gut microbiota Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Taking Probiotics? Read This First

AHA Publisher — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 07:00:16 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – By now, you’ve surely heard that many human health ailments begin in the digestive tract. They can stem from digestive issues, and they can become more inflamed due to digestive inflammation. But, there is good news. The digestive tract, which holds the majority of the body’s immune components, can also fight these ailments if it’s healthy. In fact, you can fortify your digestive tract to fight better each day by taking probiotics. The Issue With Taking Probiotics Ready to start taking probiotics? Not so fast. There are also major issues with many probiotics supplements. In fact, some probiotics do not live through digestion, do not remain viable in the small intestine, do not adhere to the mucosa, and do not become an established working part of the native microbiota. They often contain little proven bacterial strains for human health. What a waste of time and money! It’s vital to know which probiotic strains actually help human health, and which formulations work best to deliver the probiotics into the gut while they are still viable. Amazing Probiotic Strains for Human Health Again, not all strains of probiotic bacteria are equal. Some bacteria strains can cause damage, some are neutral, and some are amazing allies to digestive health and whole body health. A few great probiotic strains you’ve maybe never heard of include: BACILLUS COAGULANS Bacillus Coagulans are naturally-occurring fermented bacteria found in sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt. Amazingly, studies have found that bacillus coagulans significantly improve symptoms of digestive ailments, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal distention, and constipation in those who suffer from them (1, 2). They also affect joints. One study analyzed B. coagulans‘ effect on inflammation in the joints of participants with arthritic symptoms. The researchers found that participants who took B. coagulans reported less disability, an improved ability to participate in daily activities like long walks, and reduced C-reactive protein (CRP, a marker of inflammation) (3). Lastly, B. coagulans may also support immune function. One small study found increased T cell production (immune cells) in participants responding to influenza A and adenovirus when taking B. coagulans. This displays an upregulation in immune system effectiveness (4). BACILLUS SUBTILIS Like B. coagulans, Bacillus subtilis strains may significantly decrease inflammation in the body. In fact, under inflammatory conditions, B. subtilis has significantly reduced the inflammatory protein production in the intestines in research. Data supports Bacillus-based probiotics, like B. Subtilis strains, can improve digestive health by strengthening intestinal barrier and limiting inflammatory responses (5). LACTOBACILLUS PLANTARUM (N13) Another amazing and effective probiotic strain is Lactobacillus plantarum. It is a widespread species of lactic acid bacteria, and it is commonly found in fermented plant products such as sauerkraut, pickles, brined olives, and Korean kimchi. Specifically, L. plantarum is an antioxidant probiotic that fights cell overgrowth, inflammatory responses, fat gain, and unhealthy glucose levels (6). What’s more, L. plantarum is able to produce B-group vitamins including riboflavin and folate in the human body (7). It also supports digestion by increasing absorption of minerals including iron and calcium (8, 9, 10). Lastly, L. plantarum has been found to improve diarrhea, including traveler’s diarrhea and antibiotic-associated diarrhea (11, 12). But L. plantarum doesn’t stop there. It can actually affect skin health and aging skin. In clinical trials, L. plantarum significantly increased the skin water content in the face and hands, and participants experienced a significant reduction in wrinkle depth and appearance in 12 weeks. What’s more, skin elasticity in the probiotic participants improved by 13.17% after 4 weeks and by 21.73% after 12 weeks (13). How? When taken as a probiotic, L. plantarum improves skin hydration, has anti-photoaging (sun) effects, and inhibits the degradation of collagen in human skin (14, 15, 16). Lastly, it improves skin appearance by alleviating symptoms of skin inflammation in humans (17). As if that wasn’t enough, many studies show that L. plantarum supports healthy cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and blood sugars. In one study, supplementation with it reduced total cholesterol by 13.6% after 12 weeks (18)! BIFIDOBACTERIUM BREVE (BBR60) Bifidobacterium breve is a beneficial bacteria found in human breast milk and the gastrointestinal tracts of infant and adult humans. As an individual ages, however, the total population of B. breve in their gut decreases (19). When taken as a supplement, B. breve can affect skin health by increasing skin hydration (20, 21) and reducing the appearance of skin damage from UV exposure (22, 23, 24). Next, B. breve may reduce eczema symptoms, skin inflammation (25), and allergic rhinitis by reducing the inflammatory response to allergens (26). Then, B. breve supports digestive health by promoting the viability of Bifidobacteria and the formation of normal intestinal flora, reducing severity of diarrhea, and alleviating abdominal pain and constipation, as shown in human and animal studies (27, 28, 29). BIFIDOBACTERIUM LACTIS Bifidobacterium Lactis is another probiotic found in the large intestine of humans and other mammals. This one’s likely on your radar; in fact, Bifidobacterium Lactis is one of the world’s most documented probiotics. B. lactis is extremely versatile and beneficial. In fact, it supports: Gut mucosa health Reduced pathogens Intestinal barrier function Immune function Researchers have found that B. Lactis can decrease gastrointestinal discomfort (30), improve oral health(31), support healthy weights (32), decrease antibiotic-related diarrhea (33), and improve immune response (34). More to Consider When Taking Probiotics Now you know. There’s more to it than just picking up a generic probiotic supplement at your grocer. Some strains really promote human health. What’s more, some probiotics formulations go beyond the strains of bacteria. They: Have been extensively studied to remain viable, incorporate into the microbiota, proliferate, and impact health in humans. Functionally improve the structure, communication, and health of gut cells. Support brain health by reducing inflammation and encouraging healthy brain-gut axis communication and interaction. Thrive in the intestines partly because they also contain prebiotic fiber such as Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and Glactoogosaccharides (GOS). Fight pathogens from spoiled foods, viruses and bacteria to promote year-round health. Ready to Start Taking Probiotics? As with all Divine Health supplements, Dr. Colbert has gone through the painstaking process of developing a probiotic supplement he believes will help people the most. It contains each of these bacteria strains, remains viable through digestion, and impacts human health throughout the body. Now, you can try it for yourself and buy Divine Health Biotics! If you are looking to support your gut health, skin health, brain health, and heart health, this is a great option for you. Bottom Line Don’t waste your time and money. If you are already taking probiotics, make sure they are up to par. If you are looking for one, check out the new Divine Health Biotics. It can make a huge difference in your health, from your gut to your brain to everywhere else, starting today! To read the original article click here.

