.

Until recently I couldn't remember a day I didn't feel uncomfortable

Danielle Stern, 27, suffered digestion issues that were wrongly diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome for years, before a dietitian changed her life. She is now symptom-free. "My troubles started in the beginning of 2009 and came out of nowhere. I tried detoxing, naturopaths, supplements, doctors, antibiotics, gastroenterologists and cutting out wheat and dairy.

"I was told by everyone that I had IBS, there was no cure and I needed to accept it and learn to live with it." Her symptoms included bloating, irregular toilet habits, feeling full after eating a small amount and severe stomach cramps. "Until recently I couldn't remember a day I didn't feel unwell and uncomfortable. I had a recommendation for a dietitian and it was the best decision I made."

Stern was put on a low-FODMAP diet and a daily dose of probiotics. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols – a group of molecules found in food that some people find it difficult to absorb. "It changed my life from day one. Most days I don't suffer from digestive issues at all."

You can read the original article here.

Progurt was included in the Top Ten Products of The Year 2011 according to Body and Soul.

Probiotics can fight child, adult diarrhoea.

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:08:00 GMT

Select probiotic agents can either prevent or treat antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in both children and adults. Research by some institutions across the country says use of specific probiotic agents can also be helpful in dealing with diarrhoea caused by Clostridium Difficile. Scientists are also looking at the possibility developing designer probiotics to treat specific diseases.

“Our understanding of the role of the microbiota (probiotics) in our gut and other sites in our body is rapidly emerging and could lead to many new and innovative approaches for health care. The promise of the potential role of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of enteric and other infections as an effective solution needs to be realised,” said a study carried out by researchers Dr Neerja Hajela, Dr G. Balakrishna Nair, Dr Philip Abraham and Dr Nirmal K. Ganguly. Probiotics offer immense potential for the prevention and treatment of many diseases including the gastro-intestinal diseases, allergic disorders, chronic inflammatory diseases, cancers and respiratory diseases.

Trials show that certain probiotic strains are more effective than placebo in many conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Meta analyses indicate effectiveness in reducing the duration of acute enteritis in pre-schoolers and in reducing the frequency of necrotising enterocolitis in pre-term babies, the researchers said. Probiotics are also effective in reducing the severity and duration of adult and paediatric diarrhoeas especially those caused by rotavirus.

You can read the original article here.

What your gut’s telling you: why your digestion holds the key to your health.

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:06:00 GMT

IBS? Bloating? Far from being isolated digestive disorders, these are now being linked with everything from osteoporosis to depression.

Catherine Taylor knows all is not well inside her stomach, that something is not quite right but, like many women, she has learnt to live with it. Bouts of bloating, diarrhoea and discomfort have sent her to the GP more than once, but when tests ruled out the serious stuff (cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease) Taylor was left with nebulous explanations and trial-and-error solutions. (Stress? Food intolerance? Her monthly cycle?)

'The symptoms have come and gone for three years now,’ says Taylor, 42, a full-time mother of three. 'It’s wearying, it’s worrying, but when I mention it to friends it’s amazing how many turn out to have something similar. It almost seems normal! But it can’t be healthy.’

For years the gut – or to be more precise, our system of digestive organs – has been the Cinderella of medical science. While the brain provides an endless focus for research, fascination and wonder, the gastrointestinal tract has been rather neglected, dismissed as little more than a simple, subordinate system of plumbing.

We all know it’s important to protect our heads, we fully comprehend the horror of brain injury, we know how to stay heart-healthy – but who gives much thought to the smooth inner workings of our intestines?

The fact that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a kind of umbrella term for diarrhoea, discomfort, cramping, constipation, bloating and pain, affects up to one in five people in Britain, and twice as many women as men, doesn’t seem to have caused undue concern to anyone except the sufferers. If you’re feeling a bit ropey down there, lie down or reach for a Rennie. It’s nothing serious.

Now, it seems, this attitude could finally be about to change – and we could be on the cusp of some real answers and more effective lines of treatment. The gastrointestinal system is having its turn in the sun as research reveals that this is no simple plumbing job, but a highly sophisticated, finely tuned system of intelligence.

