Health advice For The Whole Family

  Dr. Sarah Connors HBSc, Naturopathic Doctor
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • What Is Naturopathic Medicine?
    • Therapies
    • Conditions Treated
    • House Calls
    • Fees
  • Doula Services
  • Healthy Family Blog
  • Seratauga Weight Solution
  • New Moon to Mama Moon
  • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Video And Audio
  • Contact
  • Body Bliss

Probiotics and the Microbiome

4/14/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
There is so much more discussion about probiotics and the microbiome now than ever before. There is research about the benefits for infants, for mood, for digestion, for re-establishing a healthy gut after antibiotics, and so on.  Even though there’s plenty of evidence to show that probiotics or good bacteria are good for us, a lot of people still ask me ‘does taking probiotics actually make a difference?’ Obviously, my quick answer would be yes they generally do. However, perhaps it’s easier for you to decide for yourself, with a little more information.
The Gut:
Generally when we refer to the ‘gut’ as a collective we tend to think of our abdominal area only. However, the gastro-intestinal tract or GI tract actually begins in the mouth and ends at the exit point, the anus. For our purposes let’s focus on the small intestine and large intestine since that’s where the majority of probiotics have their most beneficial effects.
In the whole GI tract there are over 100 000 billion bacteria. Different species in different numbers populate the gut. This is why it is actually important to change your probiotic on occasion because there are so many different species to be supported. If there are so many bacteria present, how could a few billion make a difference? 
Picture
Well that has to do with the composition and state of the small and large intestine.  There’s anywhere from about 10-100 billion microbes present in the small and large intestine. This helps us understand why giving a probiotic or eating fermented foods makes a difference, because there’s enough probiotics present in the average capsule to replenish and encourage growth of good bacteria. Also, the small intestine is approximate 20 ft long, so it houses about 95% of the bacteria that live in our intestines. The large intestine on the other hand is only 4 ft long, but because things are moving much slower through the large intestine the bacteria layer in the mucosa can be up to 200 cells thick, compared to 1 cell thick in the small intestine. This allows this shorter stretch of organ to still accommodate 10-100 billion microbes. 

Research:
As I mentioned before there are many studies that have been done and are currently being done on the effects of probiotics and the microbiome as a whole. If you did a simple google or pubmed search you would come up with 1000s of results. I can’t summarize all of them, but here are a few highlights:

INFANTS AND PROBIOTICS
Eczema, asthma and allergy have become much more of a problem over the past few decades than they ever were before. In the Swansea baby Allergy Prevention Trial they looked to see if intervening with probiotics at an early age could reduce the incidence of allergy, and atopic conditions by extension. The intervention was given to newborns for the first 6 months after birth. The outcome was a follows:
 
Placebo group: Almost 10% of infants had atopic eczema at 6 months; Approximately 13% of infants had atopic eczema at 2 years.
Probiotic group: Approximately 3% of infants had atopic eczema at 6 months; almost 6% of infants had atopic eczema at 2 years.
 
The overall reduction of infants with allergy was 57% at 2 years. Remember, they only received treatment for the first 6 months. This demonstrates that the positive benefit of intervention goes beyond the intervention period.

PROBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTICS
Most people are aware that we should take probiotics when we take an antibiotic. However, how much, when and for how long make a difference? One study, The Cambridge Clostridium difficile trial looked at the impact of probiotics to prevent/reduce C. difficile infection and associated diarrhea in patients receiving antibiotics. The outcome was as follows:
 
Antibiotic/Placebo group: When tested at Day 28 they still had overgrowth or dysbiosis present
Antibiotics followed by probiotic: They had a growth of bacteria up to Day 7, but then at Day 28 there was a significant decrease in bacterial overgrowth
Antibiotics with Probiotics: There was no overgrowth of bacteria at Day 7 or 28 because the probiotics were present throughout antibiotic treatment

