Probiotics

News relating to probiotics and the probiotic industry.

April 29 2021

Leaky Gut? Here Are The Probiotics For You

A woman smiling after her mouth sore was treated.

Published April 28th, 2021

Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS) is often an unrecognizable condition for healthcare professionals. Since there is no clear answer as to whether a leaky gut is a symptom or a cause for diseases, there is no standard treatment for it.

However, there are many ways you can improve your gut health and lessen the symptoms. This article will elaborate more on how taking probiotics can help you and the best probiotic for leaky gut syndromes.

What Is A Leaky Gut?

Leaky Gut Syndrome, or what is simply known as a leaky gut, is a health condition that directly affects the inner linings of your intestines. Let’s break down the different areas in your body that contribute to developing a leaky gut.

The GI or the gastrointestinal tract is a tube containing different organs that run from your mouth to your anus. The GI consists of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. A leaky gut primarily affects your digestive health. The digestive enzymes in your stomach and small intestines are in charge of breaking down the nutrients in the food you consume for energy, growth, and repair. Your intestines are also in charge of fighting off any bad bacteria and toxins from entering your body.

The compact gaps in the walls of your intestines enable water to pass through the bloodstream without letting toxic substances pass through. Once you develop a leaky gut, these gaps become more prominent, making it easier for the harmful substances to enter your bloodstream. Once inside, you may experience immune system responses leading to digestive issues, fatigue, joint pain, food sensitivities, and allergies. Not to mention, your intestines contain several beneficial bacteria known as gut microbiota that protect your intestine wall, digestion and support normal immune function.

What Causes Leaky Guts and Who Has It?

There are many possible reasons you may acquire disruption in your gut microbiota. So far, experts and professionals have yet to find out what exactly is the cause for leaky gut syndromes. The symptoms of an LGS share many similarities to other health conditions, making it difficult for doctors to determine what the diagnosis is.

The symptoms include:

Chronic diarrhea or constipation
Nutritional deficiencies
Fatigue
Headaches
Confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Skin problems (acne and eczema)
Joint pain
Widespread inflammation

You may have a leaky gut due to:

Having poor nutrition
Alcohol consumption
Pathogenic infections
Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, diabetes
Stress
Prescription medication use (Antibiotic, etc.)

There are also numerous health conditions and diseases that experts associate with a leaky gut. If you acquire either one of these diseases, the chances are that you will develop a leaky gut syndrome.

These health conditions could be:

General digestive symptoms (Bloating, diarrhea, gut pain, or constipation)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS
Autoimmune diseases (Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 1 Diabetes)
Celiac disease
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Chronic liver disease
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A person putting their hands over their stomach.

Probiotics To Heal Leaky Gut

Over the years, results from several clinical research done by scientists and professionals prove that a specific dose of probiotics can help heal your leaky gut.

One specific study on placebo-controlled trials was conducted to test the positive effects of probiotics in treating symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome. The study results reveal that the intestinal permeability of individuals with consistent intake of probiotics became significantly lower after a 14-week course of treatment.
Another study that specifically made use of oral spore-based probiotic species also showed a decrease in intestinal markers for permeability after consuming the probiotics.

As time passes by, many researchers, healthcare experts, and scientists continue to prove how well probiotics work in reducing intestinal permeability from having a leaky gut. Now, let’s discuss briefly what probiotics do to reduce leaky guts.

Probiotics work well in assisting the secretion of inflammatory mediators. Think of it as a calming agent that prevents your digestive system from wreaking havoc during secretion. They can also act as gatekeepers of your gut as they are in charge of controlling what passes into your bloodstream and what doesn’t. These good bacteria can also eliminate any bad bacteria and yeast with plans of lingering in your system. Since a leaky gut can result from poor nutrition, probiotics help break down food and turn them into nutrients that your body needs.

The Right Probiotics for Leaky Gut

You can take probiotics in more than one way. There is a leaky gut diet you should try with a wide variety of food containing quality probiotics. These include Kombucha drinks, fermented vegetables, kimchi, yogurt, pickles, Kvass, and Kefir.

Probiotic food is beneficial for your body as it is packed with a billion CFUs. Also, they are unlike other medicines and consumable products as they are better-tasting than other forms of treatment. It is easy to enjoy food with a high amount of probiotics as you can think of them as snacks rather than medicine for your symptoms. There are three types of probiotics that work well in treating leaky gut syndrome:

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Blends

Lacto-Bifido blends are a high-potency, hypoallergenic formula that consists of 12 different probiotic species. This blend helps support a healthy inflammatory response, healthy and balanced microbiota, and exerts anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, and anti-biofilm activity.

Saccharomyces Boulardii

This non-pathogenic, transient probiotic is excellent at increasing the activities of intestinal brush border enzymes. This probiotic supplement increases stool concentrations that can nourish mucosal cells.

Bacillus Coagulans and Bacillus Subtilis

The hypoallergenic blend of Bacillus Coagulans and Bacillus Subtilis species offers unique support for healthy GI and immune function probiotics. Professionals highly recommend taking this probiotic supplement as a support for healthy and stimulated microbiota.

Other Options As Leaky Gut Support

Probiotics are not the only gut healing solution. There are many other supplements you can consider taking to help alleviate the symptoms. These alternatives include:

L-glutamine – It can help repair the intestinal lining, decrease intestinal permeability, and reduce inflammation go faster.
Vitamin D – Having low Vitamin D levels is proven to cause increased intestinal permeability.
DGL or Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice – DGL or Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice can help soothe the irritated inner linings of your gut, which can help lessen its permeability.

When you combine DGL with L-glutamine, it can heal your gut as they work excellently in reducing intestinal permeability.

