New Potent Prebiotic Found in Spruce Tree Bark

'Research from Finland's University of Turku has confirmed that a compound found in the bark of the Spruce tree and apparently other tree wood barks is a powerful and functional prebiotic that feeds our healthy gut bacteria.

The researchers determined that the compound, galactoglucomannan, is the primary component of the hemicellulose present in many softwood tree species. The researchers extracted galactoglucomannan from the Spruce tree (Picea abies), and then fed it to probiotic bacteria in the laboratory.'

Read more...

Read more »

They Outnumber Your Cells Ten to One but Researchers Show they Play a Crucial Role in Your Health

By Dr. Mercola

 'Probiotics, along with a host of other microorganisms, are so crucial to your health that researchers have compared them to "a newly recognized organ." In fact, your microflora – a term used to describe the bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes that make up your microbial inner ecosystem – impact far more than your digestive tract. 

 Researchers have found they may play key roles in the development of cancer, asthma, allergies, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and even brain, behavioral and emotional problems like ADHD, autism and depression. 

Rob Knight, a biologist at the University of Colorado, told theWashington Posti: "In terms of potential for human health, I would place it with stem cells as one of the two most promising areas of research at the moment… We're seeing an unprecedented rate of discovery.

 Everywhere we look, microbes seem to be involved." To put this into perspective, your body contains about 100 trillion cells, but only one in 10 is "human." The others? They're made up of bacteria and other microorganisms.'

Read more...

Read more »

What Prebiotics are and Why You Need Them

'Prebiotics are a very specific type of food. While many of the food ingredients we consume are digested immediately, prebiotics are a healthy non-digestible food ingredient. Futhermore, prebiotics are heat resistant, which keep them intact during the baking process and allow them to be incorporated into every day food choices. By consuming a non-digestible ingredient, it allows for growth of bio-cultures by reaching the intestine unaffected by the digestion process. This can provide good digestive health. The positive effects prebiotics have by reaching the intestine in an unaltered form is known as the prebiotic effect.'

Read more...

Read more »