Innovations For Women Gastrointestinal Comfort
Gastrointestinal symptoms and digestive discomforts are more frequently reported in women than in men. Digestive discomforts can be linked to anatomical and hormonal specificities. For example, increased progesterone level necessary to growth the endometrium before menstruation has been linked to slower gut motility, and occasional constipation is a common premenstrual symptom, while, during menstruation, diarrhea can occur from increased contractibility of the intestinal walls by prostaglandins and the sudden reduction of progesterone levels. Many studies have shown the benefits of specific probiotic strains and associations on digestive comfort, including for pregnant women, for example the formula Lacidofil®, based on the association of L. rhamnosus Rosell®-11 and L. helveticus Rosell®-52.
Things That Mess With Your Period
Wouldn’t it be great if you could circle a date on your calendar and have your period actually show up then? You’d plan beach trips around it and you’d never be caught without a tampon. Unfortunately, a little variation is typical: “The average cycle is 28 daysthat’s 28 days between the first day of one period and the first day of your next periodbut anywhere in between 24 and 31 days is considered normal,” says Veronica Lerner, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center. “Still, a highly irregular period is usually a sign that something else isn’t right in your body.” Take note of these 10 things that could be messing with your menstrual cycle, and see your doc if anything seems too far off.
Heard of marathon runners losing their periods? It’s not a myth: frequent rigorous exercise combined with low body fat puts stress on your body, and this stress tells your brain to stop producing reproductive hormones. “Since you can’t nourish a baby under extreme stress, your body temporarily shuts down the production of fertility hormones,” explains Dr. Lerner. One study found that half of exercising women experience subtle menstrual irregularity. A period that arrives a few days off schedule is nothing to worry about, but see your doctor if you haven’t had your period for longer than three months. “It’s a condition called amenorrhea, and it can compromise your bone density long-term,” says Dr. Lerner.
Supplements That May Help Reduce Pms Symptoms
Symptoms associated with PMS can be frustrating and without knowing the cause behind them, they may be difficult to treat. For instance, is irritability due to sleep deprivation or is it a change in hormone levels to blame?
Often, women are handed prescriptions to help treat individual symptoms without really looking at the cause behind them. Yes, medications may provide temporary relief, but rarely provide a long-term solution. This is why many women chose to look at natural alternatives to get long-term relief of PMS symptoms.
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So Are Vaginal Probiotics The Solution To Yeast Infections And Bv
They might be in the future. But the pills and suppositories available today have not yet been proven to work.
Based on what experts know, vaginal probiotics must satisfy two criteria to be effective: They should contain a vaginal strain, like Lactobacillus crispatus, that has been shown to protect against infection and they should be inserted directly into the vagina.
Most of the products on the market, however, dont check both of those boxes. Many oral and suppository probiotics contain bacterial species cultivated from the gut or from fermented foods that arent natural inhabitants of the vagina. Biologically, I dont think it makes a whole lot of sense, said Catriona Bradshaw, a sexual health expert at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, who researches bacterial vaginosis.
And the majority of vaginal probiotics on the market are oral capsules, which studies suggest are unlikely to alter vaginal flora. Thats because the bacteria would have to make the treacherous journey down through the gut, out the anus and then crawl their way over to the vagina.
That is not happening, said Jacques Ravel, a microbiologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who studies the vaginal microbiome.
A few products are meant to be taken vaginally including FloraFemme vaginal probiotic suppositories , VagiBiom suppositories and Physioflor vaginal tablets .
Difference Between Prebiotics And Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms found in fermented food that when administered in adequate amounts provide health benefits. When you eat probiotics, you’re adding microbes to your gut.
On the other hand, prebiotics are a type of fiber that the human body cannot digest. All prebiotics are fibers, whereas not all dietary fibers have prebiotic effects. Prebiotics serve as food for probiotics and other beneficial organisms in the gut.
A 2017 meeting of the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics identified prebiotics as “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms, conferring a health benefit.”
Can you take prebiotics and probiotics together? Yes, you can. Synbiotics are foods that contain both prebiotics and probiotics.
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Effect #: Antibiotics Can Disrupt The Estrobolome
Antibiotics have an impact on gut bacteria they will kill the opportunistic bacteria but unfortunately theyll also take down the good ones too. More accurately, antibiotics disrupt the estrobolome, which is a specific group of microbes that determine how estrogen is utilized in the body.
In people with healthy microbiomes, the estrobolome bacteria easily break down the estrogen that the liver sends to the gut allowing the body to dispose of it. But when the estrobolome becomes compromised, the broken down estrogen metabolites can be turned back into active estrogens which are then reabsorbed into the blood stream, creating estrogen dominance.
The thing is, when estrogen levels change in the blood, it affects your pituitary gland function. The pituitary gland secretes FSH and LH based on the level of estrogen in your blood. If your estrogen is too low or too high, your brain gets the wrong signal and doesnt produce the right amounts of FSH and LH. This misfiring will totally mess with your bodys ability to ovulate when its supposed to, and lead to a wonky period.
How Probiotics Alter The Intestinal Microbiota
In addition to directly affecting the composition of the intestinal microbiota, probiotics may also modulate the global metabolic function of intestinal microbiomes. Fermented milk products containing several probiotics did not alter the composition of intestinal bacterial communities in gnotobiotic mice and monozygotic twins . However, fecal metatranscriptomic analysis of probiotics-treated animals demonstrated significant changes in expression of microbial enzymes, especially enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Moreover, mass spectrometric analysis of urinary metabolites revealed altered abundance of several carbohydrate metabolites. These observations suggested that probiotics may affect the global metabolic function of the intestinal microbiome.
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You And Your Menstrual Cycle: 18 Need
Youve endured an on/off relationship with it since you were a teen. But just how au fait are you with the particulars of your menstrual cycle?
Could you pinpoint an ovulation day, or recite your number of fertile days each month?
If you answered no you arent alone in not knowing the ins and outs of your period, as a survey by Fitbit revealed that 80% of women dont know how many phases there are in a menstrual cycle , and 70% couldn’t identify the average length of a menstrual cycle.
That being said, a rise in health app downloads and the number of women using tech to track menstrual cycles suggests that were increasingly eager to become a bit more familiar with our bods, and thats never a bad thing in our book.
But if becoming acquainted with your menstrual cycle for the first time causes some confusion, were on hand with honest answers to your questions .
And in case the thought of following your menstrual cycle through its phases fills you with anxiety fear not, for were also recommended a menstrual cycle tracking apps which will help you log info with ease and pre-warn you when P-day is about to arrive.
The Challenges Of Veganism On Periods
Lakhani reveals that although, a well-planned vegan diet can be extremely healthy, people who do not eat meat products are at a greater risk of developing an iron deficiency, which could leave you tired and short of breath. Absence of the mineral can lead to anaemia, a condition where you lack healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your bodys tissues, which can make you feel week and fatigued.
A low blood iron level is the most common cause of anaemia in the world, especially amongst women, says Lakhani. During menstruation, women lose iron-rich blood each month, this coupled with a lack of iron from meat products can exacerbate anaemia further.
Iron is found in red meat, and while many plant-based foods do contain iron, it is not as easily absorbed. This is why Lakhani stresses on eating more iron-rich plant-based foods like dark leafy greens, beans, lentils, tofu, grains, dried fruits and nuts to help counter the lack of meat-based iron and reduce the risk of developing anaemia.
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Probiotic Side Effects List Of Common Questions
Last updated on By Ken Silvers
Probiotic side effects sometimes happen. They are mostly mild and harmless. Many people ask about reactions to probiotics so here is a collection of frequently asked questions.
You might be familiar with the old saying: no pain, no gain. Among athletes, muscle aches are viewed as a temporary discomfort bringing good results. Can something similar be said about probiotics side effects? Yes, it can.
Probiotics can cause a temporary discomfort to reach an improvement. However, this does not mean that side effects are necessary.
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Probiotics And Intestinal Neuroimmunology
The human gastrointestinal tract contains a large and complex neural network called the enteric nervous system, whose main purposes are to regulate the physiological functions of the gut and modulate communication between the gut and the central nervous system, both in the ascending and descending directions . This communication system is called the gutbrain axis, which consists of intricate loops of neurological reflexes . The gutbrain axis moderates the coordination between the brain, the intestinal tract and endocrine and immune systems involved in maintaining gut function . Disruptions or perturbations in the gutbrain axis have been associated with psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and functional gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS .
Proposed interactions between the gut microbiota, the intestinal tract, the central and peripheral nervous systems and the immune system. Intestinal microbes may interact with intestinal epithelial cells or immune cells directly or they can produce bioactive compounds and neurotransmitters to modulate immunity or the gutbrain axis. These intricate and complex interactions result in signaling to the central nervous system. CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone IDO, indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3-dioxygenase.
Gut Health And Menstrual Cycle
Your main hormones that predict and regulate your cycle include estrogen and progesterone. When these hormone ratios are optimally balanced, your cycle runs smoothly.
But, suppose your gut microbiome doesn’t have all those necessary bacteria that are needed to carry out different hormonal functions and regulations. In that case, your hormones can become imbalanced, your estrogen increases, and your ovaries receive the wrong signals, altering your menstrual cycle.
If poor gut health is contributing to estrogen dominance, your menstrual cycle will feel the consequences-think heavy bleeding, missed periods, or no even periods!
My favorite test for looking at hormones and their detox pathways is the Dutch test. If your lab results come back and show suboptimal results, supplements and dietary modifications can be used to correct these imbalances.