Taking care of your internal organs is just as important as taking care of any part of your body. Although Leaky Gut Syndrome has yet to be taken as seriously as other alarming health conditions, there is no reason for you to take it lightly. Having a leaky gut can lead to several health conditions and diseases that can be hard to manage once you acquire them. You must always be cautious with the foods you eat and keep in mind the different risk factors that come with not taking care of your body.

Finding the best probiotic for leaky gut syndromes is not easy as not all people have the same reaction to particular food and supplements. Some people may be allergic to what works best for others and vice versa. If you are not sure how to treat your symptoms and what food is ideal for you, you can quickly consult a healthcare professional to ensure that you are making the right decisions for your body and not putting your health at any more risks.

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied and considered among the best probiotics according to science. Give Bionaze a try and find out if it’s right for you. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

As a professional writer at many renowned websites Krizzia Paolyn has covered a wide range of topics in many industries. Her knack for uncovering important truths and conducting thorough research on each topic she writes about has helped thousands of people across the world.

April 14 2021

Probiotics vs. Antibiotics; Which One Should You Take?

Publisher Health, Probiotics, Supplements

Published April 14th, 2021

Probiotics vs. antibiotics, this sounds awfully like some villain versus hero scenario. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Probiotics and antibiotics both have critical roles when it comes to our health.

You see, within our body resides tens of trillions of bacteria, both good and bad. Most of these microorganisms reside in our guts and make up what is called our body’s microbiome. According to an article from Harvard, the bacteria in our microbiome helps:

stimulate the immune system
break down potentially toxic food compounds
synthesize certain vitamins and amino acids

If your microbiome is healthy, then you can easily fight off common diseases. And both antibiotics and probiotics can help keep your microbiome functioning as it should.

So which one should you take?

It’s not actually a question of choosing between probiotics and antibiotics. They benefit our bodies in different ways and most of the time, they complement each other.

So the more appropriate question would be when to take them. To answer that, you need to know how they work and how they differ from each other.

The Difference Between Probiotics and Antibiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria or yeast that are good for you. Though they have lots of health benefits, they are mainly used to aid digestion and promote overall gut health.

When you take probiotics, they repopulate the “good” bacteria found in your microbiome. This, in turn, helps keep the bad ones in check and prevents various kinds of illnesses.

Antibiotics, on the other hand, do the opposite. Taking antibiotics can kill the harmful bacteria in your body, which could otherwise cause infection. That’s why they’re often prescribed for illnesses caused by bacterial infection.

But the problem with antibiotics is they tend to wipe out all types of bacteria, including the good ones. This is why a course of antibiotics often leaves your microbiome in disarray.

When Do You Need Antibiotics?

You already know that there are many different types of bacteria living in our bodies. Most of them are harmless, but some of them can make you sick. The immune system can fight off most of the harmful bacteria. But it can get problematic when there are too many of them. This exact situation is when antibiotics come in handy.

Antibiotics, according to WebMD, “are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria”. They work by killing the bacteria and stifling their reproduction. Taking antibiotics helps prevent bacterial infection that causes diseases such as:

ear and sinus infections
skin infections
gum infections
strep throat
bladder and kidney infections

In some countries, you can still buy antibiotics over the counter but it’s not recommended. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health today. This is largely due to the misuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals. So before taking antibiotics, make sure to consult your doctor first.

Antibtiotics vs probiotics, which is better?

When Should You Take Probiotics?

Though antibiotics are undoubtedly beneficial, they can also cause several unwanted side effects. As mentioned, antibiotics not only get rid of the harmful bacteria but the good ones too. This throws off the balance in our microbiome resulting in:

nausea
vomiting
antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD)
bloating
loss of appetite
stomach pains

In some cases, a course of antibiotics can also cause people to develop fungal infections in the:

mouth
throat
vagina

Because of this, many experts recommend taking probiotics after antibiotics. Remember that probiotics introduce good bacteria to our microbiome and promote their reproduction.

A dose of probiotics will help replenish the good bacteria lost during your antibiotic therapy. This, in turn, helps you avoid the nasty side effects of antibiotics.

You can buy over-the-counter probiotic supplements, but you can also find them in food. The most popular probiotic-rich foods are:

sauerkraut
yogurt
kimchi
kombucha
tempeh

Can Probiotics Be Used to Fight Infection?

In a way, probiotics can help fight infection. But not in the same way as antibiotics.

While antibiotics kill off the bacteria that are causing the infection, probiotics equip your body to fight these harmful bacteria.

According to Harvard Health, probiotics have been shown to secrete protective substances. These substances help boost your immune system preventing pathogens from taking over and causing various diseases.

But as to whether you should take it to fight infection, the scientific evidence remains inconclusive.

One article from the journal Cell found that probiotics delay the microbiome’s return to normalcy.

In their study, they conducted tests on both humans and mice. Both groups took antibiotics at the start. One group was then given probiotic supplements while the other was given placebos. The group that took the placebos returned to normalcy after three weeks. The other group did show growth in helpful bacteria but returned to normalcy much later.

In contrast, an article from the JAMA network concluded that probiotics aided AAD. The researchers conducted a literature review of probiotics and their effects on AAD. Their study found a positive correlation between probiotics being able to aid AAD. They also found no significant difference in the impact between different age groups.

Can You Take Probiotics and Antibiotics at The Same Time?

Technically, you can. But you’ll just be wasting your probiotics. Remember that probiotics are a type of bacteria. And antibiotics tend to wipe off all bacteria, regardless if they’re harmful or beneficial.

So if you’ll take them at the same time, the antibiotics will most likely end up killing the probiotics.

Overall, probiotics and antibiotics can aid our bodies in their own ways. However, it would be best to consult a physician before taking any of them.

