New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANSlife) Most pregnancies last 40 weeks; a baby is known as a premature or pre-term when her or she is born before the completion of 37th week. Based on the gestational age, pre-term babies are sub-categorised as extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks), very preterm (28 to 32 weeks), moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks). "Advances in the field of medicine have meant that more than 9 out of 10 premature babies survive, and most go on to develop normally," says Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician and IVF expert, Nurture IVF Centre. There are several reasons for preterm births, while most happen spontaneously some are due to early induction of labour or caesarean birth, whether for medical or non-medical reasons, she says. "Some of the common causes include multiple pregnancies, infections and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure; however, often no cause is identified." Pollution and pre-term birth Dr Bajaj explains risk of premature or preterm birth has been associated with exposure to air pollution during pregnancy by increasing toxic chemicals in the blood and causing immune system stress, which can weaken the placenta surrounding the fetus and lead to preterm birth. This, in turn, raises risk of health complications for the baby, both in the short and long term. "As per estimates, more than 3 percent of all premature births in the US are attributable to air pollution. Furthermore, findings suggest that considerable health and economic benefits can be gained through reductions in outdoor air pollution exposure during pregnancy. "Several studies have found air pollution as one of the risk factors for preterm birth. Air pollution is associated with an unfavourable vaginal microbiota suggesting a relationship between environmental and biological risk factors that may further substantiate the risk of pre-mature birth in pregnant women. US Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre and the University of Cincinnati carried out studies and identified a 19 percent increased risk, with the greatest risk when exposed to air pollution during the third trimester of pregnancy." Another study has found an association with exposure to high levels of small particulate matter with an increased risk of premature birth, she points out. One of the professors in the US said that 'decreasing the amount of particulate matter in the air below the US Environmental Protection Agency's standard threshold could decrease preterm birth in women exposed to high levels of small particulates by about 17 percent, which corresponds to a 2.22 percent decrease in the preterm birth rate in the population as a whole,' Dr Bajaj says. COVID and pre-term birth COVID  19 has been spreading far and wide across the globe with devastating effects across majority of population. While it's the aging population which is at a major risk of developing complications from the disease, pregnant women also have a reason to worry as they may face an elevated risk for delivering their babies prematurely, according to new studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, they may also be at greater risk of losing the pregnancy or having a stillbirth, says the doctor. "While none of the data indicate that pregnant women are more susceptible to severe COVID-19 infection, nor have studies suggested an increased risk of miscarriage, congenital anomalies, or early pregnancy loss in pregnant patients, however, studies have described an increased risk of preterm birth. "Similar results have been found with another study conducted in Korea which further stresses the point that COVID-19 can be associated with premature birth and sometimes severe outcomes for mother and baby, including death. Several other researchers in various parts of the globe have studied the effects of the novel coronavirus on pregnant women and its outcome on the new born. They share the same views of pregnant women experiencing a higher rate of preterm deliveries than expected and a British study noted a population-wide uptick in stillbirths during the pandemic. Summary Pregnancy is a time filled with joy and happiness for every woman and it is the responsibility of one and all to ensure a healthy outcome for pregnant women and their infants. While there are several other reasons that can cause preterm births including air pollution and COVID 19 infection, proactive clinical management and dedicated support coupled with adequate safety measures must be adopted to help protect those who are pregnant and their newborns. (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in) --IANS pg/tb/

