December 15, 2015
A few weeks ago, an exciting new study was published in Journal of the American Medical Association how infants at risk for Type 1 diabetes may benefit from early probiotics supplementation. The results are preliminary, but groundbreaking nevertheless. Type 1 diabetes, unlike type 2 diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that develops when the body’s immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves the body without insufficient insulin to meet its needs. Insulin is a hormone that helps cells use sugar from foods as fuel. It’s unclear what triggers Type 1 diabetes, whether it’s genetic or environmental,.... [Read More...]
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December 07, 2015
Remember when you were growing up and your mother bundled you up in layers of clothing when the weather got chilly? Even as you got older, your mom was probably still telling you to put another jacket on or you’d “catch a cold”. Many people believe that the colder weather leaves them susceptible to catching the common cold. It certainly makes sense when you consider that most of us tend to cough and sneeze more during the winter months. Was mom right? Or is it another old wives tale? Debunking the Myth During the winter months, they say, as the.... [Read More...]
The post Was your Mother Right? Can you catch a Cold from the Cold? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
November 30, 2015
Throughout the history of modern man, there have been numerous advances in our understanding of the human body, medicine and approaches to healing. Some of those advances have been good, others not so good. Many can be summarized in this brief history of medicine: 2000 B.C. Here, eat this root 1000 A.D. That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer… 1850 A.D. That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion… 1940 A.D. That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill… 1985 A.D. That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic… 2015 A.D. That antibiotic is dangerous. Here, eat this.... [Read More...]
The post How the Microbiota is Shaping Modern Medicine appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
November 23, 2015
This November we’re Giving Thanks to Bacteria During the past few months we’ve been talking about the benefits of probiotic bacteria in the animal kingdom but did you know that bacteria is proving to be beneficial in places where you just wouldn’t expect it? It is astonishing to think that bacteria was something we used to avoid, but that was well before we knew what we know now. Bacteria is incredibly smart, and you’ll be amazed when you read how bacteria are being used to improve the world around us from repairing concrete, cleaning up oil spills to detecting landmines..... [Read More...]
The post Is it Glue, Is it Wrapping Paper? No, it’s Bacteria! appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
November 16, 2015
Human Strain Probiotics Over the years, we’ve received many emails from our customers asking just about every question under the sun with regards to probiotics (keep them coming, we’re happy to help you!). Very recently, one of our customers wrote in asking us to explain the meaning of Human Strain Probiotics, what are the sources of Natren probiotics and particularly, where are they cultured? She was deeply concerned with contamination and even more troubled that the strains may have been cultured from human sources. While we’ve reassured her that the bacteria used to culture our probiotics are obtained from an.... [Read More...]
The post Human Strains, Yogurt Strains? Where Did this Bacteria Come From? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
November 09, 2015
We’re often asked if our probiotics contain prebiotics, and more often than not, it seems to lead to whether it’s beneficial to take a prebiotic with a probiotic. This is a very confusing topic, especially if you’re just beginning to look at probiotics, as there is so much literature that talks about the necessary combination of a prebiotic and a probiotic. Prebiotics are designed to feed the probiotic and encourage its growth and feed the beneficial bacteria in our gut. It sounds like it makes common sense to combine them so you have the total package of the probiotics and.... [Read More...]
The post Do you Have Hidden Sugars in Your Probiotics? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
October 26, 2015
With so much focus on keeping our hearts, brains, and other organs healthy, let’s not forget about the importance of caring for the largest organ in the human body – the skin. Your skin is the organ that separates you from the outside world and acts as a selective barrier to keep toxins and harmful microorganisms out. If you’re like most people, you do the standard things like cleanse your skin and apply moisturizer but those work on the surface of your skin – what’s going on at a deeper level that could undermine the health of your skin? Skin.... [Read More...]
The post How Gut Health Affect Skin Health appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
October 19, 2015
With so many different brands of probiotics on the shelves, or in the refrigerated section of your local health food store (which is where a quality probiotic should be stored), it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose. At Natren, we try to educate our consumers on the key questions they should be asking when choosing a probiotic. We talk a lot about the importance of keeping the beneficial bacteria alive through the whole journey, from our manufacturing facility in Westlake Village, CA, to your digestive system. Outside your body, that means cold transportation and refrigeration. Inside your.... [Read More...]