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied in the scientific community. Give Bionaze a try and find out why it’s one of the best probiotics you can buy. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

Judy Ponio is a firm believer in the health benefits of probiotics and she wants to share that with the world. She also loves to write about healthy foods and other healthy living tips.

A woman smelling her breath after using dental probiotics.

March 11 2021

Are There Probiotics for Dental Issues And Bad Breath?

Judy Ponio Probiotics

Published March 11, 2021

It’s not typically the best trait, but we all have to admit that at some point, we’ve had bad breath. No matter how well you brush your teeth, how expensive your toothpaste/mouthwash is, or how thorough you floss, you can never really maintain good-smelling breath forever. For Halitosis, also known as chronic bad breath, the breath’s fouls smell is not something mouthwash or high-end toothpaste can fix. Dental probiotics, however, offer a possible treatment for such conditions.

Dental Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria that maintain your body’s well-being by eliminating the bad bacteria in your body. They are what we call ‘good’ bacteria as it benefits your health in several ways. These ‘goog’ bacteria are usually found in fermented foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut. Also, probiotics influence good bacteria to grow and spread in your body. Our mouths contain both good and bad bacteria, which is a possible factor that leads to bad breath.

The foul smell of breath due to Halitosis comes from bacteria located on the tongue and underneath the gums as they produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). The VSC is what gives off a smell similar to rotten eggs or cabbage. Mouth-freshening methods like mints, mouthwash, and flossing can provide fresh breath for a short period of time before bacteria start to form again.

Studies from the University of Connecticut have proven that the most effective way to eliminate bad breath is to let good bacteria invade the mouth to fight off any bad bacteria. The use of Streptococcus salivarius strain K12 in the study was revealed to reduce the growth of bacteria in the mouth that causes halitosis. After a week of using K12 probiotic lozenges, the test subjects’ VSC percentage was relatively lower by 85%. In addition, the K12 probiotic capsules reduced symptoms of gingivitis, pharyngitis, oral candidiasis, and dental decay.

A photo of a paper with the words probiotics.

Immediate Care

If you wish to address the foul smell in your breath from eating fish, onions, etc., you can opt for using mouthwash, brushing your teeth thoroughly, or chewing mint-flavored gum. On the other hand, probiotics are suitable for more severe and long-lasting bad breath cases, such as halitosis. These probiotics can be taken through consuming chewable tablets or probiotic drinks, lozenges, and brushing your teeth with specific toothpaste made with oral probiotics.

Conclusion

Halitosis can be easy to treat, so do not feel too bad for having long-term bad breath. Simple probiotics and good oral hygiene can prevent your breath from getting worse. If your dental situation continues to be a concern after trying different treatments, make sure to consult with a dentist or an expert on dental health care. The chances are that your case is much more severe than chronic bad breath. These cases include periodontal diseases, sinus issues, or gastrointestinal disease.

Curious About Bionaze?

About The Author

Gluten free handwritten on a chalk board surrounded by ingredients

October 1 2020

5 Certified Gluten Free Probiotics For Celiac Patients

Publisher Probiotics

Published Oct 1, 2020

Digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be a major pain in the butt – err, I mean gut. These problems force you to make uncomfortable lifestyle changes, forcing you to live a certain way. But all isn’t lost.

Numerous studies have been exploring the benefits of probiotics on digestive health and wellness. While experts still do not know precisely how probiotics, here’s a look at how they may benefit us, our digestive health, and what that means for celiac patients.

How Probiotics Benefit Us

Our bodies consist of trillions of microorganisms or microbes, outnumbering the number of cells we have in our bodies. Examples of microorganisms familiar to us include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. And while we associate these terms with diseases and other harmful conditions, they may actually benefit us in a lot of ways.

Besides harmful bacteria, our bodies have good bacteria, which essentially are what probiotics are. These bacteria that reside within our bodies mainly populate the digestive tract, aiding digestion. Researchers are still trying to figure out the exact science behind probiotics, but they believe it has something to do with the balance of bacteria. Maintaining this balance between both good and bad bacteria is crucial in keeping our digestive systems healthy.

But from where can we get these good bacteria? Probiotics are naturally occurring in a lot of the food around us. This is especially the case with fermented foods, as the fermentation process creates an ideal environment in which the bacteria can thrive. Some examples of probiotic-rich food include yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi. However, some people opt to get their probiotics through supplements, which has become a rapidly growing industry in recent years.

The concern for celiac patients is whether these supplements are safe for consumption. Gluten content remains a safety concern with these supplements, as many are sold as dietary supplements. In effect, they aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While most probiotic supplements are gluten-free, you can’t guarantee that all of them are. And this is problematic for celiacs, as gluten can trigger unwanted and uncomfortable symptoms, such as diarrhea and bloating.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with a list of five probiotic supplements certified to be gluten-free. Without further ado, let’s get to the list.

Woman holding bowel with variety of healthy fresh and gluten free probiotics for celiac patients

5 Probiotic Supplements Certified as Gluten-Free

Align Probiotics Supplement

Align is a probiotic supplement produced by Procter and Gamble. It comes in five different products in:

24/7 Digestive Support
5x Extra Strength^
Restorative Sleep
Digestive De-stress
Resistance Formula

Align is scientifically tested and is gluten-free. Its products come in both capsule and gummy form and come in a variety of different flavors for you to enjoy. Their products contain a specific strain of Bifidobacterium called Bifidobacterium 35624™, of which they own the rights. Bifidobacteria have been closely studied with celiac patients, so their products could prove very useful. It does not require refrigeration and has an average shelf-life of up to 24 months. Interestingly, the company claims that Align has been featured in more than 50 abstracts and publications, which is quite impressive. Their line of products is not only gluten-free but also soy-free and vegetarian.

