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This is How Probiotics Can Help Support a Healthy Mood
Perhaps you’ve heard of probiotics and have wondered about their health benefits. If you aren’t taking probiotics, here are some essential facts you need to know about these powerful microorganisms. What Are Probiotics? The word probiotic comes from Latin: pro means “support” and biotic means “life.” The World Health Organization defines a probiotic as any living microorganism that has a health benefit when ingested. Likewise, the USDA (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) defines a probiotic as any “live, nonpathogenic, nontoxic microbial organism which, when administered in adequate amounts, confers a health benefit on the host.” Scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in the human gut, collectively called the “microbiome,” offer a broad spectrum of previously unknown wellness benefits including improved mood and healthy immunity. Good Bugs/Bad Bugs Your body is a highly sophisticated ecosystem that can include well over 1,000 different species of bacteria in your intestinal system. Some are beneficial, and some aren’t. The beneficial gut bacteria help regulate practically everything in your ecosystem – from supporting your digestion to favorably influencing the nervous and immune systems. When you don’t have enough of these friendly bacteria, you can have digestive problems, difficulty managing stress, and irritability or other negative behaviors. To remain in top form, the relationship of good bugs to bad bugs in your microbiome needs to be positively skewed. You are more likely to be healthy and happy when the beneficial microorganisms in your gut outnumber the harmful ones. Growing research suggests that when the balance is tipped the other way, all sorts of physical and mental problems may arise. Beware of Microbiome Imbalance Imbalance of the gut microbiome – too many bad bacteria in the gut – has been linked to a wide range of mental and physical challenges. Keeping your gut in proper balance is essential to your overall health. Experiencing digestive issues is a sure-fire way to know if you have an imbalanced gut. If you’re struggling with any of the following on a consistent basis, you may benefit from a well-formulated probiotic supplement: Gas Irregular bowel movements Bloating Excessively soft stools Unusual burping or excessive fullness after eating Cramping anywhere along your intestinal tract Support Your Gut-Brain Connection Optimizing gut health is a key nutritional component in supporting brain function. Your gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria that outnumber the total number of cells in your body. There’s increasing evidence in the literature that alterations in the composition of the gut can induce neurochemical changes in the brain that can significantly impact your mood and ability to regulate stress. One of the best ways to support the gut-brain connection is to take a probiotic supplement. ProBrainBiotics ProBrainBiotics has the identical probiotic strains, at the same daily intake levels, that were put through two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials and found to benefit intestinal function, mood, and coping with stressful experiences. These strains are Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum Strain R0175. Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 This strain helps maintain the healthy intestinal structure, intestinal immune function, and makeup of the gut microbiome. It efficiently takes up residence in the intestine after oral intake, supports the tight seal of the gut lining that prevents leakage of intestinal contents into the surrounding tissues, and supports healthy immunity. It also helps keep down bacteria that are less beneficial for gut health. Bifidobacterium longum Strain R0175 Bifidobacteria are mainstays of a well-balanced gut microbiome. They are important contributors to intestinal health by helping to digest complex carbohydrates, and by producing substantial amounts of short-chain fatty acids that have a strong positive influence on the cells that line the intestine. This particular strain of bifidobacterium is very hardy and works particularly well with Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 to promote gut health. Better Together In the first double-blind clinical trial with this special strain combination, healthy adults complaining of occasional stress took either a placebo or the combination of Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum Strain R0175 for three weeks. The combination improved gut discomforts related to stress. In the second double-blind trial, the same combination taken at the same daily dose for 30 days improved mood and lowered anxiousness, compared to the placebo. BrainMD’s ProBrainBiotics is the first probiotic supplement proven to benefit both intestinal and brain function. ProBrainBiotics can help with: Mood – promotes healthy mood and coping with anxiousness Gut Health – promotes overall intestinal function Stress – helps cope with stress related abdominal discomfort Immunity – supports healthy immune balance What Others Are Saying About ProBrainBiotics “The ProBrainBiotics have been beneficial to my health, especially seen in how my body responds to stress. My gut would go crazy when I was under lots of stress, but now it responds much better than it did before I began taking ProBrainBiotics.” -Debbie “Been using Dr. Amen’s ProBrainBiotics for several months now and have noticed significant positive results. Knowing that my gut is my ‘second brain’ makes me realize the importance of a probiotic and this one is the best!” -Scott If you take good care of your bacterial guests, they will take care of you. Use ProBrainBiotics along with probiotic rich foods to enrich your daily life! At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about gut health supplements and our full list of brain supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
