January 2022 – Eco Karen

Taking Probiotics During Pregnancy: We Answer Your Questions

A lot of research has been conducted to find out whether taking probiotics during pregnancy is safe, how they affect the mother and baby, and whether they have any benefits. Every day, scientists learn more about our bodies’ microbiomes. It is their research that has made us realize how beneficial probiotics can be for people of all ages. We now know babies benefit from probiotics way before conception, and so does the mom. As a mom, it is understandable that you have questions about taking probiotics during pregnancy. Below, we will answer the questions you have about taking probiotics before and during pregnancy.

Is Taking Probiotics During Pregnancy Safe?

The American Pregnancy Association has done a lot of research into this area and concluded that probiotics “do not appear to present any risk during pregnancy”. Probiotics have been proven to be safe for people of all ages, and this applies to vulnerable people. These groups include babies, children, and pregnant mothers. There are concerns that probiotics can lead to infections, but the occurrence of this is less than one in one million for Lactobacillus strains and one in 5 million for S.boulardii. All other strains present a much lower risk than this, and the risk is even lower for those who do not have any health complications.

From all the data available, we know probiotics are safe for the mother and the baby, and this has been proven over and over again.

Can Probiotics Harm a Developing Baby?

Apart from being very safe for the baby, probiotics also have several health benefits for both the mom and her baby. An analysis of tens of thousands of data points by the National Library of Medicine showed that there was no increase in the risk or occurrence of pregnancy complications. Also, the same study showed that the use of probiotics during pregnancy did not harm the mom or her baby.

One last study showed that even in cases where there are different strains of bacteria present, taking probiotics did not cause any negative events during c-sections, and they did not affect the birth weight or cause preterm births.

Can I Take Probiotics During the First Trimester?

There are lots of supplements you should not take during your pregnancy, but probiotics are different in that you can take them before, during, and after your pregnancy. Probiotics taken during the first trimester have lots of benefits, including helping reduce instances of gestational diabetes in moms when combined with a healthy diet.

To see the most benefit, do not wait until you are pregnant to start taking probiotics. Building healthy gastrointestinal and vaginal flora is very important before pregnancy and also has lots of long-term benefits.

Can I Take Probiotics with Prenatal Vitamins?

Probiotics and vitamins are considered an essential part of a healthy pregnancy. It is okay to take vitamins with your probiotics, but just remember that the prenatal supplements you take should have the right vitamins in the right amounts.

The prenatal supplements from Needed are a great option because, in addition to having the right probiotic strains, as well as vitamins for supporting the health of both mother and baby. They also include omega-3 for proper fetal development, and collagen proteins to meet the mom’s protein needs. Needed has various supplement products to support you before, during, and after your pregnancy, with all their supplements formulated with the help of health practitioners to ensure they are right and beneficial for both you and your baby.

What are the Benefits of Taking Probiotics During Pregnancy?

Everything you take during pregnancy affects your baby’s development, and probiotics have a lot of positive benefits for you and your baby. The first big benefit is that probiotics reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. Probiotics also help reduce excess body fat. Excess body fat increases your risk of gestational diabetes, and that is one way probiotics help with the condition.

A study by the National Library of medicine also showed a link between taking probiotics, lower blood sugar levels, and insulin levels.

The World Allergy Organization says that women whose babies are at risk of developing allergies and eczema should start taking probiotics as early as possible. Although probiotics cannot prevent any of these conditions, they do help prevent their severity.

A healthy vaginal microbiome is very important during pregnancy because pathogenic bacteria can cause early uterine contractions and thus premature births. Some strains such as Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium help reduce inflammation and the presence of pathogenic bacteria.

A mom’s gut microbiome affects her baby’s brain development. A healthy gut microbiome leads to better brain development, which impacts emotional behavior and motor control.

Your body’s microbiome is a very critical part of your pregnancy, and this is why probiotics are crucial, too. The right probiotics can make a huge difference in a mom’s and her baby’s health, and this is why it is advisable to take probiotics before, during, and after pregnancy.

8 Health Benefits of Probiotics for Your Dog

When it comes to supporting our immune and digestive systems, many of us take probiotics. Each time you take a probiotic, you are supporting the good bacteria in your GI tract. However, what you may not be aware of is that your pooch can benefit from probiotics too. Regardless of age, breed, or gender, here are some of the amazing health benefits of probiotics for dogs.