BioSchwartz Extra Strength Probiotics

Schwartz Bioresearch Probiotic 40 Billion CFU combines a blend of all-natural ingredients with a protective casing that can withstand harsh stomach acids, ensuring the probiotics make it to the intestinal tract. They market their probiotics as being ten times more potent than any of their competitor’s products. It has a blend of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli strains with up to 40 billion colony forming units (CFUs). Their products are both vegetarian and gluten-free, guaranteeing no lactose, soy, wheat, nuts, iron, sugar, chemicals, and artificial colors.

Physician’s Choice Probiotic 60 Billion CFU

Physician’s Choice Probiotic 60 Billion CFU is yet another fantastic gluten-free probiotic supplement. It comes packed with ten different strains of probiotics to diversify your gut microbiome. Physician’s choice probiotics pride themselves on their DRcaps or “delayed-release capsules,” which ensure that the probiotics reach their desired destination.

Garden of Life Probiotics

Garden of Life is one of the most well-respected and well-recognized supplement companies out there. This may be due to its focus on quality and its wide range of certifications. Garden of Life’s products are gluten-free certified by NSF International and the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). Rest assured, their products have gone through the necessary tests and certifications. They have three main probiotic lines, namely, Dr. Formulated, RAW Probiotics, and Primal Defense. Each of them comes with unique features, formulated to match every individual’s specific needs.

Nature’s Bounty Probiotics

Nature’s Bounty is one of the brands under Nature’s Bounty Co., which features some household names in health supplements. At Nature’s Bounty, they carry a wide variety of probiotic supplements to suit your dietary needs. They also offer the incredibly delicious Nature’s Bounty Probiotic Gummies, flavored with natural fruit flavors. Their different probiotic products also include Acidoliphus, Acidoliphus Probiotic, Controlled Delivery Probiotic, Probiotic 10, Probiotic CD, and Probiotic GX.

What benefits do gluten-free probiotics provide?

Aids digestion
Helps with irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut
Reduces diarrhea
Boosts the immune system
Boosts energy levels
Supports metabolism
Reduces inflammatory reaction to food allergies
Supports skin health, combatting eczema
Supports nutrient absorption
Better vaginal health
Improved overall health
Boosts mood and mental health

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied in the scientific community. Give Bionaze a try and find out why it’s one of the best probiotics you can buy. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

Terrence Tan Ting is an industrial engineer by profession but a full time writer by passion. He loves to write about a wide range of topics from many different industries thanks to his undying curiosity.

How to replenish good bacteria after antibiotics.

July 30 2020

The Best Ways to Replenish Good Bacteria After Antibiotics

Publisher Health, Probiotics

Published July 31st, 2020

Prevention is always better than cure. That’s an age-old saying when it comes to our health. However, sometimes life blindsides us, and we fall to sickness. When that happens, we’re often left with the undesirable task of taking medicine just to get better. Some of these sicknesses can be more malignant than the common cold or flu and require us to take more potent medication.

One of these medications is antibiotics. The first-ever known antibiotic is penicillin, which was discovered by Alexander Fleming in the year 1928. Antibiotics play a crucial role in modern medicine. They consist of a range of powerful drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria. How they work is they eliminate bacteria and stop them from reproducing.

That’s great and all, but in doing so, they eliminate the beneficial bacteria that reside in our bodies as well. Our bodies have what is called the “microbiome,” the collection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa within it. While these terms are associated with being dangerous, that’s not always the case. In fact, our bodies need specific bacteria to maintain healthy immune and digestive systems. Consistently taking antibiotics has been shown to cause some digestive issues like leaky gut.

It is worth noting that, for many, their gut microbiota should generally recover within a few months. Researchers conducted a study on twelve healthy men, making them take a cocktail of antibiotics over a 4-day intervention period. This study lasted six months, but only 1.5 months after the intervention, the subjects’ microbiota returned to normal. However, nine common strains of bacteria present before the study were nowhere to be found following the 6-month study.

This brings us to our main topic: What are the best ways to replenish the good bacteria we lose after taking antibiotics?

Take probiotics.

This method is a bit controversial. While it would make logical sense that you combat losing bacteria by intaking more bacteria, that’s not necessarily the case. One study showed that taking probiotics had a positive effect on C. difficile infections, while another showed the same for antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). The main limitation is that specific probiotic strains should be further studied for their efficacy on antibiotic-related diseases.

However, a systematic literature review showed that the strain L. Rhamnosus came up the most times in previous studies and showed significant effects in reducing AAD.

You’ll want to eat and drink probiotic-rich food and drinks. These include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha.

Since antibiotics may kill off bacteria from probiotics, you’ll want to space the time you take each of these. A rule of thumb is to take probiotics at least 2 hours before or after taking antibiotics to keep its benefits.

Feed the bacteria in your body with prebiotics.

While probiotics repopulate your body with the good bacteria you need, they’ll need food to thrive and reproduce.

Prebiotics are the group of nutrients that your gut microbiota degrade. Our digestive system cannot break down prebiotics, so they make their way through most of our intestinal tract. They make it to the part of the colon where most of the good bacteria reside, by whom they will be degraded.

According to Healthline, the following are some examples of prebiotic-rich foods:

Garlic
Onion
Leeks
Bananas
Asparagus
Barley
Oats
Apples

A guide on how to replenish good bacteria after antibiotics.

Diversify your microbiome.

What you put into your body has a massive effect on how your digestive system functions. Research shows that the diet you maintain easily influences your gut microbiome.

But why should we diversify our microbiome? To put the long story short, it’s incredibly beneficial, keeping us safe from infections. A diverse gut microbiome produces antimicrobial compounds that defend us from “bad” bacteria. Additionally, the gut microbiota take up the real estate that harmful bacteria may otherwise have. In that way, they essentially kick them out.