A healthy digestive system could be more important than we’ve been led to believe, the key to wellbeing, or, as Lisa Blair, a nutritionist at the Food Doctor, a London-based nutritional consultancy, puts it, the 'root of health’ . 'More and more,’ says Blair, 'people are beginning to realise that if the gut isn’t working well, nothing’s going to be working well.’

Much of the credit for this lies with one man, Michael Gershon, a professor of anatomy and cell biology at Columbia University in New York. The author of a groundbreaking book, The Second Brain, Gershon describes functional bowel disease using the same term Winston Churchill once used for the Soviet Union: 'a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma’ .

According to Gershon, the gastrointestinal tract qualifies as a 'second brain’ because it is an autonomous nervous system, the only part of the body that can function on its own.

'When I was at medical school I was taught erroneously that the brain controlled everything – including the gut,’ he says. 'In fact, if you cut the vagus nerve – the major nerve between the brain and the gut – the gut would soldier on. We now know it can work completely independently of the brain and spinal cord. While the “first brain” gets on with religion, philosophy and poetry, the “second brain” deals with the messy business of digestion.’

Part library, part laboratory, our 'second brain’ assesses what we throw at it and decides on the appropriate course of action (processing, mixing, measuring salt, absorbing nutrients, ejecting last night’s takeaway…). Gershon estimates that, incredibly, the system is home to up to 100 million neurons – as many as the spinal cord – and about 40 neurotransmitters – as many as we have in the brain.

Although we’ve all been aware of the effect our brain can have on our digestive system (there’s nothing like a deadline or presentation to trigger a trip to the bathroom), few understand the power our gut is having over our brain and its likely connection to mental health and general wellbeing.

'About 90 to 95 per cent of the vagus fibres are carrying signals from the gut to the brain – not the other way round,’ says Gershon. 'The messages that come to consciousness are usually the ones we don’t want to hear. Pain, discomfort, nausea. It could be saying, “Don’t eat in that restaurant again!” But most of the messages sent are still a mystery. We don’t know what most of them do,’ Gershon continues, 'but some of it is very, very good and very unexpected.’

Diseases as wide-ranging as Parkinson’s, osteoporosis and autism seem to display early symptoms in the gut. It has been found that mimicking signals from the gut to the brain by stimulating the vagus nerve can improve learning and memory, and regulate mood. It’s been used as a treatment for epilepsy and depression, and could help conditions such as Alzheimer’s, migraine and tinnitus. A possible explanation is the fact that the gut is home to some of our key chemicals – 90 to 95 per cent of our serotonin lies in the gut. (The brain has just two to three per cent.) 'Serotonin is the chemical that’s involved with happiness, sex, sleeping, feeding – just about everything that makes life worthwhile,’ says Gershon. 'So if something in your gut is troubling you, you have to wonder what else it’s doing.’ Could it be making you depressed? Forgetful? Lose sleep?

Evidence suggests that IBS originates from a change in the serotonin system. In a healthy person, serotonin in the gut is whisked out of the bowel by a serotonin transporter found in the cells that line the gut wall. In cases of IBS, this may not be happening and the sufferer ends up with too much serotonin swirling round the system, causing diarrhoea, then overwhelming the receptors, shutting them down and leading to constipation. Gershon believes the most effective line of treatment for IBS are serotonin-based drugs – 'intestinal antidepressants’ .

This line of enquiry could also give answers to the many people who suffer both IBS and mood disorders. Angela Wilson is one of them. Last year Wilson suffered a mental breakdown and is now on long-term sick leave with depression.

'In the year leading up to it I was constantly at the doctor’s with IBS issues, getting tested for this and that,’ she says. 'Nothing was ever diagnosed and it never went away. Now I have depression and I’ve often wondered if there’s a link. My dips are always preceded by a bad bout of IBS. I’m left wondering which end of the system is causing the problem.’

Perhaps even more unexpected is the growing body of research suggesting that the state of our guts – or, to be more precise, the ecosystem that thrives inside – can explain why some of us eat more than others and are more likely to pile on the pounds. Andrew Gewirtz, a professor of pathology at Emory University in Atlanta, is a leader in this area.

'It’s a relatively new field, but one that’s creating a lot of interest,’ he says. 'I think there’s been an increasing belief that the epidemic of obesity is not as simple as the fact that we now have access to unlimited food. We’re looking for reasons as to why people are eating more, and why it has happened so quickly.’