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Improve Digestive Health for the Sake of 7 Other Systems

AHA Publisher — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 07:00:51 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Do you deal with digestive issues? If so, you don’t just deal with digestive issues. Digestive issues actually affect many systems in the body. On the flip-side, there’s great news! When you improve digestive health, you positively affect all those systems and whole body health! In fact, the health of your digestive microbiota (bacteria in your digestive tract) affects literally every other part of your body. Brain health. Metabolism and weight management. Immune health. Heart health. Blood sugars. Skin health. Although it may seem far-reaching, this area of medical research is changing the way we think about foods, bacteria, and human health. Here’s how improving digestive health improves your whole body, and how you can start today. Improve Digestive Health to Improve Whole Body Health – 7 Ways 1. ENERGY METABOLISM AND WEIGHT Amazingingly, the gut microbiota (healthy bacteria) contributes not only to how your body digests nutrients, but how it metabolizes, uses, and burns them. In fact, studies have found that altered gut microbiota has been associated with unhealthy weights and metabolic issues related to them (1). In fact, one study concluded that the use of a probiotic alone or together with a prebiotic influenced body fat mass in healthy adults with high weight (2). Another study followed to see if changes in the gut microbiota due to probiotic supplementation improved gut barrier function, metabolism, and obesity-related markers. The researchers found positive correlation in this study (3). When you improve digestive health, you encourage better metabolism! 2. BLOOD SUGARS The gut microbiota affects tissue physiology, metabolism, and function of both the immune and nervous systems. We found that intrinsic Altered blood sugars have a huge impact on individual health as well as our health as a society. Can a healthy digestive system help? Amazingly, our digestive tracts have their own “nervous system.” It is outside the central nervous system, and affects the health of systems throughout the body (4, 5). In animal studies, scientists investigated how changes in digestive nervous system cells (enteric-associated neurons) in the lower digestive tract affected glucose metabolism. Specifically, they looked at changes in the microbiota associated with the cells. They found that microbiota depletion led to loss of the neuron cells and impaired glucose regulation (6). While more research is needed, this leads us to believe impaired microbiota hurts glucose metabolism and blood sugars. This has implications for the metabolism, weight, and blood sugar issues that plague more than 50% of American adults. Improve digestive health and support glucose metabolism and healthy blood sugars! 3. IMMUNE HEALTH Before the industrial revolution, humans consumed natural, wild, and pre-agricultural foods. Since then, Western societies have relied on semi-processed and ultra-processed foods as the primary source of nutrition. This change has had a huge impact on the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract and gut health. In fact, The industrialized Western diet and changes in gut microbiota has been shown to have negatively impacted human digestive physiology and immune health (7). How? It’s estimated that 80% of your immune system “lives” in your gut. These immune components form the gut mucosal immune system, and consist of lymph nodes, lamina propria, epithelial cells. They make up a protective barrier for the integrity of the intestinal tract. Studies have found that depressed gut microbiota causes a significant immune system deficiency. On the other hand, healthy, viable microbiota play a vital role in the development and maintenance of a health gut immune system (8). How can you bolster your immune system? Focus on your gut. When you improve digestive health, you support your immune system! 4. BRAIN HEALTH The degradation of immune health that has followed poor digestive health doesn’t stop with immunity. Impaired immune responses in turn cause exaggerated neuroinflammation. This means inflammation of neurons in the brain. Neuroinflammation, unfortunately, is linked with brain impairment and dysfunction. In fact, many experts implicate the modern Western diet in the development of many health and brain issues including memory impairments, neurodegenerative issues, and depressed moods. This propagation of these brain and health impairments are amplified with the consumption of ultra-processed foods and excessive energy intake (9). There is growing evidence that this relationship may be more than just coincidental. In fact, researchers have found that the bidirectional signaling between the brain and gut is vital for maintaining homeostasis and regulation of the central nervous system (CNS) and enteric nervous system (ENS). This communication system between the gut-brain and the brain is called the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (10). This means the health of each nervous system is dependent on the other. When you improve digestive health, you support healthy brain function. 5. HEART HEALTH Take note, cardiovascular illness is still the leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. In fact, it is responsible for approximately ⅓ of deaths in the United States and ¼ of the deaths in Europe (11). What’s more, we’re experiencing a steady increase in many risk factors for poor heart health, including blood sugar impairments, metabolic issues, and unhealthy weights (12). Does the human gut microbiota affect heart health? Microbial sequencing analysis has a lot of information about gut microbiota and heart health issues (13, 14). What’s more, studies also show that changes in gut microbiota affects metabolism, blood sugars, weight, and more (as described above) (15, 16). When it comes to direct effects on heart health, scientists know that gut microbiota produce numerous metabolites that are absorbed into the circulatory system while biologically active (8, 13). This means that gut bacteria communicates directly with organs through circulatory pathways, enzymes, and more, including the heart (17, 18, 19). Want to support heart health? When you improve digestive health, you support the health of your heart! 6. EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis doesn’t just affect physical health or physical brain function, it affects emotional and mental health as well. While the gut-brain and enteric neurons don’t seem capable of thought like the brain in our heads, they do communicate with the “big brain” in ways that affect emotions. According to a Johns Hopkins Medicine report, “The ENS may trigger big emotional shifts experienced by people coping with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional bowel problems such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating, pain and stomach upset. Researchers are finding evidence that irritation in the gastrointestinal system may send signals to the central nervous system (CNS) that trigger mood changes” (20, 21, 22). In fact, doctors are reporting that they may have thought of the relationship between digestive issues and anxious or depressed moods backwards for years. In other words, we’ve thought that anxious and depressed moods may trigger digestive issues. Now, studies and anecdotal reports are finding that many people with serious digestive issues develop emotional and mental impairments at a higher-than-normal rate. Since 30-40% of our adult population deal with impaired digestion from time to time, this is a huge issue for mental health (23). What can be done? First, we can start with healthy digestion. When you improve digestion and gut health, you support your mental health. 7. SKIN HEALTH More and more people seem to be suffering from skin impairments, from eczema to psoriasis. Could our modern, processed diets and the resulting damage to the microbiota and immune system be one cause? Scientists are now studying the effects of probiotics and prebiotics on skin health. These studies include both topical and ingested formulations. Here’s what they are finding: Ingested and topical probiotics improve skin and gut microbiota. The skin ecosystem is a complex environment covered with many strains of bacteria. Some are beneficial, some are essentially neutral, and others are harmful or at least potentially harmful. Scientists have found pre- and probiotics can optimize, maintain and restore the microbiota of the skin in different ways. Topical formulations have a direct effect on the skin by enhancing the natural defenses of skin. Ingested probiotics have a positive effect on skin by supporting the immune system and reducing inflammatory responses systemically (throughout the body) (23). Ready for healthier skin? When you improve digestive health, you support skin health! How Can You Support Digestive Health? Start with a great probiotic supplement. Dr. Colbert formulated his Dr. Colbert Beyond Biotics™ with 12 billion healthy probiotic bacteria units that have been proven to encourage optimal digestive health in just 4 weeks! In fact, Beyond Biotics™ contains 3 clinically studied and tested probiotic strains consisting of 12 billion bacteria, supporting the immune response and natural defenses. If you want to encourage great health in all the systems listed above, this is where to start. Next, begin Dr. Colbert’s Healthy Gut Zone Plan. It will teach you, step-by-step, how to improve your digestive health, support your entire body, and improve brain function, alertness and health starting today! Join Dr. Colbert in his challenge to prioritize your gut health. It can make all the difference to your whole body. Continue a Healthy Lifestyle with Beyond Keto! Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto program combines Keto Zone and Mediterranean foods to support gut health! In fact, studies have found the Mediterranean diet specifically improves gut microbiota and its associated metabolism functions (24). Get started with Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto today and supports digestive and whole-body health! Bottom Line It should be obvious. When you improve digestion, you positively affect every other system in your body. It could not be more important. If you need one health aspect to focus on, start here. Make your digestive health a priority today, and support the health of your entire body. To read the original article click here.

