June 07, 2018
In their hit song from 1984, Huey Lewis and the News open their lyrics with: “Oh I want a new drug, one that won’t make me sick.” Little did they know how much the use of prescribed and over the counter drugs would increase in the ensuing years. Or maybe they did. It certainly seems like they knew drugs could actually make people sick when their intended purpose is to heal and cure. Frustratingly, many of these drugs have horrible side effects. While certain prescriptions are necessary, we need to be careful about becoming addicted or reliant on certain drugs..... [Read More...]
The post A Better Prescription appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
May 23, 2018
If you suffer from allergies, you know how aggravating and even debilitating they can be. Moreover, certain allergies pose very serious health risks. There are seasonal allergies to things like pollen, reactions to chemicals, produced materials like latex, and allergies to animals or food. Allergic reactions to nuts can be deadly for some and has forced many schools to become “nut-free” zones. The list is enormous and can also include dust, smoke, and even down comforters and pillows. Allergy sufferers know all too well the symptoms that come with specific allergies. Reducing these allergies, and eventually eliminating them, if possible,.... [Read More...]
The post A New Craving: Taking Two Supplements During Pregnancy May Reduce Allergies In Future Generations appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
May 18, 2018
Depression, stress, and anxiety are huge problems these days. It can be overwhelming. It is estimated that around 7% of the American population experiences at least one episode of depression in their lifetime. Moreover, if that depression does not subside and lingers, things can get worse very quickly. While medications may help with the symptoms, they are not without their side effects. As discussed in other articles, these prescription drugs can have many unintended consequences and can wreak havoc on the gut. They can alter gut diversity and change the gut microbiota. Ironically, the side effects can cause discomfort, digestive.... [Read More...]
The post Come On, Get Happy! Probiotics Shown To Reverse Depression Symptoms In Mice appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
May 01, 2018
The immune system protects the body against foreign invaders that cause illness. Through a series of steps, the immune system launches an all-out attack on dangerous viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. In autoimmune disease however, the immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake. Doctors currently prescribe treatments, such as steroids, to suppress the immune system. Now medical researchers are investigating the benefits of using probiotics to manage autoimmune responses. Probiotics are bacteria that provide health benefits to their host. Many of these probiotics live in the gut alongside unhealthy bacteria that cause disease. In a healthy gut, probiotics help keep.... [Read More...]
The post Using Probiotics to Manage Autoimmune Responses appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
May 01, 2018
Today’s headlines are filled with stories about antibiotic resistance, a state where antibiotics no longer kill dangerous bacteria. Recent headlines in the British daily newspaper, The Telegraph, announced that tourism is spreading antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The article discusses a study in which researchers found that people who had traveled to South America, the Middle East, or certain other areas of the world are more likely to carry superbugs. The Washington Post headline “’Our greatest fear’: Highly drug-resistant gonorrhea confirmed by health officials” is quite alarming. That newspaper article details a case report of a man who developed an antibiotic-resistant strain of.... [Read More...]
The post Antibiotics Resistance in the News appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
April 09, 2018
Irritable bowels are uncomfortable, inconvenient, frustrating and sometimes even embarrassing. Fortunately, new research suggests probiotics may be able to help. The symptoms of irritable bowels can be unpredictable, which can make life complicated. Symptoms include bloating, gas, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and constipation. Some people experience constipation, while others experience only diarrhea; a few experience constipation alternating with diarrhea. These symptoms originate in the large intestine, which is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract. The large intestine, also known as the colon, absorbs water and stores feces to eliminate later in a bowel movement. The underlying cause of these symptoms.... [Read More...]
The post Probiotics for Irritable Bowels appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 26, 2018
Are probiotics able to balance cholesterol in the human body if a person has eaten too much red meat or high cholesterol forming foods during his/her life for a period of time and now suffers from high cholesterol? Do probiotics help balance out this kind of high cholesterol? These are questions that we are often asked as people become more aware of their health and longevity. So, how do probiotics balance out excess cholesterol in the human body? Well, scientists discover new health benefits associated with probiotics every day. Now researchers think probiotics can support the body’s own natural cholesterol-reducing mechanisms..... [Read More...]
The post Probiotics & Cholesterol appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 19, 2018
It’s well established at this point that beneficial bacteria, or probiotics, are good for humans and animals. Can these beneficial bacteria be good for plants too? Researchers think so. Scientists discover new human health benefits imparted by probiotics every day. Now they think probiotics can benefit plants. In fact, supplementing plants with probiotics may even help feed the world someday. Global population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050, according to the United Nations. Feeding all those hungry mouths will be a tremendous undertaking in the future, considering 795 million people do not have enough food to lead a healthy, active.... [Read More...]
