| |
| |
|
Alternative Information |
|
|
|
Have you Fed Your Good Bugs Today?
Most consumers have heard of probiotics and know that they are foods containing live, beneficial bacteria. Foods such as yogurt, buttermilk, miso or kefir are the most recognized foods providing 'good' bacteria for the gut. But are you aware of the health benefits of prebiotics? In a nutshell, prebiotics are the food to help the probiotics grow and multiply. They are the food for your 'good bugs'. A quick review of probiotics will help in understanding prebiotics. The advantage of beneficial living organisms in food, particularly lactic acid bacteria, has been known for centuries. In fact, the Roman historian, Plinius, in 76 BC, recommended fermented milk for treating gastroenteritis. In the early 1900's, a Russian zoologist, Elie Metchnikoff, wrote about the health benefits of "friendly bacteria" and hypothesized that consumption of fermented milk products were responsible for the long, healthy lives that Bulgarian peasants enjoyed. Probiotics means "pro-life". The digestive tract is home to over 400 species of microorganisms. Some are 'good bugs' and are 'bad bugs' or unhealthy bacteria. Probiotics are the 'good bugs'. Two of the most common strains are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. It is believed that if a positive balance of good bacteria is maintained, the bad bacteria are less able to cause disease and irritation. Here are some health benefits to taking probiotics:
As mentioned earlier, prebiotics are food for probiotics. Consequently, the more you can feed and care for your 'good bugs', the healthier you can be! The Japanese have known the benefits of prebiotics for years. In fact, a commercially prepared prebiotic ("Neosugar") is currently used in over 500 Japanese food products, from infant formulas to health products. The two most common prebiotics are inulin and oligofructose. As a supplement, it will be listed as either inulin or FOS (fructooligosaccharides). Inulin or oligofructose are present in over 36,000 plant foods as plant storage carbohydrates. Excellent food sources are chicory and Jerusalem artichokes. In fact, most commercially prepared inulin comes from chicory, or else synthesized from sucrose. Other food sources include wheat, barley, rye, onions, garlic and leeks. Because flatulence, bloating and abdominal cramps can be an undesirable consequence of taking prebiotics (and even probiotics), it is recommended that anyone considering taking these in supplement form contact a healthcare professional familiar with such products for individualized recommendations. Those who could benefit from taking probiotic and prebiotic supplements include: Probiotic supplements are available as freeze-dried, powdered, capsules, wafers and liquids. Doses of Acidophilus and Bifidobacteria are expressed in billions of live organisms and a typical dose, unless otherwise recommended, is between 3 billion to 5 billion live organisms. Because probiotics are living organisms and are fragile, they should always be refrigerated. Products found on a shelf, therefore, are not going to contain live organisms and not be as effective. The product label should guarantee a certain number of live organisms by the expiration date of the product. There should always be an expiration date. Prebiotics can be found either with a probiotic product or separately, because FOS and inulin are food for the probiotics. If purchased separately, they can be taken together. Some people, because of the high number of 'bad bugs' in their gastrointestinal tract, cannot handle the two products taken together in the beginning. This is where an experienced healthcare professional can be beneficial. The suggested intake of FOS is 2-3 grams per day. Products containing vitamin C, whey protein, or cysteine may improve the effectiveness of probiotics. This information is not intended to substitute for medical advice or care that you would receive from your healthcare professional, so always check with your provider. If you are taking medications, or have health issues, make sure you start these products under the care of a professional. Some people will notice no harmful effects and these products are generally very safe, but individual sensitivity can alter the effects of such products. If something as simple as providing and feeding your 'good bugs' in the intestinal tract can improve subtle or severe health issues, it's certainly time to start feeding our 'good bugs' today! About The Author Marjorie Geiser has been teaching health, fitness and nutrition since 1982. She is a nutritionist, registered dietitian, certified personal trainer and life coach. As the owner of MEG Fitness, Marjorie's goal for her clients is to help them incorporate healthy eating and fitness into their busy lives. You can learn more about Marjorie from her website, www.megfit.com, or contact her via email to margie@megfit.