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Vitamin D & Eating Disorder Risk
The journal Medicine (Baltimore) recently published the results of a Mendelian randomization analysis evaluating the links between eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels. Previous studies suggest that not only is low 25-OHD more likely among people with eating disorders, but it is also associated with greater morbidity and,…
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Probiotics & Diet for Periodontitis
The results of a randomized and controlled clinical trial, which evaluated the use of probiotics by people with periodontitis, with and without a personalized dietary intervention, were recently published in BMC Oral Health. One hundred twenty women between the ages of 20-60 and diagnosed with mild to moderate periodontitis were divided into 3 groups; one…
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Probiotics and Cognition
A meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy of probiotics/prebiotics among people with cognitive impairment was published in PLoS One. A plausible link occurring via the microbiota-gut-brain axis raises the possibility of benefit with supplementation, and this meta-analysis included 10 randomized and controlled clinical trials to discern the strength of this connection. Combined, this was a total of…
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Probiotics & High Intensity Interval Training
The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition recently published the results of a randomized and double-blind controlled clinical trial evaluating the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and probiotic supplementation, separately and together, on cardiorespiratory fitness and other markers of metabolism among middle-aged women with obesity. Forty-seven women took part in this 8-week…
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Probiotics & Depression
JAMA Psychiatry recently published the results of a small randomized clinical trial evaluating the use of probiotics as an adjunctive treatment for inadequately controlled depression. Set in London, 50 outpatients with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) score greater than 13 (indicating at least mild depression)…
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7 Surprising Facts About Prebiotics and Probiotics
Eating a poor diet filled with processed foods, alcohol and hormones from certain meats can negatively impact the delicate balance of the gut microbiota. Stress is also another factor that can throw the balance of the gut out of whack, which can give rise to an increase in undesirable pathogenic bacteria, such as viruses, parasites…
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9 Ways to Strengthen Children’s Immune Systems
The immune system is not one single entity – it’s a complex interconnected system that evolves as we age. Apart from fighting viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, the immune system also plays an important role in tissue repair – wound healing, elimination of dead cells, and formation of gut microbiota.
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Foods to Eat & Avoid for Optimal Microbiome Health
Everyone’s gut microbiome is unique and evolving. Harmonizing the gut, by keeping the trillions of microbial residents in balance is a key to health and wellbeing. Whenever there is dysbiosis or a loss of diversity in the gut microbiota, there is often discomfort and disease can develop. 97 million Americans (between 10 and 30% of…
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Wash Your Hands and Take Your Probiotics
Most of us know that washing hands, getting plenty of rest, getting your vitamin D and eating a diet rich in antioxidants and various botanicals (such as Echinacea, Astragalus, Elderberry and mushroom blends) can help boost the immune system. But what other immune-boosting tactics might be missing from your medicine cabinet? To keep the immune…
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Research Shows Probiotics Support Immunity
A new animal study shows the effectiveness of probiotics in supporting the immune system. The authors concluded, “Altogether, our data suggest that L. plantarum JDFM LP11 increases the diversity and richness in the microbial community and attenuates the ileal immune gene expression towards gut inflammation, promoting intestinal development in weaned piglets.” Similar results were produced…