July 13, 2015
These days, most of us are always on the lookout for a good bargain. We want to feel as though we’re getting the best “bang for our buck” without compromising on quality. However, when it comes to choosing a quality probiotic, less is definitely more when it comes to the number of probiotic strains in one capsule or container. Not all probiotics are created equal, and the stark reality is that there are many probiotics, particularly multi-strain probiotics, on the shelves that don’t offer any benefits at all. Whether you’re thinking about buying a probiotic or changing the brand you’re.... [Read More...]
The post Multi-Strain Probiotics – What Consumers Need to Know appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
July 06, 2015
An interesting article came across our desk recently about a group of scientists studying the metabolic pattern of the giant Panda Bear in relation to their food source, and the findings were quite unexpected. Giant pandas are black and white Chinese bears and they’re becoming an endangered species. Eating exclusively bamboo, they have the most specialized diet of any of the bear family. Analyzing the pandas’ fecal matter, the scientists revealed they were missing two essential gut microbes, Ruminococcaceae and Bacteroides. These are plant-degrading bacteria found in the guts of bears. This puts the pandas in a dilemma, according to the.... [Read More...]
The post Could Probiotics Save Panda Bears? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
June 29, 2015
When you’re trying to achieve a healthy body weight and lower your risk for a variety of health problems, including heart issues, working out is the way to go. Exercise helps to build stronger muscles, improve flexibility and ramps up the health of your cardiovascular system – all good things. Interestingly, a recent study highlights another possible benefit of working out. In a controlled study, researchers looked at the gut flora, or in other words, the bacterial population inside the intestinal tract of 40 rugby athletes compared to 46 non-athletes. As you might expect, the rugby players did intense workouts.... [Read More...]
The post Probiotics for Athletes appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
June 22, 2015
America is one of the most powerful and successful countries in the world, yet when it comes to diet, we rank among the worst for eating habits. It’s no surprise to learn that there are more fast food restaurants in the U.S. than any other country in the world. Even when we do cook at home, we’re still not eating the right kind of meals despite having access to affordable healthy food. The American diet, laden with saturated fats, carbohydrates and refined sugars, is definitely bad for our health and while we’re starting to become a lot more health conscience,.... [Read More...]
The post Is Poor Diet Killing Your Digestion? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
June 15, 2015
Our digestive organs are very intricate and make up one of the largest systems in our body. If it were removed, it would stretch a staggering 25-30 feet from end to end. In very basic terms, its function is to process the food we eat into smaller molecules and eliminate waste. The digestive process is quite complex, and is a very coordinated effort that begins before we even take a bite. The sounds and smells of food, or even the thought of food, can send signals to the brain to prepare the way for food to enter our digestive tract..... [Read More...]
The post Maintaining an Efficient Digestive Engine appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
June 01, 2015
How many times have you visited your doctor and been handed a prescription? It is probably more often than not. Let’s face it – we even expect to receive a prescription. We’ve become accustomed to thinking that we need to take a pill for all that ails us – it makes us feel like there is a neat, easy-to-take remedy when we feel bad and need a quick fix. The use of prescription medication is rising, and for a number of reasons. As mentioned, we want to feel better, so there is patient-driven demand. In addition, many doctors also fear.... [Read More...]
The post Question Your Meds appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
May 25, 2015
You are surrounded by an ocean of bacteria. In fact, a host of diverse bacteria make their home inside your intestinal tract. Fortunately, many of these species of bacteria are “friendly”, meaning they provide health benefits to the host. What’s interesting is bacteria take up residence in the human gut very early in life, before a baby even enters the world. In fact, one of the baby’s first encounters with bacteria is when it passes through mom’s birth canal and becomes colonized with bacteria from her reproductive tract. The bacteria a baby is exposed to during passage through the birth.... [Read More...]
The post Infants and Probiotics appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
May 18, 2015
Experts agree that a healthy, balanced intestinal microflora leads to a healthy body, better natural defenses, and a happier life – but where did this knowledge come from? Is this the result of modern scientific discoveries? As it turns out, history tells us a lot about the use of fermented foods, rich in probiotics, throughout the ages. Use of probiotics in the western world can be traced back to the days of King Louis IX of France, when William de Rubruquis discovered the Mongols drinking a soured milk product called cosmos, or Koumiss. The Mongols would produce this drink using.... [Read More...]
