7 Insane Ways Bifidobacterium Bifidum Benefits Can Improve Your Health
Sourdough bread is SO delicious and it turns out it is also a fantastic source of Bifidobacterium bifidum benefits! This probiotic is super important to your gut health and will have you saying yes to carbs!
Eating delicious sourdough bread is one of the ways you can consume Bifidobacterium bifidum, a healthy micro superstar that supports your gut health. This gorgeous loaf of bread comes from my friend Kristin, who makes a mean sourdough. You’ll never skip the carbs again after learning all the benefits of this healthy micro superstar that supports gut health!
This post is all about Bifidobacterium bifidum benefits!
Bifidobacterium bifidum Benefits Our Babies!
Bifidobacterium bifidum is one of the first bacteria we see in our guts! It is a substrate, or part of the club, of Bifidobacterium.
Bifidobacterium bifidum benefits the health of the youngest among us. Breastfed newborns have a plethora of Bifidobacterium in their microbiota (Turroni et al., 2012; Yatsunenko, 2012). Why? It is able to breakdown lactase through fermentation (Turroni et al., 2012). And, lactase is primary component in breastmilk!
Bifidobacterium Bifidum Probiotic: Bringing positive benefits to your health
Probiotics are live microorganisms–generally bacteria and/or yeast…The theory with probiotics is that they mimic the effects on our intact microbiota. In other words, just like our healthy gut microbes, these probiotics should optimize our immune system, reduce inflammation, inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, correct leaky gut and restore gut barrier integrity, reestablish intestinal motility, and even improve mood.
Busiewicz, 2020, p. 141
Bifidobacterium Bifidum is so important, that without it, we have an unhealthy gut.
What Does Bifidobacterium Bifidum Do?
Bifidobacterium bifidum benefits your body keeping away harmful bacteria (Callaghan & Sinderhen, 2016). As we get older, we have less Bifidobacteria bifidum, on average. As it decreases, other bacteria increase, some of which may be associated with cancer risk and decreased liver function (Kleesen et al., 1997).
It makes sense that with age and less Bifidobacterium bifidum we are more at risk for chronic disease. Why? Because when it is present in our guts, doctors have found it can change how our body responds to fight infection (Duggal, 2017). For example, Bifidobacterium bifidum can decrease inflammation. Doctors have also found it to help restore our immune system and our intestinal barrier (Philippe et al, 2011).
Remember the yin yang relationship I described in my post about Lactobacillus rhamnosus? Good bacteria in supports maintaining the intestinal lining and keeps bad bacteria at bay.
Bifidobacterium bifidum supports a healthy digestive system (Callaghan & Sinderhen, 2016). In several studies, doctors have found it to reduce the potential for diarrhea and E. coli. Particularly for newborn infants, taking an oral supplement reduced diarrhea resulting from antibiotic use cutting it nearly in half (Corrêa, 2005)!
Some people take Bifidobacterium bifidum in an oral supplement. However, you can also build Bifidobacterium bifidum benefits in your gut through a healthy diet. Below are some of the foods you can eat to consume this healthy micro superstar.
What Foods Have Bifidobacterium Bifidum?
Pair parmesan with a glass of red wine and a slice of sourdough for a snack that is good for your gut and your soul.
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It is often found in hard cheese. Pass the parmesan (Sonomoto & Yokota, 2011)! Check out my recommendations for good red wine that won’t break the bank in The Cellar.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a bit of a catch all term for chronic distress in the large intestine. Symptoms include cramps, stomach pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea (Mayo Clinic, 2022). There are a lot of reasons people get IBS including stress, infection, or changes in your gut!
In a study examining the impact of Bifidobacterium bifidum on IBS, doctors found it to significantly reduce discomfort and symptoms (Guglielmetti et al., 2011). How did they figure this out? Doctors used a randomized control trial to test how taking the supplement made a difference in people’s symptoms.
