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: Blogging
To Be Nutrient-Rich, Soils Need Fungi and Bacteria General, Well-being
Our soils are able to absorb more nutrients and hence deliver greater crop yields the greater the number of different bacterial fungal species in them is. This was demonstrated by a study conducted by researchers from the University of Zurich and the Swiss Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Research (Agroscope). In an article published by
Disinfectants May Harm Your Skin and Cause Allergies General, Skin
In particular during the cold season, fear of colds, influenza or other illnesses drives many people to using hand disinfectants. Most of the time, however, disinfecting your hands isn’t necessary and may even be harmful, as the author Juliane Gutmann recently wrote in an article published by the Frankfurter Rundschau. Among others, she refers to
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
Red Wine May Have a Positive Influence on Microbial Diversity Digestion, General, Well-being
Indulging in red wine may be beneficial for our gut microbiota. This is suggested by studies scientists at King’s college London published in recent weeks (Le Roy et al. 2019). They looked at the effect of different alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine, or cider on bacterial diversity in the gut. The collection of bacteria
Can Too Much Salt Lead to Skin Diseases and Allergies? Skin
Some months ago, we advised on this website that the state of our skin reflects what we eat – e.g. as a cause of allergies or skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis. A study conducted at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now investigated whether excessive salt consumption can lead to allergic skin diseases.
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
Millions of Bacteria in a Single Apple Digestion, General, Well-being
“Eat five (portions of fruit and vegetables) a day”, “5 a day” or “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” – everyone of us is familiar with many sayings which admonish us to follow healthy diets. Most often, the argument brought forward is that fruit and vegetables are especially rich sources of vitamins. A
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
Treating Skin Problems with the Right Diet Overweight, Skin, Stomach
Our diet is among the most prevalent causes of skin problems. “Too much sugar, too much wine – often, our dietary sins are evident in our faces”, as the journalist Gloria von Bronewski recently wrote in the German daily Die Welt. But how does food cause spots, acne, blemishes, or skin diseases? And how can