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789 days ago

How a healthy gut can reduce the severity of Covid and the flu

Naturally Healthy

A study of Croatian children attending daycare saw half of them given probiotics and the other half a placebo - after three months those taking probiotics had a lower risk of respiratory tract infections and experienced less time unwell when infected.

Swedish researchers also conducted a study on 272 adults and found that the group using probiotics experienced the milder cold and flu symptoms and less time infected with a virus.

It also found cases of the cold and flu among participants those who had taken probiotics averaged 6.2 days compared to the 8.2 days those taking a placebo experienced.

As consultant gastroenterologist and UNSW Professor of Medicine Emad El-Omar explains, the gut microbiome's primary role is to educate our immune system about our environment.

The lion's share of our immune system - around two-thirds of all immune cells – is concentrated in digestive system which is why UNSW’s Microbiome Research Centre is exploring how the gut microbiome’s make-up affects immune responses and changes with various disease progression.

Source: Dispensaries and NSW Health

picture - Supercharged Food

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More messages from your neighbours
6 days ago

Poll: Do you think Waikato needs an agency to grow its economy?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Waikato may be getting a new ‘go-to’ body for building the region’s economy.

The previous economic development agency, Te Waka, shut down earlier this year, saying the “passionate advocates” no longer had the resources to do what they’d planned.

Do you think Waikato needs an agency? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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Do you think Waikato needs an agency to grow its economy?
  • 15.8% Yes
    15.8% Complete
  • 15.8% Maybe
    15.8% Complete
  • 68.4% No
    68.4% Complete
19 votes
14 days ago

This one was sent in by your fellow neighbour, can you figure it out?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What is first white then red and the plumper it gets the more the old lady likes it?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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13 hours ago

Addictive Eaters Anonymous

The Team from Addictive Eaters Anonymous - Hamilton

Does the way you eat make you feel depressed or low?

Has life stopped feeling good and lost its meaning? Don’t know how to stop stress eating? Does your eating cause you to feel listless or numbed out? Does your relationship with food make you feel isolated from family, friends and loved ones? Find out how AEA members have used the Twelve Step programme to overcome the low feelings associated with addictive eating and go on to live joyful, positive lives.

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