Alleviate Digestive Issues

If your furry friend is stressed or not feeling their best, there can be disruption between the healthy and illness-causing microbes in their gut. This can result in an array of issues, such as cramping, bad breath, and diarrhea. Thankfully, there are natural probiotics for dogs from companies like Native Pet, which can treat these problems. Native Pet is an expert when it comes to natural probiotics for dogs, thanks to the four simple ingredients in their products, which can address acute and chronic diarrhea and support your pooch’s upset stomach. If you are not sure what probiotics to give to your dog, it’s best to speak to experts like these or contact your vet for advice.

Reduce the Side Effects of Antibiotics

If you need to give your dog antibiotics to treat an infection or illness, they don’t discriminate between good and bad bacteria. This means that while antibiotics are great at fighting infections, they can cause a range of side effects such as diarrhea. Before you give your loyal companion antibiotics, it may be worth starting them on probiotics a couple of days in advance. Doing so can ward off unpleasant side effects associated with antibiotic treatment. No one wants to see their dog in pain or discomfort, so taking this step will help keep your best friend in check.

Ease Chronic Gastrointestinal Distress

For those who have dogs that suffer from chronic intestinal distress, it may be wise to give them a high-quality dog probiotic each day. This can help in replenishing their gut with healthy bacteria. Don’t just take our word for it either. You’ll find many vets are turning towards probiotics to help ease the suffering linked with chronic gastrointestinal distress, such as bloating or an upset stomach.

Promote Positive Behavior

In an ideal world, our dogs would be on their best behavior at all times. As you may be all too aware, this isn’t always the case! If your pooch is acting out of character or wreaking havoc around the house, it may be time to look into probiotics. This is because they can boost your pet’s mood for the greater good. Once your dog’s digestive system is free of bloating, constipation, and diarrhea, they will feel more at ease and less irritable, which will promote positive behavior.

Reduce Skin Allergy Symptoms

The majority of your dog’s immune system can be found in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it makes sense to balance their system with probiotics, which will boost their immune system and reduce allergy symptoms. These can include rashes from a skin allergy. Numerous studies support this theory too, after demonstrating that dog probiotics may help manage allergies.

Support Dental Health

When you give your dog probiotics, they will increase the number of good bacteria in their mouth. This can alleviate chronic disorders and bad breath. However, it may take a little longer to see any benefits, as the probiotics can get swallowed quickly. Your pooch’s dental care is just as important as your own for preventing tooth loss, preventing pain, and avoiding gum disease and inflammation, so it makes sense to look into probiotics.

Minimize Upset Stomachs When Switching Food

We all want our dogs to eat a balanced diet that will support their mind and body. If there has come a time when you need to alter your furry friend’s diet, know that making changes can cause an upset stomach. You don’t want to see your dog in distress, so before you change your pet’s food, it’s wise to start them on probiotics first. Make sure you continue using probiotics for the first couple of days, as this will help your pooch’s digestive tract get used to its new diet.

Help Senior Dogs Feel Better

No matter how much we try and fight it, our dogs have to go through the aging process too. Within a blink of an eye, your once thriving, excitable puppy has entered their senior years. As your dog reaches this milestone, it may suffer from more digestive issues. To stabilize your dog’s gut and digestive tract, probiotics may be the answer. These can improve your dog’s quality of life and help them get the most out of their golden years.

Giving your canine companion probiotics can benefit their health and wellbeing, helping them to lead a happy and fulfilled life.

How Does an Indoor Garden Work?

If you plan on having a garden inside the home, there are so many things you need to consider. While the garden looks so good, a lot goes into it to ensure it looks and works as well as it does. If you are not careful, your plants might die. Here are the main things you need to know about the garden and make it work.

The Location

The first thing you need to consider about your indoor garden is the location. Often you will find that the garden cannot stay in your living room because it does not have optimal light and temperatures to grow. Whenever you plan out the garden for your home, ensure you consider where you will put it. Most people put their plants by the window or the balcony to get some air.

