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Instablog9ja
7 hrs
11
Reality TV star Tacha ‘found love and celebrated her partner’ on International Men’s Day.
She said Happy International Men’s Day her fave ODG. you’re HIM, always and forever.
Healthwatch
9 hrs
17
Approximately three million Americans have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is an umbrella term for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, illnesses marked by chronic or repeated bouts of inflammation in the digestive tract. Both types of IBD represent a complex interplay of genes, environment, and immune factors.
Current therapies for IBD suppress the immune system to reduce inflammation. But emerging research on the human microbiome may help scientists better understand and manage IBD. And some preliminary studies on cells, animals, and humans have investigated whether probiotics — which are sometimes called "good" bacteria — are beneficial for people with IBD.
The healthy microbiome: Building a barrier
The human intestinal microbiome is the vast community of trillions of helpful and harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that inhabit our gut. Ideally, the lining of the gut acts as a barrier that prevents harmful bacteria and toxins from entering the bloodstream.
A healthy microbiome helps this lining block out harmful bacteria while enabling it to absorb nutrients. Beneficial bacteria in the microbiome promote a healthy, hospitable gut environment that limits inflammation and helps crowd out harmful bacteria.
Recent studies on human cells and in mice suggest that a healthy microbiome produces substances that
In animal studies, a healthy microbiome is essential to help build and maintain an effective barrier. Animals raised in the laboratory without a microbiome, or whose microbiome has been depleted by antibiotics, have intestinal linings that are easily damaged.
An unbalanced microbiome: Inflammation and damage
What happens if the microbiome doesn't have a good balance of helpful and harmful bacteria? The gut lining may become increasingly permeable. That may allow potentially harmful bacteria and their toxins to cross into the intestinal tissue and then into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation that can damage the gut.
An imbalanced microbiome is known as dysbiosis. And the inflammatory cascade linked to dysbiosis is a hallmark of IBD.
Probiotics: More promise than evidence
Probiotics — live microorganisms in supplements or in fermented foods like kombucha, kefir, yogurt, and sauerkraut — have been proposed as therapies for IBD. The idea is that by eating beneficial bacteria we can restore and maintain a balanced microbiome, reduce inflammation, and improve the gut barrier. But what does the evidence say?
Thus far, no probiotic therapy is routinely prescribed for IBD. Small randomized studies have compared specific probiotics with standard immunosuppressive therapies for IBD. The studies measured IBD symptoms, remission rates, or quality of life. Results were mixed at best:
Diet, fiber, and prebiotics: A role in IBD?
The makeup and activity of our microbiomes can be altered by diet. That's true even if the foods you consume aren't well-known probiotic stars like kombucha, yogurt, kefir, and other fermented foods.
Gut bacteria that break down dietary fiber are a cornerstone of a healthy microbiome. A high-fiber diet can boost the number of these bacteria, as well as their beneficial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Food ingredients that are not absorbed by the gut but are instead consumed by the gut microbiome are called prebiotics. We have limited — though promising — evidence supporting prebiotics for people with IBD. Currently, no specific prebiotic food or supplement is recommended for general use.
However, the Mediterranean diet, which encourages fiber-rich vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, may modestly reduce symptoms and markers of inflammation in IBD. While these effects are small and inconsistent, the Mediterranean diet improves overall health in people with or without IBD. Largely for this reason, the American Gastroenterology Association recommends it for people who have IBD.
The bottom line
Probiotics, and possibly even prebiotics, hold promise. But we don't yet know how to harness their full potential for treating IBD. While current evidence suggests probiotics may one day be an effective way to help treat IBD, the complexity of the microbiome means that a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to work.
Many questions remain: Which strains of bacteria in the gut should we study? How do we determine the best cocktail of probiotics to reap maximum benefit? Given that everyone's microbiome is different, is a personalized approach to probiotics the right strategy? How can we define ideal dosage and formulation of probiotics?
Delivery method (capsules, powders, foods), dosage, and duration of treatment all require more research. Until these questions are answered, probiotics and prebiotics remain complementary strategies in treating IBD alongside standard immunosuppressive therapies.
Source: Harvard Health Publishing
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Instablog9ja
10 hrs
15
NAFDAC has uncovered a warehouse stocked with unregistered and expired products in Lagos State.
NAFDAC has uncovered a warehouse in Oke-Afa, Okota, Lagos, stocked with unregistered and expired supermarket items. Acting on intelligence, a NAFDAC team raided the facility, apprehending operators offloading a 20ft container filled with unregistered carbonated drinks.
A further inspection revealed over 14 rooms packed with unregistered and expired products, some of which were contaminated by rats, indicating poor storage conditions.
The facility was placed on hold, with all operations suspended pending further investigation. NAFDAC has invited the management to provide sourcing evidence, including the Global Listing for Supermarket Items (GLSI) certificate. The Agency warns of the risks posed by unregulated products, particularly as the festive season approaches.
NAFDAC urges consumers to remain vigilant by verifying product sources and reporting suspicious activities to the nearest office.
Instablog9ja
12 hrs
15
MC Oluomo has defied court order and takes office as NURTW president, days after being sacked by the Appeal Court.
He said he’s back to work, primed to tackle all challenges head-on, crush his goals with precision and passion and make today count with purpose and productivity.
He added that opportunities, obstacles and successes, he is ready. His today’s mindset is focused, driven and unstoppable.
Instablog9ja
13 hrs
11
A Businessman has used the example of a woman hit by his friend’s car to emphasize the importance of praying before stepping out if you own a car.
He said if you own a car, you really need to pray before stepping out. You don’t want to knock down a hungry Nigerian lost in thought while crossing the road. His friend hit a woman like that a few months ago. She was deep in thought and didn’t check before crossing. Thankfully, she only had mild br¥ises, got treated, and was fine.
But since then, she and her husband won’t stop calling him for help. In just two months, he’s paid their kids’ school fees and sent them money for feeding several times spending over #400k, even though it’s not easy for him.
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Instablog9ja
14 hrs
11
A Nigerian man has gone viral for earning three Master’s degrees from three different universities, claiming he did it out of ‘boredom’.
The man has the 1st Frame MSc Business Management (Industrial Relations & HRM) Covenant University, the 2nd Frame MBA (General Management) University of New Brunswick and the 3rd Frame MSc Business Management (Strategy & Organization) Queens University.
He had distinction in all the three masters degree and his full of gratitude as he pursued his PhD.
