Tag Archives: Gut health

Post-Holiday Gut Soothing Drinks

gut-soothing-drinks

Are you dealing with the after-effects of holiday food and drinks? While the wining and dining of the season has died down, you may now find yourself facing some of the gastrointestinal consequences of all the rich food, drinks, and desserts that often accompany the holiday season.

If you find yourself experiencing bloating, gas, heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion after the holidays, then you aren’t alone.

Our diets during the entire holiday season can wreak havoc on our digestive health. On Thanksgiving Day alone, the average American consumes about 4,500 calories total, with around 2,061 calories of that coming from fat.

So whether you are dealing with post-holiday stomach discomfort, or just looking for drinks that will help support a healthy gut and digestion throughout the year, then you can’t go wrong with these post-holiday gut-soothing drinks.

Post-Holiday Gut-Soothing Drinks

Ginger Tea

Ginger is one of nature’s best tools to help us fight nausea and indigestion. Just ask any mom who has experienced morning sickness. But the benefits of ginger are not just for pregnancy. Drinking warm ginger tea right before or during a meal may improve your digestive health and even prevent symptoms from heartburn, stomachache, and indigestion.

Kombucha

Kombucha is a drink made by fermenting yeasts and bacteria along with sweetened tea. The result is a sweet, refreshing, lightly carbonated drink that can come in a wide variety of flavors, depending on the tea used. But even more than that, kombucha is rich in antioxidants and

Kiefer

Kiefer is another drink on the list of fermented drinks rich in probiotics. Kiefer tastes similar to yogurt and is relatively easy to either make it home or find at your local grocery store. Kiefer is chock-full of a symbiotic collection of bacteria and yeast that will help replenish the bacteria in your gut.

Celery Juice

Celery juice has a number of health benefits. Not only is it rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K, but it is also an antioxidant and can support reducing gut inflammation. According to nutritionist Lisa Richards, “It contains a flavonoid named luteolin, which has been proven to inhibit gut inflammation.”

Along with those gut soothing drinks, you can support your gastrointestinal health after the holidays with these probiotic supplements from Klaire Labs, Douglas Laboratories, and Microbiome Labs.

Ther-Biotic Complete – Klaire Labs

Ther-Biotic Complete from Klaire Labs is a high-potency, hypoallergenic blend of 12 certified probiotic species that offers the most complete spectrum of microorganisms in the Klaire line. Ther-Biotic Complete is designed for individuals who require significantly higher amounts of several different types of probiotic species to help support intestinal health, which is why it is formulated with 25 billion CFUs per capsule. It supports innate and acquired immune defense mechanisms and overall colon health, helps synthesize vitamin K and B vitamins, boosts immunological gut barrier function, and encourages a healthy inflammatory response.

Multi-Probiotic 15 Billion – Douglas Laboratories

Support your gut around the year with Multi-Probiotic 15 Billion from Douglas Laboratories. Multi-Probiotic 15 Billion’s Multi-Strain proprietary probiotic blend provides 15 billion beneficial organisms to support intestinal flora with a full amount of live beneficial prebiotics and probiotics. Also containing prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) to maintain intestinal microorganisms, this probiotic supplement helps establish and maintain a healthy intestinal population of helpful organisms and creates an acidic environment unfavorable to organisms in the gut.

Mega SporeBiotic – Microbiome Labs

Mega SporeBiotic from Microbiome Labs contains a patented probiotic strain that produces antioxidants in the gut. It may support digestion, reduction of inflammation, regularity, and promote a healthy intestinal tract.

What are your favorite post-holiday gut soothing drinks?

When Is the Best Time to Take Probiotics

when-to-take-daily-probiotic

If you’ve ever heard anyone talking about “good bacteria,” there’s a chance that they were talking about probiotics.

Probiotics are live microorganisms found in foods and drinks like yogurt, miso, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, and more. They’re also widely available in supplement form.

People take probiotics through supplements or their diet because probiotics have a long list of potential health benefits for your body. These include supporting gut health and a healthy microbiome, helping your body maintain a normal community of microorganisms, and regulating the absorption of nutrients that may support the body’s essential systems, including a normal immune response.

But it’s not enough to increase your yogurt intake or to start a probiotic supplement. As it turns out, when you take your probiotic can significantly influence its effectiveness. But when is the best time to take probiotics? Keep reading to find out!

