Health News

Leveraging Probiotics for Weight Loss

Obesity is one of the most common health conditions throughout the world. Being overweight can lead to a host of chronic medical conditions that may shorten your life expectancy and cause serious issues as you age. As such, the medical community is always looking for ways to combat this growing health crisis. In recent years, the use of probiotics has emerged as a potential way to encourage weight loss and live a healthier lifestyle. Here is what you need to know about probiotics and how you can leverage this to shed that weight once and for all.

What Are Probiotics?

To understand how to use probiotics for weight loss, you need to learn more about these live microorganisms. Some foods boast naturally occurring probiotics while other products intentionally include this feature for health purposes. The most common way that most people get their probiotics is through the use of dedicated supplements. These supplements offer significant doses of live bacteria, most commonly in the form of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. These live bacteria are primarily known for their ability to boost the presence of healthy gut bacteria.

Benefits of Probiotics

Over the last few decades, scientists have zeroed in on how probiotics can be instrumental in boosting the function of the body’s immune system, lowering levels of harmful inflammation and aiding in the ability of the nervous system to work at optimal levels of productivity. In addition, some research has also demonstrated that the use of probiotics may be beneficial when treating certain skin and oral conditions.

Probiotics are also the star when it comes to improving your gut health. A balanced gut microbiome is essential to your overall health and wellness. The connection between gut and brain health has suggested that probiotics may prove useful in treating some types of anxiety and depression.

Leveraging Probiotics for Weight Loss

One of the most exciting emerging benefits of probiotics is how these supplements may be able to aid in weight loss efforts. Recent research has shown that the risk of obesity can be related to the gut microbial dysbiosis.

Because they are active microorganisms, probiotics are known for their ability to regulate and improve the gut’s microecosystem. This may lower levels of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. As a result, probiotics may be instrumental in preventing and treating obesity through their ability to regulate and support the gut microbiota.

Additionally, the use of probiotics is believed to improve sensitivity to insulin. The live microorganisms may also positively influence your appetite and metabolism.

A 2019 study out of China looked at 12 randomized controlled trials to determine the effects of probiotics on obesity. The findings of the meta-analysis found that 10 of the studies demonstrated changes in body weight, 11 showed positive reductions in BMI, eight studies reported a change in the circumference of the waist measurements and nine studies showed reductions in fat mass with six demonstrating a change in fat percentage.

Protecting Against Weight Gain

An additional study demonstrated that the use of probiotics may also guard against future weight gain. A study of 20 men in 2015 gave the participants a multi-strain probiotic over the course of four weeks as they followed a high caloric and high fat diet. The men on the probiotic gained 3.12 pounds as compared to 5.06 pounds for the participants who took the placebo. All of the men were at a healthy weight when the trial started.

Because obesity is such a widespread health issue for nearly any developed nation, the results of this research could have potentially significant advantages in the battle against the bulge.

Incorporating Probiotics Into Your Diet

Up until the time when the use of supplements became mainstream, health-conscious individuals were forced to get their probiotics from food. The most common food that people turn to for probiotics is yogurt. However, it is important to note that not all yogurt contains live probiotics. Because of this, you need to be intentional about choosing yogurt that contains active or live cultures.

Other good sources of probiotics include sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh, kefir, pickles and some types of cheese. Clearly, not everyone enjoys a steady diet of these types of foods. If this is the case, you can turn to a high-quality supplement that provides both probiotics and prebiotics to ensure that you are getting adequate amounts of probiotics into your daily diet. For some individuals, this is a much easier way to ensure adequate amounts of probiotics to promote weight loss.

Regardless of whether you are looking to lose weight or improve your gut microbiome, it is likely worth your time and monetary investment to explore how probiotics can boost your overall health and meet all of your wellness goals.

The Best Foods for Healthy Bones into the Golden Years

Feb 24 by Ewcopywriting

The strength of your bones plays a vital role in overall health and wellness, particularly as you age. Taking active steps to promote good bone health will reduce the chances of developing osteoporosis or other ailments related to poor bone density. One of the most important wellness goals to focus on as you age should be to ensure that you are taking in the best foods for healthy bones. Here is what you need to know about the importance of bone health and what you can do to protect this critical body component.

