Obesity has reached epidemic levels, leading to a global crisis characterized by myriad health issues, premature mortality, and significant economic burdens. The historical approach to weight loss has been fraught with challenges. While lifestyle changes, drugs, and surgery are options that can be effective in the short term, many people fail to keep the weight […]
obesity
Probiotics and Obesity: An Update
The numbers are staggering: 650 million people on the planet are obese, nearly triple the number in 1975, reports the World Health Organization. Moreover the Food and Agricultural Organization reported that more people are suffering from overweight/obesity than from undernutrition. Obesity — a big problem Obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, skeletal problems, cancers […]
Probiotics and Diet Fight Dysbiosis in Obesity
As a new year begins, resolutions to shed the added weight from holiday feasting are de rigeur. New avenues of accomplishing those goals are growing. Obesity and Aging For example, much research points to the gut microbiota as a key element in metabolic disorders such as obesity. Statistics on obesity rates are dismal: obesity is […]
Research Grows for Probiotics in Obesity
Support for use of probiotics in obesity and metabolic disease is growing. Individual studies reveal that rectifying gut microbe disturbances (dysbiosis) can benefit such patients. However, broad population studies are not as available. To that end, researchers in Portugal recently looked at one large cross-sectional study to assess population-based prevalence of probiotic intake and metabolic […]
In Fighting Obesity, Ginger Impacts Microbiota
Sushi generally comes with a healthy portion of pickled ginger. Technically known as Zingiber officinale Roscoe, the name and the condiment can be a mouthful. Still it is worthwhile putting more of this spice into your diet. Ginger has been shown to exert beneficial effects against obesity and related disorders. Exactly how the gut microbiota is […]
Big Money Pours into Microbiome Research
Money talks and we listen. Since the year 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (over 50 billion USD in assets) has poured billions into tackling the world’s most pressing health problems such as malaria and infectious disease. Now the philanthropists are embracing gut microbes. Like most of us in the probiotic industry, Bill and Melinda Gates believe in the promise of […]