June 2023
Hello, and welcome to this month's article! Summertime, and the livin’ is easy... Have you made your plans for the summer? Whatever you have in store, be sure to dedicate adequate time for some rest and relaxation. Scheduling your next massage is an excellent way to set the mood for a more mellow month.
Massage sets the stage for overall improved health and a better mental outlook. Support a healthier life with your regular bodywork sessions.
After a short article that summarizes the benefits of massage, this month’s featured article delves into a vital area of health—good gut health.
Your intestinal tract affects more than most people imagine. For instance, as stated on healthline.com, “The gut-brain axis is the close bond that exists between the digestive system and your brain. Emotions (including stress) and brain disorders affect how your body digests food.”
Read on to learn about the importance of providing your gut with the essentials it needs to support better health, and why.
Have an enjoyable and healthy summer; see you soon!
Healing Effects of Massages
A massage may be seen as the ideal way to unwind at the end of a long week. However, massages provide more than just a relaxing way to cap off a hectic week.
According to the Mayo Clinic, massage is a component of integrative medicine that is increasingly being offered along with standard treatments for a host of medical conditions and situations.
Massage has long been associated with helping to reduce stress, pain, muscle soreness, and tension. And massage also can help improve circulation and lower heart rate and blood pressure.
However, various studies also have suggested massage can be utilized to treat a range of additional conditions, including anxiety, headaches, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain.
The Mayo Clinic notes that more study is needed to confirm the benefits of massage for treating such conditions, but massage can remain a beneficial component of wellness regimens.
Source: newspressnow.com
Prebiotics, Probiotics, Postbiotics: What Are They And Why Do We Need Them?
by Dr. Faith Coleman
If you go through any supermarket or health foods store these days, you’ll likely see lots of prebiotics and probiotics for sale. So, what exactly are these popular products? Here’s everything you need to know about them and why these items are great for your gut health.
Probiotics are “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host,” according to the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics.
Prebiotics, on the other hand, are not alive nor digestible by humans. However, they are sources of food for beneficial microbes — the probiotics. Meanwhile, postbiotics are metabolites of the probiotics or other microbes that you’ve ingested. Metabolites are substances necessary for metabolism.
One thing that prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics have in common is that all three are essential for supporting your gut microbiome. This is the collection of the micro-organisms and their genetic material that occupy your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Both beneficial and harmful bacteria live in the human body. The biotics, which are diet-related, work to increase the beneficial microorganisms, overtaking the effects of the harmful bacteria. Each of the biotics has a distinct purpose, although the three work together.
The health benefits of these biotics extend beyond the GI tract. There has been plenty of research into the characteristics of the biotics, with scientific data mounting about their health-enhancing roles in the immune system, in metabolic diseases such as high cholesterol, in mental health issues including depression, and in many other conditions. Individuals can modify the composition of their gut microbiomes — opening exciting new possibilities for disease management.
What foods are rich in probiotics? Probiotics, as stated, are “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” The host is the person who consumes them. The “live microorganisms” are the bacteria that have a health-promoting effect.
Foods rich in probiotics, in addition to promoting general gut health, have been shown to improve irritable bowel syndrome, prevent traveler’s diarrhea, increase nutrient absorption, synthesize vitamins, improve antibiotic-related diarrhea, and favorably affect prevalent infections, such as the common cold.
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and their dozens of strains, are, by far, the most common probiotic bacteria in use. Different strains have different uses. ... Using a reliable probiotic guide, you’ll find information about specific food products and supplements, the probiotic strains they contain, the health conditions they target, and how to use them.
Many foods naturally contain probiotics, especially fermented foods, such as kefir, yogurt, kimchee, and kombucha. Not all fermented foods, however, contain probiotics, including yogurts. Look for products labeled “contains live and active cultures.” Specific strains of bacteria printed on the label are especially reassuring that your choice has active microorganisms.
Other products with specific strains of probiotics added are called “functional foods.” These are defined as having benefits beyond simply providing nutrients, due to the addition of health-enhancing ingredients. Probiotics are also available as supplements. Your probiotic guide includes information about functional foods and supplements.
Which foods make great prebiotics? Prebiotics are sources of food for the beneficial microbes — the probiotics. They are usually forms of fiber or carbohydrates that humans lack the enzymes to digest, allowing them to move through the GI tract to be used by the probiotics.
Research has found that specific prebiotics enhance mineral absorption, immune function, and digestion, help regulate blood sugar, and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Consuming oats increases the numbers of bacteria which improve metabolic health and reduce absorption of cholesterol. Some components of onions, garlic, bananas, asparagus, wheat, barley, oats, and beans are natural prebiotics.
Postbiotics have their own healthy benefits — Postbiotics are metabolites of the probiotics or other microorganisms that you’ve ingested. When you consume probiotics and prebiotics, the microbes in your gut consume the undigestible prebiotic material, producing active compounds called postbiotics. ...
Postbiotics also have their own specific physiological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic properties. They help enhance immune function. These are just some of the known effects. Research regularly reveals additional benefits. ...
Source: studyfinds.org
A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities
and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.
— Harry Truman
The content of this article is not designed to replace professional medical advice. If you’re ill, consult a physician.
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