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The Best Foods and Herbs to Eliminate Intestinal Parasites

The AHA! Team — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 05:19:40 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Parasites consume nutrients from the food we eat – and can also feed on blood, resulting in a lack of vital iron and protein. In addition, they can cause malabsorption of nutrients, leading to deficiencies. Parasites lurking deep within the human body may be hidden from sight – but their effects can be far-reaching and serious. Ranging in size from tiny microorganisms to ten-foot-long segmented worms, intestinal parasites can cause inflammation in the brain, muscles, esophagus, and skin and are associated with leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, acid reflux, joint pain, seasonal and food allergies – and a host of other health problems. The good news is that these noxious pests are vulnerable to certain foods and natural herbal remedies. Read on to discover what these substances are and how you can use them to rid your body of a parasitic infection. Intestinal parasites can wreak havoc on our health Parasites consume nutrients from the food we eat – and can also feed on blood, resulting in a lack of vital iron and protein. In addition, they can cause malabsorption of nutrients, leading to deficiencies. Intestinal parasites can enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, where they can penetrate body tissues such as the liver, lungs, and stomach – with serious consequences. For example, parasites lodged in the liver can cause cirrhosis and abscesses. There are many routes through which parasites can enter the body, including contaminated food – particularly pork, shellfish, and scavenger fish – and water. Some can also be transmitted through the bite of a mosquito or flea, through intimate contact, or even through the nose and mouth after a contaminated surface has been touched. Although anyone can get parasites, having low immunity, poor diet, and poor hygiene can all raise the risk of infection. Protozoa and helminths: A pair of health threats There are two major classes of intestinal parasites. Protozoa are single-celled microscopic organisms. Examples of infectious parasitical protozoa include Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium. Because these microorganisms can reproduce inside humans, infections can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms of protozoan disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, dehydration, fatigue and joint pain. Helminths Helminths are multicellular worms and include roundworms, flatworms, pinworms – the most common form of helminth in the United States – tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Helminths differ from protozoa in that although they can live in your lower intestine, they can’t reproduce there. However, they can still cause serious health problems. Before treating for parasites, make sure you undergo comprehensive tests, including microbiology. After you know which parasites you are fighting, you can try one or more of the following foods and herbs to eliminate them. Pumpkin seeds are an anti-parasitical snack Pumpkin seeds are tasty, crunchy, and nutritious. They also can paralyze helminths, allowing them to be easily flushed from the body, and have been traditionally used as a remedy for parasites. Some natural health experts advise blending a cup of raw pumpkin seeds with half a cup of coconut milk and half a cup of water, then eating the resultant paste – following up with a glass of water. Although pumpkin seeds can be very effective, results may not be immediate – you may need to repeat the treatment several times. Garlic: A one-two punch against parasites Garlic is packed with sulfur-containing amino acids, which help to combat parasites. A compound in garlic known as allicin also helps to kill and expel worms – but the garlic must be sliced, diced, or chopped to fully release it. The more finely garlic is chopped, the more allicin it releases. After mincing or dicing garlic, let it sit for a few minutes to allow this chemical process to occur. Alternatively, you can chew it for at least a minute. Papaya: A tropical fruit that fights parasites Along with amino acids, digestive enzymes such as papain (found in papayas) and bromelain (found in pineapples) can create an unfriendly environment for protozoa and helminths alike. The value of this traditional natural remedy for intestinal parasites was confirmed in a placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods. Sixty children were treated with a mixture of air-dried Carica papaya seeds and honey, resulting in parasite clearance rates that ranged between 71.4 percent and 100 percent. Researchers praised papaya seeds as an effective, cheap, and safe way to treat human intestinal parasites. In addition to foods such as pumpkin seeds, garlic, and papaya seeds, some common herbs have parasite-destroying properties. Just one word of caution: Always consult a holistic physician or trusted herbal medicine expert before starting a detoxification program to avoid harming the body. Let’s not forget: Oil of oregano Highly antimicrobial, oil of oregano – made from Oreganum vulgare – can be very effective against intestinal parasites. In a study published in Phytotherapy Research, adults infected with three different types of parasites were given 600 mg of oregano oil a day. After six weeks, parasites were eradicated in 72 percent of the participants; 23 percent greatly decreased their parasite load. Because researchers think that oil of oregano gets its anti-parasitical powers from carvacrol, be sure to use oil standardized to at least 65 percent carvacrol. Neem: An ancient remedy for parasites Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral neem has been used in India for thousands of years to reliably kill internal and external parasites. The neem tree, scientifically known as Azadirachta indica, is native to India, where it serves so many medicinal purposes that it is often referred to as “the village pharmacy.” One of neem’s assets is that it not only kills parasites but also removes the toxins they leave behind as they are dying. This detoxifying property of neem also makes it a boon to the liver, which is often compromised by parasitic infection. Wormwood, black walnut, and cloves: a potent combination Scientifically known as Artemisia annua and also called annual mugwort and sweet Annie, Wormwood has pronounced anti-protozoan effects and is particularly effective at killing parasitic larvae. In addition, it stimulates macrophages, which are key in the immune system’s defense against parasitic infestation. Wormwood is often combined with black walnut, or Juglans negra, and the essential oil of cloves. The juglone in black walnut helps to kill parasites, while the antimicrobial oil of cloves can destroy virtually all parasite eggs in the intestinal tract. Combining these three substances can interrupt the parasitic life cycle, terminating these pests for good. How diet can help you to avoid parasites,/h5> Remember: Organic acids and enzymes help to kill parasites. Eating foods rich in these substances can create a body environment that discourages parasitic infection. As a preventative, natural health experts recommend eating six tablespoons of raw, extra-virgin coconut oil, a whole clove of garlic, and one large red onion. High-quality multi-strain probiotics can help destroy parasites in both the upper and lower gastrointestinal systems. Drinking fermented beverages – such as kefir and apple cider vinegar – and eating fermented probiotic-rich foods such as miso soup, sauerkraut, and kimchi can encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and help to ward off infection. Finally, it is essential to sharply reduce and eliminate sugar, grains – which break down to sugar in the body – and alcohol. Editor’s note: Discover the shocking truth behind your “unexplained” health problems + the best ways to detoxify your body, watch the Whole Body Detox Summit created by NaturalHealth365 Programs. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov CDC.gov NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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Which Chemicals in Tap Water Can Wreck Your Health?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 08:00:34 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Perhaps nothing is as essential to maintaining good health as safe and adequate drinking water. But an increase in water contaminants in recent years has heightened concerns over what is coming out of the tap when you reach for that faucet. In fact, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) have stated that fluoride – which is deliberately placed in public water systems throughout North America – directly ‘contribute to the development of mental disorders in children, such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and autism.’ Can U.S. Citizens Trust EPA Water “Safety” Standards? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that Americans should expect their drinking water, whether from the tap or bottle, to contain at least trace amounts of certain pollutants and contaminants. Don’t you love the way they downplay the health concern? (i.e. ‘trace amounts’) According to the agency, finding impurities in drinking water does not necessarily mean it is dangerous to consume. To that end, the EPA has created standards for about 90 contaminants most often found in drinking water, providing limits for what the agency has determined are safe levels. In addition, the list includes what the EPA has labeled as “indicators,” substances that signal a likely problem with a treatment facility or distribution system. Is Your Water Supply Safe to Drink? While these “National Primary Drinking Water Regulations” may provide some legally enforceable standards that public water systems must adhere to, the presence of contaminants in drinking water continues to raise questions as to whether safe levels truly are “safe,” and what the long-term health consequences may be of consuming even trace levels of hazardous chemicals over long periods of time. And with fewer than 100 contaminants on the list, the public is at risk for additional substances not falling under the regulation that pose a health threat for cancer and other ills. Among the classifications of hazardous substances most commonly found in drinking water supplies are: Microorganisms Disinfectants Disinfection byproducts Inorganic chemicals Organic chemicals Radionuclides Notice what is NOT mentioned (tested)? How about all the pharmaceutical drugs flushed down the toilet – every single day! Microorganisms Prove to Be Deadly Modern municipal treatment processes, including disinfection and filtration, have led to complacency about drinking water safety. But all the technology available cannot always completely safeguard people from deadly microorganism contamination and other pollutants. The Natural Resources Defense Council points to an incident in upstate New York in 1999 when more than 1,000 county fairgoers fell ill due to waterborne contamination by a particularly virulent strain of E. Coli bacteria. An elderly man and young child died when they were not strong enough to fight off the pathogen. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Health officials around the country have documented similar situations of human health compromised by microorganism contamination of drinking water. Problems with microorganisms in water most often result from contamination with human or animal fecal matter or bacteria that typically exist in the environment. How Do Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Get Into the Water Supply? Ironically, when agents are added to water to control the growth of microbes, these disinfectants can become contaminants themselves. In addition, substances that are formed during the disinfection process can also find their way into the drinking water. For example, chlorine added to control the growth of bacteria can cause nose and throat irritation and irritate the stomach. In addition, bromate and haloacetic acids can form during the disinfection process and contaminate water. Both substances are considered cancer-causing agents, according to the EPA. Other disinfectant byproducts have been linked to serious reproductive problems. Can Inorganic and Organic Chemicals Harm the Body? Large numbers of organic and inorganic chemicals find their way into public drinking water, causing everything from kidney damage and intestinal lesions to nerve disorders. For example, an inorganic chemical like arsenic can contaminate drinking water supplies due to erosion of natural deposits, orchard runoff, or contamination from waste sites that handle materials like electronics and glass. Fluoride, added to many municipal water supplies, can lead to bone disease, teeth mottling, and lower IQ. Organic chemicals like atrazine, a chemical used in agriculture production that can enter water supplies through runoff, raise havoc with cardiovascular and reproductive systems. What Kind of Radionuclides Can Be Found in Our Water Supply? Contaminants like uranium and alpha particles can enter the water supply from natural erosion. These and other radionuclides are known to raise the risk of cancer and lead to kidney toxicity. These outdated ‘safety standards’ from the EPA raise serious health concerns. While the EPA regulates only 91 contaminants through the Safe Drinking Water Act, the agency is quick to point out that over 60,000 chemicals are used in some capacity across the nation. According to an analysis of government records by The New York Times, these chemicals have been scrutinized by government officials and independent researchers, and hundreds have been found to increase the risk of cancer and raise other serious health risks, even when found at tiny concentrations in drinking water. Despite this finding, however, no additional chemicals have been added since 2000 to the list falling under regulation of the Safe Drinking Water Act, leaving citizens with unanswered questions about the safety of their water supply. If you want to be sure about the safety of your water supply – get it tested and take the appropriate actions necessary to protect you and your family. After all, drinking pure (clean) spring water or purified water is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Sources for this article include: EWG.org MedicalDaily.com EPA.gov NRDC.org To read the original article click here.