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The Effect of Diet on Mental Health

AHA Publisher — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 07:00:04 +0000

Dr. Liji Thomas, MD via News Medical – The brain controls and regulates most of the body’s vital functions, conscious or not. For this reason, it is essential that the brain receives a steady supply of fuel and oxygen. The fuel is obtained by metabolizing nutrients made available in the bloodstream, originating in the digested food. The brain consumes 20% of the daily intake of calories, that is, about 400 (out of 2000) calories a day. Structurally, about 60% of the brain is fat, comprising of high cholesterol and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Thus, the food one eats is directly linked to brain structure and function, and thus affects the working of the mind. Many studies have found that diets that are too rich in refined sugars are toxic to brain functioning because the high content of simple sugars stresses the pancreas and induces insulin resistance. The high sugar levels with compensatory insulin responses stimulate the counter-reactive surge of autonomic neurotransmitters like cortisol and glucagon. These are known to produce increased anxiety, hunger and irritability. Moreover, they induce inflammatory and oxidative stress. This has been linked to an exacerbation of symptoms of depression and other mood disorders. These findings have led to the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry that traces relationships between food, feelings, gut microbiota, and human behavior. Deficiency Disorders and Mood The deficiency of nutrients like cobalamine, folate and zinc is known to be associated with symptoms of depression and dementia, cognitive decline and irritability. Both overeating and food insecurity are associated with mood and anxiety disorders. Mental illness is ranked among the largest contributors to the global health burden, especially depression, which accounts for the major chunk of disability in the more developed countries, especially in the age group of 15-44 years. Therefore, it is crucial to explore nutritional strategies to ameliorate these conditions. Not only do people eat differently when anxious or depressed, but these changes may occur in either direction. Conversely, depression may be the result, at least partly, of poor eating habits, or may become worsened by the inability of the patient to stop eating comfort foods and choose a healthy diet. Such inability may be financial, psychological, or iatrogenic. Serotonin and the Gut Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter that helps to control sleep and appetite, inhibit pain, and to regulate mood. About 95% of the serotonin is produced in the gut, which is rich in neurons – the enteric plexus contains a hundred million nerve cells. Thus, the gut is intimately involved in emotional regulation, pain perception, and vital physiological functions. Interestingly, the function of these neurons and their secretion of serotonin, and other neurotransmitters, is closely regulated by the metabolic byproducts of the trillion or so bacteria that comprise the gut microbiome. These bacteria ensure epithelial barrier integrity for the intestine, preventing the entry of bacterial toxins and pathogens into the systemic circulation. They also prevent the spread of inflammation beyond the gut lumen, enhance nutrient absorption, and activate gut-brain neural pathways – the gut-brain axis. Monoamine neurotransmitters are synthesized from amino acids in a process that is mediated by mineral-dependent cofactors. Both folate and vitamin B12 are essential for the methylation that occurs during these synthetic processes, also regulating the formation of homocysteine – a metabolite that is strongly linked to cardiovascular risk and depression. Dietary Fats and Brain Functioning Anti-inflammatory fats such as omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are known to be essential components of neuronal cell membranes, and also play a role in many vital neural processes such as neurotransmission, gene expression, neurogenesis and neuronal survival. They are also known to have antioxidant properties. Omega-3 FAs are used to treat a number of psychological disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, bipolar depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A high omega-6 proportion is linked to a higher incidence of these conditions, especially the first two. The standard Western diet is rich in omega-6 but low in omega-3 FAs, primarily because of the consumption of refined flours and sugars, and highly processed foods, and low amounts of seafood (including fish) and grass-fed beef. Some studies have confirmed that diets that are richer in healthier carbohydrates and fats, and lower in refined and highly processed foods, such as the Japanese and Mediterranean diets, are linked to a reduction in the incidence of depression by anywhere between a quarter to over a third, compared to the standard American diet. Inflammation and the Diet Inflammation of the nervous system is also important in the pathogenesis of mental illness, and this is also linked to the diet. Many biomarkers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were associated with a dietary pattern that was linked to a higher risk of depression over the next decade or so. This pattern included high simple sugars (sweetened drinks and refined flours), red meat and margarine (saturated fats), and little green or yellow vegetables, coffee, wine, or olive oil, which are all features of the stereotypical Western diet. The high content of vegetables, fruits, grains, and seafood, with less dairy and meat content, and no refined foods, of the Mediterranean and Japanese diets, compares very favorably with the Western diet. The former uses small amounts of red wine and cheese or yogurt in the daily diet. The mechanism is thought to be via the brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF. This important molecule is implicated in the plasticity and survival of neurons, and neurogenesis. It is reduced in many mental health conditions including depression, PTSD and schizophrenia, and is affected by many antidepressants that are commonly prescribed. Not only so, but the former presents many of the fruits and vegetables in fermented form, which provides probiotics protecting the gut by enhancing the content of health-promoting gut microbes and reducing or preventing inflammation throughout the body. Thus, including more foods with omega-3 FAs in the diet when on inflammation-inducing medications, not only prevents inflammatory changes but also prevents the induction of depression in such individuals, according to recent, admittedly early, work. Again, the Mediterranean diet promotes gut microbes that produce anti-inflammatory metabolites. Of course, depressive tendencies or stressors may prevent the beneficial effects of healthy food from manifesting