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Posts Tagged ‘Nutrition’

Choosing Probiotic Supplements

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

If our diet does not provide us with enough probiotics then we may feel the need to take a probiotic supplement. Probiotics maintain digestive health and comfort by digesting particular substances in the diet and enabling efficient nutrient and mineral absorption. A normal healthy gut has a good balance of friendly bacteria over bad bacteria; however, this balance is fragile. Factors such as stress, dietary habits, medication can all have an adverse effect, increasing the need for some of us to take probiotic supplements daily.

Before getting in-depth into the factors that need consideration, let us understand the myths related to probiotics. Antibiotics differ from probiotics. Antibiotics are taken to sweep out the bacteria present in the digestive track. Antibiotics can disturb the bacterial equilibrium present in the digestive track while probiotics have the power to restore the intestinal flora in human beings. To reap the benefits of thissupplement, you should know how to take probiotic supplements the right way.

Pre-biotics and probiotics are not similar and differ a lot from one another. While Pre-biotics refer to the indigestible carbohydrates that occur in nature, probiotics refer to the healthy gut flora. However, both are very vital and aid in the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive track of human beings. Versatile micro organisms colonize the intestine in case of human beings. Some of them are friendly while some prove to be harmful. Practically, human beings cannot get rid of the deleterious bacteria altogether. However, a balance of the harmful and beneficial bacteria can be maintained within the digestive path of the human body. This would keep the body hail and healthy on a long term. Ideally, the beneficial bacteria should constitute 15% of the total bacteria within the digestive path of humans.

This bacterial balance can be well achieved by the probiotic supplements with ease. Of the many hundred types of bacteria that is present in the human gut, the most vital and helpful species is the lactobacilli. This variant of bacterium secretes lactic acid. Commonly found in yoghurt, they help in maintaining the acidic ambience within the digestive track particularly the intestine. Such an environment is very helpful in keeping the deleterious bacteria at bay comfortably.

The hectic and hurry burry lifestyle forces many of us to opt for junk and fast food. The digestive system being very sensitive gets affected due to this unhealthy food intake. Sometimes, it is overstressed as we are amidst the pressurized lifestyle which we are into. This greatly disturbs the gut bacterial balance very badly. Antibiotics prove to be futile since they end up killing all types of bacteria within the body. Birth control tablets intake, caffeinated beverages intake, chlorinated water consumption, inclusion of preservatives and unnatural coloring in food can wipe out the bacterial equilibrium altogether.

Amidst this, taking probiotic supplements is definitely a very wise and a healthy move. But before you choose the probiotic supplement, ensure that the product that you choose has many strains of bacteria in it. The bacterial suspension present in the probiotic supplement should emulate the bacteria in the intestine. The density of bacteria present in the supplement should be high and should never be less than one million per gram of the supplement.

Align daily probiotic supplement can help restore your natural balance, building & maintaining a strong, healthy digestive system. Align is intended for people with healthy digestive function who are looking for help with occasional digestive upsets or who are interested in promoting their digestive health. With Align, you can reclaim your freedom to travel, eat out, and enjoy life without the same interruption of these occasional digestive upsets, and help restore the natural balance of your digestive system. Get more information on Align, please visit at Aligngi.com.

How Energy Drinks Relate to Teen Health

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Today’s teens live busy lives, up early and staying up late. Their days are filled with school, after school activities, sports, jobs, homework and social activities. They feel tired and need energy to continue their long days. Energy drinks promise quick energy bursts, thus the names Boost and Rush. They promise them extra power of concentration. This energy comes in the form of caffeine. These drinks contain exorbitant amount of caffeine. Caffeine is a drug, and in such large doses does affect the lives of teens. The teens can become jittery, have sleep problems and often terrible headaches result. Large amounts of caffeine can cause dehydration and heart palpitations. Caffeine addiction is one reason energy drinks and teen health are not related.

Lots of sugar can be found in energy drinks, along with many calories. Teens are gaining weight from drinking multiple drinks a day. The sugar is awful on their teeth. Plus, these drinks are filling. They are not meant to be meals, but are often used that way. By drinking these drinks as meals, the teens are not getting the proper nutrition they need to be healthy. They need to be eating healthy, balanced meals to get the nutrition they need to get through hectic days.

You shouldn’t automatically think that energy drinks and teen health are not possible. But, energy drinks do have the potential to adversely affect the lives of teens when they are constantly drinking them. They are even being blamed for a few deaths when they were taken with alcohol. Legislators in some states are trying to get energy drinks to not be sold to minors or at least banned in schools. These drinks can be harmless, but they can be dangerous. Parents and teens themselves need to be aware of the side effects of these tasty, popular energy producing drinks before the negative effects begin.

As with anything, moderation is crucial. Skipping one meal for an energy drink or drinking a drink when a little extra energy is needed to stay up late cramming for exams will not be detrimental. You shouldn’t automatically think that energy drinks and teen health are not possible. But, energy drinks do have the potential to adversely affect the lives of teens when they are constantly drinking them. They are even being blamed for a few deaths when they were taken with alcohol. Legislators in some states are trying to get energy drinks to not be sold to minors or at least banned in schools. These drinks can be harmless, but they can be dangerous. Parents and teens themselves need to be aware of the side effects of these tasty, popular energy producing drinks before the negative effects begin.