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Alternative - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Avoid Potentially Harmful Chemicals in Your Area Rugs and Other Home Furnishings You purchase a beautiful area rug. You know just where it will go within your home. Radical Healing This title to a book by Rudolph Ballentine deserves more thought than we might give it. The book deserves more thought than I will give it too. Healing and Transformation Every symptom has a certain way of being with which it is associated. In order to release a symptom, one must release the way of being associated with it. A Morning Smoothie to Help You Stop Constipation Chronic constipation can be hard to stop or elimination, since the colon have become weak. In most cases it will have to be retrained on how to have a bowel movement. A Better Hope for Alcohol & Drug Problems People with alcohol and drug problems have been done a disservice by being labeled "diseased." Although that viewpoint has helped caregivers become more compassionate, it has also given many people the mistaken belief that they cannot be helped. Homeopathy - Five Things to Know before You 'Go There' With natural health care so popular, an area that has shown incredible growth is that of homeopathic medicine. But, although you can find homeopathic remedies on health food store shelves, are you really clear on what a homeopathic specialist is and what these medicines can do? This article will address five things to know before you choose a homeopathic specialist or buy those homeopathic medicines off the shelf. Kundalini Questions Alex Wrote;"What is the difference after the kundalini awakens, and how do you know if it did?About 25 years ago I was sitting alone by a creek in the morning, not formally meditating (which I've never done), just watching the water flow.Suddenly there was an extremely intense ball of energy that formed at the base of my spine, buzzed there for a bit, then shot up my spine and 'exploded' in my head and 'out my eyes' and turned what I saw into a sort of mosaic made of the colors of what was there, but not the exact forms anymore. The Chevreul Pendulum - A Tool for Accessing Your Subconscious About Your Pain The Chevreul pendulum is a simple device for communicating with the subconscious mind to learn what it thinks you can do to relieve your pain. Chances are good that you'll be able to use it, since about 90% of the people who try it are able to gain information from it about their pain. Nerve Pain: Try Using Visualizations And You May Get Some Relief "Neuropathic" means nerve damage and refers to nerve pain. So far there's very little that science can do about it. Alternative Health Practitioner, How to Pick the Perfect Help for You Therapists, physicians, acupuncturists, massage therapists, body workers and energy workers need to be interviewed and checked out just like your roofer!I don't know about you but finding a good roofer is might-near-impossible.Psychological outcome research has shown that half of the therapists make us better and the other half makes us worse. Use Digestive Enzymes to Reduce Hemorrhoid Inflammation Using digestive enzymes when you have hemorrhoids is a good idea. Digestive enzymes help reduce inflammation, reduce fibrin, and clean the blood of foreign particles. Nature, An ADHD Natural Treatment My mother's warning; "You are going to rot your brain out.. Super Bee Nutrition Bee's and Bee NutritionWhat is the buzz about bee Nutrition? Well, you cant get more down to nature then bee products. Powerful anti-oxidants, skin creams, supplements, and much more. Why Detoxify? Have you been hearing about detoxification more often? That's because we are now recognizing and appreciating that our bodies are not just separate parts, but a connected system which must be in "balance" if we are to feel and be well.So what is detoxifying?Well, it is an internal cleansing of toxins, from our bodies. Mindfulness and Pain: Just Say Ouch What's the best way to manage pain?Just say ouch.That's a simplified description of the role of mindfulness in reducing the experience of pain. How To Find Your Way To Healthy Longevity As the old saying goes, are you "a picture of health"? You may have a problem answering this question, but it's important to know just where you stand on this issue. I guess we all would like to be the healthiest person we can be but it's not always possible. Body Mass Index Is Not The Only Focus of Your Weight Loss Plan. Think About The Stress in Your Mind The first of January will bring a new group of folks out to the local gym and the fitness equipment store. Many of us have been a part of this crowd once or twice in our lifetimes. Alcohol : How Badly Can It Affect Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Sufferers? The wonders of alcohol. The achilles heel for many people. Fixing it with Hypnosis There are many fears and misunderstandings about the use of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, and the myths and mystery that surround it are totally undeserved. This page will help you to understand the enormous life-enhancing potential of this ancient therapy. Holistic Medicine Holistic Medicine involves natural treatment options like holistic nutrition, herbology, environmental medicine, energy work, mind-body medicine, anatomy, and many other holistic medicine practices.Holistic medicine allows an individual to be treated naturally and establishes a positive balance between body, mind and spirit.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