themselves as reduced inflammation or improved mood. Secondly, only some depressed individuals show this inflammatory tendency, which may mean that diet plays this role in only a proportion of people, perhaps with other inflammatory conditions or due to constitutional factors. Conclusion Many experts would recommend that people pay attention to the relationship between their diet and the foods they eat over a month or at least two weeks. If they could reduce or eliminate processed foods and sugars for this period of time, before bringing back these foods one by one, it would be instructive to notice how they feel. Better eating strategies are essential to promote mental health and recovery from mental illness. It was over 2,000 years ago that the famous Greek physician Hippocrates said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.” Not only does the Mediterranean (and similar) diet affect the availability of the basic building blocks of the brain and neurotransmitters, including myelin, the neuronal membrane, and monoamine neurotransmitters, but it modulates key chemicals like BDNF to alter neuroplasticity, mutes system inflammation, and determines the health and state of the gut microbiome. Many such traditional diets are known to include mostly nutritious whole foods without much processing. The role of a dietary specialist in helping patients with mentally ill-health to choose approaches that promote the ability to take care of oneself and enhance one’s health is very important and should be encouraged. As one set of authors comment, “This message supports the idea that creating environments and developing measures that promote healthy, nutritious diets, while decreasing the consumption of highly processed and refined “junk” foods may provide benefits even beyond the well known effects on physical health, including improved psychological wellbeing.” To read the original article click here.

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Switching to a Balanced Diet Restores Gut Health and Suppresses Skin Inflammation

AHA Publisher — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:00:28 +0000

University of California – Davis Health via News-Medical – The secret to healthier skin and joints may reside in gut microorganisms. A study led by UC Davis Health researchers has found that a diet rich in sugar and fat leads to an imbalance in the gut’s microbial culture and may contribute to inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, suggests that switching to a more balanced diet restores the gut’s health and suppresses skin inflammation. “Earlier studies have shown that Western diet, characterized by its high sugar and fat content, can lead to significant skin inflammation and psoriasis flares. Despite having powerful anti-inflammatory drugs for the skin condition, our study indicates that simple changes in diet may also have significant effects on psoriasis.” Sam T. Hwang, professor and chair of dermatology at UC Davis Health and senior author on the study What Is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a stubborn skin condition linked to the body’s immune system. When immune cells mistakenly attack healthy skin cells, they cause skin inflammation and the formation of scales and itchy red patches. Up to 30% of patients with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis with symptoms such as morning stiffness and fatigue, swollen fingers and toes, pain in joints and changes to nails. Diet Affects the Microbial Balance in the Intestines and Skin Inflammation Food is one of the major modifiable factors regulating the gut microbiota, the community of microorganisms living in the intestines. Eating a Western diet can cause rapid change to the gut’s microbial community and its functions. This disruption in microbial balance – known as dysbiosis- contributes to gut inflammation. Since bacteria in the gut may play key roles in shaping inflammation, the researchers wanted to test whether intestinal dysbiosis affects skin and joint inflammation. They used a mouse model to study the effect of diet on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. They injected mice with Interleukin-23 (IL-23) minicircle DNA to induce a response mimicking psoriasis-like skin and joint diseases. IL-23 is a protein generated by the immune cells responsible for many inflammatory autoimmune reactions, including psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Hwang and his colleagues found that a short-term Western diet appears sufficient to cause microbial imbalance and to enhance susceptibility to IL-23?mediated psoriasis-like skin inflammation. “There is a clear link between skin inflammation and changes in the gut microbiome due to food intake,” Hwang said. “The bacterial balance in the gut disrupted shortly after starting a Western diet, and worsened psoriatic skin and joint inflammation.” One critical finding of their work was identifying the intestinal microbiota as a pathogenic link between diet and the displays of psoriatic inflammation. The study also found that antibiotics block the effects of the Western diet, reducing skin and joint inflammation. Is the Damage Caused by an Unhealthy Diet Reversible? The researchers wanted to test if switching to a balanced diet can restore the gut microbiota, despite the presence of IL-23 inflammatory proteins. They fed mice a Western diet for six weeks before giving them an IL-23-inducing agent to trigger psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis features. Then, they randomly divided the mice into two groups: a group that continued the Western diet for another four weeks and a group that switched to a balanced diet for the same duration. Their study showed that eating a diet high in sugar and fat for 10 weeks predisposed mice to skin and joint inflammation. Mice that were switched to a balanced diet had less scaling of the skin and reduced ear thickness than mice on a Western diet. The improvement in skin inflammation for mice taken off the Western diet indicates a short-term impact of the Western diet on skin inflammation. This suggests that changes in diet could partially reverse the proinflammatory effects and alteration of gut microbiota caused by the Western diet. “It was quite surprising that a simple diet modification of less sugar and fat may have significant effects on psoriasis,” said Zhenrui Shi, visiting assistant researcher in the UC Davis Department of Dermatology and lead author on the study. “These findings reveal that patients with psoriatic skin and joint disease should consider changing to a healthier dietary pattern.” “This work reflects a successful collaboration among researchers, especially with Professor Satya Dandekar and her team at the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Professor Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan at the Department of Medical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,” Hwang said. To read the original article click here.

