Taking probiotics may not always be a sensible and healthy option. This was discovered in two studies conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. The first study looked at changes to the participants’ mucosa associated gut flora – i.e. the microbiome in the gut periphery – after ingesting probiotics. The volunteers were
Category Archives: Body
Prescription of Antibiotics by Physicians Drops Body, General
Recently, the Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH) reported that compared to a decade ago physicians in Germany prescribed fewer antibiotics. On average, treatment rates had fallen by some 11 percent, with prescription to children and teenagers dropping even more significantly (toddlers: minus 30 percent). This is a positive development. Only too often, antibiotics were prescribed even when
Study: Bacteria Are Good for Our Immune System Body
Lactic acid bacteria, which can be found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut or yoghurt, support our immune system and hence human health (cf. http://www.gesunde-bakterien.de/en/fermentation-bacteria-preserve-foods-and-nutrients-2/). Scientists at the University of Leipzig have now demonstrated the mechanisms behind this. They examined how lactic acid bacteria interact with specific receptors on the surface of cells in our
Bacteria as Bio-Markers in the Early Detection of Bowel Cancer Body, Digestion, General
So far, stool samples or colonoscopies have been the only ways to detect colorectal cancer in its early stages. This may change in the future. Evidence is provided by an international study conducted by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany (see also http://www.gesunde-bakterien.de/en/crucial-bacteria-how-the-gut-determines-our-lives/), in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen. Researchers found
Detrimental Influences of Antibiotics on Gut Flora and Good Bacteria Body, Digestion, General
Antibiotics are effective against harmful bacteria in the body, but not only against these: Destroyed are not only pathogens (i.e. bacteria with disease-causing properties), but also bacteria which are useful, harmless, and occasionally very important for our health. Gut bacteria, in particular, are seriously affected during treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Recently, a group of researchers
Gut Bacteria May Prevent Allergies Body, Digestion, Stomach
The composition of the bacteria in our gut – called gut microbiota or gut flora – may influence the development of diseases such as allergies. US scientists recently took a closer look at the gut flora’s role in causing food allergies, in this specific case cow’s milk allergy. Taking stool samples from infant donors, they
Protein in Food Controls Bacterial Diversity in the Gut Body, Digestion
Health-conscious diets often rely on protein-rich food, such as meat and legumes (peas, beans, lentils, etc.). Scientists at the Department for Microbiology and Ecosystem Science of the University of Vienna and at the Duke University in North Carolina (USA) have recently examined the impact of a protein-rich diet on bacterial diversity in the gut. Their
A Healthy Gut Flora Evolves in Early Childhood Body, Digestion
The makeup of the microbiome or flora in the gut is crucial for our overall physical health. Several studies have demonstrated links between bacterial diversity in the gut and, e.g., metabolic or inflammatory skin diseases. Hence, in order to improve physical well-being, scientists and medical practitioners have repeatedly made efforts to accomplish lasting changes to
Lactic Acid Bacteria for a Healthy Digestion Body, Digestion
On this website, we regularly post about good, healthy bacteria which are vital for a healthy organism and a healthy body. A key category among these are lactic acid bacteria, which are subdivided into a large number of bacterial species such as lactobacillus (bifido bacteria used to be listed among these) and others. Lactobacteria (lactobacilli)
How a Healthy Gut Boosts Your Beauty Blogging, Body
We all know that worries and stress can upset your stomach and gut. And in recent years, scientists have similarly demonstrated the reverse, i.e. that diets and intestinal health influence our psyche. However, people often forget the impact the gut has also, and above all, on our skin. The gut is an alimentary organ, plying