Are probiotics important to keep you healthy?

Some researchers believe so. Probiotics have been defined as "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host."
Microorganisms are all around us and our bodies are loaded with both good and bad bacteria. What we call “good” bacteria seems to be absolutely necessary to our immune system and its fight against microorganisms that cause disease. They are also a vital part of our digestion and absorption of food and nutrients. Research has shown that our digestive track has cells that have been linked to our immune system and because of this research some theorize that if you introduce probiotics to the intestinal tract, you may be able to increase the immune systems defenses.

The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine co-funded a conference on the subject of probiotics and according to the conference report, there is evidence supporting the use of probiotics for the following:

1. To treat diarrhea (this is the strongest area of evidence, especially for diarrhea from rotavirus)
2. To prevent and treat infections of the urinary tract or female genital tract
3. To treat irritable bowel syndrome
4. To reduce recurrence of bladder cancer
5. To shorten how long an intestinal infection lasts that is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium difficile
6. To prevent and treat pouchitis (a condition that can follow surgery to remove the colon)
7. To prevent and manage atopic dermatitis (eczema) in children

On a personal note, I had a horrible sinus infection that was very painful and got rid of it without antibiotics in a week and a half, by using probiotics and pre-biotics, the food that the good bacteria eats, thus promoting the natural formation of good bacteria (FOS-fructoligosaccharides and inulin-found in Kefir (Lifeway organic lowfat kefir is my favorite) and Stonyfield Farms low fat yogurt has inulin). I also included powdered vitamin C in my 1/4 cup pomegranate juice (not from concentrate) mixed with water. Many of my patients who have sinus infections get on antibiotics prescribed from their doctor and express complaints about how they can't tolerate lactose anymore and sometimes have various intolerances to wheat and gluten. Antibiotics deplete the natural friendly bacteria present in your GI (gastrointestinal) tract. We need friendly bacteria to help reduce inflammation in our body, keep our immunity up, and have optimal nutrient absorption from food. Of course, if you need to take antibiotics, please do, but make sure you take a probiotic while you're on them, to help sustain your natural microflora. The best one out there that I have discovered is by Metagenics: Proboulardi -to order go to Livitician.com/Products.htm, click on the metaehealth.com link to sign up and purchase. Proboulardi can be taken while on antibiotics and it prevents diarrhea. The two probiotics that I recommend on a daily basis is either Proboulardi (if you have diarrhea) and Ultra Flora Plus (for overall general health-can also be purchased on the products page of Livitician.com, metaehealth link). Just take one capsule a day and keep probiotics refrigerated. Please consult with your MD and a Registered Dietitian to assure you are making the optimal choice for you.

Optimal health to you!
Your Livitician, Deborah A. Klein, MS, RD

Recent News

Study: Artificial Sweeteners May Make Weight Gain Easier

Artificial sweeteners may contribute more to weight gain than food rich in sugar. A study published in the Behavioral Neuroscience Journal has sparked a scientific debate on the role of calorie-free saccharine in obesity.

The study, made by a team from the Purdue University in Indiana, suggested artificial sweeteners, which have zero or very low calories, seem to have destroyed the physiological link between sweet tastes and calories, resulting to rats fed with sweeteners overeating.

In the study, nine rats were given saccharin-sweetened yogurt and eight rats fed yogurt with glucose. After their yogurt, the 17 rats had their regular food. After five weeks the nine gained 80 grams on the average, while the eight added only 72 grams.

Lyn Steffen, an epidemiology associate professor at the University of the Minnesota agreed with the study, although she was not part of it. She said the research provided a possible explanation for apparent links between obesity and sugar-free sodas discovered in some studies on human beings.

Steffen had similar findings published on January at the Circulation medical journal of the American Heart Association. Her study said diet soda drinkers are at higher risk to develop metabolic syndrome compared to those who drink regular soda.

But the Calorie Control Council debunks the two studies. Beth Hubrich, in a statement, said obesity is not caused by one single factor, but dependent on many including larger portions of food, lesser physical activities and higher intake of calories.

In the U.S., the volume of sugar-free products since 2000 had double to 160 million items from less than 70 million in 1987. For the same time frame, obesity among adult Americans climbed up by 30 percent from only 15 percent.

Because of the potential confusion the different findings may indicate about the connection between artificial sweeteners and weight gain, Adam Drewnowski, director of the Nutrition Sciences program of the University of Washington, cautioned against a broad interpretation of the findings.

"It is unreasonable to claim that results obtained studying saccharin in rats translate t every sweetener in humans... We now have studies showing that sugar calories are associated with obesity and the absence of sugar is associated with obesity. Pity those people trying to do something about obesity," Drewnowski said.

allheadlinenews.com Vittorio Hernandez (AHN)

Are you over supplementing?

In a recent interview with W magazine, Hilary Swank informed that she was ingesting over 40 supplements daily (from Aloe, vitamin C, to Flax oil, you name it), which were recommended by her nutritionist. Hilary thinks she is doing good for her body, but in reality she may be overworking her kidneys and liver, increasing her risk for elevated liver enzymes (indicating liver disease/failure) and elevated BUN (blood urea nitrogen)and Creatinine (indicating kidney disease/failure) and dehydration, it takes a lot of water to detoxify all those supplements. Dehydration can contribute to muscle fatigue and prevent the kidney and liver from working effectively. Now, most of us may not take as many as 45 supplements daily but we should still ask ourselves, "Am I taking too many and are these the right supplements for me?" There are a number of supplements that help reduce high cholesterol, increased immunity and others that curb your appetite. All of them may sound appealing, but are they essential for your health and well being. The Livitician recommends that you speak to a Registered Dietitian (make sure it's an RD, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist) and your primary care physician to discuss the supplements that you want to take and your medications to relay drug/nutrient interactions. Please only take the minimum number of supplements necessary to befriend your liver and kidney, let's not stress out those little organs that have to do a lot as it is without supplements to clean the body. Several factors need to be taken into consideration before you start to take any supplement. Your family history for instance, if you have a genetic propensity for conditions such as, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breast cancer, please consult with your doctor and Registered Dietitian to see what supplements are RIGHT for you. Your current diet is also a factor. Plenty of what we eat is already sufficient enough with e.g., calcium or vitamin C depending on your dietary intake, you may not need those supplements if you're already ingesting the right amount for your body. Here at The Livitician Network, we offer a number of supplement options that are recommended based on your blood work, medical and family history, and food frequency questionnaire and 24 hour dietary recall. Please schedule your nutrition consultation at (310) 247-0018 or deborah@livitician.com. and check out the products tab on http://www.livitician.com/. - Juice Plus, which offers 17 servings of fruits and vegetables and grains per day (order at: http://www.livitjp.com/). Whole food supplements are best for not overworking the kidney and liver, multivitamins are isolated, fragmented vitamins and minerals that are not all utilized, hence the reason why your urine is neon after taking those supplements. Order Juice plus as a great overall heathful supplement to keep your immunity up with some extra real food in a capsule. In moderation is key when it comes to taking supplements and talk to your MD about the medications you are taking, make sure that they are indeed at the lowest level necessary and that each one is essential, if not discuss with him about weaning down or finding a nutraceutical alternative (e.g., Bioslife 2 from Unicity as a replacement or adjunct to a statin-Lipitor, order at (800)864-2489-
IBO: 45387601). Know your family history and focus on alla naturale when it comes to meeting your nutritional needs.