Biotin is a member of the B-complex family of vitamins. If you have dermatitis, dry skin, thinning hair, loss of hair color or brittle nails, you may be short in biotin. Biotin is sometimes referred to as vitamin H which is appropriate given that the “H” is short for “Haar und Haut” – the German… Continue Reading
Beneficial Bacteria
6 Ways to Prevent Post Surgical Constipation
Yvette La-Garde Director of Education, VitaMedica Are you worried about pain and downtime following a surgical procedure? If so, this may be the least of your concerns. That’s because a common issue after surgery is not pain management but post surgical constipation. Even if you have regular bowel movements prior to surgery,… Continue Reading
What are Prebiotics?
By David H. Rahm, M.D. Q: I’ve been taking a probiotic for years but lately I’m hearing more about prebiotics. What’s the difference between prebiotics and probiotics? And, should I be taking a prebiotic supplement? Emerging research over the past decade, has given us a greater appreciation for the role that probiotics –… Continue Reading
A Granny Smith Apple a Day Keeps Obesity Away
An apple a day is supposed to keep the doctor away by reducing the risk of developing cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. But it’s time to add to that list, because in addition to being rich in important antioxidant polyphenols, flavonoids, and fiber, it turns out that the non-digestible compounds in… Continue Reading
The Microbiome: Our Microbial Fingerprint
If you’ve ever seen a Peanuts cartoon, you might remember Charlie Brown’s friend Pig-Pen, a little boy who travels with his own personal dirt cloud everywhere he goes. And while we may be a little more sanitary than Pig-Pen, it turns out we also travel with our own personal cloud of, not dirt, but… Continue Reading
Exercise Increases Healthy Gut Bacteria
From lowered cancer risk, clearer, less sensitive skin, to increased weight loss, more and more research praises the benefits of having a wide variety of healthy probiotic bacteria. So if these microbiota are so good for us, what can we do to promote diversity? According to new research, we need to eat more protein… Continue Reading
Bacterial Strains Linked to Acne
About 85% of all people get acne at some time in their lives, and as the most common skin disorder, it affects 40 to 50 million Americans. Scientists still struggle to pinpoint a cause or a cure – but could we finally be close? A new study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology… Continue Reading
How to Find the Best Probiotic
Diet, travel, stress, illness, aging and the use of antibiotics all contribute to an imbalance or “dysbiosis” of the intestinal tract leading to digestive problems. These problems cause some two million people to visit the doctor each year. Probiotics – the beneficial bacteria in our intestinal tract – can help relieve gastrointestinal problems like… Continue Reading