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Better Sleep? Prebiotics Could Help

AHA Publisher — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 07:00:39 +0000

University of Colorado Boulder via Newswise – They provide food for good gut bacteria and influence circulating metabolites, buffering stress, study shows. Newswise — Think dietary fiber is just for digestive health? Think again. Specific fibers known as prebiotics can improve sleep and boost stress resilience by influencing gut bacteria and the potent biologically active molecules, or metabolites, they produce, new CU Boulder research shows. The research could ultimately lead to new approaches to treating sleep problems, which affect 70 million Americans. “The biggest takeaway here is that this type of fiber is not just there to bulk up the stool and pass through the digestive system,” said Robert Thompson, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Integrative Physiology and lead author of the study, published March 2, in the journal Scientific Reports. “It is feeding the bugs that live in our gut and creating a symbiotic relationship with us that has powerful effects on our brain and behavior.” Food for Our Bugs Most people are familiar with probiotics, friendly bacteria present in fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut. More recently, scientists have taken an interest in prebiotics—dietary compounds that humans cannot digest but serve as nourishment for our microbiome, or the trillions of bacteria residing within us. While not all fibers are prebiotics, many fibrous foods such as leeks, artichokes, onions and certain whole grains are rich in them. For the study, the researchers started adolescent male rats on either standard chow or chow infused with prebiotics and tracked an array of physiological measures before and after the rats were stressed. As reported in the researchers’ previous study, those on the prebiotic diet spent more time in restorative non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep. After stress, they also spent more time in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, which is believed to be critical for recovery from stress. While rats eating standard chow saw an unhealthy flattening of the body’s natural temperature fluctuations and a drop in healthy diversity of their gut microbiome after stress, those fed prebiotics were buffered from these effects. The new study sheds light on how prebiotics can help bust stress. “We know that this combination of dietary fibers helps promote stress robustness and good sleep and protects the gut microbiome from disruption. With this new study, we wanted to try to identify the signal,” said senior author and Integrative Physiology Professor Monika Fleshner, director of the Stress Physiology Laboratory. Using a technology called mass spectrometry to analyze the rats’ fecal samples, the researchers measured metabolites, or bioactive small molecules produced by bacteria as food is broken down. They found rats on the prebiotic diet had a substantially different “metabolome”, or make-up of metabolites. Theirs was higher in dozens of them, including fatty acids, sugars and steroids which may, via gut-brain signaling pathways, influence behavior. The rats’ metabolome also looked different after stress. For instance, the rats on the standard chow diet saw dramatic spikes in allopregnanolone precursor and Ketone Steroid, potentially sleep-disrupting metabolites, while those on the prebiotic diet saw no such spike. “Our results reveal novel signals that come from gut microbes that may modulate stress physiology and sleep,” said Fleshner. In Search of a Better Sleeping Pill While prebiotic dietary fiber is certainly healthy, it’s uncertain whether just loading up on foods rich in it can promote sleep. The rats were fed very high doses of four specific prebiotics, including: galactooligosaccharides, which are present in lentils and cabbage; polydextrose (PDX) an FDA-approved food additive often used as a sweetener; lactoferrin, found in breast milk; and milk fat globular protein, abundant in dairy products. “You’d probably have to eat a whole lot of lentils and cabbage to see any effect,” said Thompson. Prebiotic supplements already abound on natural food store shelves. But Fleshner said it’s too soon to say whether a supplement or drug containing such compounds would be safe and effective for everyone. Depending on what their microbial make-up is, different people might respond differently. “These are powerful molecules with real neuroactive effects and people need to exercise some caution,” she said. Human studies are already in the works at CU Boulder. Ultimately, Fleshner believes what they are learning in her lab could lead to a new class of options for people who can’t sleep but don’t like taking narcotics. “Armed with this information, we might be able to develop a targeted therapeutic that boosts the molecules that buffer against stress and tamps down the ones that seem to disrupt sleep,” she said. “It’s exciting to think about.” To read the original article click here.

