Prebiotics

What are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are carbohydrates that "friendly" gut bacteria feed on. They're found in tomatoes, asparagus, onions, garlic, artichoke, chicory and bananas, and reach the gut relatively unchanged as the body cannot digest them.

It's believed that eating prebiotics causes more protective bacteria to grow in the gut.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts promoted as having various health benefits, including preventing and treating a range of conditions. They are usually eaten in yoghurts or taken as food supplements, and are often described as "good" or "friendly" bacteria.

Probiotics are thought to help restore the natural balance of your gut bacteria when it has been disrupted. However, there is little evidence to support most health claims made for them.

The strongest of this evidence surrounds the use of probiotics in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD).

There's also evidence, albeit weaker, to suggest they may help in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance and a complication of ulcerative colitis treatment. It is also thought that probiotics may help protect some premature babies from developing a dangerous gut disease.

However, until more research is carried out, it's uncertain whether the benefits stretch any further than that. Generally, it's hard to see how swallowable bacteria could have an effect on conditions outside of the digestive tract.

It should also be noted that there's likely to be a huge difference between the pharmaceutical-grade probiotics that show promise in clinical trials and the "probiotic" yoghurts and supplements sold in shops, which may not live up to the advertised claims.

The problems with "probiotic" yoghurts and food supplements

• antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD)

• persistent diarrhoea

• protecting premature babies from gut disease

• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• lactose intolerance

• pouchitis

• colic

• "boosting the immune system"

• vaginal conditions

• inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

• eczema

Until 2010, the probiotic food industry claimed in adverts that their yoghurts "boost your immune system". However, these claims were ruled unproven by The European Food Safety Authority and are no longer allowed to be made.

Not only is there a lack of evidence for the supposed immune system benefits of probiotics, but research found that in healthy children, probiotic supplements had no effect on antibody levels, days of fever and number of infections.

More research is needed before we can draw any conclusions, and the vague term "boosting immunity" needs clearly defining so we can understand exactly what beneficial effect, if any, probiotic foods and food supplements have on the immune system.

There's also no reason why healthy people should need to "rebalance their gut bacteria", as some marketing material may claim. 

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/probiotics/Pages/Introduction.aspx

What You Can Learn By Visiting Fitness Forums

People who are looking for effective weight loss programs or strategies for toning their muscles fast should use the web to find the answers they need. There is a lot of valuable information that gets passed around in online fitness forums. Following are just a few of the topics that are commonly covered on these platforms.

Consumers can learn how to choose the best weight loss and muscle building supplements. This is one of the top reasons why you might want to visit a forum. These are great places for discussing subjects that you might not feel comfortable talking about in other arenas.

The people who have used these products in the past often provide detailed reviews of their experiences. This allows others to avoid products that might have negative side effects or that fail to produce the results they promise. Many people take part in these discussions in order to discover the most effective brands and to get accurate dosing instructions for their training purposes.

It is also possible to learn the best exercise techniques. If you are not performing an activity the right way, you are not going to get optimal benefits from doing it. The people who post on these pages can tell you how to hold your body correctly and control your movements so that you are always challenging your muscles and your cardiovascular system to the fullest.

Certain foods can help to boost the performance of the human metabolism. Many of the forums that people visit share lists of these foods and how to serve them. This is a great way to find out how to get your body to start burning more fat faster. There are even places for chatting with people who can help you bulk up if this is your goal instead.

A lot of dieters use these platforms to get both inspiration and motivation. People can talk to others about their frustrating weight loss plateaus or their lack of will power. They can also offer support to those who are struggling with issues that they themselves have battled in the past.



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Excellent Benefits of Fruit And Vegetable Juices During Summer

Excellent Benefits of Fruit And Vegetable Juices During Summer

You can refresh yourself in summer with the help of fruit or vegetable juices. These delicious, healthy juices can refresh you and replenish your depleted energy levels. Even though juices can be enjoyed any time of the year, they become much more enjoyable during summers.

You can prepare tasty health drinks at home which can provide you with important nutrients like proteins and vitamins and also help in overcoming the effects of the scorching summer heat. As you might be aware, fruits are very important for our body as well as for a healthy skin.

Fruits and vegetables consist mainly of water and fiber, but they also provide a lot of other important nutrients like minerals, vitamins, phyto-nutrients. It is a very healthy habit to consume fresh fruits and vegetables on regular basis, specially in summer season.

The problem is most people do not like to consume whole fruits or vegetables. Such people can enjoy juices made from them. For example, no one would like to eat 10 carrots at once. But if you make a glass of carrot juice using those 10 carrots, you can easily gulp it down.

Fruits and vegetables provide nutrients which are essential for the growth and healthy functioning of the body. They provide us energy and help in regulating our metabolism. They contain minerals which are necessary for the nerves and muscles of our body. However, keep in mind that vegetable or fruit juices should not be used as substitutes for whole foods, but as supplements. They can be a perfect food supplement, specially for our eat-on-the-run lifestyles. You can make a glass of juice easily and quickly.

Vitamin C present in some juices can be good for the skin. If you regularly drink juices which are rich in Vitamin C, you can notice a significant improvement in the smoothness and beauty of your skin. Vitamin C also helps in joint flexibility and is good for the hair. Grapefruit juice is a good source of Vitamin C and can be helpful in preventing arthritis, cataracts. But people with type 2 diabetes should avoid it due to its high sugar concentration. Orange juice is another good source of Vitamin C.

Carrot juice contains a large amount of beta-carotene, potassium and vitamins. It helps in strengthening the immune system, improving the eyesight and preventing heart related diseases. It can also be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels, healing of wounds and preventing cancer.

Sugarcane juice is very popular during summer season because it quenches our thirst and re-hydrates our body, giving us instant burst of energy. It is also effective in fighting against prostate and breast cancer.

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