August 20, 2010
Antibiotic Use…
August 20, 2010
Breast Milk Contains Unique Natural Prebiotic…
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/science/03milk.html?_r=1
We really enjoyed this article for many reasons– primarily because we agree with most of the content. However, what the authors fail to disclose to the readers is the very important purpose of these innate and specific composition prebiotics found in breast-milk fueling the right probiotic strain: B. infantis ATCC15697 aka B. infantis NLS strain.
Most mothers today, unfortunately, are not able to pass along this probiotic strain to their unborn child because most likely they have taken antibiotics, lived in a toxic environment, or they didn’t get it from their own mothers. We have seen the virtual disappearance of this probiotic strain from the infant’s GI tract in the Westernized world. Dr. Tannock et al. has published data suggesting that infants in Westernized countries such as Great Britain, the US, and New Zealand, no longer house the B. infantis strain, whereas children in Ghana were found to still have this probiotic strain present in their GI tract.
Although we agree that human breast milk has a unique composition of natural prebiotics, it cannot stimulate the growth of B. infantis if the mother is unable to pass it to her newborn infant. We have found that infants in Westernized countries possess other strains and species of Bifidobacteria, but do not have B. infantis (the most important strain for their development). Therefore, a mother should supplement herself, starting with the Third Trimester of her pregnancy, with a highly potent strain of B. infantis NLS. She can also can and should choose to supplement herself with other super-strains of probiotic bacteria while pregnant, to optimize the benefits of probiotics for her unborn child. Probiotics are safe to consume while pregnant.
Furthermore, when transitioning children from breast milk to table foods (which experts generally recommend the right age is around 1 year old), parents should avoid feeding grains, sugars, juices, and processed food, until the child is around 4 years old. Because of the blatant violation of these guidelines in Western Societies, many experts believe this is the cause of the HUGE rise in Celiac Disease, Gluten-Intolerance. On a further note, we believe obesity in Western countries is correlated with the microflora disruption by the indiscrimate use of antibiotics and the inclusion of fast-foods, which are full of simple sugars, carbohydrates, and lack nutrition.
NOTE: We never recommend taking a supplement with added prebiotics, like inulin or fructo-oligo-saccharides, because these artificial prebiotics can stimulate the growth of bad bacteria, as well as the good. You should always avoid commercial prebiotics.
Tell TAP: Do you give your infant a form of Bifidobacteria infantis or Did you take B. infantis while pregnant/nursing?
August 20, 2010
Does your dog eat everything under the sun?
Then read this:
According to this article, researchers believe a dog’s indiscriminate taste could cause a plethora of both bad bacteria and ailments like IBS in a dog’s gut. The question is: Does this bacterial imbalance cause the intestinal issues or do the intestinal issues cause the bacterial imbalance? Researchers are trying to answer that very question right now.
In the interim, we believe it’s always important to supplement your canine’s diet with a regular, high-quality probiotic that is continuously refrigerated and contains probiotic super strains.
Tell TAP: Would you supplement your dog’s diet– if it meant better health for him?
August 11, 2010
The rise of Superbugs– should you be worried?
There is a new rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs so strong– that there is not an antibiotic on the market today that will work against it! These superbugs come from Asia and carry a so-called NDM-1 gene. They have been found everywhere from Asia, to South Africa to Great Britain, and many worry they could soon be global.
Tell TAP: Are you worried about these antibiotic-resistant Superbugs?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100811/wl_uk_afp/healthdiseasebacteriaantibioticstravelindiapakistan
August 9, 2010
Probiotic Blends– Are they really good for you?
Recently, Natasha Trenev received a great question from a retailer by the name of Tom (last name withheld for privacy reasons):
Hi Natasha,
I was wondering if you have research links or attachments that you could provide for me on why you don’t recommend combining other synergistic probiotic strains together in a single product?
Many consumers are being informed to look for products with a variety of strains. There is some research that shows that using multiple species had more benefit over single strain products – Int J Food Microbiol. 2004 Nov 15;96(3):219-33.
Monostrain, multistrain and multispecies probiotics–A comparison of functionality and efficacy.
There are also hundreds of species of bacteria that exist naturally in the gastro-intestinal tract together, so I was hoping that you could shed some light on why you don’t generally recommend probiotic “cocktails”. This will aid in my customer’s education as well as my own.
Great Question Tom! Natasha’s response to Tom is below:
Natasha says synergy or symbiosis is not very prevalent in the microbiological world—it’s very rare. When you mix micro-organisms in a capsule or a bottle that are not separated by a barrier such as oil, they are not dormant—they are still growing but at an arrested rate. As a consequence, there is going to be competition and die-off because of being put together in an environment where they can’t get extra food or find new territory. The only reason to mix micro-organisms is that each one of them should provide a different benefit to the area of the GI tract that you are targeting. For instance, bifidobacteria targets the large intestine, L. acidophilus targets the small intestine and the bulgaricus is for the transient flora. Basically, unless the manufacturer provides good science and an explanation as to why they are making this blend, there is no good reason for a blend and it dilutes the value and quality of the product. The problem with putting a multi-strain probiotic product out on the market is that it does not necessarily benefit the end-user, sometimes these manufacturers put in very inexpensive, less desirable strains versus the higher quality strains, and you don’t know what you’re getting—you might be getting much more of the lesser-quality strains. In other words, you don’t know what you’re getting in the end product—and that’s why Natasha generally recommends avoiding these multi-strain products/blends.
