790 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
2 days ago

Poll: Do you think the idea will work?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

The Government will today unveil a radical new plan to www.waikatotimes.co.nz...
|underwrite construction of new private houses|, as high interest rates and an economic downturn make it tough for developers to get finance for new projects.

The new time-limited scheme is designed to de-risk developments, making finance easier to obtain for developers to start building. Developers often have to pre-sell a proportion of dwellings in any development in order to secure finance, which has become much more difficult in the current economic downturn.

Do you think the idea will work? 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 the idea will work?
  • 33.3% Yes
    33.3% Complete
  • 27.8% Not sure
    27.8% Complete
  • 38.9% No
    38.9% Complete
18 votes
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?

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