A new study by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, published in Science, takes the findings further. This new study found two major gut types—Bacteroides and Prevotella—based on gut bacterial population groups in 98 healthy volunteers who were asked to fill out questionnaires that assessed dietary habits. Stool samples were collected to determine their gut microbiota composition.

The researchers found a link between dietary habits and gut types. People who ate a diet high in meat and saturated fat were higher in Bacteroides bacteria, and people who had a diet high in carbohydrates had more Prevotella bacteria. Researchers then took ten volunteers and fed half of them a diet high in fat and low in fiber, and fed the other half a low-fat, high-fiber diet. By the end of ten days, the bacterial populations had begun to change but were still predominantly the same Bacteroides and Prevotella groups. This indicates that it’s possible to change the gut microbiota with diet, but it will take more than a short-term change to see any major difference.

Next steps will be to replicate these findings to confirm them and to take the studies further by looking at whether these gut types are associated with health or disease. It’s an exciting area of research, working out the details of what health advocates like ReNew Life founder Brenda Watson has said all along—your gut is the foundation of the health of the rest of your body. It all begins in the gut!

Escherichia coli, or E. coli is a natural inhabitant of the human gut, but it is no stranger to food contamination and has caused many outbreaks across the globe. Although some strains are harmless, when an infection is present E. coli causes digestive symptoms similar to typical food poisoning such as diarrhea, cramps, gas and bloating. However the new German, toxic E. coli strain or enterohaemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC), causes much more serious issues such as bloody diarrhea and even seizures, strokes and comas caused by the bacteria attacking the kidneys.

While investigators struggle to identify the initial source of E. coli contamination, everything from unclean cucumbers, tomatoes and sprouts have been blamed. Still the real cause of this extraordinary outbreak is a mystery and has left many people afraid to eat fresh produce. A healthy amount of caution is wise, but avoiding vegetables hardly seems like a good strategy.

The fact is all of us have an eco-system of bacteria, good, bad and neutral, teaming within our digestive systems. This delicate balance of trillions of bacteria has the power to either keep us healthy or make us sick. Maintaining proper balance of good bacteria helps crowd out potentially bad bacteria and also supports good digestion. With over 1,000 strains of beneficial bacteria can be found in the human gut, it makes sense to choose a probiotic supplement that reflects this natural diversity. A probiotic supplement with the right amount of cultures and strains can help promote digestive health, bowel regularity and strengthen the body’s natural immune defenses.

Although infection with this super-strain of E. coli bacteria has been very limited in the US, the CDC recommends proper hand washing and food preparation techniques to keep food-borne infections at a minimum. Common sense would also suggest that maintaining your own personal “gut ecology” might also be a good idea. Research shows that probiotic supplements might be a smart way to tip the balance of bacteria in the digestive system in favor of good bacteria.

Recent studies have found an interesting gut-heart connection. When gut bacteria break down phosphatidyl choline from lecithin, a common dietary ingredient found in foods like eggs, dairy, meat, fish and soy, a metabolite called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is formed. TMAO promotes atherosclerosis, and higher amounts of this metabolite in the blood increase the risk of heart disease.

This is an interesting study, but there are many questions that still need to be answered. Which bacteria are more likely to produce this TMAO? How does modifying gut bacteria change the heart disease risk? More studies are needed to determine this, but researchers suggest that probiotics may be used in the future for preventing heart disease.

It’s exciting science, though still in the early stages. But the overall message is clear: what happens in your gut affects the rest of your body. No question!

Starting this week, we’re giving you the chance to win cash and ReNew Life products just for producing a funny video about going to the bathroom in the How Does Poo Move You? Sweepstakes! Create and upload a video, no longer than 90 seconds, using your imagination and a touch of silliness to convey how elimination affects your daily life.

Video submissions will be judged based on overall artistry and humor, but judges will also take into account video votes, video comments and video sharing on the contest site, so contestants are encouraged to be shameless in promoting their video and soliciting votes through social media outlets. We will award the grand prize winner $3,000 in cash and $1,000 in ReNew Life products. If you don’t create the number 1 video on number 2, don’t worry – first, second and third runners-up will also win cash and ReNew Life products.

