Cheap petrol at the pump makes most people happy, but oil workers may be less joyous. Researchers at Iranian medical facilities set up an experiment to see if probiotics would affect mental status in some of these workers. Fossil fuel prices were not a variable. Ali Akbar Mohammadi and colleagues published “The effects of probiotics […]
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Stars of Inner Space
Symposium sɪmˈpəʊzɪəm : a conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject. a collection of essays or papers on a particular subject by a number of contributors. a drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet (and notable as the title of a work by Plato). Before Twitter, LinkedIn, […]
Fermented Foods Lost to New Generations in South Africa
Fermented foods are not new. Staples of our diets since prehistory, fermented foods reduced spoilage, added a flavorful zest to dishes and were suspected of enhancing health. All true, it turns out, thanks to the growth of microbes. Yet countries emerging from poverty often forget about traditional foods in their rush to adopt a western diet. […]
5 Surefire Ways to Repel People from Your Expo Booth
After wandering among thousands of stalls spread out over convention halls larger than football stadiums, hunting down thirty (mostly probiotic products) and drifting into countless others through either simple attraction or plain exhaustion, one notices trends. Paleo, probiotics and protein are uber-popular in 2015. Gluten-free too. Organic mostly, non-GMO many and geared to the educated […]
Probiotics May Fight Depression
The “gut-brain axis” opens up a whole world of possibilities. If the brain talks to the gut (I’m anxious!) then maybe the gut talks back. New research into what are known as “psychobiotics” suggests that bacteria in the gut can indeed change cognition and emotion. One example: In a report in Proceedings of the National […]
Diverticulosis: Keep it Simple
Diverticulosis is a common condition in developed countries that results from damage of the colonic mucosa. Age and genetic tendencies increase the odds; smoking and obesity are also risk factors. One major dietary factor is a menu high in animal fat yet low in fiber. This is how fiber deficits come into play: decreased fiber exposes […]