Why You Need to Maintain Healthy Bones

The body is adept at breaking down old bone tissue and replacing it with new tissue. When you are young, your body is able to complete this process more quickly, leading to an excess of bone mass. Most individuals enjoy peak bone mass starting in the mid-20s and continuing through the mid-30s.

However, as your body begins to age, the rate of new bone production slows down. This often leads to the common condition of osteoporosis as the new bone production cannot keep pace with the loss of deteriorating bone. As a result, it is not uncommon for the bones to weaken and become brittle. This makes them more likely to break, when they would have stayed strong in the past.

By taking a proactive approach to maintaining bone health when you are young, you are also more likely to boost your overall bone mass. This increase in healthy bone mass will translate to a reduced risk of developing osteoporosis and additional health issues that are related to bone health.

Best Foods for Healthy Bones

The good news is that it may be easier than you think to get the nutrients that you need to encourage healthy bones. The top nutrients that you need to focus on in order to support optimal bone health are vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin K, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium and soy isoflavones. Here are the best foods to add to your diet if supporting healthy bones is your goal.

Milk

Most everyone knows that drinking milk is the cornerstone of good bone health. Just one 8-ounce glass of milk will deliver 30 percent of the recommended daily intake for most people, making this a good bang for your buck. You can also boost your calcium intake by drinking the milk from your breakfast cereal, adding it to coffee or including it in your smoothie recipes.

Yogurt and Cheese

If you are not a milk drinker, yogurt and cheese make a great substitute. Not only will a cup of yogurt provide an abundance of calcium, but it will also offer loads of crucial vitamin D. While cheese does not provide the same punch of vitamin D, it does still provide a lot of calcium to strengthen bones.

Sardines

Most individuals do not think of sardines as a good food to eat when you are looking to support good bone health. These little fish provide both calcium and vitamin D, making them a good choice when you get tired of the dairy products.

Tuna

Like sardines, tuna also boasts a high amount of vitamin D. Just three ounces of canned tuna has nearly 40 percent of the daily recommended amount of this crucial vitamin for bone health.

Fortified Cereals

Today’s fortified cereals are a goldmine of nutrition. Featuring copious amounts of vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and magnesium, one bowl of fortified cereal per day can provide a host of essential vitamins when you are looking to build strong bones. Be sure to read the label to ensure that you are getting what you need to promote good bone health.

Eggs

Along with your bowl of morning cereal, be sure to consider eating an egg to start your day. Keep in mind that the vitamin D is in the yolk, making it important that you do not just eat egg whites.

Spinach and Collard Greens

Greens lovers will appreciate knowing that you do not have to focus on dairy to encourage great bone health. Spinach and collard greens are also rich in calcium.

Soy Products

Soy products such as soybeans, tempeh and tofu also feature a good amount of soy isoflavones, crucial in the battle to keep bone mass density at acceptable levels.

You are never too young or too old to start focusing on doing what you can to protect your bones as you age. In addition to getting your food from a variety of natural sources, you can also maintain healthy bones through the use of a daily supplement such as Osteochron. Osteochron provides vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that can help to fill in the gaps that you may be missing from your regular diet, giving you peace of mind that you are doing all that you can for the health of your bones.

Getting More Exercise Proven to Increase Lifespan

Feb 17 by Ewcopywriting

While many people go hard after exercise so that they can look better, getting in shape is about more than looking your best in a swimsuit. Getting more exercise has been proven to protect your heart, boost brain function, curb appetite and even prolong your life. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should abandon your couch potato habits and get moving.

Exercise Prolongs Your Life

The most convincing reason to make exercise a part of your lifestyle is because it has been proven to prolong your life. A 2019 study out of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences in Stockholm found that individual mortality risk decreases with increased levels of exercise. These results are the same regardless of age, gender and general level of fitness.