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Researchers Link “Genetic Signatures” of Bacteria in the Human Gut to Multiple Diseases

AHA Publisher — Thu, 20 May 2021 07:00:24 +0000

Harvard Medical School via News-Medical – We are truly never alone, not even within our own bodies. Human beings play host to trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that make up the human microbiome. In recent years, the mix of these resident bacteria, and the presence of specific bacterial species, has been linked to conditions ranging from obesity to multiple sclerosis. Now, going a step farther, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Joslin Diabetes Center have gone beyond microbial species. Analyzing the genetic makeup of bacteria in the human gut, the team has successfully linked groups of bacterial genes, or “genetic signatures,” to multiple diseases. The work brings scientists closer to developing tests that could predict disease risk or identify disease presence based on a sampling of the genetic makeup of a person’s microbiome. The findings, to be published May 18 in Nature Communications, link sets of bacterial genes to the presence of coronary artery disease, cirrhosis of the liver, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes. The analysis indicates that three of these conditions–coronary artery disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver cirrhosis–share many of the same bacterial genes. In other words, people whose guts harbor these bacterial genes seem more likely to have one or more of these three conditions. The work represents a significant advance in the current understanding of the relationship between microbes residing in the human gut and specific diseases, the team said. If confirmed through further research, the results could inform the design of tools that could gauge a person’s risk for a range of conditions based on analysis of a single fecal sample, they added. “This opens a window for the development of tests using cross-disease, gene-based indicators of patient health. We’ve identified genetic markers that we think could eventually lead to tests, or just one test, to identify associations with a number of medical conditions.” (Braden Tierney, Study First Author and Graduate Student, Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard Medical School) The researchers caution that their study was not designed to elucidate exactly how and why these microbial genes may be linked to different diseases. Thus far, they said, it remains unclear whether these bacteria are involved in disease development or are mere bystanders in this process. The goal of the study was to determine whether groups of genes could reliably indicate the presence of different diseases. These newly identified microbial genetic signatures, however, could be studied further to determine what role, if any, the organisms play in disease development. “Our study underscores the value of data science to tease out complex interplay between microbes and humans,” said study senior author Chirag Patel, associate professor of biomedical informatics in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS. The researchers started out by collecting microbiome data from 13 groups of patients totaling more than 2,500 samples. Next, they analyzed the data to pinpoint linkages between seven diseases and millions of microbial species, microbial metabolic pathways, and microbial genes. By trying out a variety of modeling approaches–computing a total of 67 million different statistical models–they were able to observe what microbiome features consistently emerged as the strongest disease-associated candidates. Of all the various microbial characteristics–species, pathways, and genes–microbial genes had the greatest predictive power. In other words, the researchers said, groups of bacterial genes, or genetic signatures, rather than merely the presence of certain bacterial families, were linked most closely to the presence of a given condition. Some of the main observations included: Clusters of bacterial genes, or genetic signatures, rather than individual bacterial genes, appear implicated in various types of human disease. Coronary artery disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver cirrhosis have similar gut microbiome genetic signatures. Type 2 diabetes, by contrast, has a microbiome signature unlike any other phenotype tested. The analysis did not find a consistent link between the presence of the bacterial species Solobacterium moorei and colon cancer–an association previously reported in numerous studies. However, the researchers did identify particular genes from a S. moorei subspecies associated with colorectal cancer. This finding indicates that gene-level analysis can yield biomarkers of disease with greater precision and more specificity compared with current approaches. Patel said this result underscores the notion that it is not merely the presence of a given bacterial family that may portend risk, but rather the strains and gene signatures of the microbes that matter. The ability to identify interconnections with such precision will be critical for designing tests that can measure risk reliably, he added. Thus, in this specific example, a test intended to measure colon-cancer risk by merely detecting the presence of S. moorei in the gut may not be as reliable as a more refined test that measures bacterial genes to detect the presence of specific strains of S. moorei that are associated with colon cancer. Two conditions–ear inflammation and benign soft-tissue tumors called adenomas–showed weak associations with the gut microbiome, suggesting that microorganisms residing in the human gut are not likely to play a role in the development of these conditions, nor are they likely to be reliable indicators that these conditions are present. In a previous study, the HMS team used massive amounts of publicly available DNA-sequencing data from human oral and gut microbiomes to estimate the size of the universe of microbial genes in the human body. The analysis revealed that there may be more genes in the collective human microbiome than stars in the observable universe. Given the sheer number of microbial genes that reside within the human body, the new findings represent a major step forward in understanding the complexity of the interplay between human diseases and the human microbiome, the researchers said. “The ultimate goal of computational science is to generate hypotheses from a huge swath of data,” said Tierney. “Our work shows that this can be done and opens up so many new avenues for research and inquiry that we are only limited by the time, people, and resources needed to run those tests.” To read the original article click here.

