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 […]
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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” […]
Prebiotics Help Soothe Stress Response
Communication between the brain and the gut goes far beyond the “stomach grumbling” heard by your head when it’s hungry. Indeed, the discovery of a gut-brain axis is opening new avenues for questions on how the microbiota may influence the brain response to stress and its expression as anxiety, mood disorders or depression. Researchers at […]
Gut Microbes Affect Bone Mass
Gut microbes are well-known to affect metabolism and immune function. Involvement is far-reaching, we learn from research, linked to diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, allergies, autism, anxiety disorders as well as the familiar gut disorders including irritable bowel and Crohn’s and much more. More surprising is recent research showing that gut microbiota (GM)may be regulators […]
Sourdough Part II
The unique flavors and excellent shelf life of sourdough bread owe much to the lactic acid bacteria produced through fermentation. The million dollar question: do the probiotics survive the hot baking ovens? No. The big surprise here is that the probiotic benefit doesn’t die with them. While alive, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce organic acids […]
Probiotics for Potty Problems
Bowel “habits” can be anything but routine for elderly people in nursing homes. As nursing charts reveal, constipation and diarrhea are common troubles. The crucial menu for relief offers high-fiber choices of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Often these foods are more difficult for older people to chew, swallow and digest. Puree, everyone? Medications are […]