As those in the probiotic supplement industry know, business is booming. Likewise, dietary supplements in general have grown from 4,000 products just 25 years ago to about 80,000 today. These sheer numbers in addition to uncovered shenanigans—ginkgo-free gingko supplements in one example—has led the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to announce strengthened regulation. […]
Articles
Iron Supplements Can Mess with Microbes
Iron is the go-to treatment for anemia. Troubling though is the dysbiosis it can cause. Iron favors strains of pathogenic species over more healthful ones. In the genital tract, for instance, Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans require iron for adhesion. Most lactobacilli, which maintain a healthy vaginal ecosystem, do not. And in another example […]
Healthy Baby Microbes Shut Down Food Allergy
Frequent fliers know that peanuts are often forbidden in flight–an allergic reaction to foods such as peanuts can be fatal. Other common allergens in the food category include cow’s milk, eggs, soy, wheat, and tree nuts. And if it seems like their incidence is increasing, it’s not just your internet exposure: The prevalence of food […]
Sweet: Mother’s Microbes Shape Breastmilk Sugars
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are sugar molecules found only in breast milk—not in formula and certainly not in milk from other animals. A newborn can’t digest HMOs. However, certain species in his microbiome can and in the process change the composition of said microbiome. Because of this effect, researchers are looking at HMOs to see if […]
Breastfeeding Impacts Microbes in Late Infancy
Breast is best when feeding infants. Experts agree that with its curated blend of amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and a trove of other nutritional factors, human milk far surpasses formula in many aspects. For starters, it’s free. And easy and available. Breast fed babies achieve better weights and are less prone to allergies and […]
Green Tea Works with Microbes to Detox
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 […]