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Newly-Developed Probiotic Coffee and Tea Expected to Yield REMARKABLE Health Benefits

AHA Publisher — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 07:00:40 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – If you’re one of those individuals who craves a cup of coffee or tea before starting your day, great news: your morning brew just got a lot healthier. At least, that’s what scientists at the National University of Singapore are hoping to accomplish – with the help of some friendly microbes. According to a March 21 statement from the university, two doctoral students have succeeded in adding live probiotics – beneficial microorganisms – to the popular beverages without sacrificing flavor, drinkability, or shelf life. Probiotics help maintain the health and balance of the gut microbiome, the community of “friendly” bacteria in the intestinal tract, in turn strengthening the immune system, fighting pathogens, and even supporting a stable mood. Clearly, probiotic coffee and tea sound like a win/win! Here Is How Probiotic Coffee and Tea Improve the Digestibility and Absorption of Nutrients Study supervisor Liu Shao Quan, an Associate Professor from the Department of Food Science and Technology at NUS, noted that probiotics are traditionally found in dairy-based foods, such as yogurt and soft cheeses. For vegans and lactose-intolerant individuals, plant-based probiotic beverages such as coffee and tea can provide a viable alternative. “The fermentation process creates compounds that improve nutrient digestibility while still retaining the health benefits associated with coffee and tea,” Prof. Liu declared. Each serving of probiotic coffee or tea contains at least one billion live probiotics, the daily amount recommended by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics. The products can be stored, either chilled or at room temperature, for up to 14 weeks. Antioxidant-Rich Coffee Fights MULTIPLE Life-Threatening Illnesses Such as Cancer and Heart Disease, According to Science Doctoral student Alcine Chan crafted the new probiotic coffee by adding specific nutrients and live probiotics to brewed coffee, then fermenting the mixture for a day. Although the process sounds simple, Ms. Chan noted that the formulation was “tricky.” Not all types of probiotics can grow in coffee, she reported, and not all nutrients meshed well with the taste of coffee. Ultimately, she was satisfied with the results, saying that each prototype retains its distinctive coffee taste. The coffees also retain their original polyphenols, along with their caffeine. According to researchers at the prestigious Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, regular coffee drinking is associated with significantly lower odds of developing an array of serious diseases – including type 2 diabetes,heart disease, depression, obesity, liver cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, suicide, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Studies also support the ability of coffee to preserve memory and protect against falls in older people. Researchers say that it is not just the caffeine in coffee that drives its health benefits. Its chlorogenic acid, bioactive tannins, and potent antioxidants get some of the credit as well. Both Black and Green Tea Are Strongly Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory – Now, They Can Be Probiotic as Well Ms. Wang Rui, the student who created the probiotic tea, added nutrients and probiotics to a tea infusion and allowed it to ferment for two days. The final product, she reported, has a fruity, floral taste, with a similar “mouthfeel” to conventional tea. “Drinkers can add sweeteners, and milk, or cream, based on their preferences,” she noted. Ms. Rui added that any type of brewed tea could be used for the product. As with the coffee, the patented fermentation process allows for the polyphenols in tea to be retained. Tea, which contains beneficial compounds known as catechins, is credited with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. Black tea is linked with improved immune function, while green tea can lower unwanted LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Both black and green tea have been linked in observational studies with longer lives. Support the Hard-Working Gut Microbiome With Probiotics Bacteria in the gut microbiome perform a range of indispensable functions, including absorbing nutrients, synthesizing vitamins, breaking down dietary fiber, destroying pathogens, and strengthening the immune system – 80 percent of which exists in the gut. “Friendly” bacteria also bind to toxins and carcinogens, promoting their excretion from the body. In fact, so important is the microbiome to health that bacterial imbalances can trigger autoimmune disorders, metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Microbiome balance can be disturbed by unnecessary use of antibiotics, poor nutrition (a diet high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and refined carbohydrates), pharmaceutical medications, and normal aging. Fortunately, supplementary probiotics and probiotic foods can help encourage healthy microbial balance. Two types of bacteria, in particular, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, are probiotic “superstars” with an impressive array of benefits – which include increasing beneficial HDL cholesterol, regulating immune response, reducing inflammation, improving blood sugar control, and reducing potentially cancer-causing DNA mutations. In a clinical study involving patients with type 2 diabetes and published in Nutrition, researchers found that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria in yogurt improved fasting glucose and A1c, a measure of blood sugar control over time. Some people experience anxiety, headaches, heart palpitations, and insomnia from caffeine, which is found in both coffee and tea. Naturally, if you are sensitive to caffeine, you shouldn’t drink these beverages. Or, you could try switching to decaffeinated varieties, which still provide some health benefits. Presumably, the field of probiotic enrichment will take the healthy contributions of coffee and tea to a whole new level – and do it without any noticeable loss of aroma and flavor of your morning “cuppa.” Naturally, if you don’t want to drink coffee (and still want to consume more probiotics, you can try adding miso soup, tempeh or sauerkraut to your diet. Sources for this article include: LifeExtension.com LifeExtension.com NIH.gov Harvard.edu PennMedicine.org To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Super Sanitizing in the Age of COVID: Can You Be Too Clean?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 08:00:20 +0000

