by admin | Mar 31, 2021 | Health Awareness
Probiotics are a variety of microorganisms intended to provide health benefits when consumed. While they’re found naturally in yogurt and fermented foods, many people take them in the form of dietary supplements to boost health.
With the right dosage, probiotics are believed to deliver health benefits including improved gastrointestinal health, a supported immune system, weight management, and potentially even brain health. As antibiotics become more ubiquitous, many medical experts are urging the importance of maintaining beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to support a healthy microbiome. Environmental and lifestyle factors can also alter the microbiome, so restoring its health is critical to supporting optimal wellness.
While much remains to be learned about the power of these supplements, we already know that probiotics are helpful for:
- Treating diarrhea and other GI issues
- Inducing or maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis
- Treating periodontal disease
- Preventing issues in premature infants, including sepsis
- Controlling colic in babies
There is also research to support probiotics’ use for treating other conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, allergy-related issues such as atopic dermatitis and hay fever, asthma, urinary tract infections, acne, and upper respiratory infections.
The importance of a healthy balance of bacteria in the GI tract has been suspected for over 100 years since scientist Elie Metchnikoff established the link between yogurt and better health. Metchnikoff pioneered the use of probiotics for general use, but the boom of antibiotics in the 1940s has been affecting gut microbes for decades. While antibiotics are often necessary and allow us to fight off infections, they also cause good bacteria in the gut to be wiped out.
In addition to taking antibiotics, many other factors can affect the microbiome. Exposure to cigarette smoke and air pollution, for instance, can take their toll on gut bacteria, as can poor sleep, chronic stress, and a diet rich in heavily processed foods.
Addressing these issues is important, as a disruption of homeostasis in the microbiome can lead to issues such as dysbiosis and poor bacteria diversity. With dysbiosis, there are fewer good organisms than harmful ones, while lack of diversity in gut bacteria has been associated with an increased risk for disease. These issues can also lead to intestinal permeability, in which the barrier function of the intestine is compromised and intestinal activity is affected. Known as “leaky gut syndrome,” this condition has been linked to conditions such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
Fortunately, probiotic supplements could help maintain a healthy microbiome, or repopulate a GI tract with good bacteria. Moreover, they’re generally regarded as being safe, with minimal side effects such as gas sometimes occurring. They shouldn’t be used in clinically ill or immunocompromised populations, however.
There are many different types of probiotics available, including specific strains and dosages. If you’re considering getting started on a regimen, it’s a good idea to seek professional guidance so you can determine the type that’s best for your personal needs.
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by admin | Mar 24, 2021 | Health Awareness
Vitamin D deficiencies are a common problem in the U.S., with more than 40% of adults getting inadequate levels of the nutrient. The body produces the vitamin after the skin has been exposed to sunlight, so getting enough sun is important to maintaining healthy vitamin D levels. Of course, too much exposure to UV rays presents risks, including skin cancer. For this reason, we must learn how to get enough sunlight to make vitamin D without overdoing it.
The Risks of Low Vitamin D
There are many functions in the body supported by vitamin D. For instance, the nutrient prompts the cells in the intestines to absorb calcium and phosphorus, which is essential to bone health. And, without vitamin D, the risks of cancer, depression, osteoporosis, and muscle weakness are increased.
Vitamin D is notoriously difficult to get from diet alone, since it’s only found in a handful of foods, such as egg yolks, swordfish, canned tuna, and cod liver oil. And, eating these foods once in a while wouldn’t suffice; you’d have to eat them almost daily to get enough vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight is, therefore, a simple and effective way to get vitamin D.
Getting Vitamin D Through Sunlight the Safe Way
Research suggests that the body’s ability to make vitamin D peaks around midday, which is also the point in time when UV rays are strongest. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a long time outside to reap the benefits. Just 13 minutes of midday sun exposure is enough for Caucasian adults to maintain healthy vitamin D levels. People with darker skin might need a bit more exposure. This will allow adults to meet or exceed the recommended daily dose of 600 IU. It’s also believed that going out at noon could also be safer. Afternoon sun exposure appears to come with an increased risk for dangerous skin cancers.
Of course, it’s not always possible for people far from the equator to get ample vitamin D from the sun alone. People living in Boston, MA, for example, will struggle to make any vitamin D from UV rays alone from November to February. In the winter, it’s therefore important to get the critical nutrient from food and supplements.
Ultimately, while UV rays present their health risks, controlled sun exposure is believed to be beneficial to overall health. Whether you get it through the sun or supplements, vitamin D is essential to helping your body perform its best.
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by admin | Mar 17, 2021 | Health Awareness
The Mediterranean diet has long been praised for its health benefits. The eating style emphasizes vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, fruits, and lean protein such as fish, poultry, beans, and eggs. It’s been linked to heart health and has recently been discovered as a means of lowering diabetes risk.
According to a 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open, women who followed the Mediterranean diet had a 30% lower rate of type 2 diabetes compared to their peers. Experts say that the eating style is linked to improvement in several key biomarkers, including insulin resistance, body mass index (BMI), HDL cholesterol, and inflammation. The study was a 20-year-plus follow-up to research that first enrolled participants in 1992 and 1993. The participants following the Mediterranean diet ate mostly vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, and moderate fish and dairy. Red meat and processed foods were limited or avoided. Additionally, they would drink red wine in moderation.
Other research has also pointed to the benefits of the Mediterranean diet in the past. For example, a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology linked the eating style to a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, which is the umbrella term for a group of conditions that increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance.
Experts further investigated results from the 2020 study and believe that the Mediterranean diet is likely so effective because it replaces unhealthy foods with nutrient-rich options that don’t contribute to insulin resistance or inflammation, and in fact may improve insulin resistance. The diet may also optimize beta-cell function, which produces and secrete insulin, the hormone responsible for blood sugar regulation.