One fascinating possibility is that it’s down to a long-term shift in the dominant species of micro-organisms inside our gut. A baby in the womb is clean and sterile, but from birth onwards the intestines become home to a universe of micro-organisms – so-called 'gut microbiota’ .Your own particular balance of 100 trillion gut microbiota will determine your 'enterotype’ .

We are walking bacterial colonies with more microbial genes than human ones, and when it works well it can be a mutually beneficial relationship: you provide a warm home and regular meals, gut microbiota help digest food, make vitamins and protect the body from invading pathogens. However, they also seem to influence weight. One explanation is that an over-flourishing of one type will trigger an inflammatory state and make cells less responsive to insulin and leptin, key hormones in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, carbohydrate and fat metabolism. As a result, we want to eat more.

We acquire our enterotype in various ways: coming down the birth canal in a vaginal delivery; early handling; our diet; the environment. There’s evidence that the balance of bacteria has undergone a general shift for a variety of reasons, including antibiotic use, better hygiene and cleanliness, and the rise in caesarean sections.

'We do know, for example, that bacteria that has existed in humans for thousands of years now seems to have vanished in Western circles,’ says Gewirtz. 'Various factors have interrupted what used to be a normal inheritance for generations.’

The focus now is on developing ways to manipulate our ecosystems so that the 'low-weight’ microbes dominate. (Probiotic drinks and yogurts may put healthy live bacteria into your system, but changing your enterotype altogether is a more complex question.) Scientists are also exploring the possibility that our microbiota may play a part in a variety of conditions including IBS, autism and sepsis (a potentially deadly inflammatory state throughout the whole body).

Exciting times for gastroenterologists – but what can the rest of us do right now with all this information? As yet the practical implications are limited; we can’t tinker with our enterotypes or simply adjust the serotonin levels swirling in our stomachs. But we can treat our guts with the kind of reverence and respect we tend to afford other parts of our bodies.

At present, the thought we give to our eating habits tends to be the effect they have on weight, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol… But what about the effect on the gut itself? Can it really be good to starve it for a week then feed it nothing but cabbage soup? What does your gut instinct tell you?

'Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet,’ advises Gershon. 'Green vegetables and lots of good fibre are positives.’ More than ever, we should listen to our guts. If something disagrees with it, heed the message. Your whole wellbeing may depend on it.

You can read the original article here.

Probiotic Bacteria may influence brain fatty acid composition.

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:02:00 GMT

Designer probiotic bacteria have the potential to alter brain fatty acid composition according to new research published in the prestigious American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The research, carried out by Dr. Rebecca Wall and Dr Catherine Stanton and their colleagues at the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre in Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre and University College Cork, demonstrated that mice fed with Bifidobacterium breve NCIMB 702258 and Bifidobacterium breve DPC6330 had altered brain fatty acids and gut microbiota.

‘The finding that bacteria in our gut influence brain fatty acid composition opens up new possibilities for the use of probiotic foods in the promotion of human health and mental well being”, said Catherine Stanton, senior author on the publication and Principal Investigator at the Science Foundation Ireland funded Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, at Teagasc.

The researchers showed that mice fed with the conjugated linoleic acid CLA-producing bacterium B. breve NCIMB 702258 had increased levels of two fatty acids ARA and DHA, which play important roles in neurogenesis, neurotransmission and protection against oxidative stress and whose levels in the brain influence cognition.

The researchers also showed that feeding with the CLA-producing B. breve strains is strain dependent on both the fatty acid composition of the mouse brain and on the microbial community in the gut.

These findings could lead to designer probiotics for improved cognition and brain function.

CLA is a fatty acid that is produced in different versions by different bacteria. Previously, Dr Stanton’s group have demonstrated that gut microbes have an impact on host metabolism, and in particular fat composition in liver and adipose tissue in different animal species. They have also shown that microbially produced CLA may have a role in the prevention and treatment of obesity and that CLA was able to reduce the viability of colon cancer cells by 92%.

The research is published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2012; Authors: Rebecca Wall, Tatiana M Marques, Orla O'Sullivan, R Paul Ross, Fergus Shanahan, Eamonn M Quigley, Timothy G Dinan, Barry Kiely, Gerald F Fitzgerald, Paul D Cotter, Fiona Fouhy, and Catherine Stanton “Contrasting effects of Bifidobacterium breve NCIMB 702258 and Bifidobacterium breve DPC 6330 on the composition of murine brain fatty acids and gut microbiota” Am J Clin Nutr 2012 ajcn.026435; First published online April 4, 2012. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.026435

You can read the original article here.

