Contrary to what some in the foodie culture may think, San Francisco did not invent sourdough bread. The city does have a lactobacillus named after it: Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis, a key player yet only one of many species found percolating in sourdough bread. In fact, sourdough bread has been a delicious staple since agriculture began, many […]
Articles
Microbes and Obesity: What is Known?
Obesity rates are soaring. This pandemic ranks as one of the world’s most damaging public health crises. Solutions of all kinds are being explored as the cost to health and budgets—both personal and national– hits unprecedented figures. Where do prebiotics and probiotics fit? A recent review from Europe succinctly covers the present state of knowledge. […]
Probiotics and Post-Op Immunity
A river runs through it. Infection in our guts can be from many sources: food, water, or pathogens picked up at a hospital or doctor visit. Usually the endgame is the same: diarrhea and then more diarrhea. The dysbiosis is not normally indicative of disease like diverticulosis or colitis or Crohn’s. In most cases the immune […]
Multiple Sclerosis: a Role for Probiotics?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). MS damages the communication between nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord; these signals shoot along axons which are cushioned by myelin, the protective coating. In MS, myelin is attacked by the body’s own immune system, triggering an […]
Tamping Down Inflammation
Inflammation. We hear this term often, associated with arthritis, bowel diseases, autoimmune disorders and even metabolic problems including obesity and diabetes. What exactly is it? Inflammation results when white blood cells release chemicals to combat foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. Infection as well as injury can trigger a sequence of events in the […]
Mom’s Microbes Impact Sex and Survival of Offspring
Gut microbes may enhance offspring survival in mice. Also of interest is that they may also influence sex ratios. In the Journal of Probiotics and Health, researchers pointed to the hormone oxytocin as the key mechanism in the effect. Review: Oxytocin is produced in large quantities during birth. It also affects neuronal activity seen in […]