The post Koumiss, Airag, Horses & Probiotics – What’s the Connection? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
May 11, 2015
Three out of four women will be affected by their vaginal or urinary health at some point and about 5% will have recurrent problems, experiencing multiple issues each year. Needless to say, these can be frustrating issues for women of all ages – the itching, redness, irritation and discharge. Most of these uncomfortable moments are due to vaginal yeast overgrowth, caused by the yeast Candida albicans. Candida is a yeast that normally lives in the vaginal tract in small numbers in relative harmony with the human body, but it can overgrow in response to imbalances in the vaginal tract. A.... [Read More...]
The post Probiotic Focus: Megadophilus and Feminine Health appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
May 04, 2015
Recently, we have been paying close attention to, and writing about, the actions taken by Eric Schneiderman, the New York State Attorney General in regard to nutritional supplements that were found not to contain the ingredients stated on the labels – read our take on it here, and another similar study here. Unfortunately, the problem is systemic due to under-regulation. The FDA does not regulate supplements (including probiotics) as drugs, so they are not subject to the same level of scrutiny and consumer protection. Sure, there are limits to the health claims that these products can make, but industry oversight.... [Read More...]
The post Are Probiotics Properly Regulated? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
April 27, 2015
If you’re a pet owner, you understand the joy a companion animal brings to your life. Of course, you want the best for your pets. In many ways, dogs and cats are a lot like us. They suffer from some of the same health issues that humans do, including arthritis, cancer, obesity, and diseases of the heart, digestive tract, liver, and kidneys, and they’re also prone to digestive issues. As any pet owner who’s come home to “surprises” left on the carpet can attest to, dogs and cats can have temperamental digestive tracts. And we’ve all heard stories about the.... [Read More...]
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April 20, 2015
Natren is pleased to announce the latest addition to its Life Start line of infant probiotics. Life Start Vegan is a unique dairy free probiotic powder for infants, toddlers, expectant and nursing mothers containing the vitally important strain of bacteria – Bifidobacterium infantis. Over the years, the health food industry has seen an increased demand for dairy free probiotics for sensitive infants and children. Supplementing with Natren’s Life Start Vegan provides infants with that first line of defense for their tiny, immature gastrointestinal tract, ensuring them with the best start to a long and healthy life. Natren has selected this unique.... [Read More...]
The post Introducing Natren Life Start Vegan Probiotic for Infants and Expectant Mothers appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
April 13, 2015
You eat a healthy diet of mostly whole, unprocessed foods most of the time, exercise and feel pretty good. You pride yourself on making the right decisions about your health and preventing health problems before they happen. Congratulations! You’re off to a great start. Since you’re eating a healthy diet, you may wonder why you should take a probiotic supplement every day. Why would a healthy person like you really need the advantage that gut-friendly bacteria in probiotics offer? Bacteria are Everywhere Even if you eat a healthy diet, you don’t have complete control over the bacteria that enter your.... [Read More...]
The post Why Should a Healthy Person Take a Probiotic Every Day? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
April 07, 2015
It’s not just antibiotics that disrupt the harmony of your intestinal tract, two classes of commonly prescribed drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) do too. Chances are you’ve taken a NSAID to reduce pain or ease inflammation in the past. These medications are even sold over-the-counter for relief of muscle aches, headaches and for temporary relief of minor sources of pain. PPIs are prescribed for relief of acid reflux and overproduction of stomach acid and to lessen the digestive side effects of NSAID. Once thought to be relatively benign, recent research shows NSAIDs are linked with.... [Read More...]
The post PPI’s, NSAIDs and Probiotics appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 30, 2015
If there’s one thing that impacts how healthy you are and how you look and feel, it’s the food you eat. Food supplies your body with energy, but it’s not just protein, carbs and fat from your diet, but “micronutrients,” like vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals aren’t just a nice-to-have part of your diet – they’re essential for life. Micronutrients are what help your body carry out chemical reactions you need for mental and physical health. Your body cells do not have the ability to produce vitamins, with the exception of Vitamin D which can be produced by some.... [Read More...]
The post Probiotics & Vitamin Production appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 23, 2015
In the world of probiotic supplements, not all are created equal – a fact that sadly requires a lot of consumer education to comprehend. Sometimes product labels aren’t entirely accurate, and in some cases, they are completely false. This is why it is so important to understand the nature of the supplements you are taking, to ensure that they are delivering the goodness that you expect. One of the critical elements of probiotics is survivability – this is the ability for the probiotic bacteria specified on the label to make it alive, not only from the manufacturer to the consumer,.... [Read More...]
The post Probiotic Stability & Survivability appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
