Probiotics For Improved Skin
You might wonder how a supplement which is intended to be swallowed and transported to the gut can help with the condition of your skin, but these live bacteria are clever things!
The top layer of your skin is usually made up of dead skin cells, however underneath the top surface there are countless different types of bacteria, some good and some bad, just like in the gut.
Probiotics help to keep the balance between good and bad even, and therefore help to avoid breakouts and help with various skin conditions. When the balance between good and bad is out of whack, you might notice redness, sensitivity, and even acne symptoms.
All that from a supplement, or making sure that you get enough probiotic content in your diet!
Probiotics For Gut Health
Probiotics may be helping for people who suffer with diarrhoea, bloating and constipation, because they can help to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
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Best Probiotics To Increase Your Fertility
In my last article I talked about the best CoQ10 supplements fertility. Another beneficial supplement to increase your fertility is live probiotics. I dont recommend supplementation in women who have been trying to conceive for less than 3 months. However, after 3 months I would consider adding a best probiotic. Probiotics are a safe way to naturally increase your fertility.
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What Does Gut Health Have To Do With Fertility
Your gut does much more than just digest, absorb, and excrete food. Your gut influences the health of every system in your body. Its responsible for the proper function of your immune system, how you think and feels, how you synthesize and excrete hormones, and it influences your fertility too. The bottom line is when your gut isnt functioning properly, other body systems suffer immensely.
That said, if youve been struggling with infertility, understanding and fixing the gut-fertility connection is ESSENTIAL. Moreover, if youve been dealing with unexplained infertility, it might be time to turn your attention to a very likely culprit your gut.
Why Probiotics Help With Fertility Pregnancy And Vaginal Health
Everywhere you turn youll find articles, videos, andmemes about the power of probiotics. Probiotics have been touted as the nextline of medicine for mental health issues, the solution to chronicinflammation, and might even ramp up your metabolism. Are they really alltheyre cracked up to be? Could they really help with all of those health issues?
In a nutshell it looks like they just might! Plus, itlooks like theyre an important addition to our collective diet. For women,they might be even more important.
Its hard to find a bigger ally for our reproductivehealth than probiotics. The bacteria in the gut play a surprisingly importantrole in hormone balance, vaginal health, and can help prevent/reduce UTIs.
Today, with fertility issues and hormonal imbalancesat a very high rate, it seems almost too simple that taking a high-qualityprobiotic supplement could be so effective. But our gut bacteria have been underassault for decades. The over-prescribing of antibiotics and the antibioticresidue found in conventional meats is a huge problem. Our very clean water andgreat sanitation have both played a role in reducing the strength and diversityof our inner ecosystem. Add that to a high-stress lifestyle and a reliance onprocessed fast food, and youll have a microbiome that is crying out for somesupport.
For women, this imbalance may be playing a bigger rolethan for men. Here are three ways probiotics are particularly important forwomen.
2. Supports vaginal health
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Soy To Help Decreasing Estrogen Levels
Soy can be a bit of a controversial topic. But the phytoestrogens compounds that mimic estrogen in the body found in soy are good news for vaginal health, especially in people with reduced estrogen levels. There are many different reasons for decreased estrogen levels in the body, from medications to menopause, but one of the symptoms is vaginal dryness.
So heres how soy helps:
blood-purifying and enhance circulation due to their many nutrients, including dietary nitrates. This can help prevent vaginal dryness and increase stimulation, which is never a bad thing.
These greens are also rich in vitamin E, magnesium, and calcium, all of which are beneficial to muscle health including vaginal muscles.
Optimising Sperm Count And Motility
Male infertility is estimated to contribute to 40-50% of infertile couples, and seminal fluid infections have shown direct effects on sperm count and motility. Recent research has suggested a strong correlation between seminal bacterial communities and semen quality, with researchers concluding Lactobacillus might not only be a potential probiotic for semen quality maintenance, but also might be helpful in countering the negative influence of Prevotella and Pseudomonas
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How Could Probiotics Help With Fertility
Gut and vaginal microflora are perhaps not the first things that we think about when considering infertility, but maybe they should be? The beneficial bacteria living in our GI tracts are responsible for many essential metabolic processes, such as: proper digestion of food, bio-availability of many types of vitamins, immune system regulation and providing a first line of defence against pathogens. At a very basic level, these key functions all impact on a persons fertility, for example, the better our digestion of food, and absorption of vitamins and minerals is, the better equipped the body is to fuel all of the chemical reactions that are essential to balancing our hormones. Hormone regulation is key when we are trying to conceive!
However, looking beyond these more general applications of probiotics, specific research in to probiotics for fertility has looked at three main areas:
- Infections and infertility
Lets take a look at each of these in a bit more depth.
