Cardiovascular disease (CVD) — the leading cause of death across the globe —takes an estimated 17.9 million lives annually. CVD, in brief Though cardiovascular diseases encompass a wide range of heart and blood vessel disorders, 80% of deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes. Risk reduction is crucial. Hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, increased low-density lipoproteins (LDL), […]
probiotics
Role for Probiotics in GERD?
As gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) soars globally, alternatives to traditional therapies are welcomed. An excellent review — described below — looked at the ability of probiotics to alleviate symptoms in GERD. GERD, a little background Gastroesophageal reflux disease commonly known as GERD affects an estimated one billion people worldwide with large variations between regions and […]
Probiotics and Obesity: An Update
The numbers are staggering: 650 million people on the planet are obese, nearly triple the number in 1975, reports the World Health Organization. Moreover the Food and Agricultural Organization reported that more people are suffering from overweight/obesity than from undernutrition. Obesity — a big problem Obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, skeletal problems, cancers […]
Immune Impacts of Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics
by Sandra Saville RD, IPA Education and Communications Committee, reviewed by Artur Ouwehand PhD and IPA Scientific Committee With health presently top of mind, many questions surround what we can do to keep healthy and support the immune system. Maintaining a healthy immune system allows the body’s defense system to fight pathogens such as viruses. […]
COVID-19: A Role for Probiotics in Immunity?
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses exponentially, the world is struggling to contain it through social distancing, lockdowns and quarantines. Unlike the influenza virus, which can also be deadly, there are no medications to temper this virus nor vaccines to prevent it. Backstory on COVID-19 Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild […]
Urinary Tract Infection? Probiotics May Help
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be hard to shake. The chance of recurrence after the first episode in healthy 18–29 year-old women has been reported as 24%. Unfortunately, the traditional treatment of antibiotics may cause resistance. For this reason, other therapies are being explored. Microbial Shift in UTIs First indication: Studies of the urinary microbiota […]