A CTV News story on a U of T Research Study reported that the intake of a probiotic supplement each day has been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety in study subjects who suffer from C.F.S. These findings came out of a Toronto university research team headed up by A. Venket Rao, based on a 2 month study that revealed a measurable reduction in the subject's signs of anxiety.

First off, for those who are not usually aware of natural health products, what is a probiotic? Very simply it's a natural dietary product that has live bacteria - such as Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria. R Garden's L. Salivarius is one example of a product that will help to sustain the natural "good" bacteria that are found in each of us. This gut bacteria , enhances the immune system and helps to fight off bad bacteria.

But what the U of T. researchers were most delighted to discover was that, the two month program of daily probiotics supplementation also achieved better results in affecting disorders like anxiety and depression. Unlike medicines, which can trigger many unwanted side effects, probiotics offer a safe and easy way to manage these problems. They have published their findings in the journal BioMed Central.

Their research was conducted on people suffering from CFS which shows other signs such as persistent fatigue and for many of the group - sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety.

Perhaps what led them to examine probiotics at all was that subjects with CFS are also often affected with digestive problems frequently connected with the lowered presence of beneficial bacteria in the body. Natural health advocates have used probotics to aid digestion for a long time. Because the good bacteria present in the probiotic supplements can help the body push out the toxic bacteria in the gut and this bad bacteria has already been connected with an increase in depression and other mood problems, the researchers feel that bacteria levels may influence our behavior.

The group given probiotics every day demonstrated higher levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria and this matched to a significant decline in anxiety feelings in the group. These patients also demonstrated digestive improvements such as a reduction in inflammation, bloating and gas.

"The findings are huge," said study co-author Alison C. Bested, who continued say that the research patients felt calmer and were better able to handle their illness, slept better and showed less symptoms of anxiety.

Anna Ruth works at Whole Earth Health, which sells RGarden's Inner Garden Flora. Like L. Salivarius, Inner Garden Flora is an all natural intestinal bacteria produced by RGarden and available for sale at Whole Earth Health along with other outstanding natural health supplements.

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