Are Probiotics The New Beauty Food?

This article originally appeared on Yahoo! Health

Taking a daily dose of probiotics may help you achieve beautiful and healthy skin, suggests early research on the live, friendly bacteria and skin health.

Combined with effective stress management strategies and a healthy diet, oral probiotics may help to reduce inflammation, explains Whitney P. Bowe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology. By promoting a healthier digestive system, probiotics may prevent toxins in the gut from leaking into the bloodstream. In turn, this may help to reduce inflammation throughout the body, including acne and rosacea flares on the skin.

“To maximize the benefits of probiotics, you should try to reduce stress and minimize refined carbohydrates in your diet,” suggests Dr. Bowe. “Eat more complex carbohydrates, more fibre, more deeply coloured fruits and vegetables. All of those things will set the stage for adding healthy bacteria.”

Some probiotics might also be applied to the skin to act as a protective shield, guarding against harmful microbes that can trigger acne, rosacea, and other skin conditions. Dr. Bowe explains that friendly bacteria can produce antimicrobial substances, which kill unwelcome germs. Certain strains of probiotics may also calm skin cells, helping to limit unsightly immune responses, such as inflammation, redness, and bumps.

Probiotics may boost skin health
Much research remains to be done – and probiotic hype may exceed actual health perks. However, investigators have found evidence linking friendly bacteria to healthier skin. For example:

In an in vitro study, Dr. Bowe and colleagues found that the probioticStreptococcus salivarius produced a zit-zapping substance that limited the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, a bacterium linked with acne.

When applied to the skin, two probiotic strains of Lactobacilli helped to protect against skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, report researchers from The University of Manchester, UK. Among […]

Can Probiotics Clear Your Acne?

These days, it seems like there’s nothing bacteria can’t do. It can cure nasty diarrheal infections through a trendy fecal transplant. It can help heal leaky guts. And now, research is showing that it can even clear your skin.

That might seem counterintuitive to anyone who’s been prescribed rounds of acne-fighting   antibiotics by their dermatologist. But some derms are now prescribing probiotics alongside the antibiotics. This pairing can help calm antibiotics’ negative side effects, like yeast infections—but they may also have an unintended benefit for acne sufferers, said Dr. Whitney Bowe, a New York-based dermatologist and researcher.

“After they’d finish the antibiotics, my patients would come back and say they were still taking the probiotics, because they were really helping their skin clear up,” she said.

How do probiotics pack such acne-healing power? Digestion is affected by stress, anxiety, and a low-fiber, high-processed diet, which shifts our inner microbial colonies for the worse.

“When that happens, levels of system-wide inflammation are increased,” Bowe said, including in the skin. “By taking oral probiotic supplements or by eating probiotics in your diet, you can theoretically restore a healthy environment in your gut and keep the skin from getting inflamed.”

This gut-skin connection isn’t a new idea: In 1961, a case report found that of 300 acne patients given a probiotic, 80 percent had clinical improvement. But the notion has captured a lot more attention lately.

Recent studies conducted in Russia and Italy found that probiotics help acne patients heal better and faster. And one small 2010 study published in the journal Nutrition found that acne patients who consumed a Lactobacillus-fermented beverage for 12 weeks produced less sebum (oily secretions) and had fewer acne lesions.

New research is looking at how topical probiotics can have […]

Early Research Shows Link Between Probiotics and Clear Skin

This article originally appeared on Skin Inc

In recent years, probiotics have become synonymous with helping maintain good digestive health. Whether as live active cultures found in some yogurts or as daily supplements, probiotics are live, “friendly” bacteria that may benefit a person’s health. Now, emerging research is finding that the benefits of probiotics may extend beyond the digestive tract to the skin. In fact, skin prone to acne or rosacea has shown improvement with daily probiotic use, giving dermatologists reason to consider supplementing traditional acne therapy with a dose of this beneficial bacteria.

American Academy of Dermatology expert
Information provided by Whitney P. Bowe, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, and adjunct assistant clinical professor of dermatology at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn.
The science behind probiotics effect on the skin
 

Most bacterial cells that live inside and on the body are harmless, and studies show that, in fact, they can be extremely beneficial to the body’s normal functioning. Bowe noted that while the science of how probiotics can work to interfere with the development of acne and rosacea is very complex, Bowe noted that researchers are studying how this type of healthy bacteria applied topically to the skin or taken orally can benefit these skin conditions.
Topically applied probiotics
Currently, some cosmeceutical manufacturers have started using probiotics in their products based on this early research—including probiotic masks, creams or cleansers. There are different ways that topical probiotics can benefit the skin:

Protective Shield.

In patients with acne and rosacea, living microorganisms on the skin are recognized as foreign by the body’s immune system. The immune system […]

How to Save Your Lips in The Winter

Winter is no fun for our skin – most of all our lips. If you want to have soft kissable lips in time for Valentine’s Day, these tricks just may help get the job done.

Get a Humidifier

Often hair concerns keep us from getting too close to humidity. When winter dryness attacks, we may need to rethink our game plan. Dry air leads to painfully cracked lips. Releasing moisture into the air should increase your comfort level in no time.

 

Don’t Lick Your Lips!

To winter-proof your lips, avoid licking them – licking your lips will just make your lips more dry and chapped. ”Scrubbing or biting off skin flakes is another common mistake, which may cause bleeding and may further irritate the lip skin. Your lips need a consistent use of a protective balm. Look for ointment-based products containing ingredients such as cocoa butter, vitamins A and E, lanolin or beeswax. They will help smooth and repair broken skin. Drinking plenty of water will keep you more hydrated overall and help prevent chapped lips,” says Dr. Roshini Raj, Celebrity Doctor, Author and Media Personality.

