Review

Review 10/12/16

Posted on by Gutbliss
13
Oct
  1. Curcumin significantly improves endothelial function in healthy individuals, suggesting that oral curcumin supplementation could be meaningful in preventing cardiovascular disease – not to mention its significant effects on reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and improving cognitive function and mood. Consuming dietary turmeric is helpful, but taking a curcumin supplement may help you achieve these meaningful clinical results. Journal of Nutrition & Metabolism

 

  1. Is passing gas an indicator of health? Average flatulence (about 20 times daily – the majority expelled during sleep) is a sign that your beneficial gut bacteria are working properly. Regular foul smelling gas, on the other hand, could be a sign that something’s amiss – possibly a food sensitivity, GI infection, or dysbiosis. Find out how inhaling your own gas could protect your body from cell damage. I Like Healthy

 

  1. The birth control pill is strongly linked to depression. Those taking the combined pill (containing both estrogen and progesterone) are 23% more likely to be diagnosed with depression, the progestin-only pill (or the mini-pill), 34% more likely, and most alarming, teens taking the combined pill are 80% more likely. With recent studies showing the threat the pill pose to the microbiome, this is just one more reason to rethink hormonal contraception. The Guardian

 

  1. Probiotic strains taken in supplement form are more likely to take up residence in the digestive tract if the gut is deficient in that specific strain. Diet is also incredibly important. While some studies show that probiotic supplements are unable to transform the microbiome, these findings could be due to the fact that dietary intake is not assessed – not to mention the lack of robustness of the probiotic supplement in question. For a probiotic strain to remain viable and become a permanent resident of the gut, the host must consistently consume prebiotics, the food on which beneficial gut bacteria feed. The Atlantic

 

  1. Speaking of prebiotics, check out these amazing vegan prebiotic recipes from Candice Kumai. The Chalkboard

 

  1. Conventional dietary recommendations based on scientific studies to follow a low-fat diet and count calories for weight loss prove that nutrition is an imperfect science. While research can take us a long way, it’s vital that we learn to trust and listen to our bodies, instead of following the masses. CNN

 

  1. What mothers eat during pregnancy has a significant impact on the health and disease risk of their offspring. This impact is most likely mediated by the microbiome – microbial transmission from mother to baby begins in the womb, and food is one of the most influential determinants of microbial composition. Gut Microbes

 

  1. Struggling with where to get your calcium and vitamin D given Dr. Chutkan’s recommendation to skip the dairy? Here are 22 non-dairy calcium and vitamin D-rich sources. Replace the yogurt with tempeh for 184mg of calcium per serving! Gourmandia Canada

 

  1. Scientists diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs with 90% accuracy using bacteria found in stool. While the canine stool bacterial footprint for IBD is not the same as that of humans, this illustrates the future possibilities for diagnostic medicine. Science Daily

 

  1. Stop eating yogurt for its probiotic benefits. An excellent 1-minute video on why. Business Insider

 

By: Leslie Ann Berg, MSPH