This study demonstrates that by taking probiotics while receiving antibiotics you can decrease the chances of bacterial overgrowth occurring at all. However, it is still beneficial to intervene with probiotics later on as it will help to bring bacterial overgrowth under control. 
Picture
Gut/Brain connection:
One of the newer areas of study that’s been getting a good deal of attention is the impact that a healthy gut can have on our mood. More and more studies are coming out showing a positive impact of probiotics and healing the gut on issues such as depression, and anxiety. This work is still early, but promising. Promising enough that some companies are actually beginning to make probiotic products specially geared at mood.
Choices: Making sense of what’s available on the market
As happens with most things in the market, as they get more popular there tends to be more people interested in developing a product for it. Over the last few years we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of probiotics available at the store. Knowing you have all these choices, how do you make the right choice for you? Well, there’s no short and easy answer to that. There are a number of factors you want to consider:
  • Do you have any gut problems (eg. IBS or Ulcerative Colitis)?
  • Are you experiencing symptoms such as gas, indigestion, eczema, etc.?
  • Do you have any current allergies or sensitivities?
  • Do you know how many strains are best for you?
  • Do you know which strains are best for you?
  • Do you know roughly how many billion you need?
 
Knowing these things makes it much easier for you to select an appropriate probiotic. If you don’t know the answer to these questions or aren’t sure, then you may want to speak to a Naturopathic Doctor or other healthcare professional. When I go through this process with my patients, we figure out which probiotic (if any) might be best for them so it’s much easier to find what they need when they go to purchase a product from the health food store.
 
 
Have questions about probiotics or how to improve your gut health overall? Please email me through the website ‘contact’ page or get in touch with me directly. 


Note: Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor today about getting assessed and treated if needed, and as always talk to your health care provider before beginning any new medication or supplement. This information is not meant to replace the advice/guidance of a medical professional, nor should it be acted upon by individuals unsupervised by the appropriate healthcare provider.




References:
Allen SJ et al 2014 Arch Dis Child
Plummer et al 2005, Int J Antimicrob Agents 26

0 Comments

What's A Doula?

5/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is a very common question I get asked whenever I introduce myself at a workshop or someone just finished reading my card or website. The running joke in my family is I had to pick some of the more ‘obscure career paths’ available just to be different. However, in all seriousness becoming a Doula as well as a Naturopathic Doctor was like fitting together two puzzle pieces when I had no idea that there was a possibility of finding that missing puzzle piece.
 
So what is a Doula anyway? I asked my classmate one Monday when I was still in Naturopathic college. She was telling us about the amazing weekend course she'd just finished. Well it comes from the Greek, meaning a woman who serves. The term ‘Doula’ was used to describe the role of the woman or women who attended births. In some cultures, women would give birth either by themselves or with the support of other women, and those who did have attendants, tended to have better outcomes. I was fascinated! I had only known about midwives as the 'alternative' to doctor attended births in hospitals. I didn't know there were other birth professionals out there, or that it was something I might consider doing. I had considered midwifery as a career prior to choosing Naturopathic Medicine, but once that choice was made I didn't think I could meld the birth world with Naturopathic Medicine in such a complementary and harmonious way.

Once I started my own journey into becoming a doula I realized that today, the term doula is a bit more recognized and is becoming more and more common place every day. A doula is now recognized as a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and after birth, as well as some of the postpartum period. The primary role being as a: support and resource for health and birth care. They do not constitute a replacement for a midwife or other healthcare practitioner, but are a complimentary form of healthcare for the mother and baby. What really intrigued me was the amount of research that showed how much of a benefit having a doula present provided to mom and baby. Studies have actually shown that when doulas attend births, labours are shorter, have fewer complications (like c-sections), babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily (Hodnett et al., 2011).
 
Even though our primary concern is for mother and by extension the Mom and baby dyad, we’re also there to help the rest of the family too. Don't worry Dad, we didn't forget about you. Hodnett et al., (2011) shows that parents who receive support can:
  • Feel more secure and cared for
  • Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
  • Have greater success with breastfeeding
  • Have greater self-confidence
  • Have less postpartum depression
  • Have lower incidence of abuse
 
Having someone else present during pregnancy and birth who can help you navigate all the vast amounts of information and work with you to advocate for you and with you only increases your chances of having the best possible birth experience. My clients who work with me also get the benefit of my Naturopathic knowledge and skills. Being a Naturopathic Doctor and Doula allows me to offer so much more complete care to the families I work with, and they often elect to continue care with me as a family after the baby is born. The birth location that can impact whether I am able to utilize all my tools, but no matter the circumstances, the end goal stays the same: for Mom and baby (and family) to have the most positive start to their lives together.

