Constipation is often met with laxative or stool softeners. Chronic use of either for defecation difficulties can lead to unhealthy bowel changes. Could there be a more natural alternative for chronic constipation? What about kefir? Researchers from health universities in Turkey—where kefir is a popular fermented milk product—asked those questions. “Effects of a kefir supplement […]
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What is a health benefit? Researchers issue probiotic guidance for EFSA applications
Is Breast Milk a Probiotic Food?
Breastfeeding is considered the gold standard for feeding a baby. Up until the middle of last century, there were few other options. Milk from cows, goats and sheep was substituted but the nutrient mix including amino acid ratios was not well-suited for a human infant. Then manufacturers designed formulas which came pretty close. Soon the […]
Cystic Fibrosis and Dysbiosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease which strikes in childhood. It affects cells that produce mucus and sweat: a defective gene causes the secretions to become thick and sticky, blocking tubes and ducts in the lungs and pancreas. Most common in white people, CF is rare in people of Asian and Middle Eastern […]
The Kimchi Effect
Koreans love kimchi. This spicy fermented cabbage dish is consumed most days in most homes. Once thought to be less than perfect because of salt and strong spices, the national dish is once again a nutritional star. The probiotic effect may be powerful chemopreventives. But first take a look at the anticancer effects of other […]
Arthritis: A Stiff Sentence
When arthritis strikes, the cause may not be apparent. But two distinct types can cause the painful joint damage which ravages function in legs or hands. Osteoarthritis: Damage to the cartilage that covers the bones in your joints, usually seen in aging and overuse in athletes One knee or wrist may be affected Joints may “unstiffen” […]