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How to Boost the Fat Burning Hormone FIAF

AHA Publisher — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 07:00:33 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – Although recent increases in the availability of junk food and decreases “in institutionally driven physical activity” have created an obesity-permissive environment, several other factors may contribute. We know, for example, that the use of antibiotics is linked to obesity, so our gut flora may play a role. I discuss this in my video Is Obesity Infectious? Recently, specific bacterial species were identified. Eight species seemed protective against weight gain, and they are all producers of a short-chain fatty acid called butyrate. Early on, we thought there might be some intestinal bacteria that were able to extract additional calories from what we eat, but the relationship between our gut flora and obesity has proven to be more complex, as you can see at 0:49 in my video. Our gut flora may affect how we metabolize fat, for example, such as through the hormone FIAF—fasting-induced adipose factor. While we’re fasting, our body has to stop storing fat and instead start to burn it off. FIAF is one of the hormones that signals our body to do this, which could be useful for someone who is obese, and may be one way our gut flora manages our weight. Some bacteria repress this hormone, thereby increasing fat storage. In contrast, when we feed fiber to our fiber-eating bacteria, those that secrete short-chain fatty acids like butyrate are able to upregulate this hormone in all human cell lines so far tested. “Currently, when an individual fails to lose weight…the only other option is surgery,” but “[a]s the mechanisms of the microbiota’s [gut flora’s] role in weight regulation are elucidated, one can envision transplanting intestinal contents from a thin individual into an obese individual.” Such so-called fecal transplants may suffer from “repulsive esthetics,” though. It turns out there may be easier ways to share. We’ve known that people who live together share a greater similarity in gut bacteria than people living apart. This could be because co-habitants inadvertently swap bacteria back and forth, or possibly because they eat similar diets, living in the same house. We didn’t know…until now. Not only do co-habiting family members share bacteria with one another—they also share with their dogs, who are probably eating a different diet than they are. You may be interested in the charts at 2:22 in my video. In fact, it’s been “suggest[ed] that homes harbor a distinct microbial fingerprint that can be predicted by their occupants.” Just by swabbing the doorknobs, you can tell which family lives in which house, as shown at 2:35 in my video. And, when a family moves into a new home, “the microbial community in the new house rapidly converged” or shifted toward that of the old house, “suggesting rapid colonization by the family’s microbiota.” Experimental evidence suggests that individuals raised in a household of lean people may be protected against obesity—no fecal transplant necessary. (Indeed, people may be sharing gut bacteria from kitchen stools instead.) Moreover, as we know, people living together share more bacteria than those living apart, but when a dog is added to the mix, the people’s bacteria get even closer, as you can see at 3:11 in my video. Dogs can act like a bridge to pass bacteria back and forth between people. Curiously, owning cats doesn’t seem to have the same effect. Maybe cats don’t tend to drink out of the toilet bowl as much as dogs do? Exposure to pet bacteria may actually be beneficial. It’s “intriguing to consider that who we cohabit with, including companion animals, may alter our physiological properties by influencing the consortia of microbial symbionts [or bacteria] that we harbor in and on our various body habitats.” This may be why “[r]ecent studies link early exposure to pets to decreased prevalence of allergies, respiratory conditions, and other immune disorders” as kids grow older. In my video Are Cats or Dogs More Protective for Children’s Health?, I talk about studies in which dog exposure early in life may decrease respiratory infections, especially ear infections. Children with dogs “were significantly healthier,” but we didn’t know why. Indeed, we didn’t know the mechanism until, perhaps, now—with the first study tying together the protection from respiratory disease through pet exposure to differences in gut bacteria. None of the studied infants in homes with pets suffered from wheezy bronchitis within the first two years of life, whereas 15 percent of the pet-deprived infants had. And, when comparing stool samples, this correlated with differences in gut bacteria depending on the presence of pets in the home. There was a famous study of 12,000 people that found that a “person’s chances of becoming obese increased by 57%…if he or she had a friend who became obese,” suggesting social ties have a big effect. However, given the evidence implicating the role of gut bacteria in obesity, this “raises up the possibility that cravings and associated obesity might not just be socially contagious”—that is, because, for instance, you all go out together and eat the same fattening food—“but rather truly infectious, like a cold.” This article has been modified. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Greger click here.

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Gut Bacteria Can Penetrate Tumors and Aid Cancer Therapy, Study Suggests

AHA Publisher — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:00:08 +0000

The Rockefeller University Press via Newswise – Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and University of Chicago have discovered that bacteria that usually live in the gut can accumulate in tumors and improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy in mice. Newswise — The study, which will be published March 6 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), suggests that treating cancer patients with Bifidobacteria might boost their response to CD47 immunotherapy, a wide-ranging anti-cancer treatment that is currently being evaluated in several clinical trials. CD47 is a protein expressed on the surface of many cancer cells, and inhibiting this protein can allow the patient’s immune system to attack and destroy the tumor. Antibodies targeting CD47 are currently being tested as treatments for a wide variety of cancers in multiple clinical trials. But studies with laboratory mice have so far yielded mixed results: some mice seem to respond to anti-CD47 treatment, while others do not. A team of researchers led by Yang-Xin Fu at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Ralph R. Weichselbaum, co-director of The Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research at the University of Chicago, found that the response to treatment depends on the type of bacteria living in the animals’ guts. Tumor-bearing mice that normally respond to anti-CD47 treatment failed to respond if their gut bacteria were killed off by a cocktail of antibiotics. In contrast, anti-CD47 treatment became effective in mice that are usually non-responsive when these animals were supplemented with Bifidobacteria, a type of bacteria that is often found in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy mice and humans. Bifidobacteria have previously been shown to benefit patients with ulcerative colitis. Surprisingly, however, the researchers found that Bifidobacteria do not just accumulate in the gut; they also migrate into tumors, where they appear to activate an immune signaling pathway called the stimulation of interferon genes (STING) pathway. This results in the production of further immune signaling molecules and the activation of immune cells. When combined with anti-CD47 treatment, these activated immune cells can attack and destroy the surrounding tumor. “Our study demonstrates that a specific member of the gut microbial population enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of anti-CD47 by colonizing the tumor,” Fu says. “Administration of specific bacterial species or their engineered progenies may be a novel and effective strategy to modulate various anti-tumor immunotherapies.” “Our results open a new avenue for clinical investigations into the effects of bacteria within tumors and may help explain why some cancer patients fail to respond to immunotherapy,” says Weichselbaum. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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The Anti-Anxiety Diet, How to Balance Your Hormones and Heal from Adrenal Fatigue, Nature’s Prozac and More with RD Ali Miller

