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The "good bacteria," or probiotics, that fill the pomegranate drink are everywhere these days, in pills and powders marketed as super supplements. Probiotics are said to improve digestive and immune health. They're touted as potential treatments for conditions ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to eczema to tooth decay. Some marketing campaigns even hint that they can prevent the flu.
Scientific evidence, however, does not necessarily support those claims.
Studies in rodents and small groups of humans point to possible health benefits of consuming probiotics. But there have been only a few large human trials — in large part because Food and Drug Administration rules have dissuaded food companies and federally funded researchers from conducting the types of studies that could confirm, or refute, the proposed benefits of consuming "good" microbes.
http://www.statnews.com/2016/01/21/probiotics-shaky-science/
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2016, @05:55PM
Here. I'm going to give you a big clue. Put down the supplements. About the only thing those supplements enhance is the bottom line of the manufacturer. You want something that actually works? Do you really? I will tell you the secret. Actually, it's no secret at all. In fact, your doctor has been giving you this advice for decades. Here it is: (1) eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables; (2) eat only lean meats; (3) avoid processed foods (i.e., junk foods, processed sugars, processed meats); get at least 150 minutes of exercise each week, ideally spread out over four to six days. If you do these things, your health is bound to improve. Over the last several months I have been doing this and I have managed to lose ~30 pounds! Yes, it takes some will power and effort but it can be done. At least that has been my experience. And to head off any naysayers, no, you don't need an expensive gym membership to get some regular exercise. About all you need is enough floor space in your house to do sit ups and push ups and a good pair of running shoes. That's it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2016, @07:18PM
I suppose you are a hardcore libertarian.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Tork on Wednesday January 27 2016, @07:30PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2016, @08:45PM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2016, @08:56PM
(Score: 1) by Francis on Thursday January 28 2016, @03:17AM
It's not well reasoned advice. Do you have any idea what doctors tell people to do in terms of their health? A lot of the advice is solid, but there's a ton of it that's based upon questionable research and subject to change. It wasn't that long ago that doctors were recommending low fat diets even though there's never been any real evidence that it was healthy for typical people.
Now they're recommending extremely low salt intake that leaves people vulnerable to the health consequences of running low. The maximum level recommended is the minimum level that humans generally need for proper health.
The problem is that the intakes being recommended are low and they fail to account for the fact that people come in various sizes. Unless you're actually having problems with blood pressure there's absolutely no reason to pay attention to the recommendations. I almost died from low sodium levels because I don't have much of a taste for salt and I had been sweating a ton. But, the doctors acted like I was doing something crazy when really I was just within the normal recommendations for sodium intake and ran out of it.
Eating a proper diet goes a long ways towards proper health, but considering how much exposure people get to antibiotics and the general antiseptic nature of modern society, you have to replace the bacteria somehow. The question is which ones and how much. A tiny pill is unlikely to have enough to make a meaningful difference in most cases.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday January 28 2016, @03:22AM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2016, @04:12AM
I think you need to look at the information coming your way with a more critical eye. A distinction needs to be made between, on the one hand, the recommendations of organizations such as the AMA and, on the other hand, the latest controversial research finding blasted across the news wires. Also, you should take the advice of, for example, the AMA more seriously than the advice of some celebrity like Dr Oz. Not all of these sources of information are equally credible. It is up to you to apply some filters to that information. While it is true that the recommendations of the medical community have sometimes changed, they have usually been rather steady in their recommendations on what we need to do to maintain our health.
Do you actually have some credible sources for this claim? I am genuinely curious (and sceptical).
(Score: 1) by Francis on Friday January 29 2016, @06:42AM
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/20140402/cdc-salt-guidelines-too-low-for-good-health-study-suggests [webmd.com]
Bottom line here is that unless you've got high blood pressure there's little reason to reduce your sodium intake and in many cases you'd be better served to just increase your potassium intake. The levels recommended by doctors are low enough that you've got little margin for error during a heat wave as you'll rapidly go through your sodium sweating. For most people, they'll consume an appropriate amount of salt. I'll actually drink saltwater during the summer because I don't generally desire to eat salty foods and wind up running low. Generally within a couple minutes of drinking saltwater I'll perk up and feel much better.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2016, @09:37AM
Eating a proper diet goes a long ways towards proper health, but considering how much exposure people get to antibiotics and the general antiseptic nature of modern society, you have to replace the bacteria somehow. The question is which ones and how much. A tiny pill is unlikely to have enough to make a meaningful difference in most cases.
You should still get plenty of probiotics from a proper diet. Your proper diet should of course include things like home made kambucha, home made yogurt with live cultures, home made wines, beers, and ciders and I like to eat a good amount of the organic goodies I grab out of my garden unwashed so that I can be sure there are plenty of germs and fungi still on them. Basically a lot of home made cultured goodies should take cares of your gut bacteria and help you get adequate nutrition as well.
Pick up a book by Sandor Katz. It will change your life.
I don't like to take a probiotic supplement, because typically they only include one or two species, What if I cause an imbalance of species with unexpected side effects?
(Score: 2) by driverless on Friday January 29 2016, @06:24AM
Now they're recommending extremely low salt intake that leaves people vulnerable to the health consequences of running low. The maximum level recommended is the minimum level that humans generally need for proper health.
I thought the low-salt thing died about a decade ago. Or has it come back into fashion again?
(Score: 1) by Francis on Friday January 29 2016, @06:33AM
I don't believe the recommendations have changed in recent years. There's still a strong presumption that people are overdoing it with sodium without any evidence to support the idea. As a general rule, sodium isn't something to bother limiting unless there's a health problem specific to the person.
And even when a person does have high blood pressure, reducing sodium levels isn't necessarily the answer, increasing potassium levels is often times a better choice.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2016, @08:39PM
And why would you suppose that? No, really, I would like to know. I gave the standard advice that just about any responsible doctor would give. Are all doctors "hardcore" libertarians in your view? Or do you find this advice to put away the Cheetos, eat your veggies, and get up off the couch to move around a bit so distastefully austere that you just have to assume it is born of "hardcore" fringe radicals? I tell you what. You just go right on eating your Cheetos and washing them down with a can of Pepsi. Then you can pat yourself on the back when you take a probiotic supplement "for your health". I won't stop you. The results will be predictable. I know. I've been there myself already. But if you really want to improve your health you will almost certainly have to listen to the advice your doctor and your momma have been giving you for decades. Just sayin'.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2016, @11:08PM
Ha! So I take it by your avoidance and re-direct of the question, that he WAS right.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Whoever on Thursday January 28 2016, @03:51AM
Unfortunately, there isn't evidence that all of that advice is actually useful. It's based on possibly flawed assumptions. The medical profession has a horrible reputation making assumptions and pushing out the information as though it was based on real science. Note that I realize that there is plenty of real science that justifies most medical advice, but there is also information that is not based on science.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2016, @04:27AM
Really? What "possibly flawed assumptions" might those be? Please tell me more. I am genuinely curious (and sceptical).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2016, @06:01AM
You had me up until "fruits".