Even moderate amounts of exercise can lead to greater longevity. Replacing only 30 minutes per day of inactivity with physical movement may boost your lifespan. A 2017 study out of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City found that those who sat for less than half an hour at a time had the lowest risk of early death.

The study also showed that if you have a job that is sedentary, it is a good idea to be diligent about getting up every 30 minutes to walk a bit. Doing so may lower the risk of a premature death. It is the short spurts of regular movement that may be the key to longevity.

Exercise Protects Your Heart

Consistent exercise can also keep your heart young. A study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore demonstrated that it is never too late to protect your heart through regular exercise. The findings of the study showed that engaging in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every week during the middle age years can reduce your risk of heart failure by up to 31 percent.

What was most surprising was the finding that beginning to engage in moderate activity in middle age may reduce the risk of heart failure by 23 percent. This shows that it is never too late to get going with your exercise routine, even if you are starting at a baseline of no regular physical activity. Even making this important lifestyle change later in life can have beneficial effects.

Exercise Improves Brain Function

There is no shortage of research to prove that regular exercise improves brain function. Moving your body and working up a sweat can help to slow down the normal aging of the brain. Exercise may also mitigate the odds developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

A study from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida revealed that for seniors, spending a minimum of at least 52 hours exercising over an average period of six months may boost the brain’s processing speed. This makes it easier for the brain to process data and perform tasks. This benefit was observed in seniors with no diagnosed cognitive impairment as well as with those who had been previously diagnosed with MCI. Comparatively, seniors who exercised for an average of only 34 hours over the same time period did not report any benefits.

It is important to note that while there was a definite link between cognitive function and the amount of exercise, the intensity of the activity did not appear to have an impact. Lower intensity exercises were just as effective at providing advantages as more intense activity. The benefits were observed regardless of whether the activity was high-intensity aerobic exercise, strength training or yoga.

Exercise Curbs Your Appetite

Many people erroneously believe that exercise will make you hungrier. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise actually decreases your overall appetite. This happens as a result of the effect of exercise on the hormones that control your hunger levels.

A study out of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York set out to explain why appetite was suppressed after exercise. The results suggest that the increased amount of body heat that occurs as a result of physical activity works to stimulate specific receptors in the brain that decrease the desire to eat.

Getting More Exercise is Valuable in Every Way

All of these reasons point to the fact that getting more exercise is beneficial in a myriad of ways that stretch well beyond just looking good. While it is certainly understandable to want to keep your weight in the healthy range so that you can fit into all of your favorite clothes, these other compelling reasons provide even more motivation to stick with your program. You owe it to your physical and mental health to be intentional about making regular exercise a part of your everyday routine.

How the Anti-Aging Nutrient NADH Benefits Overall Health

Feb 11 by Ewcopywriting

After more than a century of study, science is making real breakthroughs in its understanding of how nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) works in cells to preserve cellular health and function, as well as fight disease. First discovered in 1906 through a study on the fermentation of yeast, modern science recognizes that NAD is present in all living cells as an essential coenzyme with a vital role in aiding the cells’ mitochondria to produce energy. NAD affects the body on a cellular level, impacting mitochondrial performance. Learn more about how anti-aging nutrient NADH benefits include helping to fight disease and protect overall health.

What NAD Does

NAD takes two forms, depending on what point in the energy production cycle it is. These two forms are NAD+ and NADH. NAD levels decrease with age, contributing to the mitochondrial inefficiency and deterioration linked to aging and disease processes.

The human body is made up of an amazingly complex set of highly integrated systems that act as a whole. The foundation of all body and mind functions lies in the almost inconceivable number of chemical reactions and electrical impulses that take place in our cells, molecules, atoms and subatomic particles. As an essential coenzyme, NAD acts as a critical partner, or helper molecule, to regulating proteins, called enzymes, facilitating and enabling the chemical reactions that form the base of the life processes and functions of cells. NAD is essential to the processes involved in the generation of energy by the mitochondria due to its dual function of receiving and providing electrons.