In addition to encouraging digestive health conversations, the How Does Poo Move You? Sweepstakes will also take aim at the global water crisis. Nearly one billion people lack access to safe water and over half of the world’s hospitalizations are due to water-related disease. So to show that we’re not just doing this for kicks and giggles, we’ll match all cash prizes with a charitable donation to Water.org. Water.org is a non-profit organization that helps provide safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries.

So if viral videos are your forte, stop by the sweepstakes website to learn about the contest. We’re looking for clever, sensational, and conversation-starting videos. The funnier the better, but be sure to keep the content clean and focus on the benefits of healthy elimination. Check out our creative brief for rules and guidelines to be sure your submission is appropriate for a broad audience.

The study revealed that that when taken over four weeks, the probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium breve significantly improved bowel motility and lessened abdominal pain in children. The study documented twenty children, with an average age of 7, who were given anywhere from 100 Million to 10 Billion active cultures of Bifidobacterium breve daily and asked to keep a journal of bowel habits. The journals took note of bowel frequency, stool consistency and any abdominal discomfort during the study. At the conclusion of the study, the children who took the Bifidobacterium breve daily experienced more frequent bowel movements, fewer incidences of abdominal pain, better bowel consistency and best of all no side effects.

In addition to trying probiotics, consider the following factors when addressing childhood constipation:

Hydration

Constipation can be caused by dehydration, so encourage your child to drink water. Try diluting your child’s fruit juice with 50% water to sneak in some H20.

Fiber

Fruit, vegetables, beans and whole grains are just a few of the many sources of dietary fiber, but don’t be afraid to use a natural supplement to boost fiber intake. Follow the age plus five guideline – take your child’s age, add 5 and that’s how many grams of fiber he or she should consume daily.

Exercise

This applies to adults and children alike. Regular exercise stimulates lymphatic flow, which encourages healthy elimination, so make sure your child gets enough daily physical activity.

Today, more research is revealing the importance of probiotics for children’s health. A healthy balance of beneficial bacteria can positively influence digestion, elimination and even support immune system function, protecting kids from the countless germs at daycares and schools. To try a probiotic for your child, take a look at the variety of strains and consider either a powdered or chewable probiotic to help make the health-promoting bacteria more appealing for the little ones.

One major cause of HAIs is the bacteria Clostridium difficile or C. diff. Every day, over 7,000 hospital patients in America are infected with C. diff. About 300 of them will go on to die from the bacteria. So what can you do to avoid an HAI? If you’re being admitted to the hospital any time soon, consider these few tips before you check in:

1. Wash Your Hands.

We all learned this in preschool but as adults some of us need reminding, especially when in the hospital. People touch their faces, including eyes, nose and mouth very often throughout the day even though they may not realize it. It’s incredibly important to wash your hands frequently and advise any visitors you have to do the same.

2. Watch for Symptoms.

Symptoms of C. diff infection can range from diarrhea and stomach cramps to nausea. If you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to tell the nurse. Your doctor will likely administer tests to determine the cause of the symptoms. Hospital workers will likely isolate you and start wearing protective gowns and gloves to avoid spreading the infection.

3. Be Proactive. Take Probiotics.

Taking supplemental probiotics before, during and after your hospital visit can support the balance of gut flora and a healthy immune response. One probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii is especially useful for people with C. diff, particularly those that have recurrent C. diff infections, because it works quickly and is not affected by antibiotics. Other types of probiotics can help you maintain the balance of healthy bacteria and naturally crowd out the bad bacteria. Be sure to take a supplement with a variety of strains plus a high culture count to make the most impact.

Please note: C. difficile infection is a very serious, sometimes even fatal condition and should only be treated under the care of a qualified physician. Many physicians are now treating C. diff with a combination of probiotics and antibiotics, so be sure to speak to your doctor about the supplements you wish to take.

First, to determine the strength or potency of a probiotic, look at the culture count. The culture count refers to the total amount of live, friendly bacterial cultures in a single serving.  You need at least 15 billion cultures to begin to make an impact on your health—often more, depending upon your age or health-related concern.  Research is showing that more is better, so keep an eye on the number of cultures or CFUs (colony forming units) for best results. Total CFUs or culture count will often be determined at time of manufacture, but very few remain at full strength through their expiration date.  Look for a high quality probiotic that displays potency on the label at time of expiration, not manufacture.

