May 05, 2014
We rely a lot on regulatory authorities to help ensure that products we consume are safe and good for us. We depend upon the FDA to make sure that drug manufacturers are properly regulated and their products are safe, and we trust the USDA to keep our food safe and adequately labeled, so we know exactly what we are eating, and that it too is safe. For instance – you may have noticed small labels on fruit & veg at the grocery stores – sometimes stuck to the produce with impossible-to-remove glue! Well, those labels have a 4 or 5-digit.... [Read More...]
The post Truth in Labeling: Regulation of Probiotics – Part 1 appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
April 28, 2014
Sometimes a piece of news comes along which sounds too good to be true, like a glass of red wine being good for your health. Well, that happened again last month at a meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), where a study was presented showing that not only is dark chocolate good for your health, but the reason it is so good for you may be due to our friend, the humble probiotic. Now that’s news that we like to hear! Scientists have for a long time believed that chocolate has beneficial properties, but have never been quite sure.... [Read More...]
The post Probiotics and Chocolate – The Perfect Combination? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
April 22, 2014
Today (April 22nd) is Earth Day, and gives us a fine opportunity to think about our impact on the environment, and equally importantly, the impact of our environment on our health. A few weeks ago, we wrote about our “Inner Ecosystem” and highlighted the importance of organic foods. This time, we’d like to focus on what organic food really means, and what makes it so special. Historically, all food was organic. Crops were farmed by hand, and later by machine. Meat was a smaller part of our diet, and animals were raised in an open environment with a natural food cycle..... [Read More...]
The post Earth Day: Think and Act Organically appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
April 14, 2014
Our children today are born into an environment that is substantially different than nature has provided for centuries. We now live in a world where food is more sterile and often genetically altered, antibacterial products are everywhere, and infants are introduced to processed foods at an earlier age. All this takes an increasing toll on the fragile makeup of a newborn’s digestive system. Our digestive system is established in the very early years – in fact, by the time an infant reaches the age of two, the “microbiota” (the name given to the array of bacteria in the gut that.... [Read More...]
The post Infant Gut Care appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
April 07, 2014
Today (April 7th) is World Health Day – a day set aside to recognize the fine work of the World Health Organization (WHO), and an opportunity to highlight specific health focus areas. Through a process of education and inter-governmental action, the WHO has been progressively tackling worldwide health issues and raising health awareness for 66 years. Each year, the WHO focuses on a theme slogan and this year, it’s vector-borne illnesses – those transmitted by mosquitoes, bugs and ticks that are largely associated with sub-tropical region, but with the rapid and increased movement of people and goods around the world,.... [Read More...]
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March 24, 2014
Many of us care about the global ecosystem of the planet on which we live. We worry about climate change and the effect that has on the ecosystem of the entire planet. We measure temperature changes relative to “pre-industrialization levels”, because that’s where it all started to change for the worse for the environment: industrialization disrupted the natural balance of the environment faster than nature could recover itself, and the ecosystem was forever changed. But have you every stopped to realize that there is a strong parallel between this global ecosystem, and the inner ecosystem within your body? The human.... [Read More...]
The post Caring For Your Inner Ecosystem appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 17, 2014
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! A day of hazy celebration that also brings one of the most unlikely vegetable heroes to the dinner table – the humble cabbage. Often ignored, the cabbage is not always the most popular vegetable in the produce isle. However, it is one of the most nutritious vegetables you will find. Did you know that: Cabbage is an incredibly rich source of Vitamin C and Vitamin K. In fact, one cup of this veggie provides you with around 90% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C and Vitamin K. It is also a great source of.... [Read More...]
The post In Defense of the Cabbage: Nature’s Underrated Super-Food appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 10, 2014
One of the great attributes of Natren that elevates the quality of our probiotics above those of others is the length that we go to in protecting the beneficial bacteria from manufacture to gut for maximum potency and effectiveness. Starting with refrigerated delivery all through the supply chain, through to the Oil Matrix Delivery used in Healthy Trinity to protect the beneficial bacteria as it passes through the stomach. But what is this Oil Matrix Delivery System, why is it necessary, and how does it work? Its primary role is to ensure that the beneficial bacterial survive the acid-bath in.... [Read More...]
