by
Stepy —
August 18, 2014
- Fresh organic foods are packed with antioxidants and unique nutrients that can keep your immune system in top shape.
- The nutrients in these organic foods can also help prevent and treat disease.
- Probiotics are good bacteria that are famous for being a healthy ingredient in yogurt. Probiotics and other good bacteria are essential to our digestive health, and more. “When gut bacteria is out of balance not only is your digestion and feeling of well-being compromised, so is your immune system — and therefore your ability to defend against serious illness and disease,” says Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leading physician and nutrition expert.
- A team of scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has found that bacteria that aids in digestion also keeps the intestinal lining healthy.
- These findings, published in the journal Immunity may lead to a break through in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and many other conditions.
- The researchers observed the intestinal micro biome, which contains about 100 trillion bacteria. The role of these bacteria in the function of the immune system is a booming area of research. The Einstein team found that a specific bacteria is responsible for maintaining the intestinal epithelium. The role of the epithelium is to keep intestinal bacteria and toxins away from other parts of the body. The compromising of this intestinal lining associated with many diseases.
- “Intestinal bacteria secrete a wide variety of chemicals known as metabolites,” explained Sridhar Mani, M.D., co-author of the study. “These bacteria and their metabolites were known to influence the intestinal epithelium’s integrity, but precisely how they did so wasn’t known,” Mani added.
- Dr. Mani and the team believed that bacterial metabolites work by binding to and activating a protein in intestinal lining cells called pregnane X receptor (PXR). This protein is activated by bile acids and drugs such as steroids and antibiotics.
- With mouse studies, the team found that a metabolite called indole 3-propionic acid (IPA), which aids in digestion, also strengthens the intestintal epithelium and prevents inflammation by activating PXR.
- “By adding probiotics in the form of IPA-producing bacteria to the intestine or by administering IPA directly, we may be able to prevent or treat IBD and other inflammatory disorders that occur when the intestinal epithelium has been compromised,” said Dr. Mani. “Such a strategy could also be tried for other health problems that may occur when the intestinal epithelium breaks down, including certain forms of liver disease, diabetes, asthma, allergies, obesity and heart disease,” Mani added.
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- AS ALWAYS: Check with your health practitioner before you change your diet. This organic food or supplement is not meant to replace any treatment or drugs you are taking.
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- Probiotics may aid in weight loss.
- Friendly bugs can help fight your cold.
- For a gut health smoothie.
- For a probiotic smoothie.
- Eating more probiotics may lower your blood pressure.
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- REFERENCES:
- 1. “The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health.” Mercola.com. Mercola.com, 18 Apr. 2009. Web. 16 Aug 2014.
- 2. “‘Normal’ Bacteria Vital for Keeping Intestinal Lining Intact.” Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 01 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Aug. 2014.
- 3. “Symbiotic Bacterial Metabolites Regulate Gastrointestinal Barrier Function via the Xenobiotic Sensor PXR and Toll-like Receptor 4.” Cell Press. Immunity, 24 July 2014. Web. 16 Aug. 2014.