Probiotics And Weight Loss
A womans self-image is most probably the direct result of how she perceives herself, and her weight, of course, plays a large role in this. Studies have shown that the good bacteria present in the stomach help with the breaking down and absorption of food. Certain probiotics, such as those from the Lactobacillus family, do play a role in preventing the absorption of too much dietary fat. What is of interest is that in a study conducted on women, it was found that those who were classified as obese had much less of these probiotics in their digestive tracts than women who were normal in stature.
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Dietary Nutritional Supplements: Probiotics And Nutraceuticals
Probiotics, according to the International Life Sciences Institute , WHO, and the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics , are defined as live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host .
Nutraceuticals are defined as food product that provide therapeutic or physiological benefits beyond the basic nutritional needs and can be used as dietary supplements. Nutraceuticals are required to be safe and well tolerate, to exhibit less toxicity and secondary side effects compared to drugs used to treat similar symptoms . Nutraceuticals and released bioactive compounds by probiotics can be used as therapeutic tools to modulate the human microbiota.
Probiotic strains are selected pseudo-empirically for clinical studies and also based on their previously proven beneficial effects, specific activity or function and safety aspects . Administration of probiotics in clinical studies is also based on the demonstration of safety aspects and stronger probiotic activity . Currently, Health Claims constitute a method for verification of demonstrable beneficial properties of probiotic products through compilation of data such as product characterisation, measurable beneficial effects, and links between the product and the exerted effect and further assessment .
Fertility Health Tip: Probiotics And Prebiotics
Eating a diet rich in a variety of whole foods is essential to healthy fertility. A whole food diet should include two uncommon components in foods: probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics and prebiotics help to digest and utilize food in the best way possible. Digestive health is a key pillar in the foundation for healthy fertility.
How is your digestive health? Did you know the human body cannot metabolize important phytoestrogens from plant foods and medicinal herbs, without adequate amounts of healthy intestinal flora? What is intestinal flora anyway and why is this important to fertility? We are going to explore all of these questions and you will be amazed at how important probiotics and prebiotics are to your fertility health.
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Do Probiotic Supplements Benefit Vaginal Health
Some scientists believe taking probiotics might help to restore a healthier balance of bacteria in the vagina. That works in theory and in some lab experiments.
But what works in the laboratory doesnât always work the same way in the human body. It may not be as simple as introducing healthy bacteria in the form of a pill or suppository.
So far, there’s little evidence to suggest that these supplements improve vaginal health. This may change as scientists learn more. But for now, antibiotic and antifungal medications are the only treatments known to be effective for vaginal bacterial and yeast infections.
Probiotics And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD is a term used to describe many lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema, amongst others. They are conditions which affect the airways and are responsible for approximately five percent of deaths in women.
The fact that the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems are so interrelated could account for one organ becoming ill due to a dysfunction in the other. Although the verdict is not out yet, studies so far would suggest that the administration of certain probiotics could, in fact, help with the different COPD diseases.
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Eat A Bigger Breakfast
Eating a substantial breakfast may help women with fertility problems.
One study found that eating a larger breakfast may improve the hormonal effects of polycystic ovary syndrome , a major cause of infertility.
For moderate weight women with PCOS, eating most of their calories at breakfast reduced insulin levels by 8 percent and testosterone levels by 50 percent. High levels of either can contribute to infertility.
In addition, by the end of the 12-week study, these women had ovulated more than women who ate a smaller breakfast and larger dinner, suggesting improved fertility.
However, its important to note that increasing the size of your breakfast without reducing the size of your evening meal is likely to lead to weight gain.
Check out these ideas for healthy, delish breakfast options if you need some inspiration.
Foods To Help Increase Fertility: Salmon
Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which studies indicate may play an important part in egg maturation and embryo implantation both key processes in reproduction. With fish, theres always the risk of exposure to contaminants such as mercury that would counteract any fertility benefits, so be selective in the source and opt for fresh, wild-caught salmon where possible.
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Adherent Properties Of Lactobacillus To Spermatozoa
The adherence of Lactobacillus to spermatozoa has been rarely reported. In a recent in vitro study, vaginal Lactobacillus strains presented a far stronger adherent effect on spermatozoa compared with Enterococcus, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Enterobacteriaceae . In a co-incubation test of single bacterial species and ejaculated spermatozoa, this adherent effect significantly impaired the motility of spermatozoa .
Table 2 Fimbriae and microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules of Lactobacillus species.
Human Microbiota And Reproductive Impact
The microbial communities that live in the human body, called microbiota, have an important role in the eubiosis status of each individual . A change in its natural state have been shown to contribute to endocrine and metabolic disorders such as bacterial vaginosis , polycystic ovary syndrome , endometrial hyperplasia and endometriosis , and several comorbidities like obesity and diabetes .