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You Need to Be Taking Probiotics! Here’s Why…
Did you know there’s an entire world of microorganisms living inside your body? Your intestines host trillions of microorganisms. Some bacterial strains that can potentially benefit those microorganisms are called probiotics. What Are Probiotics? The word probiotic comes from Latin: pro means “support” and biotic means “life.” The World Health Organization defines a probiotic as any living microorganism that has a health benefit when ingested. Likewise, the USDA defines a probiotic as any “live, nonpathogenic, nontoxic microbial organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” Scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract or gut, collectively called the microbiome, promote a broad spectrum of previously unknown wellness benefits, including a brighter mood and heightened immunity. Research has demonstrated that healthy gut bugs help support many processes in the body and brain, including those that regulate mood and stress. Benefits of Probiotics Probiotics can help your brain and body by: Promoting healthy digestion Encouraging positive mood and emotional balance Supporting mental focus while doing intense work Maintaining a healthy response to everyday stress Good Bugs/Bad Bugs Many people may not know that their intestines hold up to 3-4 pounds of bacteria. Our bodies are highly sophisticated and complicated ecosystems – nearly a thousand species of bacteria live in our GI tract. Some are beneficial, and some aren’t. Good bacteria help regulate everything in the ecosystem, from supporting our digestion to influencing our nervous and immune systems. These beneficial bacteria are critical to maintaining good health. They are symbiotic with us. They support our health and well-being as we give them food and shelter. The Right Balance Failure to maintain a proper balance of good-to-bad bacteria can create a whole host of problems throughout the brain and body. Many factors, such as aging, stress, taking antibiotics, or eating an unhealthy diet, can disrupt the delicate balance between beneficial and bad gut bacteria. To remain in top form, the relationship of good to bad bugs in your microbiome needs to be positively skewed. You are more likely to be healthy and happy when the beneficial microorganisms in your gut outnumber the harmful ones. When the balance is tipped the other way, you can have digestive problems, difficulty managing stress, and other negative behaviors. Boost Your Immunity The gut is the main route of contact with the external environment and is loaded with potentially troublesome microorganisms (bacteria, protozoa, fungi or viruses) or toxic substances. Besides helping with digestion and a healthy mood, the gut is also a huge contributor to immunity. By some estimates, 70-80% of your immune system resides in your gut. Research has documented the beneficial effects of probiotics supporting the immune system. Your immunity starts in your gut. The healthy gut is tightly sealed to block harmful microorganisms, waste products, or even poorly-digested, allergenic food particles from getting into the circulating blood. When this seal is loosened (“leaky gut”), such harmful agents can enter the bloodstream and be transported to the brain and other organs, potentially leading to serious, long-term consequences. Since probiotic bacteria help keep the gut lining tightly sealed, it’s vital to maintain and even increase the levels of good bacteria in the gut. Scientifically designed probiotic supplements can provide bacterial strains proven to positively influence the microorganism balance in the gut and boost your immunity. Probiotic Supplements Scientific evidence demonstrates that supplementing with precise combinations of probiotic strains can help balance gut bacteria and improve the natural protective seal. Few of the commercially available probiotic formulas are proven to achieve these goals. Even fewer are shown to help gut immunity and overall brain and body wellness. BrainMD is proud to recommend… ProBrainBiotics The combination of bacterial strains used in ProBrainBiotics is exactly the same as those proven beneficial in two double-blind clinical trials.* These powerful strains: Help repel harmful bacteria* Maintain the tight seal of the gut lining to help prevent “leaky gut”* Aren’t destroyed by stomach acids, so they can reach the intestines and take up residence there* Support healthy gut immune functions* In the two clinical trials, these probiotic strains were found to improve intestinal discomfort related to stress.* They were also found to measurably promote healthy mood and assist in coping with occasional anxiety.* If you aren’t taking a high-quality, brain-directed probiotic supplement, consider adding one to your daily vitamin regimen to help boost your immunity.* If you take good care of your gut, it will take good care of you!* At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about ProBrainBiotics and our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
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Is Your Gut Messing with Your Brain?