We can most easily diversify our gut microbiome by eating a high-fiber diet. Studies show that Western diets are severely lacking in fiber. The results showed less diverse microbiomes in those who kept this kind of diet. Another study compounds this idea, experimenting with how diet affected microbiome on test mice. One group was fed with a high-fiber diet, and the other with a sugary Western diet. The results were similar to the former research piece, showing a much more diverse microbiome in the high-fiber group.

These are some high-fiber foods you’ll want to include in your diet:

Avocado
Raspberries
Artichoke
Lentils
Kidney Beans
Split Beans
Chickpeas
Oats
Popcorn
Almonds
Chia Seeds

Stress is the enemy.

As we know, stress is pretty meddlesome for our mental health, but did you know it affects our gut health too? Our gastrointestinal tracts are reactive to our emotions. It can reduce our nutrient absorption, make us gassier, and allow harmful bacteria to enter the system.

Military personnel are heavily exposed to stress regularly. So, it is no surprise that many retired professionals in that field report having multiple health complications post-career. A large part of these health-related issues is strongly linked to gastrointestinal health.

The worst part about this interaction between stress and our gut health is that it’s mutual. When our stress is high, our gut health is weak, and when our gut health is weak, it can lead to stress and anxiety. Our bodies are a bit masochistic, aren’t they?

Move thy butt.

When I say this, I mean exercise. Low-intensity exercise seems to have a protective effect on our gut health. A rich collection of related literature backs this claim, highlighting the benefits of exercise. Its benefits include diversifying our microbiome, proliferation of bacteria, and the production of bacteria that defend against serious illnesses.

Get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep has long been linked with immune system functions. Insufficient sleep often leads to diseases because of your body’s reduced responsiveness to invaders. Previous research has shown that lack of sleep leads to both short-term and long-term adverse health effects.

It comes as no surprise that sleep affects our microbiomes too. A study conducted on mice showed that sleep fragmentation has a small yet significant effect on gut microbiota.

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied in the scientific community. Give Bionaze a try and find out why it’s one of the best probiotics you can buy. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

July 17 2020

Why You Need To Eat More Cottage Cheese

Publisher Health, Nutrition, Probiotics

Published July 17th, 2020

Cottage cheese is not like most cheeses that you know, like American cheese. It’s not aged, it’s a little wet, resembling yogurt more than cheese. But it’s become quite popular lately, especially in celebrity diets.

Harley Pasternak, a celebrity trainer who trains Rihanna, Lady Gaga, took a snapshot of his healthy breakfast, which included this cheese. So, what is it exactly?

Cottage cheese is a soft, creamy, and milky cheese. Unlike most cheeses, it does not undergo an aging or ripening process. This results in a milder, lighter flavor than say, gouda, or parmesan.

How it’s made

Cottage cheese is made from the curds of whole milk, typically cow’s milk. This process starts with heating milk, then adding a curdling agent. The most recommended curdling agent is rennet, as it’s known for its role in traditional cheese making. You then cook the milk until it becomes set.

Once the milk curdles, the solid casein separates from the liquid, which we know as whey. You’ll want to drain this, and what you’re left with is good old cottage cheese, white gold.

Why should I eat more cottage cheese?

Cottage cheese is rich in many different nutrients.

The nutritional contents of cottage cheese vary with the fat content of the milk used. One cup (226 g) of cottage cheese made with low-fat milk (1%), provides the following:

Calories: 163
Protein: 28 grams
Carbs: 6.15 grams
Fat: 2.3 grams
Calcium: 138 mg (11% of Reference Daily Intake)
Phosphorus: 303 mg (24% of RDI)
Vitamin B12: 1.42 µg (59% of RDI)
Selenium: 20.3 µg (37% of RDI)
Sodium: 918 mg (30% of RDI)
Riboflavin: 0.373 mg (29% of RDI)

The one knock on cottage cheese is that it is particularly high in sodium (about 30% of RDI). For that, you might want to opt for a low-sodium option. As with most cheeses, it also contains lactose, to which many people are intolerant.

Cottage cheese is known for being high in proteins while being relatively low in calories. These make it particularly popular among gym-goers as a post-workout snack.

Does cottage cheese really have probiotics

It can be packed with probiotics.

When I say that it can be packed, I mean that not all cottage cheeses contain probiotics. Some brands like Good Culture specifically feature these to provide live and active cultures. You should check the label out for its ingredients before buying.

But why should I care about probiotics? Probiotics are the “good bacteria” that make up our microbiome. Probiotics can inhabit many parts of your body but mainly populate the gut. These good bacteria work to maintain our gut health by fighting off harmful bacteria and helping us absorb nutrients better. Furthermore, they aid digestion and help fight bowel-related problems like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

Gut health is immensely important to our overall health, so we should treat it with the utmost care. We can do this by eating healthy food rich in probiotics and eliminating stress.

It can help with weight loss.

Studies show that cottage cheese has a positive impact on weight loss. In this study, researchers took 30 men and women who were intent on losing weight. After the one-year dietotherapy, all subjects showed a significant decrease in weight, all while showing increased cottage cheese consumption, among other food.

But how exactly does cottage cheese help with weight loss? I mentioned earlier how packed it is in protein. Since foods high in protein digest slowly, you’ll feel full longer, lowering tendencies to overeat. Because of its nutritional benefits, some people have gone as far as to eat cottage cheese alone!

Cottage cheese is delicious.

This last point is a little more debatable. Apart from its tangy and mild hints, some people cannot get past its curdy texture. In short, it isn’t for everyone. But it’s being used widely in many different recipes, sweet and savory.