Understanding the Forms NAD Takes

NAD is a term used to encompass the two forms it takes (NAD+ and NADH) while giving or receiving electrons during energy production and transfer processes. When NAD is oxidized, it becomes NAD+, with one of its nitrogen atoms having a positive charge. NAD+, in its role in breaking down glucose into usable elements, receives the electrons and hydrogen produced by that metabolic process. The breaking down of glucose involves chemical reactions called redox reactions.

In its coenzyme role, NAD+ has been linked to the function and health of the mitochondria and sirtuins, which help regulate cellular metabolism and a cell’s response to various types of cellular stress, including oxidative stress. Sirtuins have been linked to the aging process and longevity, as well as some disease processes, including many of those related to the metabolic system and inflammation.

When NAD+ receives hydrogen and two electrons, it shifts into its high energy form, NADH. This is the NAD form that transports and donates electrons, giving it a critical role in energy production. After donating its electrons, eventually NADH is converted to NAD+ again. During the glucose metabolism process, each molecule of glucose yields two NADH molecules. The ratio of NAD+ to NADH tends to skew toward NADH because NAD+ levels go down as we get older. Science has not yet confirmed the ideal ratio between the two, but do theorize that disruptions of that ratio can contribute to aging and disease processes.

How NADH Benefits Health and Well-Being

NAD, via its two forms – NAD+ and NADH – impact health and well-being in a variety of ways. The role of NAD in metabolizing glucose and receiving, transporting and donating electrons is critical to life itself. However, its role in health extends well beyond that vital function. NAD+ and NAHD benefits have been getting a lot of attention from scientists specializing in anti-aging and aging-related disease prevention. That’s not surprising considering the connection between mitochondrial deterioration and aging.

In animal studies and test tube studies done with human muscle tissue, increasing NAD+ has been shown to improve age-weakened muscles. This is thought to relate to the impact of the increased NAD+ and NADH on mitochondrial health. Studies have connected the use of NAD supplements to a number of health benefits relating to the role of this substance in mitochondrial energy production.

These NADH benefits include better cognitive performance, improved circadian rhythm regulation, reduced fatigue, decrease in symptoms in those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, healthier skin and protection against age-related vision problems. Some studies show a link between NAD+ levels and better cardiovascular health.

NAD has a vital role in many essential processes that protect health and well-being. Among these are DNA repair, oxidative stress mitigation on a cellular level and metabolic efficiency. As the body of information grows concerning the function of NAD+ and NADH, scientists are looking at how to translate this new information into effective treatments for such diseases as Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as developing effective strategies to protect against the diseases and physical frailties associated with aging.

New Knowledge Builds Upon Old

While much of the newest knowledge concerning NAD+ and NADH benefits is based on animal studies, it is built upon a foundation of older knowledge that goes back more than 100 years. This value of this vital coenzyme has long been recognized for its critical role in overall health and well-being.

Vital to cellular energy and function, NAD+ and NADH support health at the most foundational levels. NAD supports DNA health and function, the energy producing metabolic system and is firmly linked to the aging process via its coenzyme action in relation to sirtuins. If you choose to use supplements to boost NAD+, do your research and choose a high-quality, fully bioavailable supplement.

An Ounce of Prevention: Maintaining Optimum Bone Health Into Old Age

Feb 05 by Ewcopywriting

Maintaining healthy bones can be considered a work in progress throughout the course of your lifetime. Bone tissue continuously regenerates itself through a process often referred to as bone remodeling. During this process, bone tissue is reabsorbed and recreated, forming new bone, with adult bones typically replacing at a rate of approximately 10 percent a year. However, the ratio of reabsorbed bone tissue and replaced bone tissue can shift as we age, impacting the strength of bones and leading to osteoporosis and other health conditions. Nutrition is an essential part of helping to mitigate the impact of that ratio shift to ensure optimum bone health into old age.

Nutritional Balance for Bone Health

Skeletal health is a critical part of being able to be active and healthy well into old age. While most everyone is familiar with the rock star nutrient for healthy bones – calcium – not everyone realizes that there are a number of other nutrients that are also essential to the continued health of the bones.

