Saccharomyces boulardii: a Healthy Probiotic

When it comes to cultivating a healthy, balanced gut, Saccharomyces boulardii (sometimes referred to as Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is one of the best probiotics available. Although many probiotics are bacteria, Saccharomyces boulardii is different in that it’s actually a strain of baker’s yeast. Like other probiotics, however, Saccharomyces boulardii is a multitasker that helps maintain gut health, supports overall well-being, and even discourages gastric distress.^[1] Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of Saccharomyces boulardii, how it strengthens the gut, and where you can find it.

The Health Benefits of Saccharomyces boulardii

Although probiotics reside throughout the body, the majority reside in the gut. There, probiotics support digestion, boost the immune system, and defend against harmful organisms—just to list a few of their contributions. The specific benefits of probiotics depend on the species or strain, which is why a gut environment that includes a robust, diverse mix of probiotics is one of the best strategies for encouraging good health.

Saccharomyces boulardii contributes to the biodiversity of the microbiota and protects the gut from organisms that provoke the immune system. It commandeers the resources that harmful microbes would otherwise use to establish themselves in your body. Well-established colonies of Saccharomyces boulardii can shield your body from the actions of harmful organisms. This yeast secretes compounds that specifically suppress candida colonization by inhibiting its plaque-like buildup, especially on the surfaces of medical implants like dentures and catheters.^[2, 3] Some research has shown that, even when confronted with especially aggressive organisms that target the gut and colon, Saccharomyces boulardii helps maintain intestinal health.^[4]

The Best Sources of Saccharomyces boulardii

To reap the benefits of Saccharomyces boulardii, it needs to be in your gut and integrated into your microbiota. You can accomplish this by consuming food that contains the probiotic. It’s found in ripe fruits like lychee and grapes and traditional African fermented foods such as kenkey, ogi, and amasi.^[5] Taking a comprehensive probiotic supplement is another solution.

Have you added a probiotic to your supplement routine? Does it contain Saccharomyces boulardii? What benefits have you noticed? Leave a comment below and share your story with us.

References (5)

1. “Saccharomyces boulardii.” Medline Plus. 12 Dec. 2016. Web. 3 Feb. 2017.


2. Nobile, Clarissa J., and Alexander D. Johnson. “Candida Albicans Biofilms and Human Disease.” Annual Review of Microbiology 69. (2015): 71–92. Web. 3 Feb. 2017.


3. Murzyn, Anna, et al. “Capric Acid Secreted by S. Boulardii Inhibits C. Albicans Filamentous Growth, Adhesion and Biofilm Formation.” PLoS ONE 5.8 (2010): e12050. Web.


4. Herbrecht, Raoul, Hôpital de Hautepierre, and Yasmine Nivoix. “Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fungemia: An Adverse Effect of Saccharomyces Boulardii Probiotic Administration.” Clinical Infectious Diseases 40.11 (2005): 1635–1637. Web. 3 Feb. 2017.


5. Jespersen, Lene. “Occurrence and Taxonomic Characteristics of Strains of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Predominant in African Indigenous Fermented Foods and Beverages.” Yeast Research (2003): 191–200. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

The post Saccharomyces boulardii: a Healthy Probiotic appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Gene-Editing Technology may Replace Antibiotics in the Future

Doctors and researchers are in a race against the clock to find new antibiotics and alternatives to antibiotics as the problem of drug-resistance worsens and spreads. One bacterial superbug in particular which has researchers especially worried is Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile – a bacterium which can cause fatal infections in hospitals and nursing homes. Scientists are now working on a “pill” that uses CRISPR gene-editing technology to kill the harmful bacteria. [1]

Considered a probiotic, the technology is still in its infancy and is yet to be tested on animals. Jan-Peter van Pijkeren, a food scientist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who is the creator of the CRISPR pill (which could also be given in liquid form), says:

“The downside of antibiotics is they are a sledgehammer that depletes and destroys the gut microbial community. You want to instead use a scalpel in order to specifically eradicate the microbe of interest.”

The idea behind using CRISPR to defeat antibiotic-resistant bacteria is that it could kill a single species of germ while leaving the beneficial bacteria unharmed.

Herbert DuPont, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas, says:

“As long as we house patients together in a hospital or in a nursing home and we give a lot of them antibiotics we’re going to have a problem with C. difficile.”

Here’s how it works:

• Van Pijkeren plans to create a virus that can carry a customized CRISPR message into the body via the probiotic liquid or pill.

• When it passes into the intestinal tract, the virus would exit and infect the C. difficile.

• The “message” in the pill then causes the bacteria to self-destruct. [2]

The Technology Doesn’t Come Without Worry

Though some are excited about such advancements, there are some inherent risks in using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit the human genome, or other living organisms that interact with the human body and our ecosystems at large. Gang Bao, a professor of bioengineering at Rice University, explains that unwanted gene edits, called off-target effects, “could influence the function of many genes, possibly posing serious health problems.”

Bao adds:

“In the germline, off-target effects might persist for generations and could lead to long-term changes in the genome.”

The so-called CRISPR pill that researchers are now championing would be designed to leave “good” bacteria untouched. So far, there has been no mention of the risks associated with the technology but that doesn’t mean scientists aren’t concerned.

Unless (or until) we encounter serious issues concerning CRISPR technology on a larger scale, it seems that this advancement in science is continuing at full speed, so it is essential that we consider all the possibilities and weigh the risks and potential benefits properly. Hopefully we’ll take more precautions than we did with speedily approving genetically modified foods, as any change of this scale requires in-depth controlled research, analysis, and most of all, time.

Sources:

[1] Futurism

[2] Digital Trends

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About Mike Barrett:
	Mike is the co-founder, editor, and researcher behind Natural Society. Studying the work of top natural health activists, and writing special reports for top 10 alternative health websites, Mike has written hundreds of articles and pages on how to obtain optimum wellness through natural health.