Credit: iStock/Elena Istomina Did you know that the trillions of bacteria residing in your gut actively influence one of the most critical numbers in your life: your blood pressure? For a long time, scientists mainly looked at genetics, diet and lifestyle as the key reasons behind high blood pressure. While these factors are important, there’s … Continue reading Beyond the Bugs: Could Chemicals from Microbes Help Lower Blood Pressure?
Probiotics
Spotlight On: Probiotics
Credit: iStock You may notice the term “probiotics” popping up more and more often. These products seem to be everywhere. As you walk down your local supermarket aisles, you will find probiotics in fermented food such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha, as well as supplement pills. Additionally, the global market for probiotics is … Continue reading Spotlight On: Probiotics
How Are Gut Bacteria and Bone Related?
Your gut contains tens of trillions of microorganisms, including at least 1,000 different species of known bacteria. Even though these bacteria are microscopic in size, they are so abundant that they make up 1 to 3 percent of your total body mass! Many of these microorganisms that live in the body are actually beneficial to … Continue reading How Are Gut Bacteria and Bone Related?
How Consuming Bacteria Keeps Us Healthy
If you've ever been told to eat yogurt or drink buttermilk after taking antibiotics for a bacterial infection, the suggestion might not make sense. The reason for consuming yogurt or buttermilk is to replenish the body’s bacteria that were killed by the antibiotics. But why would we intentionally introduce bacteria after we got sick from … Continue reading How Consuming Bacteria Keeps Us Healthy