Tag Archives: Probiotics

A probiotic for Crohn’s, colitis and colon cancer?

New research has revealed that a genetically tweaked version of a common probiotic found in yogurt and cheese may be an effective treatment for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis and may even cure them. The research also suggests that probiotics may … Continue reading

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Is sexual performance determined in the gut?

Might we one day be able to take a probiotic to improve our sexual performance, or to make us more attractive to the opposite sex? Perhaps so, if this recent research is anything to go by. When Klebsiella oxytoca, a … Continue reading

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Colitis may be on the increase, but ‘old friends’ can help

If a study recently conducted in Northern California is any indication, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is on the increase. The study found a sharp rise in cases of ulcerative colitis in children, with rates increasing nearly three-fold in the ten … Continue reading

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Infection-fighting oral bug may point to new medical frontier

A common bacterium found in the mouths of 1 in 20 healthy individuals may offer probiotic potential against upper respiratory tract infections. In a recent study, two strains of Streptococcus salivarius were found to be able to bind to human … Continue reading

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Kefir may help prevent food allergies

Kefir, a mildly alcoholic, fermented milk drink containing a variety of live microorganisms, has been shown to reduce allergic responses in mice. Already popular as a health food in Eastern and Central Europe, kefir is now gaining fans among Western … Continue reading

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Babies need friendly bugs

A baby starts life with a sterile gut but, during birth, it becomes inoculated with bacteria from the birth canal. These bacteria are then encouraged to flourish throughout the gut by colostrum, the mother’s first milk. Unfortunately, modern medicine effectively … Continue reading

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Breast milk probiotic may help ease gut disorders

A specific strain of Lactobacillus reuteri, a probiotic found in breast milk, as well as in the gut of many animals, has been shown to reduce or eliminate painful cramping in sections of small intestine taken from healthy and previously … Continue reading

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Probiotic hope for coeliac disease

This test tube study suggests the possibility that manipulating the balance of intestinal bacteria by taking probiotics – such as bifidobacteria – and prebiotics may improve the quality of life for those with coeliac disease and other autoimmune diseases. For … Continue reading

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Fermented milk may ease chronic gastritis

Probiotics and fermented foods have already been demonstrated to ease diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as IBD, IBS and diarrhoea, but little attention has previously been paid to their potential in preventing and treating diseases of the stomach. … Continue reading

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Getting real about antibiotics

While taking an antibiotic can, in some circumstances, be a life-saving intervention, it will also inevitably lay waste vast numbers of indigenous intestinal microorganisms – a loss from which we may only slowly, and possibly never completely recover, as less … Continue reading

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