World’s oldest cheese has been identified, dating back 3,600 years

Bizarre clumps of organic matter found buried alongside Bronze Age mummies in northwestern China have now been identified as cheese. After a decade’s work, DNA analysis has finally uncovered its origins, making it the most ancient cheese ever found, da… Continue reading World’s oldest cheese has been identified, dating back 3,600 years

How adding honey to your yogurt improves gut health

Evidence has been building about the health benefits of probiotics. Now, new research has found that putting a tablespoon of honey on your yogurt helps the probiotics it contains to survive in the gut. It’s a win-win combination that’s both healthy and… Continue reading How adding honey to your yogurt improves gut health

Probiotic shows promise as multiple sclerosis therapy in mice tests

Scientists have demonstrated in mouse studies that specially designed probiotics can reduce brain inflammation associated with diseases like multiple sclerosis. The study points to new potential therapies for hard-to-treat chronic conditions that may b… Continue reading Probiotic shows promise as multiple sclerosis therapy in mice tests

Engineered probiotic helps mice shake off alcohol buzz

Researchers in China have created a probiotic specially designed to release an alcohol-metabolizing enzyme called ADH1. Then they fed the substance to mice and got them drunk. The results showed success in keeping the mice from getting too buzzed, and … Continue reading Engineered probiotic helps mice shake off alcohol buzz

Clinical trial shows probiotic could prevent dangerous superbug infection

Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria species in humans, but it can turn nasty if it gets into the wrong part of the body. A new clinical trial has shown that a probiotic can be used to selectively cut populations of the bug in humans, reducing th… Continue reading Clinical trial shows probiotic could prevent dangerous superbug infection

“Hangover pill” goes on sale in UK – but here’s the problem with Myrkl

A new Swedish “pre-drinking pill” went on sale in the UK today. Widely referred to as the “hangover pill,” the optimistically-named Myrkl is claimed to break down alcohol before it reaches the liver, preventing the formation of toxic acetaldehyde.Conti… Continue reading “Hangover pill” goes on sale in UK – but here’s the problem with Myrkl

Algae-derived coating gets probiotics safely past the stomach

While live probiotic bacteria produce many health benefits when ingested, the microbes have to get past your stomach and into your intestinal tract in order to be effective. An experimental new algae-based coating could soon help them do so.Continue Re… Continue reading Algae-derived coating gets probiotics safely past the stomach

Unsold bread used to make gut-boosting probiotic beverage

It was just a couple of years ago that we heard how scientists had used soybean waste to produce a healthy (and supposedly tasty) probiotic drink. Now, they’ve done the same thing with unsold bread that would otherwise be discarded.Continue ReadingCate… Continue reading Unsold bread used to make gut-boosting probiotic beverage

Restoring missing gut bacteria a potential cure for food allergies

A study by a team of scientists from Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests food allergies can be triggered in infants by a lack of certain gut bacteria. As well as identifying which bacteria in human subjects ar… Continue reading Restoring missing gut bacteria a potential cure for food allergies