The taste profile of cottage cheese isn’t too overpowering or overwhelming, which gives it its place in pancakes to frittatas. Here are some awesome recipe ideas for you to try out.

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied in the scientific community. Give Bionaze a try and find out why it’s one of the best probiotics you can buy. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

July 2 2020

Why IBS Patients Need to Eat Sourdough Bread

Publisher Health, Natural Remedies, Probiotics

Published July 2nd, 2020

The term “irritable bowel” is said to have been coined sometime in the 1950s. They used the term to categorize people who developed diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.

Since then, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been the source of discomfort for millions of people. In America, IBS affects anywhere between 15 to 25 million people. Worldwide, about 10-15% of people have IBS. Additionally, it afflicts women twice as frequently as men.

IBS is particularly frustrating because there isn’t really a cure for it. It’s not something you can just get rid of, but rather it sticks with you. This disorder can force you to make many difficult adjustments in your daily life.

But it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.

In this article, I’ll talk in detail about sourdough bread, its nutritional facts, and what it can do for you. But before we get that bread (literally), let’s talk about IBS.

What is IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that generally affects your large intestine. It presents itself as abdominal discomfort and bowel trouble. The common symptoms of IBS are the following:

Abdominal discomfort
Diarrhea
Constipation (sometimes alternating with diarrhea)
Cramping
Bloating
Excess gas

Symptoms of bloating and excess gas seem to subside after a bowel movement. It is worth noting that only a few people show severe signs of IBS; the rest are reasonably manageable.

There isn’t one definitive cause for IBS.

The symptoms can be attributed to how the brain, the gut, and the nervous system interact with one another. Poorly coordinated signals between them cause the organs to overreact to certain stimuli.

Others attribute IBS to gastroenteritis. Up to 50% of visits to gastroenterologists are because of IBS symptoms.

Another possible cause is a change in bacteria, especially in the gut (microbiota). Microbiota are the bacteria that reside in our bodies, the majority of which inhabit the intestines. It is said that the microbiota in people with healthy guts are quite different from those with IBS.

A couple of things can also trigger the symptoms of IBS. These include food, stress, and hormones.

Certain foods that contain dairy, caffeine, and indigestible sugars can cause symptoms of IBS to arise. The effects of food can differ from person to person, so you should keep notes for yourself.
Stress and anxiety are linked to IBS symptoms, as mental health can easily affect physical health.
Hormones are also a possible trigger for these symptoms. Hormones in women are more likely to fluctuate due to menstruation and pregnancy, making them more prone to IBS.

You should know that only medical professionals can diagnose you with IBS.

How do you calm IBS?

Living with IBS can get tough, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Since it’s an incurable disorder, the best thing you can do is to manage it. Managing it means making some lifestyle and dietary changes that can alleviate or prevent symptoms.

Lifestyle Changes

The most basic lifestyle change you can make is increasing your physical activity. Exercise can provide relief for IBS symptoms since regular physical activity is linked with improved bowel movement. It also increases serotonin levels in your brain, which reduces stress and makes you feel better overall.

A research study found that you should participate in at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise three to five times a week. Doing this will significantly improve IBS symptoms like abdominal pain and bowel problems.

Dietary changes

Dietary changes also significantly impact your IBS symptoms. Many different foods and drinks can aggravate your IBS, such as:

dairy
high-fat foods
gluten
alcohol
caffeine
artificial sweeteners
beans and other gas-causing foods

Fiber is highly recommended for those with IBS. Fiber is extremely beneficial when it comes to bowel health. Its significant benefits include relieving constipation and preventing hemorrhoids.

The next recommendation is to keep a diet with low-FODMAP levels. What is FODMAP, you ask? FODMAP stands for “fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols.” They are types of carbohydrates that you can find in several foods, such as beans and wheat. What makes them bad for you is that these particular carbs are highly resistant to digestion.

Several studies support its efficacy in alleviating abdominal symptoms in adults. However, taking a low-FODMAP diet doesn’t come without risks, so you should talk to a licensed dietician for the best results.

So, why sourdough?

How healthy is sourdough?

Before we get to why sourdough is good for IBS, we have to look at how it’s made; this is an integral part of why sourdough is beneficial for those with IBS.

Sourdough bread is made from a natural yeast starter. This natural yeast starter is nothing more than some flour and water. The secret to making sourdough is to let this mixture sit out and breathe, feeding it often. Feeding it means adding a little flour and water, which should allow your starter to grow.

This long fermentation process allows it to breakdown the gluten proteins in the dough. This reduces the FODMAP levels by up to 90%, whereas other commercial breads have much higher levels. When made with wheat or spelt flour, sourdough can be a low FODMAP bread.

Fermentation also increases the lactic acid present in the bread, which lowers the bread’s pH. The lower pH level degrades phytates, which are antinutrients that reduce mineral absorption. Fermentation pre-digests the carbohydrates, which make this bread easily digestible for you!

It is also said to be rich in probiotics. Researchers conducted a study that showed the in vitro effects of sourdough bread. It was shown to increase levels of bifidobacteria, which is effective against IBS.

Here’s a useful guide in making sourdough bread.

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied in the scientific community. Give Bionaze a try and find out why it’s one of the best probiotics you can buy. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

June 18 2020

Does Cooking Sauerkraut Kill The Probiotics?

Publisher Health, Probiotics

Published June 18th, 2020

So, you want to cook with probiotic-rich food? And you’re wondering whether cooking them kills the nutrients in them? Well, we’re here to answer some of those questions.

First off, what are probiotics?

Probiotics are live “good” and “helpful” bacteria. Their benefits on your digestive and overall health are almost too good to be true. How they work exactly is still a matter of research. You can find these probiotics mostly in fermented foods and sometimes supplements.

