Great probiotic fact sheet for download

[Nelson Vergel]

What are probiotics?

Our intestines contain over 100 trillion bacteria.This is 1,000 times the number of cells that make up the entire human body. Many of these bacteria play an important role in protecting our health:


• They make compounds that keep harmful bacteria from spreading, helping to prevent infections.
• They help with digestion.
• They stimulate the gut's immune system.
• They help our bodies digest foods more efficiently.
• They change certain vitamins.
• They change which genes are active in gut cells.
• They may help to prevent colon cancer.The balance between helpful and harmful bacteria in the gut can change. If that occurs,the helpful bacteria in the body may not be able to do these important tasks as well as before.Antibiotics, poor nutrition, inflammation, stress,and other factors can kill off the helpful bacteria in the gut.When this happens, probiotics and prebiotics may be helpful.

Probiotics are products containing live microorganisms. They can be taken to improve the balance of bacteria in a person's intestines. It is now easy to find them as dietary supplements in health food stores and pharmacies. Good quality yogurts with live active cultures, kefir, fermented milk, miso, and a number of other foods are also probiotics.

FACT SHEET: http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/files/webfm-uploads/documents/outreach/im/handout_probiotics_patient.pdf

 

[salasman]

Excellent post Nelson. For anyone interested, I can share some personal experiences on making your own sauerkraut. Probably one of the easiest and cheapest way load the GI with healthy bacteria. Sauerkraut can be a great side dish to just about any food.

 

[Jon H]

+1 to what salasman said.

I started making my own sauerkraut last year, after watching a YouTube video from Evan Centopani (bodybuilder) that showed how to make it, and why he decided to do it.

I can say that I've noticed several positive health effects from doing this. Not only is it very inexpensive to make and great for you, it's absolutely the best sauerkraut you'll ever have.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Salasman

Share away!

I have been watching some videos on how to make sauerkraut but not sure which one is better.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

One of the answers on my column on TheBody.com




probiotic yogurt

Jun 19, 2013
Hello, some studies show that probiotic yogurt can increase CD4 counts, but others show risks to those with compromised immune systems taking probiotics. What are your thoughts? I have been on HIV therapy for nearly 3 years and have not yet achieved a consistent CD4 count over 200. My % is 14. I started very low, under 20. Do you know of any progress on immune therapies to raise the counts? I have been following Cytheris and IL7 therapy but the trials are taking a very long time. Thanks for your help.


Response from Mr. Vergel


Thanks for this interesting question.

Researchers have discovered that the human body hosts 100 trillion mostly benign bacteria, which help digest food, program the immune system, prevent infection, and even influence mood and behavior.

Everybody hosts at least 10,000 different species of bacteria, contributing up to 5 pounds body weight. Half of your stool is not leftover food. It is microbial biomass.

Last year scientists presented evidence that everybody has one of three bacterial profiles characterized by high levels of specific bacterial species.

Microbiome research is in its infancy, but there is already evidence that an imbalance of gut flora may cause gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease.

Some 80% of a person's gut flora comes from his or her mother. A newborn exits the womb microbe-free, but it is colonized by the mother's vagina bacteria as it passes through the birth canal. Other microbes are picked up in the first few years of life.
Diet plays a major role in determining what bacteria people host. However researchers are still trying to determine what factors could set the microbiota in a good direction versus a bad direction.

Pills, drinks, and yogurts containing probiotics bacteria have become very popular with several TV ads showing daily. A review of probiotics research by scientists at Yale University found that certain strains of bacteria did appear to reduce diarrhea and alleviate irritable bowel syndrome, and another study showed that they could shorten colds. But researchers still aren't sure which bacterial strains are helpful for which conditions, and how they interact with a person person's existing microbiome. PCR testing of gut bacteria is a fast evolving field in the present.

The studies that you mentioned that showed that probiotics increase CD4 cells have been done in monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and not in humans with HIV. We need to wait until further data are available from human studies to say for sure if probiotic supplements help HIV+ patients increase their CD4 cells. More information of the studies here:Effect of HAART on beneficial gut microbes

I take probiotics when I have diarrhea or after I take antibiotics for any reason. There are several commercially available products out there. Some have more human data and then others. I take Culturelle since that was a product used in the latest monkey study that looked at CD4 cells in SIV infected monkeys supplemented with probiotics.

Interleukin 7 therapy has been shown to increase CD4 cells in HIV-positive patients. However it is still in early phases of research. A recent study showed that interleukin 7 could not decrease the amount of HIV reservoirs in HIV-positive patients that were treated with it. It is definitely an exciting cytokine that may improve CD4 cells for people that have not responded immunologically to HIV medications. But we will have to wait at least 2 to 3 years to get more access to this option.

Another approach that has been researched lately for patients that do not have increases in CD4 cells over 200 cells per milliliter has been the Sangamo finger nuclease technology that modifies a patient's CD4 cells in the lab so that they are resistant to HIV infection. In early phase 1 studies patients gained a substantial amount of CD4 cells after an infusion of their own CD4 cells which were modified in a lab to have CCR5 receptor mutations. Sangamo is currently studying patients like you to explore the use of their technology as a means to increase CD4 cells in those who have not been able to normalize their CD4 counts after years of HIV treatment. We will keep you abreast of any progress in this area.

I hope this update helped you. Stay tuned for upcoming research data in the field of what we call immunological discordant responders (those who have undetectable viral load for a few years but whose CD4 cells remain under 200 cells/ml).
Nelson Vergel

 

[Vince]

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[Vince]

http://nourishingplot.com/2014/06/16/making-sauerkraut-at-home-in-3-easy-steps/
You only need cabbage and salt.

 

[salasman]

Here you go, Nelson. And Joh H, let us know if you've added any flavoring during the process. I have not but am thinking about a little white wine to vary the taste a bit. Whether that is done during or after the fermentation process, I'll have to research.

1. http://www.primalfeast.com/?p=677 - this is it; let me know if you have any questions; i didn't measure exact salt amount rather lightly sprinkled a couple of times and mixed in; the only parts not shown is that i used a tiny jam jar filled with water to keep all of the cabbage submerged; every day i would take a wooden spoon and press down on the jar to pack the cabbage; you want it always to be submerged; i also wrapped a cheese cloth around the opening although a clean hand towel works too (just to keep out dust, etc - the bacteria will soon get into the jar which is what we want)

2. http://www.primalfeast.com/?p=523 and http://www.primalfeast.com/?p=539 my first go was with purple cabbage; interesting appearance; taste was fine, but I added to much salt; there is a salt to cabbage weight ratio, but I just winged it.

- the larger the jar opening, the easier.

- i use glass jalapeño or pickle jars.

- i read somewhere that a wooden spoon is better the stainless steal...if you plan smashing down the kraut...something about the chemical reaction of metal and salts and fermentation.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Thanks, Salasman