AHA Publisher — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:00:56 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – There is so much to be anxious about these days, including what to eat. But did you know that there is a way of eating that can actually help reduce the level of anxiety you experience on a day-to-day basis? In this week’s blog and podcast, I discuss the anti-anxiety diet with RD Ali Miller, and how you can balance your hormones, and heal the brain and body by changing what you eat! Ali is an integrative functional medicine practitioner and bestselling author. She focuses on functional medicine, that is looking at the body from a holistic standpoint and helping people achieve and maintain optimal mental and physical health. She is known as the “body’s detective”, and has made it her life’s work to find the root causes of the chronic conditions many people today battle with. In many cases, the problems we face come down to stress. As Ali notes, stress is one of the most overlooked or normalized experiences. Many people fail to acknowledge how their stress and anxiety levels are connected to their mental and physical health—chronic stress is the Achilles’ heel of whole body wellness. It creates dysfunction in all our regulatory systems, leaving us in a constant fight or flight state, which affects our immune systems, sleep, digestion and so on. In women, unmanaged stress and anxiety often impact our hormonal balance, which can cause all sorts of health issues, and end up making us feel more depressed and anxious! This is not just the case with adults. More and more children deal with health issues like childhood obesity, diabetes, behavioral challenges and anxiety, which is negatively impacting their development and their overall wellbeing. In many cases, these changes are a result of what we eat: the highly processed and refined MAD (modern American diet), as I discuss in my book Think and Eat Yourself Smart, has caused all sorts of health and environmental problems around the globe, severely affecting our mental and physical health by impacting blood sugar levels and our ability to nourish ourselves. Thus, Ali places great emphasis on what she calls diet optimization, that is making our diet work for us and not against us. We must go back to the basics, and focus on real, sustainable whole foods that are high in protein and good fats, which help balance hormones and blood sugar levels, maintain our development, produce neurotransmitters, help with satiety and weight management, help us focus and so on. We can use the way we eat to help the body heal the mind, and vice versa! Ali’s anti-anxiety diet approach focuses on six different areas, meeting each person where they are in their personal health journey: 1. Removing inflammatory foods, such as highly processed and refined foods, and foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. 2. Resetting the gut microbiome. Rebalancing our neurotransmitters and reducing our stress and anxiety starts in the microbiome. The gut-brain has over 500 neurons and 100 trillion cells, and produces most our neurotransmitters, including GABA and serotonin, which help reduce our anxiety and calm us down. We can help heal and strengthen the gut microbiome and manage our stress response by eating a healthy diet high in probiotic foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, yoghurt and fermented teas like kombucha, as well as taking good quality probiotics (which populate the gut with healthy bacteria) and prebiotics (which feed the good bacteria). In fact, probiotics and prebiotics are often called nature’s Prozac because of the healthy effect they have on the microbiome, and how they encourage the production of GABA and serotonin, which help calm us down! However, if you take digestive aids and eat a healthy diet and are still experiencing discomfort or distress in your gut, it may be beneficial to do a gut cleanse, which Ali discusses in detail in her book, which helps reset the gut microbiome. 3. Repairing the gut. As mentioned above, we want the gut to be healthy and in a symbiotic state, that is working with the brain and body, because it is integral to the production of neurotransmitters that help manage the stress response and our anxiety levels. A healthy gut helps calm us down, while an unhealthy gut can cause nutrient deficiency, digestive distress, bloating, irregular bathroom habits, flatulence, inflammation, immune sensitivity, leaky gut and so on, which can make us feel anxious by putting the brain and body into a stressed state. 4. Restoring micronutrient status, such as adding good quality, tested and safe supplements like B vitamins and diet optimization. Ali has her own supplement line called Naturally Nourished, which offers third party-tested and pharmaceutical grade supplements that are both high quality and effective, so check them out! For more on the issues associated with supplement industry, see my book Think and Eat Yourself Smart. 5. Rebounding the adrenals. As with all hormones, if cortisol is in overdrive, or if it is suppressed, it can make us feel stressed out and anxious. Generally, our cortisol levels peak in the morning to help us feel awake and ready for the day ahead, and start decreases as they day goes on, so that we can rest at night. If cortisol functions in this way, it is anti-inflammatory, helps stabilize blood sugar, helps the anti-histamine response and so on. However, if our cortisol levels are too high, we can experience the opposite, which can lead to excessive belly fat, disrupted sleep, irritability, mood swings, a physiological stress response (such as the need to move about) and so on. Likewise, if our cortisol levels are too low, we tend to have more allergies due to the dampened anti-histamine response, more inflammation and more fatigue, which can also make us feel stressed and anxious. This is why it is important to focus on the health of our adrenals and make sure that they are functions properly, as adrenal fatigue can severely impact our mood and anxiety levels. 6. Rebalancing neurotransmitters. Our neurotransmitters work in a delicate symphony; when we have too much or too little of any neurotransmitter, we can experience negative affects like an increase in our anxiety levels or a toxic stress response. In conventional medicine, medications like anti-depressants tend to focus on the receptor site of one neurotransmitter, not the whole system, and this is often done blindly. This approach does not take the time to look at everything associated with our mood and how we feel: genetics, nutrients, diet and so on, so they are not rebalancing the intricate symphony of neurotransmitters we need to be healthy. The conventional approach is reductionistic, rather than holistic, and does not make the mind-body connection work for us. This intricate balance is also important when it comes to female hormones like progesterone and estrogen. When they work in tandem, they help balance blood flow and our moods. However, if we are in a constant state of flight or fight, our body’s perceived need for survival affects the production of these hormones, particularly progesterone, which is turned into cortisol. This can lead to a hormonal balance in women, which can result in relative estrogen dominance. This, in turn, can lead to mood instability, stress and anxiety, and can negatively affect the microbiome and serotonin levels, which only increases our body’s sense of “danger ahead!”. As a result, hot flashes and hormone issues are not just a problem for women going through menopause. Younger and younger women are experiencing hormonal imbalances, which can lead to problems such as hot flashes, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), infertility and irregular menstrual cycles. This is why Allie recommends her Relax and Regulate supplement, which helps balance the production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone, and puts the body back on track. Hormone replacement therapy is another option for people who deal with hormonal-related health issues. However, don’t just take any old hormones! Hormone replacement therapy needs to be regulated by annual testing, and the hormones need to be bioidentical, which means they are identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced in our body, not synthetic like certain kinds of birth control. Rather than suppressing regular ovarian functions, bioidentical hormones work with your body and help heal you from the inside out. Your diet can also help heal you from the inside out, balancing your hormones and neurotransmitters and helping you feel great. The keto diet is actually great for issues like PCOS and infertility! Ketones can cross the blood-brain barrier, helping the hypothalamus produce leptin, which makes us feel full and safe, and aids the production of GABA, lessening our fight or flight response and calming us down. This, in turn, helps the body exit survival mode and start producing the hormones and neurotransmitters we need to function on a day-to-day basis, including estrogen and progesterone. Our metabolism starts returning to normal, and we can access our body fat and start using it a fuel, which also helps balance our hormones by helping the pituitary gland function as it should. Yet it is not just important to go keto. How you do keto is equally important. A healthy low carb/high fat diet should include real, whole foods, and should avoid trendy food items that say they are keto, but are processed and refined foods with unhealthy ingredients. As Allie says, don’t replace the foods that got you into trouble with the keto versions of the same food, such as keto cakes and keto donuts. In fact, it is important to be careful of natural and non-natural non-caloric sweeteners. These products tend to sterilize the microbiome, which can work against you over time, and can develop into an addiction to sweet things. If you are doing keto, it is far better to create a savory palate that focuses on vegetables and meat, which will give you a different level of food freedom. You won’t have to trick yourself with keto versions of the foods you miss, and you will get lots of great prebiotic fibers, to help heal the microbiome, which means a healthier brain and body! It is also important not to demonize any macronutrient. Don’t be afraid of carbohydrates; rather, match your carb intake to your metabolism. You may want to start at 30g a day to kick start the healing process, but you can increase this as needed. It is important to find your metabolic flexibility. You may even find that carb-cycling or a low glycemic diet can be helpful, especially if you have a low-percentage body fat, are at an ideal body weight or have irregular periods (adding more carbohydrates may help restore ovulation by balancing your hormones). This article has been modified. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Leaf click here.