Nutritional balance is important because, for example, in order for calcium to do its job in the skeletal system, it needs to be supported by the correct ratio of other nutrients such as magnesium. The nutritional choices you make today can have a significant impact on the health of your bones during your senior years.

Essential Nutrition for Healthy Bones

Correct levels of magnesium are required to maintain the right balance of calcium and vitamin D. Low levels of magnesium have been associated with a higher risk of bone fractures due, in part, to its impact on the actions of other bone-essential nutrients. Calcium, another important bone-health nutrient, is essential for bone mass and overall bone health. Recent studies have connected high vitamin D levels with a lower risk of frailty during the senior years, though further testing is needed to determine exactly what optimal vitamin D levels should be. In this case, what is clear is the role of vitamin D in the absorption and utilization of calcium. Low vitamin D levels heighten the risk of developing osteoporosis and, for those already dealing with this health condition, can make it worse.

Vitamin C, among its many vital purposes within the body, is a critical part of collagen and connective tissue production and thus, bone development and remodeling. Some studies indicate that Vitamin C plays a role in the gene transcription involved with bone formation. Vitamin K is another nutrient that plays an important role in bone health. It works in partnership with vitamin D to assist in the metabolism of calcium and aids in maintaining bone density. Low levels of Vitamin B12 have been linked to a higher risk of hip fractures in both men and women.

The Estrogen Issue

Estrogen levels can have an impact on bone density, making nutritional decisions even more important for women as they approach and experience menopause. Men, too, can be impacted. This hormone impacts the ability of osteoblasts – the cells responsible for bone production during bone remodeling – to perform their tasks. As estrogen levels decrease during menopause and the aging process, this process becomes less efficient, potentially decreasing bone density and increasing the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. Nutrition and physical activity are essential to mitigating the impact of decreasing estrogen levels on the skeletal system.

Phytoestrogens can offer some natural help with estrogen levels, thereby helping to promote a healthier bone density. Some studies show a reduced risk of bone fractures in women with higher soy consumption. Researchers have also found a link between taking soy isoflavone supplements and better calcium retention in bones for women. For post-menopausal women, low vitamin B6 levels have been linked to a higher risk of osteoporosis, leading researchers to consider connections between estrogen and the body’s utilization of this nutrient, because there isn’t a similar link between low vitamin B6 and osteoporosis in men. Vitamin B12 also has a role in the functioning of osteoblasts, making it another nutrient to watch for bone formation and density.

Supplements May Be the Right Choice

While a healthy diet should always be the primary goal when it comes to healthy bones, the facts are that certain nutrients are more difficult to obtain healthy levels of via diet alone. This can be especially true for those approaching the senior years and women moving toward and through menopause.

Vitamin D can be particularly difficult because it is not naturally available in a wide range of foods and requires more sunlight exposure than the average person tends to get in today’s more urban lifestyle. Vitamin K is another nutrient that people often don’t get enough of in the typical Western diet. Taking a high-quality dietary supplement designed to support bone health while working to improve the daily diet can be a great way to promote the bone density and health that is essential to healthy, active and happy senior years.

Why It’s Important to Get Enough Vitamin B12 During Pregnancy

Jan 29 by Ewcopywriting

It has long been known that it’s important to get enough vitamin B12 during pregnancy. Now, new research has discovered that this crucial vitamin provides even more benefits to a growing baby than previously known.

Why is Vitamin B12 Important?

Vitamin B12 provides a vast range of health benefits. However, because it is a water-soluble nutrient, it is not stored in the body, but is immediately absorbed and utilized. Whatever is not needed at the time is eliminated via the urine. For this reason, it’s important to continuously provide the body with adequate levels of vitamin B12 on a daily basis.