The post Natren Oil Matrix Delivery System appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 03, 2014
Many people have sensitivities to certain food types, however not all sensitivities are equal. Generally, dietary problems are split into two categories – those that are triggered by an immune response, and intestinal-related food intolerance. Immune system related sensitivities are a response to a protein that your body has taken a dislike to, and has determined is a harmful invader. Its common response is to create an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). The next time you encounter this protein, your immune system calls out the troops by releasing IgE antibodies to fight the incoming “bad” protein, and triggering the release.... [Read More...]
The post Understanding Food Sensitivities appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
February 24, 2014
The quest for more truth and honesty in Probiotics took a great leap forward at the Probiota 2014 conference in Amsterdam earlier this month. Event chairman and renowned probiotics expert Professor Gregor Reid highlighted that little is known about the way different species of bacteria interact, citing evidence that many multi-strain probiotics are less effective than those containing just a few strains, because some strains will inhibit the activity of others when placed together. He warned that “The tendency is ‘let’s have 15 strains’ … ‘let’s have 28 billion’, “You’ve got to know what they’re doing. Are they really having an impact?”. For.... [Read More...]
The post Experts Agree … More Is Not Necessarily Better appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
February 17, 2014
In late December 2013, the New York Times published an alarming article entitled “Spike in Harm to Liver Is Tied to Dietary Aids”. The article discussed how there has been a huge spike in liver-related diseases, with around 20 percent of drug-related liver disease cases being attributed to dietary supplements, up from 7 percent a decade ago. We are bringing this to our readers’ attention because you have to dig quite deep into the article before you find the single line that says: More popular supplements like vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fish oil had not been linked to “patterns of adverse effects”..... [Read More...]
The post Supplement Safety – The Facts About Probiotics appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
February 10, 2014
Yogurt is one of the best-known probiotic foods. Many well-known brands fill the supermarket shelves; however looking at the label can be a shock. Amongst all those sugars, flavors and preservatives, there are only two required ingredients: Milk and Starting Bacteria. Fortunately, a tasty and healthy yogurt can be easily made at home without all those unnecessary additives. Making yogurt takes three easy steps: Scolding the milk, adding yogurt starter to the cooled milk, and then incubating the milk in a warm place to make the final yogurt. The result is a delicious product that you can eat with a.... [Read More...]
The post Making Probiotic Yogurt at Home appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
January 31, 2014
On January 31st 2014, we say goodbye to the Year of the Snake, and welcome the Year of the Horse. We wish all of our customers a happy and healthy Chinese New Year. It is interesting to take a look at traditional Chinese medicine, and see the similarities with the principles that underpin our work with probiotics. Our philosophy is that the gut and intestines form a “second brain”, which is strongly connected to our primary brain. Great intestinal health leads to stronger natural defenses, a brighter mood, a healthier body, and fewer digestive issues. Similarly, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes.... [Read More...]
The post Chinese Medicine and Digestive Health appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
January 27, 2014
Here at Natren, we obviously believe that we have the best probiotic on the market! We also believe that everyone should make intelligent decisions about their health, especially knowing exactly what they are putting into their body. So rather than just saying how great we are, here are some of the key things to look for when selecting any probiotic. In our last article, we discussed the state of regulation amongst probiotic suppliers and the importance of verified potency. This time, we’ll take a closer look at some of the key things to look for when selecting any probiotic Potency.... [Read More...]
The post Choosing a Probiotic, A Buyers Guide (Part 2) appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
January 20, 2014
The word “Probiotic” is used to describe a large number of different foods, supplements and drinks. As a consumer, it can be difficult to get to grips with these products, how effective they are, and which ones offer value for money and deliver on their promises. Probiotics are classified as Dietary Supplements by the FDA, and not as Drugs. This different level of regulation means that specific claims to treat or cure illnesses cannot be made. Instead, we see many probiotic brands escalating their marketing campaigns with claims of large numbers of (largely unverified) strains, trying to make their product.... [Read More...]
The post Choosing a Probiotic, A Buyers Guide (Part 1) appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
January 13, 2014
By KC Kahn Hi, friends and fans, I’m KC – the Kitchen Chopper. I blog about my Healthful Eating Concept – The Chopped – at http://www.theKitchenChopper.com Best of intensions aside, the holidays wreak havoc on our budgets and waistlines. Something about this time of year. Don’t over-think it. Parties, shopping, a busy workday – our smart habits go by the wayside. ‘Tis the Season. I can help you get back on track with two words…The Chopped. The Chopped is a healthful eating concept I created that shows you how to make budget-friendly meals using only chopped ingredients in proper proportion. .... [Read More...]
The post Back on the Healthy Eating Track: Post Holiday Eating on a Budget appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