According to the findings, the diet may be most beneficial for women who are overweight or obese. While there was a benefit for all individuals, type 2 diabetes is commonly linked with excess fat, which is likely why women with a BMI of 25 or higher appear to benefit the most from the Mediterranean diet.
Even if you aren’t ready to fully transition to an entirely new eating plan, the experts note that incorporating just some of the diet’s principles could deliver health benefits. Seemingly small changes such as adding more vegetables to your meals could have long-term benefits and are worth pursuing for the reduced risk of several diseases.
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by admin | Mar 10, 2021 | Health Awareness
The physical benefits of exercise are proven and widely accepted: from weight management to reduced risk of several serious illnesses, it’s clear that exercise is one of the best preventive measures you can take for your health. In addition to your physical wellness, however, it turns out that exercise also has brain-boosting benefits.
The Brain on Exercise
When your heart rate rises during exercise, your blood flow increases, and the brain gets more nutrients and oxygen. Exercise also triggers the release of beneficial proteins, which nourish neurons and spur the growth of new brain cells. Thus, exercise has a direct impact on overall brain health.
In addition, exercise can also help you feel better mentally. Getting active prompts the brain to release feel-good chemicals, including dopamine and endorphins. These can help eliminate stress and may also aid in mood regulation.
Finally, exercise can optimize cognitive ability. Children and young adults who get regular exercise have been shown to score better in math and reading tests compared to those who don’t. Even working out just a couple of times a week appears to increase retention skills.
Moreover, being active can also help the body regulate sleep patterns, which can further support brain health. This creates a positive domino effect, as being well-rested may allow you to feel more focused, alert, and even creative during the day.
Ultimately, the importance of regular exercise on overall mental health cannot be overstated. The good news is that you don’t have to be an endurance athlete to enjoy the benefits, either. By simply getting moving—even if it’s walking, gardening, or doing household chores—you can promote better physical and mental wellness.
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by admin | Mar 3, 2021 | Health Awareness, Ozone Therapy
Many exciting strides are being made in the field of regenerative medicine. With the goal of repairing healing tissue through regeneration, this branch of medicine uses various approaches to treat chronic illnesses, address injuries, and promote overall wellness. Here’s a look into some emerging treatment options.
Prolotherapy
Also known as proliferation therapy or regenerative injection therapy, prolotherapy is a complementary approach used to treat joint and muscle pain. It works by injecting an irritant to the affected area, such as a tendon or ligament, to spur connective tissue growth. The irritant is typically a sugar solution, which triggers the connective tissue to grow and promote healing. Study results have been mixed and research into the treatment is ongoing. For instance, people with osteoarthritis in the knee saw significant improvements after receiving prolotherapy injections, but studies have been small thus far.
Prolozone
Prolozone combines neural therapy, prolotherapy, and ozone therapy by injecting anti-inflammatory medications, ozone, vitamins and minerals, and other proliferative agents to promote healing. It’s believed the injected nutrients could bypass the body’s inflammatory response, thus enabling healing without added inflammation. Noticeable improvements have been reported by patients with osteoarthritis, though as with prolotherapy, most experts agree further research is needed to fully document the treatment’s effects. Other conditions that could respond well to prolozone may include rotator cuff injuries, sciatica, sports injuries, and chronic back pain, among others.
PRP
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) leverages the healing properties within a patient’s own blood, which is put through a centrifuge to isolate the plasma. PRP is concentrated and has growth factors that can help promote healing when re-injected into areas of tissue damage. This alternative option can help manage the symptoms of joint and musculoskeletal pain and can also be used in conjunction with stem cell therapy to drive optimal outcomes.
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by admin | Feb 24, 2021 | Health Awareness, Functional Medicine
In the mid-2000s, neuroscientist Jane Foster noticed an interesting phenomenon in her laboratory: mice with health gut microorganisms were acting differently than those without. She believed the animals’ gut bacteria was influencing their behavior and mental state. Yet, it wouldn’t be for several years that a potential link between the gut and brain would be considered among the medical community.
Now, the gut-brain axis is widely discussed by neuroscientists. In recent years, thousands of publications have indicated many gut bacteria that have significant effects on the brain. Since then, researchers have been working avidly to determine whether, and how, microbes could play a role in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and autism spectrum disorder, among others.
For instance, it’s believed that a specific strain of E. coli can produce a protein that may cause other proteins to misfold, resulting in errors that are ultimately transmitted to the brain in the case of Parkinson’s disease. In motor neuron disease, it’s suspected certain bacteria produces a vitamin B3 molecule that could travel to the brain and improve symptoms. With autism spectrum disorder, infections during pregnancy seem to be a catalyst. When certain bacteria trigger T-helper 17 cells, an immune system component, they produce immune molecules which travel to the fetus’s brain and appear to cause behaviors seen in autism.
In some cases, gut issues could be an important indicator of potential issues in brain health. For instance, many patients with PD experience symptoms such as constipation long before other characteristics of the disease. With that being said, the disorder presents differently in different individuals.
While there is still much to learn about the potential pathways microbes use to reach the brain, there’s considerable interest by the research community to further investigate potential links between brain and gut health. Researchers are currently exploring how certain bacteria could play a role in the treatment of conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and PD, among others. They’re particularly excited about the prospects since the gut microbiome can be modified, unlike genetics. While there is still considerable work to be done, ongoing efforts could make enormous strides for patients with brain disorders in the future.
Patients are discovering the benefits of having a comprehensive GI test done to determine their current gut health. These tests can be done at home and will determine the root cause of many gastrointestinal symptoms. By improving functional imbalances and inadequacies found, symptoms can improve. Learn more today!
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