Categories Gut health

Can Yogurt Fight Gastrointestinal Ulcers?

Recently, in a report presented on the 237th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, it was revealed that there’s a latest yogurt which appears to have the power to fight the bacteria answerable for gastritis and stomach ulcers.

Within the report, which was based upon the results of human clinical studies, Japanese researchers claimed that ingesting the yogurt is comparable to the results of innoculation by a vaccine for each conditions.

Yogurt Facts

Yogurt, a fermented milk product, has long been known to be a healthy source of calcium, protein and various other nutrients. Currently, many brands of yogurt contain probiotics (i.e., certain forms of bacteria believed by many different and allopathic practitioners to have useful impacts on many digestive issues).

This latest type of yogurt may represent a novel approach to fighting stomach ulcers. It is maybe the newest product within the ever growing, “functional food,” market, which now generates some $60 million in annual sales. Indeed, stomach ulcers affect some 25 million people annually in the US alone.

The study’s coordinator, Hajime Hatta, a chemist at Kyoto Women’s University, in Japan, had this to say: “With this latest yogurt, people can benefit from the taste of yogurt, while stopping or eliminating the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.”

Researchers are hopeful that the brand new yogurt, which is already available in Japan (under the name “Dr. Piro”), Korea (under the name “Gut”,) and Taiwan will soon be on the shelves in the US.

Stomach Ulcers

Most stomach ulcers are actually known to be brought on by a bacteria, referred to as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), or by overuse of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Previously H. pylori ulcers have been effectively treated and eliminated with antibiotics and acid suppressants; nonetheless, for tens of millions of poverty-stricken people who are suffering from H. pylori ulcers, such treatments may simply be unavailable.

Research has linked childhood H. pylori-induced ulcers to more serious health problems like malnutrition and impaired growth. Scientists have long been at a loss to seek out a more economical and accessible way of treating these bacteria.

IgY-urease

Within the study, Hatta and colleagues indicate that H. pylori appears to rely on a protein referred to as urease to connect itself to and infect the liner of the stomach. The researchers used classic vaccine-creation techniques of their efforts to thwart the results of the urease protein, injecting chickens with urease, and allowing the chickens to provide antibodies to the protein. The researchers harvested the antibody, IgY-urease, from the eggs of the chickens, postulating that the consumption of yogurt containing IgY-urease might help to stop the bacteria from adhering to the liner of the stomach.

The study consisted of a gaggle of 42 people, all of whom suffered from H. pylori ulcers, who were segregated into 2 groups, one group was fed 2 cups every day of untreated yogurt and the opposite group was fed yogurt containing the antibody. At the tip of the 4-week study, urease levels within the latter group had decreased significantly.

Yogurt and Ulcers

Ultimately, although the yogurt appears to be somewhat less effective than antibiotics in treating H. pylori ulcers, it’s actually more accessible and could be eaten day-after-day. The antibody has no effect upon the taste of the yogurt.

Researchers cautioned, nonetheless, that since yogurt is a dairy product that also accommodates egg yolk, those with an allergy to dairy or eggs mustn’t devour this latest “anti-ulcer” yogurt. Moreover, unlike antibiotics, which once taken, can permanently eliminate the issue, the yogurt have to be eaten on a consistent basis. So, it could appear that unless a person wishes to avoid use of an antibiotic, it would well be more useful to partake of the everlasting solution than to commit to make use of of a product at some point of one’s lifespan.

Categories Diet, Health

10 foods that sound healthy but aren’t

1. Sweetened yogurt

The average cup of flavored yogurt has 30 grams of sugar (7.5 teaspoons) — that’s as much as a chocolate bar! Some sugar occurs naturally in the yogurt, but most is added. Instead: Cut the sugar by making your own blend. Start with plain Greek yogurt and add fresh fruit, one teaspoon of jam or a drizzle of honey.

2. Bran muffins

They sound healthy because of the word bran, right? Reality check: the average donut shop bran muffin has almost 400 calories and a whopping 36 grams (9 teaspoons) of sugar — but only 4 grams of fiber. Instead: Make your own small muffins and freeze them for grab-and-go mornings.

3. Sushi

The fish is great, but when you’re mostly eating white rice and dipping it in soy sauce, you’re getting lots of refined carbohydrates and sodium. Instead: Opt for more fish (sashimi), less white rice (or choose brown rice if it’s an option), and some vegetables on the side. Use soy sauce sparingly, and add flavor with wasabi.

4. Gummy fruit snacks

Any time “fruit juice concentrate” appears on the ingredient list, translate it to mean sugar. Isolating the sugar from fruit to make processed fruit-flavored gummies is not the same as eating nutrient-rich, fiber-filled, fresh fruit. Instead: Opt for fresh fruit or real dried fruit, such as raisins, dates or prunes.

5. Hazelnut-chocolate spread

The health halo is about milk, cocoa and hazelnuts, but the ingredient list tells a different story: sugar and palm oil are the main ingredients, and neither is nutritious. If you compare a hazelnut-chocolate spread to chocolate frosting, you will see the same amounts of sugar and fat. Instead: Stick with peanut or almond butter.

6. Veggie sticks

I don’t mean carrots and celery! I’m talking about those bags of fried or baked snacks — crunchy sticks made from corn flour and potato starch with a dusting of spinach or beet powder for color. Yeah, those don’t count as vegetables. Instead: Try a platter of real vegetable sticks — cucumbers, peppers and carrots.

7. Water with vitamins

Water is essential to life, and so are vitamins. But when the two are combined in a bottle with food coloring and sugar, an unnecessary product is created. Instead: Drink plain water or jazz it up with citrus or mint. You get all the vitamins you need from food, or you can take a multivitamin when indicated (they have no sugar!).

8. Sweetened oatmeal

Oats are a nutritious whole grain, but not when your morning bowl is coated in three teaspoons of sugar. Skip the maple or brown sugar flavor packets. Instead: Make your own plain oatmeal with grated apple, coconut, mashed banana or fresh berries.

9. Granola bars

Often touted for their whole grain goodness, most granola bars are sticky-sweet junk food in disguise. Don’t let a few oats fool you — especially when you also see marshmallows and chocolate chips. Instead: If granola bars are a must-have, choose one with 6 grams of sugar or less per bar, and hopefully some fiber.

10. Pretzels

In the low-fat era, pretzels were the king of snack foods. But now we know that their refined flour and salt are just as detrimental to heart health as fatty foods, so pretzels have been reclassified to junk food. Instead: Crunch on air-popped popcorn.

None of these foods are off-limits, but it’s important to know the honest truth behind what you’re eating. Consider the 80:20 rule: If you eat well 80 per cent of the time, it’s alright to choose some of these indulgent foods 20 per cent of the time.

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