It is estimated that the gastrointestinal tract is loaded with about 100 trillion microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, and others), about ten times the total number of cells in the human body. To be healthy, the relationship of good bugs to bad bugs needs to be positively skewed – around 85 percent good to 15 percent troublemakers. When the balance is tipped the other way, all sorts of physical and mental problems can arise. Dysbiosis (also called dysbacteriosis) occurs when there is an imbalance of good bacteria (probiotics) and bad bacteria in the gut and has been linked to a wide range of health issues. Keeping your gut health in proper balance is essential to your overall health. Avoiding sugars and starches, eating the right balance of omega fatty acids, staying well-hydrated, and increasing the number of fermented foods you eat are all ways to support a healthy balance of gut flora. 4 Signs You Need Probiotics Digestive Issues Experiencing digestive issues is a sure-fire way to know you have an unbalanced gut. Many people end up treating their symptoms with antacids, gas medicines, or anti-diarrheal medications, but these don’t get to the root cause of the problem, which is unhealthy gut flora. If you are struggling with any of the following, you are likely suffering from dysbiosis: Gas Constipation Bloating Diarrhea Heartburn/acid reflex Irritable bowel Taking Antibiotics Antibiotics are designed to kill the bad, harmful bacteria in our bodies. When we are sick, this a VERY good thing! Unfortunately, though, antibiotics cannot discriminate between the good bacteria and bad bacteria in our bodies, so it kills it all! In fact, antibiotic means anti-life, which is the exact opposite of probiotic, which means pro-life. And research shows that taking even ONE dose of antibiotics may permanently reduce the diversity of your gut bacteria. However, the greatest danger from antibiotics does not come from those prescribed by your doctor, but rather from the foods you eat. It is estimated that 70 percent of the total antibiotic use in the United States is for livestock, which is why it is critical to eat antibiotic- and hormone-free meats whenever possible. Other medications that also rob your gut of good bacteria include birth control pills, pain medication, and anti-inflammatories. Chronic Stress Studies show that stress, all by itself, decreases healthy gut flora! Stress is inevitable, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. The problem arises when you let it go on for too long without managing it. Chronic, unmanaged stress raises cortisol (the stress hormone) levels which damages your gut flora and can stop the gut from working properly. Research has established that taking a probiotic supplement helps to reduce the stress response. Weak Immunity Immunity starts in the gut – in fact, by some estimates as much as 80% of your immune system resides in your gut. Something called intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut syndrome, is a major source of impaired immunity. Increasing the level of good bacteria in your gut helps to tighten the intestinal “junctions” through which leaking occurs, thus healing the permeability and improving immune function. By promoting a healthy gut flora with a regular probiotic supplement, studies show you can boost your immune system, strengthen your body’s defenses against illness, and potentially decrease the frequency and length of sicknesses. If you have used all of your sick days at work, seem to catch everything that goes around, or get sick from the flu every year, then try probiotics. Because of the importance of probiotics to overall health, BrainMD created ProBrainBiotics, a specially formulated probiotic to support the health of your gut and your brain. Make ProBrainBiotics a part of your daily life! At BrainMD, we’re committed to promoting, optimizing, and supporting brain health naturally. Using the most rigorous criteria for selecting the highest quality nutrients, we offer a line of ultra-pure, brain-directed, and clinical strength supplements that can help to boost your mood, memory and overall brain health. For more information about ProBrainBiotics and our full list of supplements, visit us at BrainMD.