Why skin suffers after a big night.

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:14:00 GMT

When you have had a late night and eaten rich foods, and maybe drunk a little more alcohol than you planned, the skin suffers because any stress in the body reduces the blood flow to the skin.

This may be due not only to what you have had to drink and eat the night before but also to lack of sleep and dehydration.

To combat your skin feeling dull and dirty the next day try a natural face mask of finely chopped parsley and mint mixed together with a tablespoon of natural yoghurt.

Apply it to your face and leave for 10 to 15 minutes and rise off with cool water.

To help internal health and recovery from a late night, a B complex supplement is a good way to star the renewal process.

Drink extra filtered water, say six to eight glasses, and add extra probiotics to your day's regime. It takes about 48 hours to recover from a big day or late night hours, so be patient.

You can read the original article here.

Probiotic Research & Serious Illness.

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:04:00 GMT

Bacteria are essential, and we could not live our lives without them either in or on us. They cover us and very importantly live inside our gut, helping our digestive system to degrade the food that we eat.

Probiotics and prebiotics can be used to reduce the action of harmful bacteria and to boost the numbers of useful bacteria inside us. Research at the University of Reading is looking at which foods are beneficial to the useful bacteria inside us and which foods have a negative effect. Studies are also defining the health outcomes associated with gut bacteria.

You can read the original post and watch the video here.

More important than vitamins and trace elements.

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 02:21:00 GMT

Wow, what an eye-opener the Congress in Istanbul - Probiotics and Prebiotics in Paediatrics! Latest research confirmed the absolute and fundamental importance of establishing healthy gut ‘microbiota’ which is the official term for 1.5Kg, mostly bacteria, containing 100 times more cells and 100 times more DNA than our body! ‘Important’ isn’t really strong enough to describe all the things this colony of microorganisms is responsible for, including integrity of gut lining, nutrient absorption and vitamin synthesis, immune function, energy metabolism, hormone production and balance and neurotransmitter production. All of that said you won’t be surprised when I tell you that compromised gut health (fewer of the healthy bacteria, or an overgrowth of unhealthy species) are linked to a host of gastrointestinal health issues but also to the obesity and depression epidemics. Wondering about the health of your gut? Don’t wonder, make sure! Invest in a potent probiotic product and take it on an on going basis.

You can read the original article here.

Progurt alligns with Miranda Kerr & Kora Organics.

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:15:00 GMT

We are very pleased to announce our new affiliation with Miranda Kerr and Kora Organics to inspire people globally to nurture their bodies, embrace their unique beauty and understand the benefits of using organic natural products to benefit their skin as well as probiotics and natural, whole foods to aid their digestion and restore balance.

Progurt shares the Kora Organics philosophy for good health and nutrition and the core values they hold dear; Education, Integrity, Community and Self-Esteem

Progurt is proud to be associated with Kora Organics and Miranda’s personal passion for inspiring people to make informed choices to improve to their health and well-being.

New study: Probiotics help protect gut from radiation damage.

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:09:00 GMT

Cancer patients undergoing radiation treatments or individuals looking to protect themselves against general radiation damage can look to probiotics for help, according to a new study. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., have found that radiation therapy patients who take probiotics prior to getting blasted can gain intestinal radioprotective benefits.

For their study, published in the online journal Gut, Dr. William F. Stenson and his colleague Dr. Nicholas V. Costrini compared the effects of radiation on mice, some of which were given probiotics prior to and after exposure. They found that those who had received a probiotic mix that included Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) before exposure were protected against radioactive damage in their intestines.

Patients who receive radiation treatments for prostate, cervical, bladder, endometrial, and other forms of abdominal cancers often experience severe intestinal damage. Radiation, of course, knows no bounds, and will destroy both malignant and healthy cells, which can lead to serious health problems. But when probiotics are involved, the damage appears to be effectively reduced or prevented.

