Probiotics and Infant Health
Gut microbiota are trillions of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that have many essential roles, including digestion and absorption of nutrients, protection against pathogens, and metabolic and immunologic programming. In infants and children, early establishment of a healthy gut microbiota (a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria) affects the development and maturation of the immune system, and thus may impact short- and long-term health outcomes. Negative influences on the establishment of a healthy gut microbiota and factors that decrease microbial diversity in infants and young children can have lifelong detrimental health impacts. Children exposed to oral antibiotics in infancy, for example, are more likely to develop atopic disease (e.g., eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis), food allergy, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, and early childhood obesity.
Are You Missing Beneficial Nutrients In Your Diet?
Healthy aging support may begin with more than just vitamins and minerals. Studies have found that high consumption of plant-based foods which are rich in beneficial phytonutrients, as well as essential vitamins and minerals is associated with better health and longevity.1-3 But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 76% of the total US population does not meet recommended daily fruit intake and 87% do not meet recommended daily vegetable consumption.4 Furthermore, the latest re-examination of data from the 2001-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) revealed that over 40% of US adults had inadequate intakes of magnesium and vitamins A, C, D, and E.5
Keep Your Digestive System In Balance
Balance is the key. Did you know that eating a healthy, balanced diet could also mean fewer digestive discomforts (e.g., bloating, constipation, indigestion). And keeping your life in balance by managing stress and maintaining mental well-being can help reduce the cause of certain digestive symptoms (e.g., emotional eating, eating on the run). While a balance of nutrients aids digestive function and comfort in many ways, so does a balance of good intestinal bacteria known as microflora.
Make A Clean Start For 2016
Feeling blocked about making a resolution for 2016? Just as you clean out clutter in your home, relationships, or mind to give your new year a fresh start, consider that your body also needs to clean house.
Nutritional Support for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, can negatively impact a patients living quality and well-being, with a wide range of discomforting symptoms and nutritional needs. Patients with IBD may have trouble maintaining a healthy nutritional status for a variety of reasonsincluding reduced food consumption, malabsorption (due to flare-ups or intestinal resections), and active disease. Therefore, nutrient insufficiencies are common.
86 Million People In The U.S. Have Prediabetes
Are you at risk? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 86 million people in the U.S. have a condition known as prediabetes meaning that an individuals blood glucose (sugar) is not normal, but it is not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. For anyone with prediabetes, blood sugar concerns begin long before a diabetes diagnosis. Without significant lifestyle changes to improve overall health, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five yearsplacing them at risk for serious health problems, including heart disease and stroke. But type 2 diabetes is preventable. Studies show that taking active steps to control your blood sugar levels can prevent or delay the onset of the disease.
Why Probiotics Matter
Digestive health is complicated. Each person has a multitude of different types of bacteria living in a delicate balance within our guts, aiding in digestion and the absorption of nutrients. This astonishingly complex system of complimentary good and bad bacteria is easily disturbedby diet, illness, or environmental factorsresulting in many unpleasant digestive conditions. Adding the right probiotic to your daily regimen of vitamins and supplements can help if things get out of balance.