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2 Products That Will Help Your Mood Under Stress
In our modern-day world, it seems too easy to get caught up in the daily worries, to allow them to consume us. It seems like we don’t have enough time to stop and slow down either, just wearing ourselves out. Ultimately, this leads to an abundance of stress. Many times, stress doesn’t just negatively affect your mood, though that becomes the most visible side effect. Stress also negatively affects the way your brain and body work. So, it is important to try to control your stress. We know that stepping away from solving all the world’s problems is easier said than done. Instead of handling stress with alcohol, drugs, or emotional instability, we have a better recommendation. These two supplements have been shown in studies to help support your mood under stress. Try them along with practicing a healthy diet and regular exercise. Tyrosine Tyrosine is a supplement that is known to support the brain, adrenals, and thyroid, especially when coping with stress or intense mental strain. When stressed, your brain is depleted of DA and NE. So emotional intensity or stress stimulates the adrenals to release NE (norepinephrine), and E (epinephrine, adrenaline) that they make from NE. This NE helps the brain cope with the challenge. The adrenals also rely on DA (neurotransmitters dopamine) for their normal stress response. The healthy adrenal function requires ample l-tyrosine to sustain their production of DA, NE and E in order to support the brain under stress. To see if supplementing with Tyrosine could help with the body’s responses to stress a study was performed. In a double-blind clinical trial, a 2-gram dose of tyrosine helped undergrad students perform better at multitasking, to "make the right choices" under mental challenge. ProBrainBiotics Our intestines hold trillions of bacterial cells that contribute to our overall health and wellbeing. We may not always realize it, but our gut and our brain are connected. When your digestion is not working properly, it affects the way you think, feel, and vis-versa. In a clinical trial, the same 2 strains of probiotics found in ProBrainBiotics, when taken for 30 days, was found to promote a healthy mood and provide a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by individuals affected by chronic stress. They also assisted in coping with occasional anxiety, likely related to occasional stress. Probiotics will also help your brain and body by: Promoting positive mood and emotional balance Promoting healthy digestion Supporting mental focus while doing intense work Supporting a healthy response to everyday stress You can learn to manage your stress, but you can’t control everything and stress will happen. Arm your brain with the nutrients that are shown to help support your body and your mood when under stress, try Tyrosine and ProBrainBiotics.
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Consuming Probiotics to Increase Brain Health
I know, I know, The idea of having "bugs" in your gut sounds ludicrous and frankly, gross. But not all "bugs" are bad for you. In fact, it has been proven that they are extremely helpful in the human body; Probiotics are essential in promoting the growth and activity of microorganisms ("gut bugs") that contribute to the well being of their host, you. Watch Dr. Amen discuss the importance of gut bugs and what you can do to take care of them.
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One Secret for Keeping Your 2nd Brain Healthy
You have likely heard about the many health benefits of probiotics. But what about PREbiotics? Although many people think that prebiotic is just a misspelling of the word probiotic, they are actually two very different things! While a probiotic is a living microorganism (such as lactobacillus or bifidobacterium) that when consumed (as in a food or a dietary supplement) maintains or restores beneficial bacteria to the digestive tract; a prebiotic is defined as a “nondigestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating growth and/or modifying the metabolic activity of one or a limited number of bacterial species in the colon that have the potential to improve host health.”1 Simply put, prebiotics are the “food” for probiotics. They act as a fertilizer for the good bacteria – helping them grow and improving the good-to-bad bacteria ratio. Research has demonstrated that this ratio has a direct correlation to your health and overall wellbeing, from your gut to your brain. In a 2008 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with healthy volunteers, gastrointestinal discomforts thought to be related to occasional stress were noticeably improved by a combination of Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum Strain R0175 taken daily for three weeks.2 Another double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with this very same combination of probiotic strains, at the very same dosage, was published in 2011. Taken for 30 days, it was found to measurably promote healthy mood and to assist in coping with occasional anxiety likely related to occasional stress.3,4 The strains used in BrainMD Health’s ProBrainBiotics are the very same as those that proved beneficial in these two double-blind clinical trials. However, in order to fully reap these benefits, the probiotics must be well “fed”. So where are prebiotics found? Most prebiotics are a form of fiber called soluble fiber. Our body does not digest the fiber, but the bacteria in our gut do. In order for a food ingredient to be classified as a prebiotic, it must: not be broken down in the stomach or absorbed in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract be selectively fermented by potentially beneficial bacteria in the colon alter the makeup of the colonic microbiota towards a healthier composition induce effects that are beneficial to the host health5 Rich sources of prebiotics include: Nuts: almonds, cashews, and pistachios Fruits: bananas, apples, pomegranates, cherries, kiwi, berries, and nectarines Vegetables: Jerusalem artichokes, wild yams, jicama, green peas, leeks, asparagus, chicory, broccoli, kale, garlic and onions Legumes: lentils, chickpeas, and red kidney beans Whole grains and seeds: oatmeal, flaxseeds, and chia seeds Unlike probiotics, where supplementation is recommended, you don’t need to go out of your way to get prebiotics so long as you’re eating a varied, healthy diet, you should be getting enough soluble fiber to keep your beneficial bacteria happy. If you take good care of your gut, it will take good care of you! References: Ashwell M. Concepts of Functional Foods (ILSI Europe Concise Monograph Series Ed Walker, R) 2002. Available at: https://www.ilsi.org/europe/publications/c2002con_food.pdf. Diop L, Guillou S, Durand H. Nutrition Research28:1 (2008). Messaoudi M, et al. British Journal of Nutrition105:755 (2011). Messaoudi M, et al. Gut Microbes2:256 (2011). Gibson GR. Dietary Modulation of the Human Gut Microflora Using the Prebiotics Oligofructose and Inulin. J Nutr. 129:1438S-1441S (1999).
