Probiotics
– Good for More Than just Digestive Health
– May Help with Weight Management Too!
By Jordan Rubin, NMD, founder of Garden of Life
 The
University of Copenhagen and a noted Danish food company have been
busy lately studying how probiotics may help with weight management,
among other things. They have been, in fact, engaged in a weight
management research project called “ProSat.”
The aim of their studies? They want to develop
scientifically-tested and documented probiotics to be used in food and
nutraceuticals that will result in users feeling full.† And they have
in their sights those who are of standard weight or just slightly
overweight, in order to offer weight management.
“This project will significantly improve our
understanding of the bacterial intestinal flora’s importance in
individual weight management,Ӡ said Professor Arne Vernon Astrup, MD,
DMSc, who co-represents the University of Copenhagen in the project.
“Initial results in a previous research project indicate that specific
probiotic derivates do have an interesting satiety effect.† It is much
too early to draw any conclusions, but if this project demonstrates a
link between probiotics and satiety, consumers around the world will
have a groundbreaking new, documented means to help them maintain a
healthy weight balance.Ӡ
Ongoing research on the various probiotic strains
demonstrated that some strains were more suited to particular health
benefits than others and that some strains may function better in
older digestive systems than younger ones.
Additional studies indicate that probiotics may also
serve new moms in their weight management goals.† In fact, a study
suggests that probiotics—particularly those carrying the Lactobacillus
and Bifidobacteria strains—given during the first trimester of
pregnancy may help women better manage their weight after the birth of
their baby.†
That could mean yet another benefit to probiotic
consumption: weight management.†
Then there’s the indication that probiotics might
even glean cognitive or mood benefits.
That is, at least, what probiotics pioneer,
Netherlands-based Yakult says that preliminary research is
indicating.† They note that the interrelationship between the nervous
systems of the gut and the brain have something to do with these
positive effects. The research, led by A. Venket Rao of the University
of Toronto, found that probiotics increased the “good” bacteria in the
stomachs of those studied and also led to a better outlook and mood.†
Interestingly, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria
strains come into play here, too. The researchers found that 73
percent of subjects taking the probiotic experienced an increase in
levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria in the gut—and those
increased levels corresponded with significant decreases in negative
moods and outlooks. †
The report indicates that Lactobacilli and
Bifidobacteria appear to increase levels of tryptophan in the brain, a
chemical that "helps people feel better."† In turn, tryptophan helps
produce the calming neurotransmitter serotonin†.
And these researchers may be on to something, as
more than 95% of the body’s serotonin is found in the gut. Studies, in
fact, indicate that healthy bacteria, such as those found in
probiotics, have a direct impact on mood and behavior by influencing
the production of brain chemicals including serotonin and GABA. †
Lead researcher Rao said, "We were quite excited
with the fact that these were positive results and we felt that
probiotics truly have a role to play in mood and behavior.Ӡ
Their findings were published in the journal BMC Gut
Pathogens.
For more information about Garden of Life’s
probiotics, please visit the following web pages:
Primal Defense Ultra by Garden of Life
Primal Defense Caps by Garden of Life
Primal Defense Powder by Garden of Life
Primal Defense Kids by Garden of Life
† These statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. |