Exfoliate Lips Daily

Beauty & Wellness expert Shiri Sarfati shares a great DIY lip scrub recipe. “Create a sugar exfoliation, mix sugar with olive oil and massage lips. Remove with damp cotton. Sugar performs physical exfoliation of the dead skin cells, so lips become smooth and added bonus – it tastes sweet!” If you don’t have the time make your own scrub, simply use a soft bristled toothbrush to gently exfoliate lips and follow with a petrolatum-free lip salve. Look for lip balms made with natural vegetable oils and butters including cocoa, mango and shea and formulas high in Vitamin E.

Always Use Lip Balm

Since you […]

Broccoli Shows Promise As Viable Sunscreen

As exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays remains the leading cause of skin cancer, healthcare professionals test for safe and effective sunscreen products that can protect our skin from the sun’s intensity. Researchers from the University of Arizona Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins University have identified a compound in broccoli that could defend against melanoma development when applied to the skin.

Sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in broccoli, has been linked to cancer-fighting properties when consumed; however, few studies have dealt with its topical application, Medical News Today reported. A team headed up by Dr. Sally Dickinson, research assistant professor in the University of Arizona’s pharmacology department, has been studying the chemoprotective properties in broccoli since 2005.

“We’re searching for better methods to prevent skin cancer in formats that are affordable and manageable for public use,” Dickinson said in a statement. “Sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays.”

According to the team’s findings, sulforaphane is effective in activating cancer-fighting genes including Nrf2, which inhibits cancer-causing pathways like the AP-1 protein. A “topical broccoli sprout solution” will be applied to individuals participating in an upcoming pilot study to test the compound’s effect on artificial UV light. “Sulforaphane is the kind of compound that has so many incredible theoretical applications if the dosage is measured properly,” Dickinson added. “We already know that it is very effective in blocking sunburns, and we have seen cases where it can induce protective enzymes in the skin.”

According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma — often the most fatal type of skin cancer — accounts for over 9,000 of the 12,000 skin cancer deaths each year.

Dickinson and her team hope that sulforaphane application […]

Health Tests You Need

What health tests and checkups do you really need this year? Dr. Raj stops by LIVE with Kelly and Michael to test the anchors on their knowledge of important medical tests every one of us needs.

Can the Cold Weather Help You Lose Weight?

Dutch endocrinologists argue in a new report that exposure to mild cold temperatures – around 64 to 66 degrees – can help you lose weight. Dr. Raj joins Shepard Smith to explain the theory behind this claim.

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

5 Ways Probiotics Make You Prettier

This article originally appeared on Prevention
Make your skin care come alive
You already know that eating or taking probiotics can improve your skin from the inside out. But as a new batch of products and research would suggest, you can reap the anti-aging benefits of probiotics by applying them topically, too. “We have good and bad bacteria on our skin, just as we do in our gut,” says Ellen Marmur, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and genetics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. “If the balance is off-kilter, it can result in acne or rosacea.” The right bacteria may also keep skin young. “A study found that probiotics can stimulate skin’s protective mechanism from the inside, and this may also happen with external application,” says Eric Perrier, a cosmetic scientist.

Scientists weren’t the only ones impressed. Here, five products that treat serious skin woes with, well, bacteria.
1. Smooth Dry Skin

Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Night Cream ($18; drugstores)

Look for probiotics in a night cream—like this one by Burt’s Bees—to give the active cultures a full 8 hours to do their dirty work. Here, the probiotic technology helps your skin retain the moisture it has while natural butters feed your skin restorative antioxidants that combat fine lines and wrinkles.

2. Minimize redness or rosacea
Clinique Redness Solutions Makeup SPF 15 ($27; clinique.com)

Facial redness, chronic or not, is caused by inflammation, which makes your blood vessels visible at the skin’s surface. This liquid makeup—the first of its kind—actually treats facial redness while you wear it. Little invisible yellow- and green-tinted pearls neutralize and camouflage the visual redness while active probiotic Lactobacillus and a slew of natural extracts calm, soothe, and strengthen the skin’s barrier to lessen redness […]

Healthy Headlines

TODAY contributor Dr. Roshini Raj and gynecologist Dr. Adam Ofer discuss the latest health headlines, including new studies about a safer vaccine for the potentially dangerous rotavirus.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Baked Turkey Quinoa Meatballs

Dr. Oz recruited some of his favorite experts to share on his show how they like to prepare his favorite grain: quinoa! Gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj loves quinoa because it is a great source of fiber and can be very beneficial for those who struggle with constipation. Get your daily dose with her recipe for turkey quinoa meatballs.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground turkey

2/3 cup quinoa, cooked

3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed

1 egg

1/4 cup diced red onion

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus more for garnish

1/2 tsp dried basil and oregano

2 cups of tomato sauce

Salt, to taste

Lettuce leaves

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Thoroughly cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or cooking spray. In a large bowl add ground turkey, quinoa, red onion, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, egg, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.

Roll into 1 to 1-1/2 inch balls and add to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly. Bake for around 30 minutes until the meatballs are firm and cooked throughout.

While the meatballs are baking, heat the tomato sauce in a large saucepan. Transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce and stir to coat them.

Sprinkle some parsley on top. Serve the meatballs alongside the lettuce leaves.