Lorie Johnson via CBN News – In the last decade, health experts touted the benefits of having plenty of good bacteria in the gut. They say having a diverse gut microbiome strengthens the immune system. As it turns out, a diverse microbiome in our environment operates the same way. In other words, there are plenty of good bugs all around us that can help us fight off disease. However, during the COVID pandemic more than ever before, many of the good bugs in our environment are being wiped out with high-powered cleansers like antibacterial agents and bleach. While health experts stress the importance of fighting COVID by washing hands and surfaces with mild cleansers, such as old-fashioned soap and water, they say disinfecting may literally be overkill. When New York City shut down the subways for four hours each day for disinfecting it deprived untold residents of much-needed transportation. Many of these travelers worked at hospitals and other health care facilities treating COVID patients, the last people who needed additional hardship during the pandemic. To make matters worse, some scientists declared the subway shutdown a colossal waste of time and money. “It looks a bit to me like ‘cleaning theatre,'” Dr. Jack Gilbert, microbiome researcher, University of California San Diego professor and author of Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System told CBN News, adding the purpose of the disinfecting project may actually have been “to make people feel more comfortable about using those environments. Bleaching the surfaces will have very, very little impact upon the spread of the disease.” That’s because science tells us COVID-19 is spread mainly through personal contact. Furthermore, Dr. Gilbert points out the fact that once a surface is sanitized, it doesn’t stay that way for long. “If you sterilize a surface, in a few minutes after sterilization the microbes from our body are re-colonizing that surface.” During this pandemic, welcoming some of the germs living all around us may seem scary, but it’s generally better than killing them all. “The negative consequences of bleaching the environment, especially if you have very young children in the environment, can actually lead to chronic consequences which may be worse,” Dr. Gilbert said, adding the good bugs we encounter, especially as youngsters, can help prevent food allergies, skin problems like eczema and even issues associated with autism. “Those experiences that those children are getting shape how their immune system develops. And that can shape how our brains develop,” he said. Growing Up With Dirt Think about all the germs surrounding barnyard animals or even household pets. Turns out, those bugs are good for us. Growing up with animals can reduce the lifetime risk of a number of ailments. For example, asthma strikes about one in ten Americans. Children who grow up with a dog, however, are 13-percent less likely to develop this serious lung disease. Kids on farms do even better, enjoying a 50-percent reduction. In the age of COVID, doctors say it’s never been more important to wash our hands. However, we can go overboard. Mayo Clinic researcher Dr. Heidi Nelson told CBN News that exposure to certain microorganisms can help fight disease. “Keeping clean is good, but there probably is such a thing as too clean,” she said, adding that exposure to a diverse array of microorganisms in the environment can help fight disease. “We all grew up playing in the dirt and it didn’t hurt us and it probably kept us healthy and having a strong immune system,” she said. In his book, Eat Dirt: Why Leaky Gut May Be the Root Cause of Your Health Problems and 5 Surprising Steps to Cure It, Dr. Josh Axe, who has the number one natural health website, told CBN News that a preoccupation with disinfecting everything in sight puts us at risk for chronic illnesses. “What a lot of people don’t realize is by using excessive sanitizers and bleaches they’re actually weakening their immune system.” The Natural Approach Dr. Axe says some cleansers contain harsh chemicals that can harm the skin and gut. He recommends a more natural approach. “If we use things like essential oils that are referenced in the Bible we’re not going to have those same side effects, yet it’s going to help sanitize us and keep us healthy,” he said. He recommends this recipe for a general household cleanser. HOMEMADE HOUSEHOLD CLEANSER INGREDIENTS: 8 Ounces Water 4 Ounces Distilled White Vinegar 15 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil 15 Drops Lemon Essential Oil DIRECTIONS: Fill a spray bottle with ingredients. Close bottle and shake to mix. Shake bottle before each spray. In addition to gentle cleansers that kill bad germs while still allowing our immune system to flourish, Dr. Axe points to other COVID-fighting strategies. “I recommend getting zinc, around 30 milligrams a day, Vitamin D at 5,000 IUs a day and Vitamin C at 1,000 milligrams a day,” he said, continuing, “I really like echinacea because of how it strengthens the lungs, elderberry because of how it fights viruses and astragalus for its immune-boosting properties.” So while health experts advise washing hands and surfaces often with plain, old soap and water or another type of mild cleanser, they warn that super-sanitizing with antibacterial soap or bleach may literally be overkill. To read the original article click here. For more articles from CBN News click here.

