How a healthy gut can reduce the severity of Covid and the flu
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
Poll: If you could rewind time, would you choose a different career?
It might not be too late for you, but some people look back and wish they had taken a different career path.
If you could go back in time, would you choose something different? Let us know what you would have chosen in the comments below.
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56.6% Yes
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42.8% No
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0.6% Other - I'll share below
Show us your projects
Whether it's craft, haberdashery, woodwork or upcycling, we'd love to see what you've been working on lately.
You may even spark someone else's creativity...
Tell us about your current project or show us a picture in the comments below...
Poll: Have you seen dangerous dirt bike riding in your area?
Reckless dirt bike riders on the streets of Hamilton have prompted police to issue a public safety warning and an appeal for witnesses.
They have observed a growing number of incidents involving dirt bikes being ridden in an unsafe and dangerous manner around the city, said Senior Sergeant Scott McKenzie, Hamilton area manager for youth and community.
Have you seen dangerous dirt bike riding in your area? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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60% Yes, often
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24% Occasionally
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16% No
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