When choosing a probiotic it’s also important to pay attention to the number of strains.  The strains, or specific types of bacteria, plus the culture count of each should be listed on the label. Over 1,000 strains of beneficial bacteria can be found in the human gut, so it makes sense to choose a probiotic supplement that reflects this natural diversity. 

When you scan the label of a good probiotic you’ll see strains that begin with Ls and Bs, like Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria.  A good trick to differentiate these is that the L strains are more native to the little (small) intestine and the B strains are generally found in the big (large) intestine or colon. Look for lots of Ls and Bs because each person’s body utilizes certain bacterial strains better than others. 

While probiotics are also utilized in the upper digestive tract, the majority of bacterial populations exist in the lower small and large intestines. So how do the good bacteria get all the way down there?  Probiotics must travel through the harsh stomach environment and be delivered to the intestines to colonize. Delayed-release capsules are engineered to remain intact through the stomach and begin dissolving in the intestine, where they are needed most.

A probiotic supplement, when delivered to the right place, with the right amount of cultures and strains, can help promote digestive health, bowel regularity and strengthen the body’s natural immune defenses.  Be sure to read the label, so you’ll know you’re giving your body the probiotic it needs. 

Still confused on which specific supplement to take for your individual needs? Take our interactive quiz for our recommendation.

About half of all humans carry this potentially harmful bacterium and up to 15% of those infected will develop an ulcer.  Since H. pylori was identified as the ulcer-causing culprit, the challenge has been to identify the best possible treatments and prevent relapse.  Typical ulcer treatments of acid blockers and antibiotics have had some success, but natural health advocates warn against using such drugs long term.  Scientists now agree the standard protocol for H. pylori infection needs work and they’re hopeful about the potential of probiotics. 

An article published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology identified a specific strain of probiotic bacteria called Bifidobacterium bifidum that may help treat ulcers.  Scientists isolated the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium bifidum from breast-fed infant fecal matter and tested it against H. pylori.  Researchers noticed that the bacterium inhibited H. Pylori up to 95% in vitro.  In further testing, mice infected with H. pylori and given Bifidobacterium bifidum developed considerably fewer ulcers and had less overall damage in the stomach from the H. Pylori than the control group. 

These results are very encouraging for those looking for natural and complementary approaches for ulcers and other stomach issues. There are two primary methods to increase your intake of probiotic bacteria such as Bifidobacterium bifidum: food and supplements. Various probiotic strains can be found in fermented foods and some dairy products, such as yogurt and kefir. However, the quantity of these beneficial bacteria in these foods can be low and the variety of strains is often limited.

To achieve higher intake of probiotics, as well as more varied strains, probiotic supplements are a great option. Though, it should be noted that not all probiotic supplements are created equal. The best probiotic formulas have high amounts of bifidobacteria and consist of various strains of probiotic bacteria to provide support to the largest number of people.

Steptococcus salivarius produces proteins that reduce inflammation and help reduce the numbers of harmful bacteria that can lead to cavities and gingivitis.  To test Dr. Tagg’s discoveries, Swedish scientists have recently succeeded in reversing damage caused by gingivitis in just two weeks by administering oral probiotics to people with gum disease. 

The two beneficial strains included in the lozenge were S. salivarius and B. coagulans.  Lozenges will soon be available without a prescription.  One lozenge a day is recommended for healthier teeth and gums.

The research, which was published in the journal Nature, found that microbes in an overweight body are far more efficient at extracting calories from food.  Conversely, bacteria strains in thin people helped them assimilate healthier nutrients, delay the absorption of sugars, and eliminate toxins from their body more effectively.

 The bacteria present in the intestines of obese people were from a family known as firmicutes.  The bacterial strains most often found in thin people are called bacteriodetes.  Firmicutes are far more efficient at harvesting calories from complex sugars and depositing them in fat.  Equally important, when obese people lose weight, virtually all bacteriodetes counts increased in their intestines, while the firmicute group of bacteria shrank dramatically in number. 

This is vital information for the nearly 136 million Americans who are overweight or obese. While more research is needed, studies like these highlight the importance of microbial balance in the gut.  Truly, our gut bacteria play a big role in overall health.