Category Archives: Probiotics & Prebiotics

Probiotic bacteria fundamentally inhabit the gastro-intestinal tract, and in return for food and shelter they help us to digest food, absorb nutrients, keep pathogenic bacteria at bay and support the immune system.

Probiotics – what are they and how do they work?

Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that help to keep the digestive system healthy by reducing the growth of harmful gut microbes and boosting the number and variety of ‘friendly’ gut microbes. In this week’s blog nutrition practitioner Miguel Toribio-Mateas discusses probiotics, their safety, how they work and their health supporting properties.

Miguel will be speaking about the gut microbiome at our practitioner roadshow events throughout 2018, you can find out more about the roadshow, including booking information, by clicking here.
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Wholegrains have been shown to be protective; but does that mean we need gluten?

There have been a couple of studies that have hit the headlines lately which have shown that wholegrains are protective against cancer and heart disease. Grains such as wheat, rye and barley are fibre dense and contribute to a large percentage of many people’s wholegrain intake, however they also contain the protein gluten. Therefore, some journalists have made the assumption that gluten free diets are bad for your health (see links below). The truth is that while wholegrains do have health benefits, gluten is a problem for many people. In this week’s blog we are going to take a look at both sides of the issue.

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Nutrient Depletions that arise from Prescribed Drugs

There are times when medication is essential and we are in no doubt about their efficacy in certain conditions. But it is important to realise that many drugs, particularly those taken over the longer term, can deplete levels of certain nutrients in the body, or increase our needs for the same.

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Antibiotic Resistance – ‘The Ticking Time Bomb’

“The danger posed by growing resistance to antibiotics should be ranked along with terrorism on a list of threats to the nation, the government’s chief medical officer for England has said. Professor Dame Sally Davies described it as a “ticking time bomb”. She warned that routine operations could become deadly in just 20 years if we lose the ability to fight infection.” Continue reading  ▶