Probiotic-rich foods have been increasing in popularity over the years. Some notable examples of these are sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt.

It’s no doubt that these foods taste fantastic on their own. But people like to try new things, so they add them to elevate their dishes. Because of that, many have raised their concern over the live bacteria.

So, does cooking sauerkraut (and other probiotic-rich food) kill the probiotics in it?

Not exactly.

A research piece suggests you’d need to reach a temperature of 115°F or 46°C to kill that bacteria.

This information presents two options for you. First, you could cook them at a very low temperature the whole time. Second, you could finish cooking your dish and then top with the probiotic-rich food. These two options will help keep most of the probiotics in the food you cook.

But does that mean heat-killed probiotics lose their health benefits?

Not exactly either.

Research suggests that heat-killed bacteria contain immunomodulating agents. To put it simply, you can still gain health benefits from them! Some of these benefits include anti-inflammatory responses and restoration of normal intestinal functions.

So, next time you want to make that kimchi stew or mix some yogurt in your curry, you should do it. While nutrition is of utmost importance, you should also enjoy the taste of your dishes. If trying different preparations does that for you, then by all means.

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied in the scientific community. Give Bionaze a try and find out why it’s one of the best probiotics you can buy. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

June 18 2020

The Best Probiotics for Bacterial Vaginosis

Publisher Health, Probiotics

Published June 18th, 2020

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common genital infection that affects women. It’s associated with the overgrowth of certain bacteria which causes an imbalance in the vagina.

When we say “imbalance”, we refer to the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria. You may not know it but your vagina is home to over 250 different species of bacteria. An overgrowth of harmful organisms can increase the acidity level in your vagina. This leads to various symptoms such as:

foul-smelling vaginal odor
grey, green or white vaginal discharge
itching
discomfort during urination

Though women can catch it at any point in their lives, they tend to be more at risk during their reproductive years. According to the CDC, it commonly affects women aged 15 to 44.

Causes of BV

Though the exact causes of BV remain unclear, it’s traditionally associated with Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella. When either of these two bacteria outnumbers lactobacilli (the good bacteria naturally found in your vagina), BV occurs.

This imbalance is usually triggered or heightened if a woman:

engages in unprotected sex
is menstruating
has new or multiple sex partners
is experiencing hormonal changes

Douching the vagina with soap and water can also increase the risk of BV. Your vagina is capable of cleaning itself. Harsh chemicals in the soap can kill the good bacteria and upset the balance of microorganisms living there.

How Probiotics Can Help

Since BV is caused by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, many are convinced that probiotics can help prevent it.

If you’re still not familiar with probiotics, they are what we call “good bacteria”. They, together with the harmful microorganisms comprise our body’s bacterial population (microbiota). When there are less good bacteria, the bad ones will flourish. This will create an imbalance in your microbiota which can lead to various illnesses including BV.

Probiotics can help restore a healthy balance of microorganisms in your vagina. This will help keep the harmful bacteria in check and thus reduce infections.

A randomized controlled trial in China found that probiotics help reduce the recurrence rate of BV in women. This is supported by a study conducted in 2013. It showed that women who take antibiotics together with probiotics have lower recurrence rates than those taking antibiotics alone. No adverse effects were reported in both studies.

Despite these, the results remain inconclusive. There are not yet enough studies to prove that probiotics can effectively treat BV. Thus, experts recommend exercising caution when taking probiotics claiming to be effective against BV.

Best Probiotic Strains for BV

Unlike your gut, there are only a select group of bacteria that are native to your vagina. Taking probiotics that do not contain strains naturally present in your genital area may do more harm than good.

Here are some of the probiotic strains that experts believe will help fight BV:

1. Lactobacillus rhamnosus

A clinical trial in 2009 was conducted to test the effects of L. rhamnosus on women with BV. The participants received long-term probiotic treatment. After 12 months, a significant reduction of vaginal PH was documented among the participants. A further reduction was reported after 24 months.

2. Lactobacillus gasseri

In 2015, 40 Scandinavian women who are suffering from BV participated in a clinical trial. The trial was divided into two phases. The first one administered a short term (5 days) dosage of probiotics with L. gasseri together with antibiotics to the women.

The second trial grouped the participants into three:

women receiving antibiotics and probiotics for four months
women receiving antifungal tablet and probiotics for an extended period
women receiving purely antifungal tablets

Results showed that women receiving antifungal tablets together with probiotics for an extended period have higher cure rates than other groups. This suggests that supplementing L. gasseri probiotics to antifungal tablets enhances its effectivity.

For continued reading on this topic check out the best probiotics according to science.

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied in the scientific community. Give Bionaze a try and find out why it’s one of the best probiotics you can buy. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

Judy Ponio is a firm believer in the health benefits of probiotics and she wants to share that with the world. She also loves to write about healthy foods and other healthy living tips.

May 14 2020

When is the Best Time to Take Probiotics?

Publisher Probiotics

Published January 7, 2022

They say that there’s a time for everything. Apparently, this also applies to taking probiotics.

Unlike prescription medicines, there are no grave health consequences if you fail to take probiotics at the prescribed time. But taking them at a certain time of the day helps maximize their benefits.

So, when is the best time to take probiotics?

To answer that, we need to understand the science of probiotics.

How Do Probiotics Work?

You may not be aware of it but there are billions of bacteria residing within our bodies. But contrary to popular belief, not all bacteria are bad. Some of them are actually beneficial to our bodies. These “good bacteria” are what we come to know as probiotics.

When there is an imbalance in our body’s bacterial population (microbiome), chaos ensues. The harmful ones will takeover and slowly tear down your immune defenses. So when you come in contact with pathogens, your body won’t be able to fight them. This results in infections and diseases.

