The American College of Gastroenterology released a scientific review of the research on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation that is not due to a known cause. As reported on the website, WebMD, the review reassesses some current treatments and emphasizes finding novel approaches to these conditions, including diet choices. One of the co-authors of the review stated, for example, that there is now good evidence that low-sugar consumption can help some people. Fiber supplements also appear to be helpful for constipation, and to a lesser extent for IBS symptoms. In addition, the review also takes a look at probiotics (good bacteria), which it says can help improve symptoms such as bloating and flatulence in IBS. It gives a weaker recommendation to prebiotics, which support probiotic growth, and to symbiotic products, which contain both prebiotics and probiotics.

Source: WebMD

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generated around four and a half pounds of garbage per day in 2012. That’s a whopping 1,600 pounds per person, per year. The good news? Efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle have made a big dent in all that waste—about a third of the four and a half pounds is recycled or composted, significantly lessening the impact on the planet. So, in the spirit of continuing those efforts, here are some tips for people with diabetes to best dispose of, and, if possible, recycle, their diabetes-related items:

• Meter it out. If you have old glucose meters, contact a local diabetes group or your diabetes educator to ask if they accept meter donations. Some will use them for teaching purposes in classes and support groups.
• Be sharps-wise. According to Diabetes Forecast, a magazine that focuses on living well with diabetes, an empty laundry detergent bottle with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant screw-on lid can make an excellent and safe sharps disposal container. The container should be leak-resistant and remain upright and stable during use. When you are ready to dispose of your plastic laundry bottle, two thirds full of sharps, label it clearly with, “Sharps Biohazard. Do Not Recycle”; securely close the container, tape the lid shut, and dispose of is as directed by your local regulations.
• Consider donating. Perhaps you’ve had a change in your insulin prescription, and you have bottles of unexpired, unopened insulin on hand. If that's the case for you, a good idea is to contact Insulin for Life, a nonprofit that collects and distributes insulin and other unused diabetic supplies, to learn how you may be able to help someone in need.

Source: Diabetes Life

It’s that time again: the weather is getting warmer, spring flowers are starting to bloom, and seasonal allergies are raining down with full force. While there are many remedies out there to help nip your allergies in the bud, a few lifestyle changes could help stop your symptoms before they take root. An article from Health.com suggests you:

• Wash your washing machine. This may seem counterintuitive, but bacteria and fungi can breed in the dark warmth of your washer, and detergent doesn’t really cut it. Scrubbing the machine's drum, door, and rubber gasket with diluted bleach or bleach wipes twice a month can help remove these allergy-aggravators.
• Keep the dust down. Skip the feather duster or dry cloth; they just stir dust into the air. Instead, use a wet cloth to pick up dust and other allergens like pet dander, mold spores, and fabric fibers. If you’re especially sensitive, wear a mask and gloves when you’re dust-busting to limit your exposure.
• Block dust mites with pillow covers. Even though dust mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye, they can cause big year-round allergy symptoms. These little guys live in your bed, where their primary food source, shed skin, is abundant. To keep the mites at bay, some experts recommend covering your pillow—as well as your comforter, box spring, and mattress—with an allergen-proof cover.
• Time your workout right. Avoid exercising outside during pollen-peaking times, like in the morning or when it’s windy. Check the pollen count before you leave the house and if it’s high, stick to an indoor routine or exercise at a different time. Rain will often wash away pollen, so working out after a rain shower is also a safe bet.
• Allergy-proof your vacuum. Look for a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arrestance) filter, which will suck up tiny particles that settle on your rugs and furniture. Also, go for one that has a bag to reduce the amount of particles you inhale when you’re emptying it. But, if you’re attached to your bagless vacuum, just make sure to empty it outside and to wipe it all down before bringing it back in.
• Put your freshly cleaned washing machine to work. Launder curtains, throw pillows, rugs, and shower curtains regularly. Choose the sanitize setting on your machine, or the hottest water temperature, to wash away dust mites and pollen. Consider replacing curtains with blinds and getting rid of area rugs to cut back on the loads of laundry.
• Grow the right plants. Research has found that some plants, such as ficus, could exacerbate allergies. Fake plants are one alternative, but if you prefer the real thing, you could try a plant that produces negligible amounts of airborne pollen, like hibiscus.
• Clean out your closet. Closets tend to be a dumping ground for allergens; in go the dirty socks and clothes in the hamper, and the dirty shoes on the shoe rack. Dust gathers in between the clutter and it can spread to the clean clothes on the hangers. Take time to give your closet a good cleaning every once in a while, making sure there’s room for air to circulate, in order to discourage mold growth.
• Be a picky pet owner. Cats and dogs get a bad rap for causing allergies, but even a pet goldfish could cause allergies for a person allergic to fungi. That’s why it’s important to know which allergens you’re vulnerable to before getting a pet. If you’re allergic to pet dander, you’re most likely going to have problems with cats, dogs, and even birds (but maybe you can get a goldfish!). But if pollen is your issue, you may be safer with a short-haired dog that will pick up less pollen at the dog park.

Source: Health.com

How much vitamin C the body needs—and especially whether supplements are a useful source—has been subject to controversy for decades. But an analysis of pooled research confirms what some scientists claimed a long time ago: get your C if you want to live longer. For example, a 2013 study with 16,000 participants found that people with the highest vitamin C blood levels had the lowest risk of death and cancer over 14 years. Other studies have shown vitamin C protects against osteoporosis and kills drug-resistant bacteria. Benefits appeared to be due to the nutrient itself, whether from food or supplements. The bottom line: get your C for optimal health.

Source: Yahoo! Health

A critical discovery that bacteria feed on an unusual sugar molecule found in leafy greens could provide an important insight into how "good" bacteria protect our gut and promote health. The findings, published in Nature Chemical Biology, suggest that leafy greens are essential for feeding good gut bacteria. Researchers from Melbourne and the UK identified a previously unknown enzyme used by bacteria, fungi, and other organisms to feed on the unusual but abundant sugar sulfoquinovose—SQ for short—found in green vegetables.

Dr Goddard-Borger, the lead scientist behind the research, said the discovery could be exploited to cultivate the growth of "good" gut bacteria. “Every time we eat leafy green vegetables we consume significant amounts of SQ sugars, which are used as an energy source by good gut bacteria,” he said. “Bacteria in the gut, such as crucial protective strains of E. coli, use SQ as a source of energy. E. coli provides a protective barrier that prevents growth and colonization by bad bacteria, because the good bugs are taking up all the habitable real estate.”

Leafy greens include vegetables like kale, spinach, and romaine lettuce. Find more information on individual greens here.

Source: Walter and Eilza Hall Institute