There are many ways vitamin B12 benefits everyone, regardless of age and gender. We know that vitamin B12 helps the body form new red blood cells and improves the metabolism of cells throughout the body. It also benefits nerve function and helps the body create new DNA. Vitamin B12 also promotes a healthy heart and helps to maintain blood pressure within normal ranges when combined with vitamin B6 and folate. Along with vitamin B12, these nutrients work to benefit heart health by helping to regulate blood levels of homocysteine, a compound which can contribute to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Research has also shown that people with dementia exhibit vitamin B12 deficiencies, although new studies are needed to establish whether boosting B12 intake would affect the risk for developing dementia.

Adding more vitamin B12 to your diet can be helpful and safe, but ingesting too much too quickly could result in mild adverse side effects. Those side effects or symptoms include:

headaches
dizziness
nausea and/or vomiting
anxiety

Why Do Women Need Vitamin B12 During Pregnancy?

Pregnant women are frequently given vitamin B12 shots or supplements to ensure the healthy development of their babies. Research has found that the nutrient helps babies by promoting optimal development of the nervous system and brain, although it also encourages proper growth of the physical body. In order for the baby to absorb enough vitamin B12, the mother must ingest sufficient amounts to supply her body and leave enough of a surplus for the baby. The placenta and blood of the baby should contain twice as much vitamin B12 as is present in the mother’s blood supply.

A new study that focused on the importance of vitamin B12 during pregnancy found that the brain was adversely affected by a deficiency of this vitamin. While previous research established that B12 promotes the development of the brain, this new research found that speech and mathematical abilities were negatively impacted by a B12 deficiency. Using a study of mothers and their children that was completed in the 1990s, the researchers examined the diets of 14,000 pregnant women and followed up with assessments of their children. The developmental abilities of the children in the test group were evaluated periodically.

The project involved comparing the abilities of children whose mothers ate a diet high in vitamin B12 to those of children with mothers who ate a diet deficient in the vitamin. The research team compensated for other factors that might explain differences in development among the children.

The study ultimately found that six factors were affected by insufficient levels of vitamin B12. Insufficient vitamin B12 resulted in lower vocabulary in children at 24 months, which led to problems with using word combinations at 38 months. Additionally, children without exposure to vitamin B12 in the womb exhibited reduced speech intelligibility at six years of age. Children in that particular group also showed poor math comprehension from fourth to sixth grade (ages eight to 11). Those children with mothers who did not maintain sufficient levels of vitamin B12 also performed poorly on the national mathematics test, which is given to 13-year-old children.

While these findings provide a better understanding of the importance of vitamin B12 to pregnant women, the researchers say more studies need to be conducted. They hope future research will uncover why these specific abilities are affected by the level of B12 in the mother’s blood, while other types of development seem unaffected. In the meantime, this early research is enough for doctors to continue urging pregnant women to increase their intake of vitamin B12.

Natural Ways to Boost Vitamin B12 Intake

One of the best ways to ensure you’re getting a sufficient supply of vitamin B12 throughout your pregnancy is to take a high-quality supplement each day. Pregnachron offers a sufficient supply of B12 to help ensure your baby is getting enough of the nutrient for optimal development. Additionally, the supplement contains a broad range of essential nutrients that will help ensure the health of your pregnancy. You can also add the following B12-rich foods to your diet during your pregnancy.

Animal Liver and Kidneys

While organ meat from any animal is packed with a broad range of nutrients, the liver and kidneys of a lamb are particularly rich in vitamin B12, containing 3,571 percent of the daily recommended value, making it ideal for pregnant women. Lamb organ meat is also rich in vitamin A, vitamin B2, selenium and copper.

Clams

If you’re a seafood lover, adding clams to your diet will give you a potent shot of B12 that’s equivalent to 7,000 percent of the DV. You will have to eat 20 clams to reach that level of B12, however.

Cereal

Unfortunately, vegans will find it difficult to get B12 naturally aside from taking a daily supplement. One of the only other ways to get vitamin B12 naturally without eating meat, fish or poultry is to consume fortified cereal. Fortified cereals are infused with powerful B vitamins, including B12. While the vitamin B12 in cereals is synthetically engineered, consuming it in this way will help you stick to your diet without risking a vitamin deficiency.