The bacteria in your gut have a huge impact on your overall health and well-being. They influence how well you digest food and absorb nutrients, the strength of your immune system, and the health of your small intestine and colon… and that barely scratches the surface.
The importance of probiotics for supporting gut health cannot be overstated. The bacteria in your gut are a community and there are many types, or strains, of bacteria that make up that community. Here we’ll take a look at the nine best probiotic strains for supporting gut health, which are included in Young Living's Life-9 Probiotic Supplement.

• Lactobacillus acidophilus - supports digestion, particularly lactose digestion, and boosts the immune system.

• Bifidobacterium lactis - Bifidobacterium lactis neutralizes gliadin, the wheat protein responsible for gluten sensitivity. Gliadin also damages the intestinal lining and can cause leaky gut.

• Lactobacillus plantarum - produces L. lysine, an amino acid that supports calcium absorption, hormone production, and boosts the immune system. It’s often used as a remedy for bowel disorders.

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus - Generally cited for promoting a happy and healthy gut environment, Lactobacillus rhamnosus also has a reputation for helping with UTIs by kick-starting antibodies and boosting the immune system.

 

• Lactobacillus salivarius - fights unwanted microbes in the mouth and the small intestine. It’s considered essential for oral health. This strain, as do many, thrives when provided with prebiotic foods like banana, barley, tomatoes, and garlic.

• Streptococcus thermophilus - promotes healthy tissue in the small intestine. It discourages nitrates, like those in spinach, celery, and cured meats from turning into harmful nitrites. And, it breaks down a protein in cheeses, casein, which is known to cause allergies.

 

• Bifidobacterium breve - is essential for colon health, especially if you’ve taken antibiotics. Studies have found that many digestive problems coincide with low levels of B. breve.

 

• Bifidobacterium bifidum - is a household name in probiotic strains (if there is such a thing). It keeps unwanted bacteria out, eases digestion, and boosts the immune system. It plays an important role in immune function and allergy response; and encourages normal, healthy looking skin.

 

• Bifidobacterium longum - helps keep acid levels balanced. It’s especially helpful for anyone taking antibiotics.​

Have you used probiotics? What’s been your experience? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. Contact our office if you'd like to get these supplements.

Press Release – Female Athlete Triad: Double Check the Score

By Dr. Elizabeth Pilicy

Girls who play soccer, or participate in any endurance sport, may be at risk to develop a combination of three disorders now commonly referred to as the "Female Athlete Triad."

The female athlete triad is composed of the connected pattern of disordered eating, exercise-associated loss of normal cyclic menstrual periods (amenorrhea), and loss of bone mineral density or frank osteoporosis. This disorder is increasingly occurring in athletic women, particularly as more and more girls are participating in high level sports and are starting at increasingly younger ages. The inadequate nutrient supply to the body associated with disordered eating patterns is at the heart of this serious disorder.  This triad as a whole often goes unrecognized.  The consequences of lost bone mineral density can be devastating for the female athlete. Stress fractures or premature osteoporotic fractures can occur, and lost bone mineral density may never be regained.

5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Metabolism 
Metabolism refers to the rate at which your body burns calories. Your metabolic rate is your personal “calories-per-hour” number. Your metabolism is lowest while you sleep and highest during and right after vigorous exercise. Here are a few tips for raising your metabolism: