Green tea comes steeped in endorsements from nutritionists. This power beverage is known to help prevent chronic diseases including cancer, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The secret appears to lie in its polyphenols; epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) dominates. Exactly how this particular polyphenol operates to avert diseases is largely unknown. Polyphenols scavenge toxins One idea: Toxic reactive cellular metabolites, such as […]
Microbiome Environment
Probiotics Show Promise in Alzheimer's Disease
A popular gift this holiday was a genetic testing kit. Priced reasonably and readily available without a prescription online and in stores, the DNA tests focus on ancestry and health. You may be delighted to discover a few ancestors hailed from Africa. On the other hand, you may find out your dad is not that man […]
Gut Walls May Be Leaky in Fibromyalgia
Pain has a purpose. It tells us to pay attention: to remove a hand from fire, rest a sore leg or seek medical attention. But sometimes pain can be fake news. Pain can be the brain misreading signals, as in fibromyalgia. This common disorder is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain along with fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. […]
Childhood Obesity: New Study on Microbes
Our children are getting fatter. Too much food and not enough exercise are the chief culprits for this global epidemic. Among other contributors, the microbiome is under suspicion. Studies done mostly in animals but also some humans suggest why the microbiome is involved. Microbes: mechanisms of action in obesity Increasing energy harvest Changing host metabolism […]
Probiotics Get the Party Started
Traditional holiday feasts are not so microbe-friendly. A week of high fat and sugar treats can throw your gut microbes into a tailspin, possibly weakening your immune system just in time for flu season. Repeat this mantra: Healthy can be delicious. And try these ideas below to keep those friendly microbes merry this season. Menu […]
Journalists Get Schooled on the Microbiome
The popular press has discovered probiotics. Barely a week goes by when a provocative story doesn’t herald the ups and downs of microbiome research. Often these headlines feel like a wild ride on a roller coaster when the science is actually far less dramatic. For example, two recent studies published in the September 6th issue […]