The vaginal microbiota is particular to each woman, and its role in many facets of reproductive health is increasingly substantiated . Among all microbial communities that make up the vaginal microbiota, Lactobacillus spp. are the main representative genus for establishing a healthy community . The reasoning behind this physiological impact might be that gastrointestinal microbiota also has a very important active metabolic role in the regulation of the hormonal physiological axis. The GIT microbiota may regulate circulating oestrogens by the secretion of -glucuronidase. This enzyme deconjugates oestrogens into their active forms, allowing them to bind their receptors. However, if microbial dysbiosis occurs, decreasing bacterial diversity results in a deconjugation decrease and a reduction of circulating oestrogens. This alteration can contribute to the development of hormonal-dependent pathologies .
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Types And Pathogenic Properties Of The Semen Microbiome
The semen of healthy males had been considered a sterile condition because traditional bacterial cultivation provided an incomplete characterization of the full semen microbiome profile. With the development of high-throughput sequencing, insights into the semen microbiome have been gradually revealed, but the available studies are still insufficient.
How Do Probiotics Affect Fertility
It is possible that the presence of bad bacteria in your vagina is preventing you from becoming pregnant. The bad bacteria can attack the sperm. This causes the sperm to clump together. Clumping is referred to as agglutination and prevents the sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Probiotics can help restore the good bacteria. This would prevent the bad bacteria from growing and allow the sperm to function properly. This in turn would result in pregnancy.
The studies on the effect of probiotics are new. One study from 2015 introduced bad bacteria into mice and found fertility decreased. When researchers gave these same mice probiotics the fertility returned to normal. This supports the benefit of probiotics on fertility.
Another clinical review found that the long term administration of probiotics is safe and does not cause any unwanted side effects. Research is only beginning to look into the microbiome of the vagina. It is possible that this research could have a profound effect on fertility treatments in the future.
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How Can I Improve The Good Bacteria In My Gut
Its a four step process.
STEP 1 REMOVE ANY ADDED SUGAR Sugar in your diet changes into glucose once you eat it and can effect whether your body can improve its good bacteria in the gut. Excess sugar is likely impacting the colonization of the good bacteria in the gut, meaning it inhibits a substance that helps good bacteria hang out in the gut and grow. An article from PBS discusses this here.
This goes for artificial sweeteners too and potentially moreso. According to an article in Scientific American, those who had artificial sweetners in their diet tended to be more overweight. In addition another study showed that mice fed artificial sweeteners versus sugar water had more changes in their gut bacteria increasing the bad bacteria present. See the article here.
Eliminate high glycemic carbohydrates from your diet i.e white flour, hi gi white rice, white potatoe, etc, which cause significant increases in blood glucose levels that are difficult for the body to handle, eventually causing inflammation and suppressing immune system function.
Probiotics For Men: 14 Reasons Why Men Should Take A Probiotic Supplement
Lena Kleinfeld
Men can experience a number of benefits from regularly taking probiotic supplements. In addition to the general benefits that people experience regardless of sex, probiotics can help support mens prostate health, raise testosterone levels, and increase sperm counts.
Probiotics, which is the scientific word for the good bacteria living in our intestines, are critically important for the healthy function of our bodies. These tiny little beneficial bacteria assist the body with many functions spawning from digestion and bowel movements, to the immune system and cognitive function. In addition, more and more research shows that there is a connection between the make-up of the gut bacteria and certain chronic illnesses.
Probiotics are an extremely beneficial dietary supplement to support overall health and vitality. Men, women and kids can benefit from the powerful effects of a high-quality probiotic supplement. In this blog post, we will explore the ways that men specifically can benefit from probiotics.
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Feeding Tolerance In Infants
Preterm infants supplemented with B. coagulans had improved feeding tolerance .
Prophylactic supplementation of S. boulardii improved weight gain and feeding tolerance and had no adverse effects in preterm infants > 30 weeks old .
Orally administered S. boulardiiimproved feeding tolerance and clinical sepsis in very-low-birth-weight infants .
Joe Cohen is well-known for his work as a successful entrepreneur in the health field after he overcame his many health issues using a personalized regimen. Find out exactly which supplements he takes and what lifestyle changes Joe has made to maintain optimal health and prepare his body to fight off infections.
Lactobacillus: Dominant Genus Of The Vaginal Microbiome Under Physiological Conditions
The profile of the vaginal microbiome differs depending on age, but for most cases of healthy women of reproductive age, Lactobacillus species are the dominant vaginal bacteria . Lactobacillus in the vagina is highly limited to certain strains . In most cases, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus jensenii and Lactobacillus iners dominate the vaginal microbiome . One of the important factors that influence the profile of vaginal microbiota is the concentration of local estrogen. A high estrogen concentration can induce a thicker vagina mucosa, upregulate proton secretion by vaginal epithelial cells and accelerate the deposition of glycogen in the vaginal epithelium . All these changes enrich the vaginal microbiota, especially Lactobacillus species. The pH level of the vaginal cavity maintains a dynamic stability throughout the reproductive age, and accumulation of lactic acid released by Lactobacillus species plays a major role on the acidification process.
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