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The latest nutrition news.
VSL#3 Probiotic: Ulcerative Colitis and IBS
Posted by: Brooke | Posted on: April 30th, 2012 | 0 Comments
VSL#3 is one of the strongest probiotics available at 450 billion bacteria per packet. To put this in perspective, Align, a probiotic promoted to help Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), has only 1 billion bacteria per dose. The high concentration of good bacteria in VSL#3 may allow it to positively impact more serious and chronic conditions than other probiotics can.
Why Probiotics?
Probiotics are good bacteria. Good bacteria have a number of purposes in the body. One of their big jobs is to reduce inflammation, a hyperactive immune response associated with allergies as well as with more serious illnesses like ulcerative colitis. At the same time, good bacteria prime your immune system to attack viruses. Probiotics seem to be associated with an all around reduction in "bad" immunity with a simultaneous increase in "good" immunity.
Reduced numbers of these friendly helpers may contribute to weakened immunity and allergies, as well as inflammatory GI tract illnesses like ulcerative colitis (UC) and irritable bowel syndrome(IBS).
Research with VSL#3 over the the last decade has shown that replenishing the gut with a high dose of good bacteria can often put people with inflammatory bowel disease into remission and keep them in remission. Researchers have also found a benefit for IBS with VSL#3
Ulcerative Colitis
In a 2009 study, VSL#3 treated patients achieved a remission rate of 32.5% after 6 weeks, a rate 50% higher than placebo. At 12 weeks, the VSL#3 remission rate was up to 42.9%, while the placebo remission rate hovered around 15%.
A 2005 study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology showed a 53% remission rate in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis that was unresponsive to conventional drugs. An additional 24% responded, but did not achieve remission, for a combined response/remission rate of 77%. There were no adverse events.
Children With Ulcerative Colitis
In a 2009 trial, VSL#3 was compared to a placebo treatment, both in combination included conventional drug therapy a group of children newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. 92.8% of the children in the VSL#3 group achieved remission while only 36.3% of the conventional therapy group reached remission. Measurements of intestinal damage and inflammation were consistently lower in the VSL#3 group of kids.
In another study, VSL#3 treated children with mild to moderate acute ulcerative colitis had a remission rate of 56%, and a combined remission and response rate of 61%.
Pouchitis With Ulcerative Colitis Surgery
Pouchitis is the most significant long-term complication of the ulcerative colitis surgery known as ileal-pouch anal anastomosis. Patients with pouchitis were treated with 1,800 billion bacteria twice per day. 69% went into remission and 100% of those patients were successfully maintained on 1,800 billion bacteria per day for the remainder of the 6 month study.
In another study, patients with recurrent or treatment resistant pouchitis were put in remission with conventional treatment. 85% of the group who subsequently received VSL#3 remained in remission while only 6% of the placebo group stayed in remission a year later.
IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and troubling condition of the gut whose symptoms can include pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. VSL#3 has been shown to help with at least two IBS symptoms.
In adults with IBS, a 2003 study linked VSl#3 to significantly less IBS related bloating in a 2003. A 2005 study showed VSL#3 to be associated with reduced flatulence.
Order the product at SundropsOnline.com: VSL#3 capsules VSL#3 Sachet Packets
Int J Pediatr Laryngol 2010. Br J Nutr 2012. Allergol Int 2012. Gut 2011. Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2012. Thorax 2004. Dig Liver Dis 2012. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2009, Am J Gastroenterol 2005. Am J Gastroenterol 2009. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009. Gut 2004. Dis Colon Rectum 2007.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Dr. OZ Review: Pure Green Coffee Bean To Burn Fat Fast
Posted by: Brooke | Posted on: April 26th, 2012 | 5 Comments
On Thursday, Dr. Oz turned our attention to the mega fat burner pure green coffee bean extract. Folks, this one is looking like the real deal. Dr. Oz first mentioned it a few weeks ago for blood pressure, and shortly after, Sundrops.com wrote about its efficacy for weight loss in the March 28 post "Dr. Oz's Green Coffee Bean: A Powerful Tool For Weight Loss."
