Pickles are underrated. They pack a powerhouse of probiotics and so few calories they aren’t even worth counting. One downside: most are high in sodium. Therefore, if you are salt-sensitive and your blood pressure rises easily, search for low-salt varieties, which unfortunately may have the good bacteria removed. Pickles are made from “pickling” or […]
Articles
Probiotics in Respiratory Infections
We know a lot about probiotics, especially how they figure in gastrointestinal and allergic diseases. Less is known about a role for probiotics in respiratory tract infections. Some data confirm that certain strains may prevent or alleviate symptoms while others find no such benefit. Researchers in Milan did their homework. A meta-analysis involving 3,451 […]
Probiotics May Improve Immunity in Aging
Even for the healthiest, old age brings challenges to both mind and body. Changes are inevitable and built into the DNA of every cell. The immune system weakens in aging, making the elderly more likely to catch colds, flus, and also deadly infections from germs including Clostridium dificile which are rampant in hospitals. This impaired […]
Probiotics in Colic Disputed
Several months ago, research from Italy suggested colicky babies could benefit from probiotics. This week, a study out of Australia disputes it.
Cooking Up Kombucha
Kombucha. You won’t find this sweetened tea at McDonald’s but with a little ingenuity you can mix up a batch in your kitchen. Kombucha is made by fermenting tea with yeast, fungi and acetic acid at room temperature for one to two weeks. There are multiple species of probiotic goodness in a typical drink. Imbibers […]
Probiotic Use in Kuwait
Fermented foods used to be a mainstay in the Middle East. Today, as processed foods hold sway, interest is rising in probiotic suplements. Natural health product (NHPs) usage was surveyed by researchers in the pharmacy department at Kuwait University. A sample of 1300 answered a questionnaire regarding “vitamins and minerals, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, traditional […]