Newsletter

The Gut-Brain-Skin Connection and the Benefits of Probiotics

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Sat, 03/03/2012 - 01:53

Greetings EndoMune Subscribers!

March is the month we shake off the winter blues and start thinking about spring flowers and beautiful days. On the flip side, it is also the time we must complete taxes; or for students, prepare for midterm exams. Basically, March is a happy month mixed with some stress.

This month I want to discuss two common chronic skin conditions affected by stress: Acne vulgarus and Acne Roseaca.

Emotional Stress Leads To Bodily Stress

A well-respected medical journal, Gut Pathogens, published an interesting article1 last year that outlined how emotional stress has an impact upon common skin conditions like acne and rosacea.

Consider these two cases:

Healthy Bugs Prevent Depression and Gut Distress

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Mon, 10/03/2011 - 00:00

Probiotics Prevent Depression This month I am discussing some new, exciting research on the effect of probiotics on the gut-brain axis(1). Before proceeding, I think it is best to explain the relationship between the intestines and the brain.

We have all experienced the effect of this axis. Most of us have been in a situation where we become very anxious about an upcoming event – making a presentation, taking an exam – and, as a result, developed a terrible gut pain or “knot.”

New Study Reveals Danger of Bacteria in Sack Lunches (September 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Sun, 09/04/2011 - 00:03

It is back to school time. While you are out shopping for school clothes and supplies, I want to encourage you to consider adding EndoMune to your shopping list.

Over the years I have written a number of newsletters that discuss the benefit of probiotics for children. Topics have included: lessening the risk of infectious diarrhea, preventing cold and flu symptoms and avoiding antibiotic related diarrhea.

This month I want to discuss a new reason for giving your child a daily probiotic: foodborne illnesses.

Probiotics in the News (August 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Sat, 08/20/2011 - 17:37

I receive daily emails from a number of sources about new developments in medicine, particularly in the areas of gastroenterology and probiotics.

There are two interesting articles I would like to briefly discuss this month:

Probiotics and the Prevention of Food Allergies (July 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 16:45

Most of us are familiar with the term “food allergy.” Case in point, children with an allergy to peanuts can experience allergic reactions ranging from hives to coma, or even death. Sensitized children must have medication with them at all times to immediately treat reactions.

Strict avoidance of peanuts is their sole option to stay well. Schools have tried to create awareness for students and their parents to avoid bringing foods like peanut butter to school if there is a child with a peanut allergy.

In the last two weeks, there have been a number of news reports on the dramatic increase in food allergies experienced by children.

Criteria to Consider when Selecting a Probiotic (June 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 16:48

Over the years, I have been asked a number of questions about the differences among probiotic supplements. Most of these questions center around which probiotic to select:

Yale Workshop on Probiotics Presents New Research (May 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Mon, 05/02/2011 - 00:20

I just returned from the 3rd Yale Workshop on “Advances in Probiotic Use” and am pleased to report there is a large amount of active research in the area of the intestinal bacteria. Namely, research is examining how bacteria impact human health and disease.

Among various findings, researchers presented new information about how probiotic bacteria can modulate the intestinal immune system. They have discovered how probiotic bacteria interact with the intestinal lining cells to improve the inflammatory conditions that occur due to infection colitis and ulcerative colitis.

Tax Season Can Lead to Stress and IBS (April 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 00:22

April is a wonderful time of the year. Spring is nature's way of saying, “let’s party.”(1)

Planting new flowers and watching the first blossoms of the year are very joyful and relaxing activities, especially after enduring the cold gray days of winter.

Unfortunately, despite its beauty, April can sometimes be stressful for various reasons. At the forefront of many people’s mind is the need to file taxes. Or, you may be waiting to hear where your children will be going to school next year, or if they will find a job. If you happen to be one of those millions of people experiencing stress this season, you may want to consider taking a probiotic after you read this month’s newsletter.

Probiotics Recommended for Nursing Home Residents (March 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 00:00

Over the years, I have written a number of newsletters that discuss the benefits of probiotics for children and adults. This month will focus on the older generation, an important topic since there are currently 11.4 million people living in nursing homes in the United States (1). This figure includes 14% of the population older than 84.

For anyone who has loved ones in nursing homes and is concerned for their well-being, there are numerous reasons I recommend all nursing home patients take probiotics.

Otitis Media: Probiotics Should be Given Alongside Antibiotics (February 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 00:00

We are in the full swing of cold and flu season. I’m hopeful everyone got their flu shot and is staying healthy. However, if you’re not so fortunate and your kids are suffering with symptoms, then this is a very timely newsletter for you to read.

This month we will explore two important clinical studies published in the January 13th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (1,2) . These studies provide evidence that prescribing antibiotics is beneficial for infants and young children who are suffering with a very common disorder called otitis media. This is an infection of the middle ear, usually due to bacteria.