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| Alternative Medicine Information |
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Have you Fed Your Good Bugs Today?
Most consumers have heard of probiotics and know that they are foods containing live, beneficial bacteria. Foods such as yogurt, buttermilk, miso or kefir are the most recognized foods providing 'good' bacteria for the gut. But are you aware of the health benefits of prebiotics? In a nutshell, prebiotics are the food to help the probiotics grow and multiply. They are the food for your 'good bugs'. A quick review of probiotics will help in understanding prebiotics. The advantage of beneficial living organisms in food, particularly lactic acid bacteria, has been known for centuries. In fact, the Roman historian, Plinius, in 76 BC, recommended fermented milk for treating gastroenteritis. In the early 1900's, a Russian zoologist, Elie Metchnikoff, wrote about the health benefits of "friendly bacteria" and hypothesized that consumption of fermented milk products were responsible for the long, healthy lives that Bulgarian peasants enjoyed. Probiotics means "pro-life". The digestive tract is home to over 400 species of microorganisms. Some are 'good bugs' and are 'bad bugs' or unhealthy bacteria. Probiotics are the 'good bugs'. Two of the most common strains are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. It is believed that if a positive balance of good bacteria is maintained, the bad bacteria are less able to cause disease and irritation. Here are some health benefits to taking probiotics:
As mentioned earlier, prebiotics are food for probiotics. Consequently, the more you can feed and care for your 'good bugs', the healthier you can be! The Japanese have known the benefits of prebiotics for years. In fact, a commercially prepared prebiotic ("Neosugar") is currently used in over 500 Japanese food products, from infant formulas to health products. The two most common prebiotics are inulin and oligofructose. As a supplement, it will be listed as either inulin or FOS (fructooligosaccharides). Inulin or oligofructose are present in over 36,000 plant foods as plant storage carbohydrates. Excellent food sources are chicory and Jerusalem artichokes. In fact, most commercially prepared inulin comes from chicory, or else synthesized from sucrose. Other food sources include wheat, barley, rye, onions, garlic and leeks. Because flatulence, bloating and abdominal cramps can be an undesirable consequence of taking prebiotics (and even probiotics), it is recommended that anyone considering taking these in supplement form contact a healthcare professional familiar with such products for individualized recommendations. Those who could benefit from taking probiotic and prebiotic supplements include: Probiotic supplements are available as freeze-dried, powdered, capsules, wafers and liquids. Doses of Acidophilus and Bifidobacteria are expressed in billions of live organisms and a typical dose, unless otherwise recommended, is between 3 billion to 5 billion live organisms. Because probiotics are living organisms and are fragile, they should always be refrigerated. Products found on a shelf, therefore, are not going to contain live organisms and not be as effective. The product label should guarantee a certain number of live organisms by the expiration date of the product. There should always be an expiration date. Prebiotics can be found either with a probiotic product or separately, because FOS and inulin are food for the probiotics. If purchased separately, they can be taken together. Some people, because of the high number of 'bad bugs' in their gastrointestinal tract, cannot handle the two products taken together in the beginning. This is where an experienced healthcare professional can be beneficial. The suggested intake of FOS is 2-3 grams per day. Products containing vitamin C, whey protein, or cysteine may improve the effectiveness of probiotics. This information is not intended to substitute for medical advice or care that you would receive from your healthcare professional, so always check with your provider. If you are taking medications, or have health issues, make sure you start these products under the care of a professional. Some people will notice no harmful effects and these products are generally very safe, but individual sensitivity can alter the effects of such products. If something as simple as providing and feeding your 'good bugs' in the intestinal tract can improve subtle or severe health issues, it's certainly time to start feeding our 'good bugs' today! About The Author Marjorie Geiser has been teaching health, fitness and nutrition since 1982. She is a nutritionist, registered dietitian, certified personal trainer and life coach. As the owner of MEG Fitness, Marjorie's goal for her clients is to help them incorporate healthy eating and fitness into their busy lives. You can learn more about Marjorie from her website, www.megfit.com, or contact her via email to margie@megfit.com.