Have questions about doulas or whether having a doula involved in your birth is right for you? Feel free to contact me by email or by phone. I also still have a few spots left for the summer on my calendar if you’re still looking for a Doula to join your birth team.
 
 


References:
Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Weston J. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub3. 


0 Comments

    Sarah Connors

    I am a Naturopathic Doctor and Doula providing care in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. I have a passion for helping people with their health issues and improving the birth experience for Moms, and their babies. I also have a life long love affair with soccer, curling, and the alto saxophone.

    Archives

    November 2020
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015
    September 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All
    Allergy
    Anxiety
    Birth
    Colic
    Depression
    DIY Remedies
    Doula
    Exercise
    Family Health
    Food
    Gastrointestinal (GI) Disorders
    Heart
    Holidays
    Hormones
    Hygiene
    Illness
    Immune System
    Kids Health
    Liver
    Mental Health
    Naturopathic Medicine
    Nutrition
    Postpartum
    Recipes
    Season
    Seasonal Affective Disorder
    Skin
    Sleep
    Stress
    Toxins
    Vitamins And Minerals

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Rural Royalty, manu flickr2010, Ryan Dickey, wocintechchat, huskyte77, paulswansen, Black Room Photography, harum.koh, Emery Co Photo, JeepersMedia, BrownGuacamole, wellnesswildflower, JeepersMedia, vastateparksstaff, colindunn, seelensturm, /\ \/\/ /\, 50mm.za, The Simpsons (Lee, Shirley, Luke and Rachel), AGRONAUTI, aivas14, Jonathan Rolande, winnifredxoxo, juhansonin, osseous, nan palmero, Theo Crazzolara, brianfagan, TP studio, wuestenigel, torbakhopper, anka.albrecht, Michael Stern, [-ChristiaN-], franchiseopportunitiesphotos, terren in Virginia, nateOne, barnimages.com, Dun.can, wuestenigel, @lattefarsan, amandabhslater, aphrodite-in-nyc, nutritionaldoublethink, Anne Worner, donnierayjones, mikecogh, angeloangelo, Rob.Bertholf, getaiwan, Lida Rose, matsuyuki, SurFeRGiRL30, marcoverch, amsfrank, mdaltry, nutrition education, Mike Prince, Edsel L, Neighborhood Nini, philipp.alexander.ernst, Mediocre2010, homethods, quinn.anya, Gamma Man, katerha, Eric Kilby, National Institutes of Health (NIH), rcmd_cfdfw_5_2, curtis palmer, Ray in Manila, frankieleon, Airsoftpal.com, byzantiumbooks, cchana, Brian Legate, Matt Lavin, BradHinton, monpetitchouphotography, wuestenigel, alexisjordanlewis, ByEPhotos, erix!, RLHyde, return the sun, quinn.anya, mliu92, frankieleon, loudista, Lyn Lomasi, upslon, derrickbrutel, cchana, National Institutes of Health (NIH), watts_photos, marcoverch, derrickbrutel, francesbean, weegeebored, Airsoftpal.com, Etwood, wu_135, shixart1985, Ingrid Taylar, VeritasFotografie, BioDivLibrary, emmanuelmorales1, Thanks for 1.5 Million Views!!, Will Merydith, reader of the pack, RoxyHobbs, Khanelle Prod' Medias, storyvillegirl, agromonitor, Arenamontanus, six:eleven, cote, SweetOnVeg, nenoirenediaz, lucianvenutian, markhillary, anotherlunch.com, inkknife_2000, archibald jude, rawtrigger, Imaginary Museum Projects: News Tableaus, Pavel P., Courtney Emery, Thien Gretchen, physiognomist, bark, Michigan Municipal League (MML), alberth2, Merelymel13, neofob, Care_SMC, Parker Knight, B*2
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • What Is Naturopathic Medicine?
    • Therapies
    • Conditions Treated
    • House Calls
    • Fees
  • Doula Services
  • Healthy Family Blog
  • Seratauga Weight Solution
  • New Moon to Mama Moon
  • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Video And Audio
  • Contact
  • Body Bliss