Thanks to a recent discovery by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, we may soon have a better understanding of why the long term use of antibiotic drugs causes secondary bacterial infections over time has troubled medical science for decades [1]. (more…)
The results of a 2010 study by Swiss scientists at the University Hospitals of Geneva and Lausanne shows strong evidence that children and young adults who suffer from inflammatory bowel disorders, such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, are at an increased risk of fracturing bones [1]. How Does IBD Affect Young Bones? Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation that can devastate the entire gastrointestinal tract. IBD causes severe pain and discomfort and, in many cases, causes permanent damage to sensitive digestive tissue which prevents proper absorption of essential […]
The thousands of metabolic processes needed for life depend on enzymes. Enzymes are essential for digesting food, initiating cellular activity, and breaking down and removing toxins. Inadequate enzyme levels result in organ dysfunction, chronic illness, and disease. In today’s world, enzyme deficiency is becoming more commonplace. Fortunately, protecting against enzyme deficiency is simple. Here are 7 facts you need to know about these two essential front-line enzymes. (more…)
Xylanase (pronounced zy-lan-ase) is a naturally-occurring enzyme that can have beneficial impacts on human health and digestion.[1] Fungi and bacteria produce xylanase, and it's produced by insects, crustaceans like snails, and even seeds.[2] Mammals, including humans, do not produce xylanase, but some of our gut bacteria do. Scientifically speaking, it is an enzyme that breaks down xylan, a type of hemicellulose, by cleaving the molecule’s beta 1,4 backbone into a simple sugar called xylose. Xylan is the second most common polysaccharide in nature and is a component of plant cell […]
Olive oil, like wine, has been around forever. For people of the Mediterranean, it has had medicinal, even magical powers through the ages. The olive tree is considered a symbol of peace and glory. Olives were first cultivated in the eastern part of the Mediterranean around 5000 B.C. Cultivation spread to Turkey, Greece, and Egypt before it reached southern Italy, Africa, and southern France. Italy was producing olive oil by the first century A.D. (more…)