“If the epithelium breaks down as the result of radiation, the bacteria that normally reside in the intestine can be released, travel through the body and cause serious problems such as sepsis,” said Stenson. “Our study suggests we should give the probiotic prior to the onset of symptoms, or even before the initiation of radiation because, at least in this scenario, the key function of the probiotic seems to be preventing damage, rather than facilitating repair.“

Even better was the fact that the probiotic dose given to the mice was moderate, and yet it still provided significant protection. When translated to humans, supplementation with typical doses of probiotics, such as the amount commonly found in a typical serving of yogurt, appears to be enough to provide radioprotective benefits.

Beyond radiation treatments, individuals simply looking to protect themselves from other types of general radiation can also derive radioprotective benefits from probiotics. Probiotics can help to prevent gut damage caused by radiation still being emitted from Fukushima, for example.

You can read the original article here.

Friendly bacteria aren't just good for your tummy - they can boost your skin, too.

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 04:09:00 GMT

Many people believe that the so-called ‘friendly bacteria’ in yoghurts do wonders for the digestion. New research even claims that these ingredients can help boost our immune systems and control weight.

But probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (essential fuel for the beneficial bacteria) aren’t only good for our tummies, they’re also the latest buzzword in beauty — tackling everything from acne to ageing, skin sensitivity to dehydration.

Clinique, Lancome, Chantecaille, Nude and Revive are just a few of the brands injecting bugs into anti-ageing serums and moisturisers in the belief they help soothe and plump the skin — and can even turn back the clock.

The idea is that probiotics and prebiotics can improve the balance of bacteria in your skin, in the same way they are known to improve it in your gut.

We all have good and bad bacteria already present in our skin, called skin microflora. However, anything from overly astringent cleansers to sunburn and alcohol can disturb the balance of bacteria, which, in turn, affects the skin, causing it to become sensitive or develop acne or eczema.

Two respected studies have shown that topical probiotics significantly helped eczema and acne by restoring levels of ‘good’ bacteria in the skin.

But before you start slapping a yoghurt drink on your face, experts say that the probiotics used in creams are designed to penetrate the skin in a way that live yoghurt is not able to. They also contain different strains of bacteria.

Clinique has been researching the beauty benefits of friendly bacteria for the past ten years and has found that probiotic creams soothe general irritation and inflammation — which is why it has added a bacteria called Lactobacillus to its Redness Solutions Makeup.

So can these friendly bugs help reduce signs of ageing as well as soothing skin? The British skincare company Nude was the first to develop a whole brand of skincare around friendly bacteria. When it launched its Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum, which contained a very high concentration of probiotics, in September 2010, it sold out worldwide.

Celebrities including Helena Christensen, Uma Thurman, Kim Cattrall and Erin O’Connor claimed it was a ‘knock-out’. Three months ago, the company launched its Advanced Cellular Renewal Moisturiser.

‘We are very excited about how probiotics work with the skin to correct ageing, repairing damage and accelerating cellular renewal, so we use them in high concentrations in all our anti-ageing products,’ says Emma Newman, product manager for Nude.

‘Probiotics also stimulate the skin’s immune system, repairing natural defences, preventing collagen damage and hydrating skin, thereby slowing the ageing process.’

Nude claims that its ‘probiotic technology’ reduces cellular damage by up to 50 per cent, activates cellular renewal by up to 70 per cent while reducing skin irritation by up to 35 per cent, but the trials that came to these conclusions were very small.

Still, Nude is not the only brand to be convinced of the potential of probiotics. Lancome’s top-selling serum Genifique and L’Oreal Paris’s Youth Code contain bacterial extracts for the same reasons.

For now, however, the experts urge caution. The research into probiotic creams is still in its infancy and for some the proof that it helps combat wrinkles just isn’t there yet. ‘I think there is a lot of hope and hype here,’ says Dr Nick Lowe, consultant dermatologist.

‘While there is some evidence probiotic creams can help with eczema and acne, the research is not there yet to prove it can be anti-ageing.

‘It’s true that if you can reduce inflammation, you can reduce the rate of ageing, but there are many ways to do this that don’t involve probiotics.

‘People should also understand that normal healthy skin has its own very good system for managing bacteria.’

The experts advise sticking to your probiotic supplements or yoghurts for general well-being and maybe trying probiotic creams if you have sensitive, spot-prone skin.

As for turning back the clock — we’ll have to wait and see.

You can read the original article here.