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8 Ways to Boost Your Probiotic Health with These Foods
“Bacteria in your food” typically gets a pretty bad rap since most of the time we’re thinking about the bad ones, like E. coli, listeria, or salmonella. The bacteria in probiotic foods, however, are actually good for you – these are the “good bugs” that you want in your gut. You probably realize how critical it is to include probiotics in your healthy life plan. But, you are likely not getting enough in your diet. So where do you find them? Add some of these healthy foods to your diet to get a probiotic boost! 8 Probiotic-Rich Foods to Add to Your Diet 1. Kimchi Spicy and sour, this traditional Korean side dish is mixture of fermented vegetables and seasonings. Since it is primarily made of cabbage, brine, radish and spices such as ginger and chili pepper, kimchi is a great low-calorie source of fiber as well as providing beneficial bacteria. Try adding this unique ingredient to sandwiches, stir-fries or soup, but be sure to add it last to avoid cooking off the good bacteria. 2. Fresh Sauerkraut Found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket, fresh sauerkraut is shredded cabbage that has been fermented, which fosters the growth of probiotics. Be sure to choose the unpasteurized kind, because pasteurization (used to treat most supermarket sauerkraut) kills active, good bacteria. 3. Sour Pickles Salty pickle spears also deliver a punch of probiotics. However, when looking to pickles for probiotics, choose naturally fermented kinds, where vinegar wasn't used in the pickling process. A sea salt and water solution feeds the growth of good bacteria. A good rule of thumb: if they’re sold out on the shelf at room temperature, they definitely do not contain healthy bacteria. Look for a container labeled “live and active cultures” and sold in the refrigerator section. 4. Miso This traditional Japanese seasoning is made by fermenting cooked soybeans with barley or rice, salt, and koji (a starter culture) to form a red, white, or dark colored paste. To get the maximum benefit from the live cultures, buy unpasteurized miso paste in the refrigerated section of your grocery store and add to soups or stews just before removing from heat. Miso can also be used in place of salt in your favorite recipes, as well as in dips, marinades, and salad dressings. 5. Tempeh Another probiotic rich food made from fermented soybeans, tempeh is a white, firm block that is frequently used as a protein-packed meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians. You can marinate and cook it, or try it crumbled over salads. Its flavor is often described as nutty, smoky, and similar to a mushroom. 6. Kombucha This 2000-year old beverage is a slightly sweet and effervescent liquid that results when sweet black tea is fermented with a colony of bacteria called a “SCOBY” (a Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeast). Find it in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or pick up your own home-brew kombucha kit. 7. Kefir A milky beverage originating in Turkey and Russia, kefir is an outstanding source of probiotics – containing anywhere from 10 to 34 different strains. It is made by fermenting goat, cow, or sheep’s milk with kefir “grains”– a combination of yeast and bacteria. For those who are sensitive to dairy or lactose intolerant, coconut kefir, a non-dairy version, is also delicious and equally beneficial. 8. Yogurt Last but definitely not least is the popular and well-known fermented milk product made from cow’s milk, goat’s milk, sheep milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or even nut milk. Not all yogurts are the same, so stay away from those filled with sugars and syrups. Be sure to choose those containing “live and active cultures”. Food is by far the best way to build up healthy gut microbes, but if you're not consuming lots of kimchi and kefir on a regular basis, consider taking a probiotic supplement like BrainMD Health’s very own ProBrainBiotics.
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