Physician and Patient Attitudes towards Complementary and ... - 7thSpace Interactive (press release)
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Alternative Medicine An ADD Case Study: What Does it Mean to Fail? Josh is a client of mine who is a junior in college. He's very smart. He's amazingly smart. Talk to Josh for an hour and you'll know how smart he is. But if you don't know Josh and you look at his grades from previous semesters, you would probably guess that he wasn't smart at all. Enhanced Healing Through Music Music has always been a very important part of our lives, from childhood to our being an adult. As a part of our experience, music can have both a physiological and psychological affect upon us as human beings. In addition to the influence that it has on our life, music also has many therapeutic qualities and has been utilized in promoting a variety of healings throughout the ages. As we know further, music can be a very powerful medium for altering our state, of changing how we actually feel. More specifically music can be very effective in producing a very deep and healing state of relaxation and in the process, reduce stress and even promote sleep. Music can also be used to assist one in improving his or her self-esteem and furthering an individual's personal growth and development, transformation. Secrets Of Aromatherapy Part I - Physical Remedies Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of a wide range of minor physical complaints including burns, colds, flu, sinus problems, cold sores, eczema, headache, indigestion, menopause, menstrual irregularities, muscle aches, nausea and toothaches. Aromatherapy - a World of Frangrance The ancient Egyptians used aromatherapy thousands of years ago. Aromatherapy, a word that derives from 'aroma' meaning fragrance or smell and 'therapy' meaning treatment is based on an ancient principle that the spirit and the body should be in harmony. Hippocrates claimed that the secret to good health was to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage each day. Going Back to the Basics: Revival of Traditional Treatment through Herbs Herbal medicine has its origins in ancient cultures including those of the Egyptians, American Indians and Chinese. It involves the medicinal use of plants to treat disease and enhance general health and wellbeing. Pyrethre: Pest Terminator History Addressing The Cause And Finding A Cure: Why Cause is Everything When It Comes To Low Back Pain There is an epidemic, at least in the States when it comes to treating back pain. Most doctors do just that... treat back pain rather than finding and eliminating the cause. Herbs Can Heal You or Save Your Life A history Quick Tip for Runners Who Have Knee Pain Running with knees that hurt and are not getting better trough time is no fun, and being addicted to running doesn't help either. 1st Textbook on Sleep Psychiatry An informative textbook confirming a newly established field: Sleep Psychiatry Home Remedies, Treatment To All Ailments By Herbal Homemade Remedies Given below the list of Best Home Remedies for all common diseases and conditions. Try these effective home remedies for a few days and see the results. If the symptoms do not go away, or you do not see any improvement, then you must consult your doctor. Thyme: Elegance Drifting Through the Ages of Time Thyme is a herb that has been cultivated for centuries for both its medicinal and culinary uses. Three Immune System Building Natural Remedies Here are three products that can help you elevate your immune system and lessen or prevent you from getting the flu. Use one or both of them to super charge your immune system. Green Bamboo: Strength in Flexibility Those who have watched the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" would be familiar with the imagery of bamboo: flexible yet firm, delicate yet strong. These unique qualities make the bamboo fit snugly into ancient Chinese philosophy and endow the health benefits of the bamboo with an air of wisdom and grace. Using Herbs to Relieve Hemorrhoids Aloe Vera, Bilberry, Butchers Broom To relieve hemorrhoids first look for ways to get your bowels moving easier and more frequently so they produce softer stools. I have suggestion ways, in other articles, to do this by changing your diet. Shemale Breast Enlargement - Transgender Breast Development Shemales, or transgender males who strive to achieve more feminine qualities and physical features, are turning to natural supplements, often also used by women for the same purpose, to increase their breast size and give them heavier, larger breasts that look like a woman's breasts, and actually are biologically the same as a woman's breast. Alternative Medicine Alternative Medicine is the use of natural therapy and medicines to restore and maintain health. Dating back to 420 B.C., around the time of Hippocrates, alternative medicine is also considered a practice beyond the realm of conventional modern medicine - naturopathy, chiropractic, Ayurvedic, homeopathy, acupuncture and so many other alternative medicine treatments are steadily in demand and on the rise. Use Digestive Enzymes to Reduce Hemorrhoid Inflammation Using digestive enzymes when you have hemorrhoids is a good idea. Digestive enzymes help reduce inflammation, reduce fibrin, and clean the blood of foreign particles. These enzymes activities strengthen your immune system and give it more power to work on your hemorrhoids. Mindfulness and Pain: Just Say Ouch What's the best way to manage pain? Mental Health Maintenance Is Made Simple Your mental health is often drastically improved when you use the techniques Dr. Kuhn teaches in this article. When you are able to experience this improvement, your relationships blossom, career paths open, and people find you attractive and accessible. You deserve to have fun and joy in your life - and Cliff Kuhn, M.D. will help you do that.
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