The Plants

Once you have settled on the location, the next thing you need to keep in mind is the type of plants. Not all plants will work well indoors as some plants can be used for food while some are for aesthetics. Figure out the kind of garden you want to have before you decide to set it up. Many people prefer to put fruits and vegetables in an indoor garden, which you can try out. As long as the plants do not spread around the whole house, you are good to go.

The Care

Another vital thing you have to consider when getting indoor plants for your garden is how to care for them. Just like the plants in your outside garden, they will need to be watered and put in place where they can get enough light. You also need to figure out whether they need fertilizer and get the fertilizer into the house. If you have children, you have to figure out how you will use fertilizer without putting the lives of your family at risk since most of them can be dangerous.

Seasons

The other thing you need to consider when you are planting your indoor plans is the most convenient weather for you. You often find that you can only grow in a certain season, and planting them when it is off-season will mean more work for you that produces less yield. You can get more resilient herbs to harsh winters and hot summers, or you could choose to plant your vegetables in rotation. That way, you will have vegetables in your home all year.

Create a Planting Calendar

While your garden might start small, you might choose to get a bigger place and set up a more elaborate garden indoors. For this reason, you will get to a point where you are planting so much and can lose track of everything. The best way to deal with this is to have a planting calendar. Make a list of the past you want to have in your garden and their seasons. That way, you can always switch up to new plants based on the type of vegetables you have. They will also help you remember to add fertilizer to them and weed them where need be. A planning calendar can also come in handy if you plan on using your product in your kitchen. You can plan your meals around the harvest times.

Final Thoughts

Having a garden indoors is a great way for you to spend time with your children doing something together. It also helps, especially now that there have been so many lockdowns going on. It also ensures you have fresh produce whenever you need it in your kitchen.

Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum CBD: What are the Differences?

CBD or Cannabidiol has been shown to improve one’s health in many ways over the past several years. This all-natural plant extract can help someone by reducing their pain, reducing anxiety, and depression.

Anyone anywhere can obtain premium CBD products as an over-the-counter treatment. The FDA, Food and Drug Administration, have only given their seal of approval to one strain of CBD specifically for the treatment of epilepsy. However, that does not mean the products you can purchase at your local brick-and-mortar store or online are not high-quality products.

When you know the difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products, you can make an informed decision about which is best for your particular health issue.

Full Spectrum CBD

Full-spectrum CBD is going to contain several different parts of the cannabis plant. This means there are going to be trace amounts of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the compound that gives marijuana users the mind-altering effect.

Cannabis is completely legal in many states and that means CBD can contain higher than 0.3 percent of the THC. Where it is not legal, the amount of THC needs to be under 0.3 percent. In general, this is what full spectrum means.

Broad Spectrum

By contrast, Broad-spectrum CBD will not contain any traces of THC. It may contain other cannabis plant components, but that just means it is not 100 percent CBD. This does not mean it is not a good product, it simply means you need to be careful when choosing this type of CBD.

Pros of Full Spectrum CBD

One of the best reasons to take this type of CBD is the fact there are multiple components of the cannabis plant and when there is more, it gives you many more benefits. This is also known as the “entourage effect” and is one of the major selling points for full-spectrum CBD.

Some of the components in full-spectrum include Flavonoids, Phytocannabinoids, which are THC and CBD, and Terpenes which give the compound flavor and scent. And all this together gives someone the maximum benefits of cannabis in CBD form.

Cons of Full Spectrum CBD

The fact that it contains some amount of THC, even trace amounts, could give the user a “high” feeling. This chemical can also come up with in some drug tests. You may not feel the euphoric side effects with full-spectrum, it will depend on the brand of CBD and the amount of THC within the product.

Pros of Broad Spectrum CBD

Sleep — A young woman is sleeping on the bed

This type of CBD is beneficial if you need to keep a “clear mind” because there is not going to be a “high” feeling. Because there is no THC in this product, it will also be better for someone who is regularly drug tested for their employment or other reasons.

Cons of Broad Spectrum CBD

Because it lacks the combination of elements found in the full spectrum CBD, Broad Spectrum will not be as effective.

To determine which CBD is right for you, you will need to try both types and decide for yourself which works best for your ailments. There are consultants at every CBD outlet that can give you more information.