The Study
To sum it up, overweight people lost body fat without having to diet, although they did stay physically active. Participants lost an average of 17.5 lbs and 16% body fat in 22 weeks. This is a huge loss in body fat, especially for a group of people who continued to eat the same diet that contributed to their being overweight in the first place.
Daily calories averaged 2400 per day for the participants, an amount which would normally cause many people to gain weight. The people in the study burned about 400 calories per day in exercise.
How Does Coffee Bean Work?
The magic compound in green coffee bean extract is called chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid helps burn body fat in at least two ways. One way is that it helps control the rise in blood sugar you experience after you eat food. A slower, lower rise in blood sugar stresses your metabolism less, keeps your cells from manufacturing as much body fat, and makes it easier to burn the body fat you already have. Chlorogenic acid may also inhibit the activity of an enzyme that breaks down certain carbohydrates in your digestive tract, leading to less sugar absorption from your food.
This is the type of metabolic change that promotes belly fat loss.
The Dose
The researchers tested two doses: 700mg and 1050mg, and found that 1050mg was slightly more effective than the 700mg dose. Dr. Oz recommends a dose of 800mg twice daily.
Order this product today on SundropsOnline.com: Green Coffee Bean Extract
March 2012 American Chemical Society Meeting in San Diego
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Dr. OZ: Butterbur For Allergies
Posted by: Brooke | Posted on: April 25th, 2012 | 0 Comments
In a segment on Tuesday's show about how to build up your energy, Dr. Oz said that allergies are one thing that can actually sap your energy. An herb called butterbur may help.
As Dr. Oz said, the herbal extract butterbur has been put to the test for allergic symptoms in a series of trials and has emerged a clear winner. In a 2005 study, butturbur was as effective as the popular allergy drug Allegra in relieving allergic nasal symptoms.
The researchers said that in light of their results and the results of several previous studies, butterbur should be considered a viable alternative to synthetic drugs in the management of allergic nasal symptoms.
Butterbur has other uses apart from allergies. Dr. Oz had recommended butterbur for migraine about a month ago on his pain remedies show.. See our post "Dr. Oz Pain Remedies: Zyflamend, Chinese Skullcap, Butterbur, and Bromelain."
We also wrote about how butterbur can reduce urinary urgency and frequency in our post "Butterbur Decreased Urinary Frequency."
Order this product at SundropsOnline.com: Butterbur
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Rosemary Extract: New Research Says It Might Regrow Hair
Posted by: Brooke | Posted on: April 24th, 2012 | 0 Comments
Rosemary has long been a folk remedy for hair loss, but now there is scientific research to support the rumors.
In a study published this month, researchers gave testosterone to animals to slow down or stop their hair growth, mimicking what happens in the scalps of men with male pattern baldness. When rosemary leaf extract was applied topically to the animals' skin, their hair regrew.
The researchers determined that rosemary inhibited 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT. DHT is the form of testosterone that inhibits hair growth.. The men's hair loss drug called Propecia acts by blocking the formation of DHT. In test tube studies, the rosemary extract inhibited the activity of 5-alpha reductase up to 94.6%.
In addition, scientists found that rosemary could keep DHT from docking at the cellular receptor sites where it does its damage. The researchers believe that rosemary extract may offer hope for hair loss.
Order this product from Sundrops.com: Rosemary Leaf Extract
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Smoke Less With Herbal Supplement Sulfonil
Posted by: Brooke | Posted on: April 23rd, 2012 | 0 Comments
Sulfonil is a patented supplement made up of certain sulfur compounds that bind to the same receptors in the brain that nicotine in cigarette smoke stimulates. Sulfonil binds to these receptors more firmly than nicotine and essentially blocks nicotine from stimulating the receptors, temporarily reducing the desire to smoke. In a small two week study with 24 individuals, participants had less desire to smoke while using Sulfonil. Researchers concluded that Sulfonil may offer significant nutritional support those who want to quit smoking.
Order this product at SundropsOnline.com: Sulfonil
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