When is the Best Time to Take Probiotics?

There are different probiotics strains, so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about which strain might be most beneficial for you. Regardless of what strain you find works best for you, one thing doesn’t change, and that is timing matters.

When you take your probiotic matters because they don’t stick around in your stomach for very long. One bowel movement and they could be gone. Probiotics are most effective in the body when it is actually in your body. So it would stand to reason that the longer a probiotic stays in your body, the better.

That’s why the best time to take probiotics is at night, right before you go to bed. As Patricia Raymond, MD, a board-certified gastroenterology and internal medicine doctor, explains, that’s because “the gut is pretty inactive at night. If you think about it, you usually don’t wake up in the middle of the night to poop. So that means that the probiotics will stay in your gut during the 8 (give or take a few hours) hours you’re in dreamland. That gives the probiotic a lot of time to stay put, divide, and even potentially become more integrated into your gut.”

Now that you know when is the best time to take probiotics, the next thing you might be wondering about is what probiotic supplements should you consider? There is a lot to choose from, but we’ve tried to take some of the guesswork out of this and suggest considering HLC High Potency by Pharmax and PureProbiotic from Pure Encapsulations.

HLC High Potency – Pharmax

Human lactic commensals (HLC) are probiotic strains that are supported by research and clinical studies. Pharmax’s HLC High Potency formula contains proprietary, non-pathogenic human-sourced microflora bacterial strains; Pharmax utilizes these strains because they have strong epithelial adherence and naturally high tolerance to stomach acid. Along with 10 billion viable cells of HLC, HLC High Potency also contains:

  • Lactobacillus acidophilus (CUL-60).
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus (CUL-21).
  • Bifidobacterium bifidum (CUL-20).
  • Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (CUL-34).
  • Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) 100 mg.

The result is that these easy-to-take liquid drops help support a healthy, balanced digestive flora.

Pure Probiotic – Pure Encapsulations

Not only is this multi-strain probiotic formula an easy way to help support a healthy gut and immune health, but the Pure Probiotic formulation from Pure Encapsulations is allergen-free. So if you have food allergies, you can feel confident that while each capsule of Pure Probiotic will be less likely to interfere with your normal gut health. This formula also contains a blend of beneficial probiotic microorganisms, including a total of 5 billion CFU per capsule of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Bifidobacterium breve. These strains may help aid gastrointestinal health and immune cell function.

When do you take your probiotics? Do you think you will start taking them at night now?

Let’s Discuss Collagen

CollagenJacquie Eubanks RN BSN

 

 

Collagen is the body’s most abundant protein, comprising approximately 30% of overall protein content, and 70% of the protein found in the skin. As the major fibrous protein of connective tissues, collagen is found in bones, muscles, skin, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and the digestive system, as well as the extracellular matrix, an intricate network of macromolecules that determines the physical properties of body tissues. Without its strength and elasticity our bodies might literally fall apart, as collagen proteins form long chains that provide the structure that holds the body together. Although 16 types of collagen have been identified, the majority of collagen in the body consists of types I, II, and III, all of which support the health and function of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage and help the tissues to stretch and absorb shock.

Largely composed of the amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, collagen allows our tendons and ligaments to move with ease. It works synergistically with keratin to provide the skin with strength, smoothness, elasticity, and resilience. While some of us may think of collagen in terms of its effects on skin health, type I collagen fibrils have enormous tensile strength, such that it can be stretched without breaking. Collagen fibers found in tendons, where they connect muscles with bone, must be able to withstand immense forces. Per the National Institutes of health (NIH), gram for gram, type I collagen is stronger than steel. Type II, the major collagen of cartilage, allows joints to absorb shocks.

Collagen is manufactured by specialized cells known as fibroblasts. Once secreted, collagen strands undergo binding, twisting, cross-linking, folding, and layering to produce the final product. As the enzymes that aid these conversions require vitamin C as a cofactor, a deficiency in vitamin C will inhibit collagen synthesis. As well, genetic defects, nutritional deficiencies and digestive issues can also affect collagen production. Over time, the natural creation of collagen begins to wane, and collagen fibers break down or no longer regenerate. Signs of degeneration include facial lines and wrinkles, as well as joint pain and stiffness. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excess sugar consumption, and high amounts of sun exposure may also contribute to depleting collagen levels. Supplementation with high quality, bioavailable collagen peptides may support bone strength, joint flexibility, skin suppleness, and intestinal health.