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The Parkinson’s Disease Gut Has an Overabundance of Opportunistic Pathogens

AHA Publisher — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 07:00:35 +0000

University of Alabama at Birmingham via Newswise – Parkinson’s disease is a common, progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative disease. It currently cannot be prevented or cured. In 2003, Heiko Braak proposed that non-inherited forms of PD are caused by a pathogen in the gut. He hypothesized that the pathogen could pass through the intestinal mucosal barrier and spread to the brain through the nervous system. Up to now, there has been no evidence of a specific pathogen that may trigger PD. Now Haydeh Payami, Ph.D., professor of neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues report for the first time a significant overabundance of a cluster of opportunistic pathogens in the guts of persons with PD, compared to control subjects. “The exciting question is whether these are Braak’s pathogens capable of triggering PD, or are they irrelevant to PD but able to penetrate the gut and grow, because the gut lining is compromised in PD,” Payami said. “We emphasize that no claims can be made on function based solely on association. The identity of these microorganisms will enable experimental studies to determine whether and how they play a role in PD.” Payami and colleagues at UAB, Emory University, Albany Medical College and the University of Washington were able to identify these microorganisms because they performed the largest microbiome-wide association study of persons with PD and controls to date. Many previous studies have found altered gut microbiomes in persons with PD but did not detect an increase in opportunistic pathogens. Opportunistic pathogens are often harmless, but they can grow and cause infections if the immune system is compromised or if they penetrate into sterile sites of the body. “We suspect the reason we were able to detect these microorganisms is that they are rare and we had a much larger sample size and power than prior studies,” Payami said. Her researchers re-analyzed their 2017 study that had 197 cases and 130 controls, using a more advanced bioinformatics pipeline. They also analyzed a new, independent dataset with 323 cases of PD and 184 controls, in parallel to the first dataset. This allowed internal replication and the power to detect both rare and common signals. Previous PD microbiome studies have ranged from 10 to 197 PD cases and 10 to 130 controls. A microbiome-wide association study uses advances in DNA sequencing and computational tools to look for microbial communities that may be associated with disease. There is emerging understanding that the gut microbiome — which includes 500 to 1,000 bacterial species that have a mainly beneficial influence — plays an important role in human health and disease. Payami and colleagues also used hypothesis-free correlation network analysis to identify communities of co-occurring microorganisms. Network analysis is an important new tool in biology. An easily understood example of networks is a social network like Facebook, where one can map the connections between followers or friends. A few people will have a huge number of connections, some will have many, and a vast majority will have much fewer. A map of these connections is akin to an airline route map. Using network analysis, Payami and colleagues found three polymicrobial clusters, and also found that each cluster shared functional characteristics. The first cluster was that of opportunistic pathogens overabundant in PD cases, a novel finding. The other two clusters were confirmatory of previous studies. In comparison to controls, persons with PD had reduced levels of a cluster of microbes that produce short-chain fatty acids. In the third cluster, the persons with PD had elevated levels of two genera that are carbohydrate-metabolizing probiotic microbes. Payami says the current study had a precise focus and an intentionally strict analytic execution. The rigor of the study included showing that the altered gut microbiomes in the PD cases were independent of sex, age, BMI, constipation, gastrointestinal discomfort, geography and diet. The 15 PD-associated genera that achieved microbiome-wide significance in both datasets were identified using two methods, and with or without covariate adjustment. “There is more to be learned,” Payami said, “with larger sample sizes with greater power, longitudinal studies to track change from prodromal to advanced disease, and by next-generation metagenome sequencing to broaden the scope from bacteria and archaea to include viruses and fungi, and improve the resolution to strain and gene level.” Co-authors with Payami for the study, “Characterizing dysbiosis of gut microbiome in PD: evidence for overabundance of opportunistic pathogens,” published in the Nature partner journal Parkinson’s Disease are Zachary D. Wallen, Mary Appah, Marissa N. Dean, Cheryl L. Sesler and David G. Standaert, UAB Department of Neurology; Stewart A. Factor, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Eric Molho, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York; and Cyrus P. Zabetian, Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Support came from National Institutes of Health grants NS036960, NS062684, NS108675 and NS095775. The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5014, is the awarding and administering acquisition office. This work was also supported by the U.S. Army Medical Research Materiel Command endorsed by the U.S. Army, through the Parkinson’s Research Program, under Award Nos. W81XWH1810508 and W81XWH1810509. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the U.S. Army. In conducting research using animals, the investigator(s) adheres to the laws of the United States and regulations of the Department of Agriculture. In the conduct of research utilizing recombinant DNA, the investigator adhered to NIH Guidelines for research involving recombinant DNA molecules. In the conduct of research involving hazardous organisms or toxins, the investigator adhered to the CDC-NIH Guide for Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. To read the original article click here.

