| PROBIOTICS CAN IMPROVE MORE THAN JUST STOMACH HEALTH |
| Written by South Florida Times | |
| Wednesday, 22 January 2014 | |
STATEPOINT – If you’re familiar with probiotics, you probably know that these “good bacteria,” found in such foods as yogurt and pickles, are associated with good digestive health. But the health benefits of probiotics are more extensive than just improving digestion.
Experts now say that paying attention to your probiotic intake, including the use of probiotic supplements, can potentially help you achieve better health – from developing a stronger immune system to reducing stress.
“Probiotics have formed a vital part of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern diets for thousands of years and are credited, in part, for the remarkably low rates of chronic, age-related diseases that prevail in those regions,” says Dr. Michael A. Smith, senior health scientist with Life Extension in Fort Lauderdale, and host of Healthy Talk on RadioMD.com
GUT HEALTH
The human gastrointestinal system has the all-important job of digesting food and absorbing nutrients. If it fails at this, you’ll quickly become malnourished. These tasks are managed mostly by bacteria and not by your own body. Foods and supplements that replenish important bacteria are called probiotics.
Additionally, probiotics are said to ease inflammation by decreasing production of inflammatory proteins called cytokines.
IMMUNITY Your gut system is exposed to lots of dangerous bacteria, molds and fungi. A vast majority of your immune defenses are right there in the gut. Probiotics can help keep these critical defenses functioning properly.
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Have you ever experienced “butterflies” in your stomach? This sensation isn’t just “in your head.” The gut contains over 100 million neurons. One particular nerve, the vagus nerve, communicates directly with your brain. When you’re stressed, your digestive system suffers as a result. But new research shows that probiotics can potentially alleviate these symptoms.
Though more research is needed in this area, scientists are uncovering new ways that your mind is connected to your gut.
REAPING THE BENEFITS
Start by incorporating more probiotics into your diet. Sources include yogurt, sour pickles, certain soft cheeses and miso soup. While these foods do supply a small dose of beneficial bacteria, Smith says that if you’re not already doing so, you should consider supplementing your diet with probiotic supplements or foods with added probiotics.
“Thanks to new research and the emerging field of pharmabiotics, you can increase your intake with a broad spectrum of probiotic products, as well” says Smith.
Remember, not all probiotics are created equal – there are many strains and preparations on the market. One of the complications many commercial probiotics face is their inability to overcome hurdles in the digestive tract before hitting their target area, which can limit their beneficial effect. Additionally, some supplements only provide one type of bacteria. It’s important to get clinically effective strains in whatever product you choose. To learn more, visit Lef.org/FlorAssist or call toll-free, 1-855-870-0682.
An improper balance of good-to-bad bacteria can wreak havoc throughout the body. But by being proactive about probiotics, you can better achieve optimal health. 
Isotonix Digestive Enzymes with Probiotics
Primary Benefits of nutraMetrix® Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics*:
The foundations of probiotic (meaning "in favor of life") microbiotherapy lie in the postulate of Metchnikoff, a Russian physician, that the growth of toxin-producing putrefactive organisms in the gastrointestinal tract could be controlled by the implantation of beneficial lactobacilli in the gut. The clinical application of preparations containing lactobacilli was initiated on the basis of Metchnikoff’s Theory of Longevity, which associates with prolonged youthfulness and a healthy old age with the continuous ingestion of lactobacilli. Metchnikoff attributed the longevity of the residents of the Balkan countries to the regular consumption of Bulgarian buttermilk. In the early 1900s, he claimed to have successfully cured many of his patients who suffered from a wide variety of organic illnesses, ranging from dry skin to gastrointestinal disorders, through the therapeutic use of Lactobacilli. Metchnikoff suggested that aging is the process of chronic putrefactive intoxication caused by certain intestinal bacteria and that these harmful effects could be mitigated through regular ingestion of live Lactobacillus cultures — a postulate that created a sensation in those early days. The enthusiasm shown then by eminent doctors of that time, advocating the therapeutic use of Lactobacillus, laid the foundations of lactobacillus therapy or microbiotherapy.
Fermented milks have been a part of the human diet since ancient times. Their efficacy in alleviating gastrointestinal disorders has been exploited in systems of traditional medicine the world over. Lactic acid bacteria, the indigenous microbial flora in fermented milks and natural inhabitants of the human gastrointestinal tract were thought to be responsible for the longevity of their hosts through their curative and prophylactic actions.
The role of lactic acid bacteria in gastrointestinal microecology has been the subject of extensive research. It is widely believed that these bacteria prevent the growth of putrefactive microorganisms responsible for ill health by competitive inhibition, the generation of a non-conducive acidic environment and/or by the production of bacteriocins. Their metabolites may include B group vitamins. Their proteolytic, lipolytic and beta-galactosidase activities promote the digestibility and assimilation of ingested nutrients, thereby rendering them valuable in convalescent/ geriatric nutrition. Lactic acid bacteria also colonize the skin and mucus membranes, and promote skin and urinary tract health. Lactobacilli promote vaginal health. They utilize glycogen in the vaginal epithelial cells to produce lactic acid which helps to maintain the pH of this environment between 4.0 and 4.5, which creates a healthy environment.