The post If Probiotics are so Good for us, Can They Benefit Plants too? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 17, 2018
Green is the Theme this time of year, so we thought we’d liven up the St Patrick’s Day celebrations with a real live drink – literally! This probiotic smoothie is packed full of live beneficial bacteria – great for maintaining a robust & healthy digestive system, and even providing a helping hand if the traditional festivities get out of hand. The Recipe It doesn’t get any easier than this – you’ll need a blender, and the following ingredients: 2 cups of spinach leaves 1 banana 1 medium to large carrot ¾ cup of Natren Yogurt (or the healthiest store-bought natural.... [Read More...]
The post 4 Simple Ingredients for a Healthy, Probiotic Filled St. Paddy’s Day Smoothie appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 14, 2018
Who among us hasn’t suffered from an overactive elbow, throwing back a few too many libations? Nearly everyone who drinks alcohol has overdone it at some point and has suffered the consequences of “brown bottle flu” the next morning. You may know a few tricks for feeling better, such as drinking a lot of water and sleeping it off, but you may not know that the bacteria living in your gut can also make you feel better. It’s true! A number of factors influence how well you recover from hangover symptoms: the amount you drank, the type of liquor, drinking.... [Read More...]
The post Probiotics to Tame Your Hangover appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
March 05, 2018
The bad news this time of year is that the average adult suffers from two to four colds each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and kids catch even more. Children catch the flu about once every two years, and adults come down with the flu about twice every ten years. The good news is that you can reduce your risk of getting sick by taking some preventative steps. Good hand washing habits reduce your risk for catching the flu, for example, while rest and good nutrition can help your body stay as healthy as possible..... [Read More...]
The post Make Probiotics Part of a Health Strategy during the Cold & Flu Season appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
February 26, 2018
Since Louis Pasteur first performed formal experiments that determined the relationship between bacteria and disease, researchers have learned a significant amount of information regarding the role that harmful pathogens play in the development of diseases. They have found that bacteria living in the gastrointestinal tract, known as the gut microbiota or gut microbiome, have a significant effect on the health of their host. Beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, can restore bacterial balance in the gut, prevent and treat diarrhea, improve mood, support weight loss, promote immune function and more. Now some researchers are turning their attention to fungi in the.... [Read More...]
The post Reducing Fungus While Adding Probiotic Bacteria – A New Approach to Fungus Overgrowth? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
February 19, 2018
Exercise can positively change the makeup of the bacteria in your intestines no matter what you eat, according to the results of a new study. The researchers conducted the first trial in mice to test the hypothesis that exercise modifies the bacterial profile of the gut, even without changing what the mice ate. The team published the findings from this first study in the medical journal, Gut Microbes. The scientists performed fecal transplants from 10 mice that had undergone exercise for six weeks to germ-free mice. The mice receiving the transplants showed significant differences in the composition of bacteria in.... [Read More...]
The post Exercise May Positively Change the Makeup of Bacteria in Your Gut appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
February 14, 2018
You may have always loved chocolate for its decadent, creamy flavor and celebrated the news that chocolate may be good for you. You may not know, thought, that the bacteria living in your gut also enjoy chocolate and actually help you reap all the health benefits some of the chemicals in chocolate have to offer. Cocoa beans contain about 380 chemicals, ten of which are those psychoactive compounds that make you feel so good when you eat chocolate. Cocoa beans also contain polyphenols, which are healthy micronutrients in certain plant-based foods. Cocoa beans are chock full of polyphenols – and.... [Read More...]
The post Who Loves Chocolate More – You or the Beneficial Bacteria Living in Your Gut? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
February 05, 2018
Many people do not realize that their bodies play host to tens of trillions of bacteria and that the microorganisms living inside them play a big role in human health. Some of the bacteria, viruses, yeast and other microorganisms can cause ill health. Probiotics are living microorganisms that, in adequate amounts, can provide a health benefit to the host. All living organisms, including the microbiota living in the gut, need food to survive. Probiotics living in the gut consume carbohydrates. They get these carbohydrates, known as prebiotics, from the food the host eats. Most, but not all, prebiotics are a.... [Read More...]
The post PRObiotics vs. PREbiotics – What You Need to Know appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
January 22, 2018
If you are like many Americans, you made a New Year’s resolution. Many people resolve to improve their health over the next year. In fact, losing weight/healthier eating and life/self improvements are at the top of the list. Getting a clean start is a great way to begin a new year, so many people look for ways to remove toxins from their bodies. About Cleansing When people talk about cleansing, they could mean anything from full-blown colon cleansing, to a cleaning diet. In the past, we have spoken about the dangers of colon cleansing, which aside from being a deeply.... [Read More...]
The post Natasha’s Gentle but Powerful New Year Cleanse appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