The post Natren’s Supernatant Advantage – What is a Supernatant? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
October 12, 2015
In 2000, President Bill Clinton announced that the first draft of The Human Genome Project was finalized, and the findings were going to “revolutionize the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of most, if not all, diseases.” The Human Genome Project was an international, collaborative research program whose goal was to identify, or sequence, the genetic blueprint, of human beings, understand the genetic roots of common diseases and seek treatment. While the original goal was to sequence all three billion chemical units in the human instruction set, mapping the entire genome was far too costly for the technology available in 1989 –.... [Read More...]
The post Was the Human Genome Project a Success? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
October 05, 2015
As soon as the kids have gone back to school, it doesn’t seem like much time passes at all before it’s Halloween, then it’s Thanksgiving and before you know it, the Christmas Holiday season is upon us. Hey just a minute, where did the year go? Every year, we go through the same routine, yet every year we put ourselves through the same stress. All that rushing around, making sure everyone’s happy, content and well-fed, just to do it all over again next year. We say we’re not going to do it again this year, but we do. The holiday.... [Read More...]
The post Don’t Fall for the Fall appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
September 28, 2015
Last month we wrote about Fun with Homemade Yogurt: Our Favorite Toppings, Tips & Recipes and how simple it is to make it yourself, not to mention cheaper and much healthier than the store bought versions. We realize not everyone has the time to make it themselves so be sure to read the labels carefully when you’re buying a store bought yogurt, as not all yogurt is healthy. Some of them are laden with sugar and preservatives and goodness knows what other chemicals. If you read our blog How Big Brands Turned Yogurt into Junk Food, you’ll have a better.... [Read More...]
The post Four Fun Make-Ahead Yogurt Based Snacks for Back-to School! appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
September 21, 2015
Ever since we wrote how probiotics are helping save endangered Chinese Panda Bears and fish, we’ve stumbled upon even more interesting research on how probiotics may help the animal kingdom – this time it’s about how probiotics may help save frogs from extinction! Why do we want to save frogs? Whether they are endangered or threatened, these slippery, slimy amphibians need to be protected just as much as the pandas and fish. They’re definitely not as cute as pandas, nor are they a major food source, at least not here in the U.S. like trout or salmon, but they’re very.... [Read More...]
The post Can Probiotic Bacteria Save an Endangered Frog? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
September 14, 2015
A Guide to Natren’s Probiotics for the Entire Family The long, lazy days of summer are over, and the kids are back in school – phew! However, the celebration is short-lived – along with bringing home a pile of homework they’re more than likely going to be bringing home a few unwanted germs too. All it takes is one cough or sneeze in the classroom, and before long everyone in the household is feeling under the weather. Kids are exposed to a number of germs and bugs every day, and unfortunately, getting sick when they’re young is part of the.... [Read More...]
The post When Your Kids Are Bringing Home More Than Homework appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
September 07, 2015
Gut microbes – you have trillions of them nestled inside your intestinal tract. Each of us has a slightly different population of microbes in our guts that serve as our unique gut “fingerprint,” also known as our intestinal ecosystem. A growing body of research shows that bacteria, both good and bad, play a key role in digestive and immune health. Your ecosystem, made up of a diverse array of bacteria, is dynamic with the capacity to change for the better but also capable of being disrupted by factors such as diet, stress, and certain medications. Slowly, researchers are gaining knowledge.... [Read More...]
The post How Do Probiotics Work? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
August 24, 2015
The benefits of probiotics have been flooding the news for several years, but it’s not been until fairly recently that we’ve started to read about their many benefits in the animal kingdom. Last month, we wrote how scientists discovered that by supplementing Panda Bears with probiotics, they ate significantly less of their staple bamboo diet. This is a tremendous finding especially when bamboo is scarce, as it not only helps them to better adapt to their environment, but also potentially saves them from extinction. Another really important article was published even more recently on probiotics being fed to salmon and.... [Read More...]
The post There’s Nothing Fishy about Probiotics appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
August 17, 2015
Next time you have a craving for a donut or cookie, don’t blame it on a lack of will power, but on your gut bacteria. Inside the walls of your intestinal tract lie trillions of bacteria that need nutrients and energy to survive and that energy comes from the food you eat. Some research suggests these bacteria, which have their own interests in mind, play a role in the type of foods you select. It’s not so far-fetched when you consider your gut is paved with nerves, as many as 100 million nerve cells, which feedback to your brain, and.... [Read More...]
The post Can Our Gut Microbiota Affect What We Choose To Eat? appeared first on Natren Probiotics Blog.