*U, MWU, SU = Units of enzyme activity
**CFU = Colony forming units
What Makes nutraMetrix® Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics Unique*?
nutraMetrix® Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics enables fast absorption and effective delivery of nutritional supplements. This supplement is in the isotonic fluid form, which speeds nutrient absorption into your body. It is usually taken with a meal and when the isotonic fluid enters the body, it is quickly delivered. Since nutraMetrix® Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics are in an isotonic solution, it minimizes the chance of inactivation by a highly acidic pH level.
In today’s world of processed and "fast" foods, our bodies need to work harder to break down the same nutritional content as it may have just a few years ago. nutraMetrix® Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics helps replenish the essential enzymes (amylase, protease, cellulose, lactase, lipase, maltase, and sucrase) and "good" bacteria (Lactobacillus sporogenes) necessary for maximum absorption of nutrients from the food we eat. It acts to supplement and maximize the activity of the body’s own enzymes in an easy-to-take, pleasant tasting drink.
Frequently Asked Questions about nutraMetrix® Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics*:
What are digestive enzymes?Digestive enzymes are special catalytic proteins that help your body break down food to utilize the complete spectrum of nutrients in the food we eat. Unfortunately, food enzymes, which are sensitive to heat, are usually inactivated when food is cooked to serve. This leaves your body with the challenge of trying to break down foods for absorption into your system with no help from the natural enzymes that would otherwise be present in many of the foods we eat. While your body can break down foods with no help, it may put additional strain on your system. nutraMetrix® Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics acts to supplement and maximize the activity of the body’s own enzymes and the "friendly" bacteria our bodies need in an easy-to-take, pleasant-tasting drink.
Our lifestyles and diets are constantly changing. If the last 25 years are any indication, these changes are not usually for the best. Foods that would otherwise offer us their own added enzymes to help our bodies absorb more nutrients are increasingly processed, heated for extended shelf life and stripped of vital elements. The problem is that in making increasing numbers of foods "safe" for ingestion, we are in some cases making foods less healthy for our systems. This means our bodies now need to work harder to absorb the same nutritional content as it may have just a few years ago. nutraMetrix Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics helps your body replenish all the essential enzymes and "good" bacteria necessary for maximum absorption of nutrients from the food we eat.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
What Are enzymes?Enzymes are the workhorses of our cells. They are proteins that catalyze many thousands of biochemical reactions in the body. While most enzymes work inside our cells, digestive enzymes operate outside the cells in the gastrointestinal tract.
The start of digestion begins with digestive enzymes secreted by salivary gland cells into our mouths. Cells lining the gastrointestinal tract also contribute enzymes such as pepsin in the stomach. In addition, digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas and are emptied into the upper part of the small intestine.
These enzymes help to break apart proteins, allowing the body to optimize its effort to digest proteins from plant and animal sources as well as break down starch, lactose, fats, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). The result is a more complete digestive process, resulting in better nutritional absorption.
nutraMetrix Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics supplies natural plant enzymes that are not inactivated by stomach acid. What this means is that the supplemental enzymes mix with and work in concert with the ingested food and begin to work with the body’s own digestive enzymes to release as many of the nutrients as possible.
What Are probiotics? Probiotics are beneficial organisms that promote a healthy intestinal tract environment. Probiotics can help support the body in maintaining proper digestive functions and improving emotional health. Lactobacillus sporogenes bacteria reside mostly in the large intestine and help break down undigested food. These "friendly" bacteria can help the absorption of vitamins and minerals and can actually synthesize some vitamins, such as biotin and vitamin K. In addition, these beneficial bacteria contribute to the breaking down of fibers and undigested starch into simple sugars. These simple sugars then function as fuel for the cells that line the large intestine.
What are the three basic and four specialty food enzymes?There are three basic food enzymes that help us digest our food. Each has a specific function and purpose, and each is necessary for the releasing of nutrients into our bodies. They are: protease (which digests proteins), amylase (which digests starch) and lipase (which digests fats). The specialty enzymes are: lactase (for the sugar lactose in dairy products), maltase (for the sugar maltose in foods), sucrase (for table sugar and fruit), and cellulase (which helps us digest cellulose fibers). Each of these enzymes plays a significant part in the body"s overall health by helping to release specific and necessary nutrients into our bodies.
What are "good" bacteria?We all know that chlorine in our water supply kills bacteria, making water safe to drink. That’s good, but all bacteria are not harmful. In fact, if it weren’t for "good" bacteria, we would be unable to digest food. Many people, especially women, know the importance of having "good" bacteria in their system, and many actually take supplements like Lactobacillus acidophilus to keep healthy. nutraMetrix Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics contains Probiotic bacteria called Lactobacillus sporogenes, designed to help replenish the "good" bacteria that can be harmed by things like the ingestion of chlorinated water and antibiotics. These "friendly" bacteria help to repopulate the colon, displacing harmful bacteria, and promote an appropriate pH balance.*
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product(s) is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
For more information or to order, please contact:
OrlampaHealth.com
727.492.8212
Free Shipping on all orders over $100
Ask about our Heart Health Month Specials
|