Probiotics restore a healthy balance to your microbiome. It replenishes the beneficial bacteria and kicks out the bad ones.

For the past decades, scientists have been eyeing its potential in preventing diseases. Studies have proven that probiotics play a significant role in various bodily functions especially in maintaining a healthy gut.

But aside from improving gut health, probiotics can also help boost your immune system. Various studies have also suggested that it can improve mental, oral, reproductive, and skin health.

The Best Time to Take Probiotics

As mentioned, there really is no standard time of day when it comes to taking a probiotic supplement. But taking them on an empty stomach helps maximize the health benefits of probiotics. To understand why this is so, we first need to understand how stomach acid affects probiotic effectiveness.

You see, for probiotics to be fully effective, they must reach your stomach alive and in large numbers. Think of it as your body’s soldiers. The more there are of them, the better is their fighting chance against the enemy – the bad bacteria.

Unknown to many, your stomach acid not only helps you digest food. It also kills the bacteria that are present in your food. Unfortunately, it also kills beneficial bacteria like probiotics. As a result, much of the live microorganisms that enter your body is wiped out before it reaches your gut.

Thus, to maximize the effects of probiotics, you need to make sure they’ll survive your stomach’s acidic environment. Or at least, a good number of them.

This is why many experts agree that the best time to take probiotics is in the morning, around 15 to 30 minutes before your first meal. Since you just woke up and haven’t eaten for several hours, your digestive system is moving at a slow pace. During this time, your stomach does not produce much acid making it safer for the live microorganisms to pass through. Taking them with water also helps them bypass the stomach acid and make it all the way to your gut.

However, this should not be taken as a sweeping conclusion. Gastric acidity is just one of the many factors that affect probiotic viability. For one, there are some types of probiotic supplements that require refrigeration. If improperly stored, the live microorganisms could die and as such won’t anymore be viable even if you take it right before breakfast.

Some probiotic strains are also much more tolerant of gastric acidity. While some supplements come in enteric-coated packages specially designed to resist the acidic environment in your stomach. In general, the most ideal time to take probiotics depends on the type of probiotics you’re taking.

For instance, live-strain probiotics are usually taken in powder or beverage form. They don’t have any protective coatings which makes them more vulnerable to stomach acid. As such, they will be more effective if taken first thing in the morning or right before bedtime.

But when you’re taking soil-based probiotics, the time of day won’t really matter. As the name implies, soil-based probiotics are microorganisms that are naturally found on soils. You usually get it from raw and fermented fruits and vegetables. Some probiotic supplements are also made of soil-based probiotic strains. Since they usually live in harsh environments, these types of bacteria are usually more resistant to stomach acid. This means they can withstand even high levels of gastric acidity. Though taking them with food increases their chance of survival. So make sure to eat before taking this type of probiotic supplement.

When Timing Doesn’t Matter

As mentioned, there are probiotics that are highly tolerant to stomach acid. As such, it doesn’t matter when you’ll take them as long as you take them regularly.

Enteric-coated and delayed-release probiotics are examples of this. An enteric coating is a type of protective barrier that is specially designed to resist the stomach’s acidic environment. It’s mostly used in tablets, pellets, and capsules.

Some probiotic strains, particularly those belonging to the Lactobacillus species, are also naturally found in the gut. Thus, they are inherently resistant to stomach acid. This is why when taking probiotic strains like the Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04, timing doesn’t matter.

Splitting Up Your Dose

Though probiotics rarely have severe side effects, your body may need time to adjust to it. So if you’re still testing the waters, splitting up your probiotic dose might be a good idea.

For example, if the label recommends taking at least three capsules a day, you can take them at different times of the day. One before breakfast, another after lunch, and the last one before going to bed.

This helps prevent the probiotics from overwhelming your gut. It also allows you to assess your reaction to them as well as determine what time of day it is most effective.

Can You Take Probiotics With Vitamins and Supplements?

Yes, it’s perfectly fine to take probiotics together with your daily vitamins and supplements. So far, there is no evidence that taking probiotics can affect the effectiveness of vitamins and food supplements or vice versa. In fact, scientific evidence suggests that taking probiotics together with vitamin supplements like omega-3 helps may help increase its effectiveness.

Besides, you need to remember that probiotics are microorganisms that help your body absorb nutrients effectively. From that logic, taking them with vitamins and supplements will help your body absorb them more easily thus maximizing their benefits.

Should You Take Probiotics Every Day?

Ideally, you should. As mentioned, probiotics are like your body’s soldiers. The more of them, the better is your body’s chances of beating the harmful bacteria. And to have more of them, you need to keep replenishing them every single day.

If you’re worried about the possible side effects of taking probiotics every day, don’t. Unlike prescription medications, probiotics are naturally found within our bodies. So there is no risk of overdose or any severe side effects. Some people may experience bloating and excess gas but they usually go away after a few days.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the decision of when to take your probiotic supplement ultimately depends on you. Consider the advice above as more of an informed suggestion than a hard and fast rule. If you’ve forgotten to take them before breakfast, you can still take them at any time of the day. But if you want to make the most out of every penny you spend on those probiotics, make sure you take them at the best possible time.

Curious About Bionaze?

Bionaze is a proprietary blend of probiotics proven to help help improve digestion, support your immune system, and promote ear, nose, and throat health. The active ingredients BLIS K12 and BL-04 are well studied in the scientific community. Give Bionaze a try and find out why it’s one of the best probiotics you can buy. Get 10% off when you use code BIONAZE10 to buy Bionaze in our store.

About The Author

Judy Ponio is a firm believer in the health benefits of probiotics and she wants to share that with the world. She also loves to write about healthy foods and other healthy living tips.