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Diet, Gut Microbes Affect Cancer Treatment Outcomes, Research Suggests

AHA Publisher — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 07:00:10 +0000

University of Virginia Health System via EurekAlert – What we eat can affect the outcome of chemotherapy – and likely many other medical treatments – because of ripple effects that begin in our gut, new research suggests. University of Virginia scientists found that diet can cause microbes in the gut to trigger changes in the host’s response to a chemotherapy drug. Common components of our daily diets (for example, amino acids) could either increase or decrease both the effectiveness and toxicity of the drugs used for cancer treatment, the researchers found. The discovery opens an important new avenue of medical research and could have major implications for predicting the right dose and better controlling the side effects of chemotherapy, the researchers report. The finding also may help explain differences seen in patient responses to chemotherapy that have baffled doctors until now. “The first time we observed that changing the microbe or adding a single amino acid to the diet could transform an innocuous dose of the drug into a highly toxic one, we couldn’t believe our eyes,” said Eyleen O’Rourke, PhD, of UVA’s College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Medicine’s Department of Cell Biology and the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center. “Understanding, with molecular resolution, what was going on took sieving through hundreds of microbe and host genes. The answer was an astonishingly complex network of interactions between diet, microbe, drug and host.” How Diet Affects Chemotherapy Doctors have long appreciated the importance of nutrition on human health. But the new discovery highlights how what we eat affects not just us but the microorganisms within us. The changes that diet triggers on the microorganisms can increase the toxicity of a chemotherapeutic drug up to 100-fold, the researchers found using the new lab model they created with roundworms. “The same dose of the drug that does nothing on the control diet kills the [roundworm] if a milligram of the amino acid serine is added to the diet,” said Wenfan Ke, a graduate student and lead author of a new scientific paper outlining the findings. Further, different diet and microbe combinations change how the host responds to chemotherapy. “The data show that single dietary changes can shift the microbe’s metabolism and, consequently, change or even revert the host response to a drug,” the researchers report in their paper published in Nature Communications. In short, this means that we eat not just for ourselves but for the more than 1,000 species of microorganisms that live inside each of us, and that how we feed these bugs has a profound effect on our health and the response to medical treatment. One day, doctors may give patients not just prescriptions but detailed dietary guidelines and personally formulated microbe cocktails to help them reach the best outcome. Researchers have observed microbes and diet affecting treatment outcomes before. However, the new research stands out because it is the first time that the underlying molecular processes have been fully dissected. A New Model The researchers’ new model is an extremely simplified version of the complex microbiome – collection of microorganisms – found in people. Roundworms serve as the host, and non-pathogenic E. coli bacteria represent the microbes in the gut. In people, the relationships among diet, microorganisms and host is vastly more complex, and understanding this will be a major task for scientists going forward. The research team noted that drug developers will need to take steps to account for the effect of diet and microbes during their lab work. For example, they will need to factor in whether diet could cause the microorganisms to produce substances, called metabolites, that could interfere or facilitate the effect of the drugs. The researchers suggest that the complexity of the interactions among drug, host and microbiome is likely “astronomical.” Much more study is needed, but the resulting understanding, they say, will help doctors “realize the full therapeutic potential of the microbiota.” “The potential of developing drugs that can improve treatment outcomes by modulating the microbes that live in our gut is enormous,” O’Rourke said. “However, the complexity of the interactions between diet, microbes, therapeutics and the host that we uncovered in this study is humbling. We will need lots of basic research, including sophisticated computer modeling, to reveal how to fully exploit the therapeutic potential of our microbes.” To read the original article click here.

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Tips from a Microbiologist on Keeping the House Clean During COVID-19

AHA Publisher — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 07:00:05 +0000

