Do Probiotics Support the Immune System?
Probiotics are live microorganisms in the gut that can support the immune system by optimizing the gut microbiome, strengthening the intestinal barrier function, stimulating immune cells, and warding off pathogens. Your immune system performs the critical function of protecting your body against threats that can lead to infections and other health issues. Your gastrointestinal tract, […]
Fiber and Probiotics: Better Together?
Fiber and probiotics are both critical for digestion and can improve common digestive ailments. Dietary fiber comes from plant foods and promotes digestive regularity. Some specialized types of fiber, called prebiotics, provide a food source for gut bacteria and may enhance the effects of probiotics. Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria found in dietary supplements and […]
Can Probiotics Help with Thrush?
Thrush can affect the mouth or throat, causing oral thrush, or the genital area, causing yeast infections. Targeted probiotics can help prevent thrush and fight yeast infections by restoring the body’s beneficial microflora and supporting immunity. Thrush is a frustrating, often stubborn health issue that can occur when the body’s microbiome is out of balance. […]
Best Probiotic Supplements of 2023
The human gut microbiome is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria. These beneficial bacteria support many vital processes in the body, including digestive health, nutrient absorption, immune function, cognition, and mood. Factors such as medications, stress, alcohol consumption, and an overly processed diet can disturb the healthy balance of the gut microbiome. These beneficial bacteria […]
The 12 Best Prebiotic and Probiotic Combinations
Probiotics are bacteria that live in your body and are necessary for healthy living found in the foods we eat and in probiotic supplements. Prebiotics are indigestible fibers found in foods like beans and whole grains that serve as important food sources for the probiotic bacteria living in our intestines. Certain qualities differentiate prebiotics from […]
Mood, Mind and Microbes: Getting back to basics
Like it or not, you have microorganisms all over your body: On your skin, eyelashes, in your mouth, saliva, bowels and all sorts of other places. Researchers have estimated that the average person has 2-3 times more bacteria than cells in their body. The numbers shake out to be about 2 to 6 pounds of […]
Introduction to the Gut-Brain Axis
From Busy Philips’ trending Anxiety necklace (2018), Anne Hathaway’s “light it on fire” method, Selena Gomez’s psychiatric hospitalization, and Oprah Winfrey’s “near nervous breakdown,” discussions around mental health have become a conversational cornerstone in our culture. It’s clear that the battle for our mental health is not over and the need for effective solutions has […]
13 Best Probiotics for Men in 2022
Men can benefit from probiotic supplements. Well-designed probiotics support digestive health, limit the physiological impact of stress, and promote the body’s natural metabolic and detox processes. This guide helps to explain the differences between some of the most popular probiotics on the market. You already know probiotic supplements promote optimal digestion and gut health, as […]
How Often Should You Take a Probiotic Supplement?
Research is still emerging about the gut microbiome, but it is safe to consume sources of probiotics each day. Taking most probiotics once per day can offer many different health benefits, while some probiotic strains have specific dose recommendations. Probiotics are good bacteria that, when taken in adequate amounts, help balance your digestive system, which […]
Microbes and Migraine
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, 18% of women, 6% of men, and 10% of children in the United States experience migraines. This results in a 70% higher healthcare cost for families with a migraine sufferer compared to non-migraine-affected families.1 In addition to the financial impact, migraines incur significant quality-of-life costs for both the sufferer and […]
Childhood Eczema and the Gut Microbiome
Eczema or atopic dermatitis (AD) dramatically impacts children’s health and the quality of life of the family as a whole. Although the exact cause of eczema is somewhat unclear, we do know there are multiple factors at work including genes, environment, immune function, skin sensitivities, and the developing gut microbiome.1 According to the Centers for Disease […]