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Could Cancer Immunotherapy Success Depend on Gut Bacteria?

AHA Publisher — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 07:00:38 +0000

UT Southwestern Medical Center via EurekAlert- Could the response to cancer immunotherapy depend on bacteria that originate in the gut and travel to the tumor? DALLAS – March 6, 2020 – A study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Chicago suggests exactly that, revealing that gut bacteria can penetrate tumor cells and boost the effectiveness of an experimental immunotherapy that targets the CD47 protein. Using mouse models of malignancy, the scientists found that the intestinal microbe Bifidobacterium accumulates within tumors, transforming anti-CD47 unresponsive tumors into responsive ones. The team’s study, published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, discovered that the response to treatment depends on the type of bacteria living in the animals’ guts. They then identified the mechanism, finding that the combination of antibodies against CD47 and gut bacteria works via the body’s STING pathway of innate immunity – the body’s first line of defense against infection. Their experiments used mice from different resource facilities, antibiotic-fed mice, and mice raised in a germ-free environment. In one experiment, they studied mice raised in two different facilities and that had distinct mixtures of bacteria in their intestines. One group was responsive to anti-CD47 and another was not. The second group became responsive, however, after being housed with the responders, indicating that oral transfer or contact transmission of gut bacteria occurred between groups, the researchers say. The protein CD47 is expressed in high levels on the surface of many cancer cells, where it acts as a “don’t eat me” signal to the immune system’s macrophages, commonly known as white blood cells. As a result, anti-CD47, also known as CD47 blockade therapy, is currently under investigation in multiple clinical trials. However, the mouse studies that predated those trials had mixed results, with only some mice responding to the anti-CD47 therapy, explains corresponding author Yang-Xin Fu, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology, immunology, and radiation at UT Southwestern. “We felt we needed to improve anti-CD47 therapy and understand the mechanisms,” he says, leading them to wonder about the gut microbiome, the bacteria that grow in the intestines and aid with digestion. That bacterial ecosystem, sometimes called the microbiota, is also known to affect the gut’s ability to resist pathogens and the host’s response to cancer immunotherapy. “But how the microbiota does that has been unclear,” Fu says. “This study finds that some of the bacteria from the gut travel to the tumor and get into the cells, or microenvironment, where the bacteria facilitate CD47 blockade’s ability to attack the tumor. We found it does that via the immune signaling pathway called stimulator of interferon genes (STING).” The findings suggest that a probiotic might someday be used to improve anti-CD47 therapy, says Fu, a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (CPRIT) Scholar and holder of the Mary Nell and Ralph B. Rogers Professorship in Immunology at UT Southwestern. The researchers also found that tumor-bearing mice that normally respond to anti-CD47 treatment failed to respond if their gut bacteria were killed off by antibiotics. In contrast, anti-CD47 treatment became effective in mice that are usually nonresponsive when these animals were supplemented with Bifidobacteria, a type of bacteria that is often found in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy mice and humans. They further discovered that the bacteria migrate into tumors, activating the STING immune signaling pathway. This sets off production of immune signaling molecules such as type 1 interferons and activating immune cells that appear to attack and destroy the tumor once the anti-CD47 agent nullifies the CD47’s “don’t eat me” tag, the researchers report. The researchers found that mice genetically unable to activate type 1 interferon failed to respond to the bacteria-immunotherapy approach. Similarly, mice unable to access the STING pathway showed no benefit from the combined bacteria-immunotherapy approach, confirming that STING signaling is essential. “It is very possible that more than one type of gut microbiota could enhance tumor immunity in a similar way and we would like to investigate that,” he adds. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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