Skin, hair and nail health: Collagen aids skin cell renewal and repair. Controlled studies have shown that collagen hydrolysate (peptides) improved skin elasticity, dryness, roughness and texture. Healthy hair and nail growth require collagen as well as keratin and minerals. Dietary collagen works from within to naturally enhance the skin, hair and nails by promoting the collagen formation that supports the skin’s moisture, helps to strengthen nails and adds volume to hair.

Joint health: Collagen loss can lead to joint pain, stiffness and swelling. Studies published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences found that daily supplementation with collagen decreased painful joint swelling and enhanced daily activities, generally improving quality of life for those suffering from joint issues.

Gut health: Amino acids in collagen help to build the connective tissue that lines the colon and the gastrointestinal tract, helping to prevent intestinal permeability or leaky gut. Consuming more collagen may help to soothe and heal the lining of the intestinal tract.

Blood vessel health: Collagen surrounds every blood vessel and protects the vessel from damage. Along with elastin, collagen helps keep the inside of arteries and veins smooth and elastic, allowing the transport of blood, nutrients and oxygen throughout the entire body.

Muscle health: Collagen fibers make up skeletal muscles, as well as smooth muscles found in the bladder, heart, and reproductive system. Collagen fibers provide muscles with the strength and structure necessary for movement and function.

Nutrients that support collagen synthesis include:

  • Foods rich in amino acids, such as beans and soy.
  • Anthocyanidins found red, blue, and purple fruits and vegetables.
  • Fruits and veggies with high vitamin C content, such as oranges, peppers, and broccoli.
  • Foods high in vitamin A, such as dark leafy greens, tropical fruits, oysters, and oily fish.
  • Plant foods that provide beta-carotene, such as sweet potatoes and carrots.
  • Resveratrol and flavonoids from fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants that protect collagen and elastin for skin elasticity. These compounds boost circulation to the tiny blood vessels near the skin’s surface, thereby enhancing the skin’s natural radiance.
  • Hyaluronic acid (HA), found in bone broth, increases skin hydration, stimulates collagen production and improves skin elasticity. Foods that support the natural production of HA include root vegetables, tofu, and tempeh.

Customer favorite collagen products from Vital Proteins® include:

Collagen PeptidesCollagen Peptides: This very popular and easy to use supplement provides 18 g of protein and 20 g of 100% pure collagen peptides per serving in support of strong bones, youthful skin, reduced joint discomfort and restorative sleep. Sourced from bovine hide, this minimally processed, pasture-raised, grass-fed product is flavorless and odorless and mixes easily with cold or warm food or drink. Gluten and dairy free, paleo-friendly, kosher formulation.

Marine CollagenMarine Collagen: This product supplies Non-GMO collagen peptides from verified wild-caught snapper in support of joint and digestive health, as well as youthful skin, healthier hair and stronger nails. Gluten free, Non-GMO, kosher formulation.

Organic Free Range...Organic Free-Range Chicken Bone Broth Collagen: USDA organic chicken bone broth is crafted with bones from free-range chicken that is slowly simmered to extract maximum nutrients. Low sodium, MSG free, and rich in vitamins and minerals, this clean, tasteless, quickly absorbed powder supports digestion, aids immune function and promotes overall wellness. Gluten free.

Collagen Beauty...Collagen Beauty Greens: This nourishing elixir provides Non-GMO Marine Collagen Peptides blended with healthy organic greens, hyaluronic acid, and probiotics in support of collagen formation, increased skin hydration, strengthened hair and nails, and overall wellness. Flavored with organic coconut water and Madagascar vanilla bean, this product provides a full array of amino acids, as well as vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Gluten free, Non-GMO, kosher formulation.

References:
Collagen: The Fibrous Proteins of the Matrix. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21582/
Amino Acids to Produce Collagen. https://www.livestrong.com/article/428024-amino-acids-to-produce-collagen/
Foods to boost collagen naturally. http://www.naturalhealthnews.uk/article/foods-to-boost-collagen-naturally/