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) via Newswise – UNLV microbiologist Brian Hedlund on the science of germs, where they like to lurk, and how to effectively get rid of them. The barrage of coronavirus-related news stories can be dizzying. Even for the seemingly well-informed, it’s become increasingly difficult to sift through it all to discern truly helpful tips to keep our homes and families safe and to regain a little bit of control in our lives. Take cleaning, for example. Just as we’re getting the social distancing thing down by staying safe at home, we’re beginning to take a long, hard look at our house cleaning habits. After all, the kitchen has suddenly transformed from a place to (occasionally) cook a meal into the family restaurant, workspace, and school – sometimes all at the same time. So what do we need to know about the germs lurking where we live, and how do we keep them at bay? Brian Hedlund is a UNLV microbiologist who studies how tiny organisms thrive in harsh environments. He’s also well-versed in the science of germs: how they work, where they like to hang out, and, importantly for us, how to effectively get rid of them. We caught up with Hedlund, who shared some background on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and a few simple recommendations on how we can all do our part to keep our living spaces clean. COVID-19 has forced us all to take a closer look at what we touch and how we clean. How do germs “work” and how does COVID-19 stack up? There are roughly 1,000 bacteria per square centimeter of human skin, and several orders of magnitude more on certain areas of the body like the armpits and the groin area. These microbes are released into the environment as skin sheds or as we physically touch our surroundings. More importantly for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, microbes are also released in aerosols from sneezing and coughing or from mucous secretions. Whether we are careful or not, we are constantly picking up microorganisms from the external environment. Once they are deposited onto a surface, the survival of microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, is highly dependent on the biology of the organisms and the physical and chemical environment they find themselves in. Many human-associated bacteria are free-living and can survive or even grow separately from humans. However, others are entirely host-dependent and must be transferred to a new host in order to grow, as is the case for SARS-CoV-2. The data are still coming in about how long SARS-CoV-2 can survive outside of a human host, but the best evidence suggests at least a few days. Are certain surface types more susceptible to piling up potentially harmful germs? It’s important to look first at high-touch surfaces and how many people are in contact with those surfaces – think of tables and counters, doorknobs and handles, phones, remotes, keyboards, steering wheels, and light switches. The number of high-touch surfaces is greater than people tend to think it is. That said, the physical and chemical conditions of the surface are important as well. Microbes, including SARS-CoV-2, can adhere more securely and generally survive better on textured surfaces where they can be protected by dirt, oils, and other materials. Some of that material can also provide nourishment for growth of some bacteria. Most heavy metals have antimicrobial properties, but other metals, such as iron, can provide energy for microorganisms and can lead to the proliferation and survival of certain bacteria. Water is necessary for microbial activity and growth, so moist places are particularly conducive to microorganisms. Generally, dark or shaded surfaces are better for microbial growth and survival than those receiving direct sunlight since UV light is damaging to DNA and other macromolecules. Any advice on how often people should clean high-touch and other surfaces? Coronaviruses are surrounded by a lipid membrane and have a single-stranded RNA genome. This is important because the lipid membrane is very sensitive to soap and the RNA genome is very sensitive to UV light. In general, these are very sensitive microorganisms that don’t survive a long time without a host. People should generally be most concerned with surfaces that receive public contact and/or those that are conducive to microbial growth. If you are in public and touch surfaces that people might have sneezed or coughed on, or even just touched, then it would be a good idea to disinfect anything you touch after that, including cell phones, keys, glasses, and anything you touch frequently because they could serve as intermediates for transfer to your own respiratory mucosa. This is especially important during the current pandemic or for people who are immunocompromised or otherwise prone to respiratory infections. We now spend all of our time at home. Does staying home affect what and how often we need to clean? Absolutely! If you’re home alone or with a limited number of people, then the risks are obviously reduced. However, SARS-CoV-2 infections are often asymptomatic and/or have long incubation periods, and this virus is very infectious. So, extra caution is warranted even in ideal situations. I’m generally not as concerned about microorganisms in our own private spaces. Sure, we can all reduce microbial burden of high-touch areas, but the vast majority of microorganisms within our own private spaces are safe, as long as we’re in good health and pay attention to any problems with our our natural defense systems – skin, mucosal membranes, eyes, etc. It’s very important not to neglect problems with skin and mucosal surfaces and to make sure you’re in good overall health by eating and sleeping well and managing mental health and stress. Of much greater concern, especially now, is limiting the transmission of microbes from other people. We all need to carefully think about the surfaces that could possibly transmit microorganisms from public spaces, and be sure to take the proper precautions when we get home. I know people hear this everywhere, but it’s very important to observe social distancing and practice good hand-face hygiene at this time. If you’re in public (e.g. grocery store) and practicing social distancing, then your hands and anything that your hands touch become critical. So, think about what you touch with your hands. Your steering wheel, car keys, cell phone, door knobs, etc. These are the surfaces we all need to be aware of Should we be concerned about germs on our mail or other packages delivered to our homes? While I don’t think this is a major route of infection, we generally don’t know the provenance of packages that arrive in the mail, and we’re still working to better understand SARS-CoV-2. Because of this, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to treat packages with some caution. The outside packaging could certainly have come into contact with microorganisms, and I’d advise at minimum washing your hands after opening a package and to treat the packaging itself with care by wiping down the package or the surfaces it comes in contact with. Since we don’t think SARS-CoV-2 survives very long away from a host, the internal contents are probably generally safe, but again hand washing is always a good idea for high-risk individuals. Even at home, hand washing is important. Does the type of soap matter? Soap works by dissolving lipid membranes that surround coronaviruses and many other microorganisms. What’s most important right now is to be aware of what you’re touching – particularly outside your home – and to wash your hands with any soap available before touching your face. Temperature is also important. Warmer water disperses soap better than colder water, which makes it more effective. It’s also important to scrub your hands carefully. You now know the drill about singing “Happy Birthday” or “I Will Survive” for a fun way to ensure you’re washing long enough. Beyond that, soaps that are most effective at dissolving grease would likely be most effective at killing coronaviruses. These are typically ionic detergents. That means that they have a salt listed in the ingredients – typically sodium or potassium. Some mild soaps might not be ionic, and I think they would be less effective. There’s also a necessary balance between washing too much and washing too little, and using harsh detergents or weaker detergents containing moisturizers. Washing too often with harsh detergents that don’t contain moisturizers can dehydrate the skin and increase chances of skin infections. Alcohol is a strong disinfectant, for example, but be careful because it can dehydrate skin. For those who have to venture out at this time, what’s your advice to steer clear of harmful germs? An important thing to remember with many pathogenic, or disease-causing microorganisms is that they need to be delivered to the correct locations in order to cause disease. For SARS-CoV-2, this is the respiratory mucosa, although it is also thought that this and other viruses can proliferate in other locations, such as the eye, and then transfer to the respiratory mucosa. For this and other respiratory pathogens like influenza, avoiding airborne droplets, either directly or indirectly, is critical. For now, we need to practice social distancing, always practice good hand-face hygiene, and, for the health of others, cough and sneeze into your elbow. To read the original article click here.

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