Doctors included 122 people suffering from IBS and randomly assigned them to a “treatment” or “control” group. The treatment group received the supplement and the control group did not, they instead received a placebo (read: fake) supplement. Doctors observed participants for a month and found that 47% of those taking Bifidobacterium bifidum reported significant symptom relief, while only 11% of those taking the placebo reported improvement (Guglielmetti et al., 2011). Increasing the amount of Bifidobacterium bifidum in their guts helped!
One of the first healthy gut microbes we develop is Bifidobacterium bifidum, because it helps us digest lactase which is a main component in breast milk. Studies have found that Bifidobacterium bifidum ferments and therefore digests simple sugars from milk (milk oligosaccharides) in infants’ guts (Callaghan & Sinderen, 2016). This is in contrast to the adult gut, which looks for oligosaccharides in plants (Callaghan & Sinderen, 2016).
Translation: Infants get this healthy micro bacteria in breast milk while adults get it in plants.
Prevents Early Infant Eczema
Research has found that incorporating Bifidobacterium Bifidum as part of a probiotic supplement into your diet while pregnant may decrease infants’ chances of eczema (Kim et al., 2010).
Eczema, an itchy rash that chronically flares up on your skin, can cause both discomfort and pain. It is often inherited, a fact I know well, as it runs in my family. However, research has shown potential for taking Bifidobacterium Bifidum as part of a probiotic supplement during pregnancy and in early infancy.
Research on Eczema and Bifidobacterium Bifidum
In a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled scientific study (think Gold Method Science!) of 112 pregnant women with a family history of allergy, doctors divided women into treatment and control groups to identify the effect of probiotics on infant eczema.
Doctors gave pregnant women either a supplement containing Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4, B. lactis AD011, and Lactobacillus acidophilus AD031, or a placebo (Kim et al., 2010). They began supplementing participating women’s diet four to eight weeks prior to delivery and continued for six months post delivery.
All participating infants were exclusively breastfed for the first three months and then either breastfed or formula fed from four to six months (Kim et al., 2010). Doctors monitored participating babies throughout the study and up to one year of age. For the 68 infants who completed the study, they compared outcomes between those with mothers receiving the supplement and those in the placebo (or non-supplemented) group.
Bifidobacterium Interesting Facts
Babies Receiving Bifidobacterium Bifidum Benefits Had Less Eczema
Doctors found that babies receiving the mixture of Bifidobacterium bifidum had significantly less eczema overall (Kim et al., 2010). Furthermore, those who did have eczema, had significantly less incidences of eczema during their first year of life (Kim et al., 2010). However, they did not find evidence that supplementation would permanently reduce eczema occurrence (Kim et al., 2010).
There is good evidence Bifidobacterium bifidum can support your skin health, and that of your baby! But, in order to keep the good juju you have to continue to incorporate it regularly into your diet.
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Bifidobacterium bifidum Benefits You and Your Family
There are so many benefits to getting Bifidobacterium bifidum into your diet! If you’re looking for recipes that include this tiny superstar bacteria, check out Meatball Orzo Soup or Banana Muffins!
3 Easy Ways to Make Meatball Orzo Soup Instantly
This meatball orzo soup includes homemade turkey meatballs, which will impress everyone at the table. Add fresh garlic, sliced carrots, and leafy escarole to your instant pot and press the easy button! We have five kids, so I’m always making dinner. This make ahead meal is a must do on busy weekend game days.
Banana Muffins
Banana muffins are an amazing way to use extra bananas that you may have laying around. While banana bread is great, banana muffins are the ultimate “to go” item! Better yet, the kids don’t have to cut anything to have a snack or pack in their lunch!
This recipe uses 100% whole wheat flour but you wouldn’t even know it! The honey sweetens the bread while the greek yogurt provides a creamier consistency.
Bifidobacterium Bifidum Is Your Body’s Super Goop!
Moral of the story? There is good evidence Bifidobacterium bifidum can support your skin health, and that of your baby! But, in order to keep the good juju you have to continue to incorporate it regularly into your diet. So, keep a look out for this micro superstar in my recipes! Or, you can also search for it here!
In order to keep the good juju you have to continue to incorporate Bifidobacterium bifidum regularly into your diet.
Keep a look out for this micro superstar in my recipes!
Or, you can also search for it here!
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