Keep your digestive system healthy with probiotics!

So what can you prevent by taking probiotics?

I think it's safe to say that we've all experienced a troubled digestive system at least once in our lives! Needless to say, it's always an uncomfortable and often painful or even embarrassing experience. What can probiotics help us deal with? I'm going to come right out and say the big D-word: diarrhea.

Did you know that antibiotics can upset the balance of bacteria in our intestinal tract and lead to this uncomfortable bathroom experience? When the normal balance of the healthy bacteria in our bodies has been disturbed, we risk exposure to infections such as with C. difficile, bacteria that can cause diarrhea or more serious conditions like colitis.

Recent studies have found that probiotics can help reduce the risk of diarrhea from C. difficile by up to 66%! Bradley C. Johnston, an epidemiologist at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the lead author in the research from medical journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, said of the use of probiotics, "The take-home message is that it appears that probiotics are highly underutilized in hospitalized older adults."

Read the rest of the article, Probiotics Linked to Lowered Diarrhea Risk, from the New York Times and  check out Webber Naturals Probiotic and Enzyme products!

Stay healthy and happy.

1. B100 Complex - essential for fighting the effects of stress; the anti-stress vitamin.
2. Melatonin - regulates the sleep/wake cycle; popular with travelers, shift workers.
3. B-Calm - a unique balance of B vitamins and Sensoril®, an adaptogenic herb that can improve energy and vitality.
4. 5-HTP - helps increase serotonin levels to support improvements in mood, sleep and stress management.
5. Omega-3 Emotions - formulated with a high EPA content to promote mood-elevation and emotional well-being.

For severe stress or sleep disorders consult your health care professional.

Image source: ctbclinic.ca

Feel the Sniffles Approaching? Zap Them with Zinc!

Beat the cold bug and support your immune system with Webber Naturals!

It's raining and the daily temperature highs are dropping. Now this feels like fall! I love almost everything about this season: the colours of the leaves, wooly socks, the smells and sounds of crackling wood fires, pumpkin pie! But the one thing I do not love about autumn is the rise and spread of that nasty, common cold!

There may be no cure but I think I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that have always helped me keep that cold at bay...or at least very minor!

Usually the day before I catch a cold, I am sneezing. I'll wake up with a scratchy throat and sneeze all day long. That tickle in my nose just won't go away. When this happens, I immediately reach for my echinacea to give my immune system that extra boost. I bundle up with those wooly socks and wrap a fleece scarf around my neck while I enjoy a hot drink of chamomile with lemon and honey (sometimes ginger). I also try aim for an early night.

But there's more to cold prevention than echinacea. Another key ingredient in the recipe to fighting colds is zinc! Zinc is a mineral that can help boost the immune system and has been shown in studies to help reduce the severity and duration of a cold. You can get your zinc through your diet by eating foods such as oysters, roast beef, pumpkin and squash seeds, toasted wheat germ and peanuts. If you're not a fan of oysters (approx. 25 mg of zinc in every 100 grams) or find that you don't eat many of the zinc-rich foods, you can try zinc supplements (always check with a doctor first). 

So if you feel that sore throat coming along try our Sunkist Zinc Throat Lozenges and give your immune system extra strength. It may not be a cure but I'll take whatever armour I can get in the battle between the body and the cold germ!

Want to know more about the supplements that keep you healthy during the chilly months? Check out our Immune Support products and get tips from naturopathic doctor and Webber Naturals expert, Quinn Hand and her post, Stocking the Medicine Cabinet!

Stay healthy and heed your sneezes! Don't let the cold bug get the better of you!

Image source: labyellow.org,