Estrogen Dominance Symptoms
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Depression
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How Can I Reduce Symptoms Of Pms
The bloat, the irrational doom, the inexplicable weeping when you can’t find your glasses. Well, vitamin B1 also known as thiamin may help with all of that, according to a study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research which showed that taking 200mg on days where PMS symptoms were most severe reduced both physical and mental manifestations. Pop a pill a day or up your intake of B1 food sources like fresh and dried fruit, eggs and whole grain bread to put the psycho to bed.
Is There Anything I Should Take Or Do To Ensure My Vaginal Microbiome Is Healthy
In the future, there may be research-backed ways to strengthen the vaginas bacterial defenses, possibly by combining effective probiotics with antibiotics or even by performing vaginal microbiome transplants.
But for now, experts simply dont know enough about the vaginal microbiome to be able to reliably shift it in the direction of better health. So while vaginal probiotics are unlikely to hurt you, they also arent likely to help you whether you have an infection or not. And unless youre actively ailing, the best way to maintain optimal feminine balance is also the simplest: Dont do anything special. And certainly dont spend money on unproven treatments for your most intimate of landscapes.
Women have enough things in this world to worry about, Dr. Hillier said. The bottom line is that its the doorway to your reproductive tract. Treat it with respect, and love it.
Rachel E. Gross is a science writer based in Brooklyn and the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage.
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Dysbiosis And Human Diseases
The intestinal microbiome plays an important role in the function and integrity of the gastrointestinal tract, maintenance of immune homeostasis and host energy metabolism . Perturbations in the composition of microbial communities, also known as dysbiosis, may result in disrupted interactions between microbes and its host. These changes in microbiome composition and function may contribute to disease susceptibility . Several studies have demonstrated associations between intestinal dysbiosis and chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic disorders , ultimately resulting in metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes . Alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiome have been associated with infections in the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome . Treatment modalities to manipulate and restore the balance in the richness and diversity of intestinal microbiome are being explored . Probiotics may introduce beneficial functions into the gastrointestinal tract or enhance the functionality of existing microbial communities. Probiotics may also affect the composition and function of microbial communities by competition for nutrients, production of growth substrates or inhibitors and modulation of intestinal immunity . This concept is supported by results from randomized controlled clinical trials showing the benefits of probiotics during the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases .
Can Taking Vitamins Mess With My Menstrual Cycle
Having an irregular menstrual cycle or missed period can indicate a number of natural or unnatural causes. Find out if taking vitamins is contributing.
It is quite common during your childbearing years to have an irregular menstrual cycle at some point, especially when you first start having your period. Irregular menstrual cycles can come about due to lifestyle changes, changes in your body, or illness. Certain medications can cause you to miss your menstrual period, especially if these medications are prescribed to manipulate the sex hormones. Over-the-counter supplements should not cause you to miss your menstrual period, nor alter your regular menstrual cycle.
Tips
Having an irregular menstrual cycle or missing a period is due to a shift in the hormones in your body, which has many potential causes. Vitamin use should not be one of them.
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Consider A Hormonal Imbalance Test
If you frequently deal with PMS, its likely the result of a hormonal imbalance and its not something you should expect to be part of your menstrual cycle. Everything from lifestyle and diet modifications, to the right supplements, can help you take control of your period naturally and leave you feeling more energized and balanced, but if youre still feeling the effects of PMS, ask your doctor about a hormonal imbalance test.
If you have a thyroid condition, endometriosis, PCOS, or persistent PMS, its best to be fully evaluated by one of our expert physicians. We will take a comprehensive look at your hormone levels including specialty testing to determine the root cause of your hormonal imbalance and create a personalized plan to get you back to feeling your best.
The Impact Of Diets On The Menstrual Cycle
Eating a balanced, healthy and nutrient-rich diet is crucial to maintaining a regular menstrual cycle, says Lakhani. If you dont eat enough or experience extreme weight loss, you can affect your menstrual cycle so much that your periods can stop.
She explains that diet plays a significant role because it affects the hormones, which impacts the menstrual cycle. The doctor explains that what you eat determines the number of healthy vitamins and minerals your body receives, which in turn affects all of the bodys functions.
Eating too much or too little can affect hormone levels, which in turn causes your menstrual cycle to be altered. If you have been trying out a new diet or have not been eating well, you could notice an irregular period.
A lack of specific vitamins and minerals can also make premenstrual syndrome symptoms more severe due to the same hormones being affected. For example, a lack of vitamin E can result in heavier periods and more stomach pains, whilst a lack of vitamin D has been linked to more painful cramps, headaches and acne.
While Lakhani says there is not much evidence to suggest that a diet consisting of animal products affects the menstrual cycle, it is worth looking at the bigger picture. The fact that people who dont eat meat products tend to have a lower body weight, which can affect the menstrual cycle, says Lakhani.
Are period products sustainable? Read our story on why they can be damaging to the environment.
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