About 1.5 million times a year, firefighters battle flames that threaten to devastate lives and property. Talk about anti-inflammatory agents!
Inside your gut, probiotics pitch in to do the same thing when it comes to putting out system-wide inflammation that can lead to pain, fatigue, skin redness and irritation, and even depression.
We've told you before about how probiotics can soothe the distress associated with irritable bowel syndrome and how they help with symptoms of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. Plus, they help relieve occasional gut upsets and can keep you regular. We like spore probiotics containing bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 and lactobacillus GG, a strain activated by stomach acid.
Well, now we know another strain, B. infantis 35624, can reduce elevated markers of inflammation -C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 6 -in folks with tough-to-treat chronic fatigue and plaque psoriasis.
So, if you're working with your doctor to find ways to ease your symptoms, try these probiotics daily, and opt for our other favorite fire-fighting techniques:
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet: no red meat or trans and saturated fats.
- Eliminate added sugars and sugar syrups.
- Eat lots of veggies (green leafy vegetables help protect your eyes, too).
- Opt for whole grains, unprocessed foods and the healthy fats in olive oil and nuts.
- Get omega-3s from salmon and ocean trout (two to three times a week) or take 900 mg of algal oil DHA omega-3 daily.
- Cool it with smart stress-reduction techniques, including meditation, regular physical exercise and, of course, inflaming your passions.
© 2013 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.