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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Compiled by Peter Brodhead CN
From the Book – Is your child’s brain starving?
By Dr. Michael R. Lyon, MD
The GI tract has an enormous influence over both the immune system and the brain. Over
_ the cells in the immune system are located in and around the GI tract.
Leaky Gut Syndrome – The lining of the small intestine is nearly leak proof and only
fully digested food molecules are permitted to pass thought this lining into the
bloodstream and lymph vessels. The stomach and intestines are full of hostile elements:
Hcl, digestive enzymes, undigested food material and trillions of microorganisms. To
inject even a small amount of the contents of the digestive tract into the bloodstream
would be very unhealthy. This leak proof lining is only one cell layer thick and can be
easily damaged. The cells of this lining live only 3 days. They have an extremely high
metabolic activity and intense nutritional demands.
When enough of these cells are damaged there are more and more gaps in the intestinal
lining allowing large quantities of molecular debris – undigested and partially digested
protein, carbohydrates and fat as well as fragments from microorganisms to pollute the
blood and lymph of the intestinal tract. Some gets transported to the liver which has to
process it, other ends up circulating through the body – all of this puts a great strain on
the immune system, the liver and virtually every other organ and system of the body.
Leaky gut syndrome has also been found in cases of autism and research that Dr Lyons
has done shows that most children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder suffer
from a leaky gut.
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Did you know that our gastrointestinal (GI) health has an impact on our mental well-being? Considered the body's second nervous system, the GI system produces 95% of the serotonin in our body and hosts 60% of our immune system. It is also the home of a complex ecosystem of gut flora – over 400 species of good bacteria that aid in digestion and nutrient absorption, and filter out toxins and harmful substances. The GI tract also contains some bad bacteria, but these are normally kept in check by high numbers of good bacteria. But when a person experiences stress, or eats something he or she is intolerant of, the bad bacteria outnumber the good, placing the GI tract in a state of dysbiosis. This prevents the good bacteria from performing its filtration function; instead of keeping toxins out and letting nutrients in, it does the exact opposite. This condition is also called leaky gut syndrome and is very common in children with ADHD.
There is an entire protocol involved in treating gut problems related to ADHD. The first step involves removing all allergenic food substances and medicines that may be overburdening the GI tract. This might mean going an ADHD diet like the gluten-free casein-free diet or the Feingold diet. The next step involves repopulating the gut with good bacteria through fiber and probiotics. Probiotics are essentially live bacteria similar to the good bacteria found in the GI tract. They are available as supplements or in food like yogurt, miso soup, soy milk, and fermented milk.
Treating gut problems with probiotics is known to benefit ADHD sufferers for several reasons. In the first place, they bring back balance to the population of good bacteria in the gut and eliminate the problem of poor nutrient absorption. Using probiotics also protects the body from toxins, which are known to trigger hyperactive and inattentive symptoms. Finally, probiotics assist in repairing damaged intestinal mucus, reduce inflammation, and re-establish immune tolerance.
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Probiotics are bacterial microorganisms that are well-known for their ability to alleviate certain internal issues, such as diarrhea, IBS and lactose intolerance. However, dermatologists and other skin experts have found that their benefits go beyond digestive health.
Since acne is partially caused by an overgrowth of bacteria, ingested probiotics help to treat blemish-prone skin by rebalancing bacteria in the stomach to create an overload of good bacteria. Topically, they provide protection against harmful bacteria, restore balance, and build up skin's protective barrier and normal bacterial flora to help eliminate breakouts.
Eczema is believed to be caused by a skin imbalance that causes barrier dysfunction. Some dermatologists have found that probiotics improve eczema by aiding good bacteria and allowing them to continue releasing oxygen so skin breathes better, blood flows, and balance is restored.
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The present report summarises key insights from a recent symposium focusing on the impact of the intestinal microbiota on health and disease. A more appropriate definition of health was proposed since health maintenance is a dynamic process better assessed in terms of ability to adapt to stress and maintain physiological homeostasis. Biomarkers specifically for health are needed; use of challenge models and subjects with suboptimal health or specific disease risk were advised. The complexity of interactions between external factors, the intestinal epithelium, intestinal microbiota, the immune system and health was exemplified by describing the effects of antibiotics, the Western diet and non-digestible carbohydrates on the microbiota. The association of certain bacteria with different states of health or disease was acknowledged but also that is not always clear whether this is a cause or effect. Recent identification of three robust faecal metagenome clusters may advance this understanding. It was speculated that knowledge of the intestinal microbiota profile may eventually help in the diagnosis of health risks and choice of therapy. It was agreed that beneficial manipulation of the commensal microbiota can improve health outcome. For this purpose, three areas were reviewed. Firstly, research into probiotics as vaccine adjuvants was considered useful for substantiation of immune function claims. Secondly, positive results with certain probiotics and synbiotics for colorectal cancer are emerging, mostly from in vitro and animal studies. Finally, studies in endurance athletes have shown strain-specific probiotic benefit in terms of maintenance of immune function and, for certain strains, reduction of episodes of respiratory and/or gastrointestinal tract infections.
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