Health

The Microbiome Makeover: How Probiotics Can Transform Your Digestive Health

Published

9 months ago

February 27, 2024

Bchcomber

Do you dread mealtimes knowing you’ll likely end up in pain afterward? If you find yourself running to the bathroom frequently or dealing with uncomfortable bloating, gas, or stomach cramps, you’re not alone.

An estimated 60 million Americans are impacted by digestive health issues each year. But what if simple dietary changes could help transform your digestive health and make you feel better than ever?

The root cause of many common digestive troubles lies deep within your gut microbiome – the ecosystem of bacteria residing in your intestines. An imbalance in your gut flora could allow bad bacteria to overrun the good guys, leading to inflammation, immune issues, and painful digestive symptoms.

The good news?

Replenishing your gut with beneficial probiotic bacteria has been scientifically shown to help reset your microbiome for improved digestive health. In this article, learn how probiotic supplements can help banish chronic tummy troubles through a microbiome makeover. Discover how these living microorganisms work, why they’re so vital for your health, and how to choose the most effective probiotic to feel your absolute best.

Common Microbiome Digestive Health Issues

Many people suffer from digestion-related symptoms that can greatly impact their quality of life, whether you experience bouts of constipation or debilitating diarrhea, or common issues like frequent bloating and gas pain.

Chronic digestive issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rooted in dysfunctional digestive health. The National Gut Center reports that IBS alone affects up to 20% of Americans. Symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, cramping, gas, and stomach pain can occur with IBS and IBD.

These conditions have a wide range of triggers and severity levels. Even occasional digestive upsets can be a sign of imbalance in your gut microbiome.

microbiome

How Digestive Health Problems Occur

So what goes wrong to cause these common digestive health issues? The root cause is often found deep within your intestines and involves the delicate balance of bacteria in your microbiome.

An abundance of bad bacteria as well as fungi, viruses, and parasites along with too little good bacteria is linked to inflammation and the breakdown of your intestinal wall’s barrier function. This “leaky gut” allows toxins, bacteria, and undigested food particles to escape the intestines and trigger a damaging immune response.

The result is inflammation within the GI tract and throughout the body. So digestive health issues often stem from inflammation and imbalance in gut microbiome caused by things like poor diet, infections, and chronic stress overloading your digestive system.

How Probiotics Can Help

Many of the strongest weapons we have to fight back against common digestive problems are probiotic supplements and foods containing strains of beneficial live bacteria and yeast. Probiotics are live “good” bacteria and yeasts that have numerous health benefits, especially for your digestive system.

When you consume probiotics via supplements, drinks, and fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, and kefir, they deliver a therapeutic dose of beneficial bacteria straight to your gut microbiome. These probiotic bacteria then get to work colonizing your intestines, balancing your body’s ecosystem by crowding out the unhealthy bacteria and helping reinforce the gut’s barrier.

The results can lead to dramatic improvements for gut health when these bacteria help regulate motility and bowel function, while reducing intestinal inflammation and gut hypersensitivity.

Choosing the Right Probiotic

With so many probiotic supplements on the market, how do you pick the right one? Start by looking at the CFU count, the number of live and active colony forming bacteria units per dose. You’ll generally want at least 1-10 billion CFUs to deliver digestive benefits.

Next, consider the strains included and look for evidence-based selections like Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium longum.

Diversity of strains is important. Consider using 10 or more strains, since the gut microbiome is so diverse, it’s good to feed your gut with a diversity of healthy bacteria. Different strains have been studied for different conditions – Lactobacillus for diarrhea, Bifidobacterium for IBS, etc.

Capsule forms may be more shelf-stable while powders added to liquids don’t require surviving stomach acid.

Probiotic diversity is also key – multistrain and multispecies probiotics have been found effective for wider digestive issues like bloating, irregularity, and occasional diarrhea.

With quality, diversity, high CFU counts, and the right strains for your issues, probiotic supplements can get your gut relief off to the right start.

Lifestyle Tips for Improving Gut Health

While probiotics can give your microbiome a boost, diet and lifestyle play key roles in maintaining long-term balance. Prebiotic fiber nourishes probiotics, allowing them to thrive and maximize benefits.

Foods like asparagus, garlic, onion, banana, oats, flaxseed, apples, and legumes contain insoluble fibers that pass undigested down to your colon where probiotics feed on them. Aim for 25-35 grams of food-based prebiotic fiber per day. Reducing stress through mindfulness practices like meditation has also been found to reduce inflammation and digestive issues tied to gut-brain connections.

Getting enough sleep ensures your microbiome has downtime for repair and balance. 7-9 hours per night has been associated with a healthier diversity of gut bacteria compared to lack of sleep. Light exercise can also keep digestion moving. Simple dietary, stress-relieving, and lifestyle measures support your probiotic supplements for optimal gut improvement.

The Future of Probiotics and Digestive Health

Advancements in gut microbiome research continue illuminating key roles bacteria play in many aspects of health, while showing potential to unlock personalized probiotics. Ongoing studies analyze how genetics, environment, and lifestyle impact gut biodiversity differently among ethnicities, geographies, and age groups.

Such emerging research will help tailor probiotic strains and blends with precision. Innovation in areas like encapsulation technology may also stabilize delicate strains on shelves and increase live delivery to the colon. Synthetic biology has produced encouraging results engineering probiotic bacteria for specific functions as well.

As the capabilities of probiotic interventions come more clearly into focus, consumers have much to look forward to. The gut-brain axis is in focus right now, demonstrating positive implications of gut health on brain function and mood regulation. The future holds promise of specially formulated, genetically enhanced probiotics that usher in a new era supporting total body wellness through the gut.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

Published

1 month ago

October 7, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

Published

1 month ago

October 6, 2024

VORNews

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

Published

1 month ago

October 5, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP