Skin: We ignore it, tattoo it and burn it on beaches and tanning beds. Besides its brutish name, skin also gets little respect for its crucial job of protecting the human body from toxins and dehydration. Skin is the largest organ we have, beating out big hearts and hungry stomachs by a long shot. It […]
Microbiome Environment
As Obesity Soars, Microbes Get a Closer Look
Americans are getting fatter. New data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (tens of thousands surveyed) revealed stark numbers: Nearly 40% of adults are obese, up significantly from previous years. Hispanic and blacks–both adults and children– counted more obesity than whites and Asians. One other group fared especially poorly: toddlers ages 2 to […]
Good News When Probiotics Become Habit
While humans have been eating probiotics by way of cheeses and yogurts for tens of thousands of years, use of supplements for beneficial bacteria is only decades old. Most studies concentrate on immediate effects of pills and capsules. No reliable data exists on “longer-term consumption” of probiotics, a period of time only now relevant. […]
Probiotics in Pregnancy May Prevent Baby’s Eczema
Eczema in infants is painful to see and even worse for them. Soaring in numbers, this allergic skin disease is caused by genetic defects and foreign substances, often food. But surprisingly, it’s not only the diet of the baby which figures. Probiotics in the mother’s diet before birth may prevent some cases. A new large […]
‘Tis the Season for Asparagus: Indulge!
Asparagus sprouts up early in spring. Ignore the unique scent it imbues to urine; it’s just that digestion releases asparagusic acid which metabolizes into sulfur-containing compounds. Proust rather liked it. Asparagus “…transforms my chamber-pot into a flask of perfume.” Marcel Proust (1871–1922) Take advantage of this delicious and rich prebiotic source to feed your healthy microbes. Asparagus delivers […]
Bowel Prep for Colonoscopies Disrupts Microbes
Colonoscopy is the gold standard for finding and removing polyps which could cause colon cancer. Prepping for the test requires imbibing volumes of laxative solutions to cleanse (via diarrhea) the bowel for better viewing. Not fun, but the doctor needs to see a clear picture. One interesting question which rarely comes up is how do […]