One in three adults on the planet is overweight. The World Health Organization data are not promising. Bringing down those numbers is turning out to be a colossal challenge given that throughout the entirety of evolutionary history, humans have been and still are programmed to defend against starvation, not obesity. Dieting doesn’t work for most. […]
Articles
Gliaburu Pumped with Probiotics
Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, has exploded in sales in the United States. Other fermented foods pack a probiotic punch but are less popular. But it pays to explore new sources. Researchers in Turkey recently isolated the helpful bacteria in the fruit drink made from the European cranberry bush (unrelated to the cranberry which grows in […]
Leafy Vegetables Feed Probiotics
Prebiotics are needed by our microbiota to grow.The usual list of foods containing prebiotics are garlic, bananas, onions, wheat, artichoke and chicory root. Now it seems that even traditional leafy vegetables are no slackers in the prebiotic department. Researchers in South Africa looked at their effect on growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in pure cultures. […]
Doctors Need Answers on Probiotics
Patients want answers about probiotics. Often they ask their doctors who may turn out to have few positions on probiotics or other “alternative” therapies. Medical schools, with such vast material to cover, teach science and treatment with very little time spent on prevention. Researchers at the St. Louis University School of Medicine surveyed gastroenterologists […]
Probiotics in Vaginal Infections
Most women will experience the unpleasantness of a vaginal infection from time to time. The itching, discharge and inflammation are usually caused by bacteria which displace the usual lactobacilli and change the acidity –making it a higher pH which means less acidic. Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensenii are the dominant organisms in healthy premenopausal women; […]
Education on Probiotics Needed
As concern about health increases, probiotics present a new concept in the health arena. A new study surveyed attitudes and consumption patterns of consumers in a Brazilian city regarding products containing probiotics. While consumption was low, attitudes were positive. A questionnaire of 14 items was given to 352 individuals. Most were students or faculty with […]