Natasha always recommends researching your probiotic manufacturer. Make sure the product is made in the USA, and has a guarantee of potency at the time of consumption for each and every strain listed on the label. In terms of children, look for strains of Bifidobacteria infantis, which is a naturally-occuring species in a child’s GI tract. Once they start eating table food, you can add in safe probiotic strains and create your own multi-strain probiotic for your child. And we feel that this is much more appropriate than just giving them an unscientific blend of microorganisms.
TELL TAP: What do you think of the probiotic blend products out there?
August 3, 2010
Candida and the Role of Probiotics…
Many people write to us at TAP everyday with the basic question of Candida. What is it and how can I get better? Candida Albicans is an intestinal yeast that is present in almost everyone in normal levels. However, when Candida starts to overwhelm your body and it essentially starts “taking over”, you know there is a problem. Symptoms of Candida can include a white film on the tongue (especially first thing in the morning), drowsiness, persistent fatigue, bloated belly, indigestion, constipation, inability to concentrate etc. So what should you do if you suspect you have Candida?
We have compiled a great list of resources for you, but TAP highly recommends a phenomenal website: www.thinkfungus.com, created by Dr. David Holland. He also created the Limited Carbohydrate Diet, which is very helpful for someone who may have an overgrowth of Candida.
Probiotics also play a very important role in helping to manage Candida overgrowth. Probiotics are a big help to the body in that they can help support the immune system in fighting off yeasts, fungi and harmful bacteria. They can keep our intestinal tract in a healthy balance and may discourage yeast infections of the vaginal tract. Beneficial bacteria can detoxify your body, by “crowding out” harmful organisms. This means as the beneficial bacteria compete for attachment sites within your GI tract, they push out harmful organisms (such as yeast) and leave no room for them.
We suggest the following probiotic approach to combat yeast:
Start by taking one to several potent probiotic capsules or freeze-dried powders per day. You can choose between dairy-free capsules or dairy-based powders. Start by taking 1/2 teaspoon of each powder (or one capsule of each) once a day, mixed in one glass of unchilled filtered water, taken on an empty stomach, preferably at least 20 minutes before meals. After two weeks, increase frequency to twice a day. Increase to 2 or more capsules a day if you wish. Take with unchilled filtered water, along with some food.
When combating yeast, it is also helpful to avoid any sugars, fermented foods, yeasts (as in bread) and any foods that may harbor molds, such as dried fruits, nuts and some cheeses.
Beneficial bacteria may cause an inhibition or die-off of harmful bacteria or fungi, which must exit the body via the feces or urine. With large numbers of toxins, these exit routes may become overcrowded and unable to accommodate the mass exit immediately. It is during this time that the individual may experience a Herxheimer reaction – temporary toxic or allergic symptoms such as bloating, gas and/or headaches. It is important to realize that these reactions are positive signs that the body is ridding itself of harmful organisms and their toxic by-products. We suggest increasing the dosage slowly to avoid bloating and/or gas.
June 7, 2010
Gut-Brain Connection Explored in Elle Magazine Article…
In the May 2010 Issue of Elle Magazine, under their Health and Fitness section, you can find a fascinating article entitled, “Emotional Eating: The Brain-Stomach Connection”. Read it here:
http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Health-Fitness/Emotional-Eating-The-Brain-Stomach-Connection
We at TAP absolutely loved this article for many reasons. We have always believed that foods can act like drugs in your body– trigger different behavioral moods and feelings based on the type of food you are eating. For example, when you’re seeking comfort, or a boost in feel-good serotonin– the author notices we are all likely to reach for the ice cream sandwich, buttery pasta, or creamy mashed potatoes. The point of the article being that our gut controls our mind and our mood AND by extension, our subconscious eating choices more than we might think. It could even be deduced that our gut behaves as our second brain, so to speak.
In an emerging field called neurogastroenterolgy, experts refer to the gut (esophagus, stomach, and intestines) as the “second brain”, and they are actively exploring if we should eat to balance our moods or balance the scale. In fact, one doctor at UCLA is actively exploring whether he can treat underlying GI issues with neuropsychiatric medicine and traditional GI methods. He is also actively exploring the role of probiotic supplements as a possible way to improve mood by improving your overall digestion.
Which brings us back to what we have always believed at TAP: The importance of a probiotic supplement to feel good everyday.
Tell TAP: What do you think?
May 3, 2010
Take Action Now!
Tell Your Senators to OPPOSE the FTC amendment to S. 3217, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010
The amendment could needlessly expand the rulemaking and enforcement authority of the Federal Trade Commission to dietary supplements.
If the proposed amendment to S. 3172 passes, it will add burdensome new regulations and cede more authority over your business to the FTC — just what the U.S. economy does not need.
Should these additional powers be granted to the FTC, you can expect to see the following:
•The FTC will have authority to create advertising guidelines that are inconsistent with what is allowed under DSHEA and the Food and Drug Administration
•The FTC acting as a legislative body, creating “rules” for industries like ours in areas in which it has no expertise
•The FTC levying fines against businesses for practices it deems illegal without allowing the business to change its policies
•The FTC levying fines against companies for “aiding and abetting” wrongdoing even when the companies did not know a violation was occurring
•The FTC making, approving, and policing rules with virtually no oversight
Tell your Senators NOW to oppose the FTC amendment to S. 3217.
April 22, 2010
New Article About Probiotics…
http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/20100419_Probiotic_growth_precedes_science.html
Sound Off in the Comments Area: What are your thoughts on this?