Pollution, pandemic and pre-term birth

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="368674" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Toner">Toner</keyword> removes excess residue, boosts moisture, and balances your <keyword id="6371970" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="skin">skin</keyword>'s pH.</li><li>If you have issues with acne, try toners with rosewater or salicylic acid.</li><li>For dryness, pick toners with glycerin or hyaluronic acid.</li><li>This article <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was medically reviewed</a> by <a href="https://www.drjaliman.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Debra Jaliman, MD</a>, a board-certified dermatologist with a private practice in New York City.</li></ul>Stroll through the <keyword id="110679" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="skincare">skincare</keyword> aisle at any store, and you'll quickly notice that every cosmetic line sells some version of these products: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and toner. And while the other products may be self-explanatory, what is toner? And do you really need it? Here's what you need to know about this product and how to choose the best toner for your skin type.<h2>What is toner?</h2>Toner is a liquid that you apply to your face after you wash it and before you put on serum or moisturizer. And while every toner contains different ingredients, they are all meant to do the same basic things:<ul><li>Remove excess residue and impurities like dirt, makeup, oils, and dead skin cells</li><li>Boost moisture and calm your skin</li><li>Balance your <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18489300">skin's pH,</a> which helps skin stay moisturized and maintain healthy microbiota.</li></ul>And while toner may help some people get healthy skin, it may not work for others. Just remember that toner is an extra, not an essential, step for your skincare routine.<h2>Choosing the right toner for you </h2>Your skin type will help guide you. Take a look at the ingredients on a bottle of toner. Here are some common ingredients that you might see:<ul><li>Rosewater: Helps with acne and has <a href="https://journal-inflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-9255-8-27" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anti-aging and antimicrobial properties</a>.</li><li>Chamomile: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2833428/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Soothes and calms skin</a>. </li><li>Hyaluronic acid: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boosts moisture and helps with aging skin</a>.</li><li>Glycerin: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18510666" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moisturizes and helps with dryness</a>.</li><li>Vitamin E: An<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4976416/"> antioxidant</a> that helps protect skin from damage by free radicals.</li><li><a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/alpha-hydroxy-acids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)</a> (glycolic, citric, or lactic acids): Exfoliates, brightens, and improves the appearance of fine lines.</li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607072.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Salicylic acid</a>: Fights acne and exfoliates skin cells.</li><li>Aloe Vera: Heals and soothes skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties.</li></ul>Although alpha hydroxy acids can be great for people who are prone to acne and other skin issues, they may be too harsh for people with sensitive or dry skin. Salicylic acid can also have this effect, according to dermatologist <a href="https://www.realself.com/dr/sonia-badreshia-bansal-danville-ca" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sonia Badreshia-Bansal</a>.Toners that contain alcohol may also be too drying. "Alcohol-free toners that are more hydrating and calming can be used on all skin types," says Badreshia-Bansal.<h2>How to use toner</h2>"A basic gentle toner can be used morning or night," says Badreshia-Bansal.Here's how to use toner:<ul><li>Wash your face first. Make sure you've thoroughly rinsed the cleanser away.</li><li>Dampen a cotton ball or gauze pad with the toner.</li><li>Sweep it across your damp skin.</li></ul>You don't need to use a lot of toner. In fact, if you're using multiple swipes, you may be using too much product, cautions Ilyas. Plus, overuse wastes product (and your money).And again, you don't have to use one at all, says dermatologist Anne Chapas, MD, founder of Union Square Laser Dermatology."I typically advise people with dry skin to refrain from using a toner because it can dry them out further," she says. <h2>Related stories from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/cheap-skin-care-products-prevent-acne">25 affordable skincare products we swear by for treating and preventing acne — all under $25</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-causes-a-stye">What causes a stye and the best ways to get rid of one</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-get-rid-of-ingrown-hair">How to get rid of ingrown hairs</a></li></ul>

Toner helps clean and calm your skin — here's a guide for picking the right one

Beijing, May 5 () Most newly discharged patients who recently recovered from COVID-19 produce varying virus-specific antibodies and T cells, according to a study that has implications for designing an effective vaccine against the deadly disease. Fourteen patients examined in the study, published in the journal Immunity, showed wide-ranging immune responses. However, the results from six of them that were assessed at two weeks after discharge suggest that antibodies were maintained for at least that long. The study also indicates which parts of the virus are most effective at triggering these immune responses, and should therefore be targeted by potential vaccines. The researchers, including those from Tsinghua University in China, noted that it is not clear why immune responses varied widely across the patients. This variability may be related to the initial quantities of virus that the patients encountered, their physical states, or their microbiota, they said. Other open questions, the researchers said, include whether these immune responses protect against COVID-19 upon re-exposure to SARS-CoV-2, as well as which types of T cells are activated by infection with the virus. It is also important to note that the laboratory tests that are used to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in humans still need further validation to determine their accuracy and reliability, they said. "These findings suggest both B and T cells participate in immune-mediated protection against the viral infection," said co-senior study author Chen Dong of Tsinghua University. "Our work has provided a basis for further analysis of protective immunity and for understanding the mechanism underlying the development of COVID-19, especially in severe cases. It also has implications for designing an effective vaccine to protect against infection," Dong said. Relatively little is known about the protective immune responses induced by the disease-causing virus, SARS-CoV-2, and addressing this gap in knowledge may accelerate the development of an effective vaccine, noted Cheng-Feng Qin of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in China. The researchers compared the immune responses of 14 COVID-19 patients who had recently become virus-free to those of six healthy donors. Eight of the patients were newly discharged, and the remaining six were follow-up patients who were discharged two weeks prior to the analyses. The researchers collected blood samples and assessed the levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, which are the first to appear in response to an infection, as well as immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies -- the most common type found in blood circulation. Compared to healthy controls, both newly discharged and follow-up patients showed higher levels of IgM and IgG antibodies that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein -- which encapsulates the viral genomic RNA -- as well as the S protein's receptor-binding domain (S-RBD), which binds to receptors on host cells during the process of viral entry. These findings show that COVID-19 patients can mount antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 proteins and suggest that these antibodies are maintained for at least two weeks after discharge. Five newly discharged patients had high concentrations of neutralising antibodies that bind to a pseudovirus expressing the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, the researchers said. Neutralising antibodies prevents infectious particles from interacting with host cells, they said. All except one follow-up patient had detectable neutralising antibodies against the pseudovirus, according to the researchers. Compared to healthy controls, five newly discharged patients had higher concentrations of T cells that secrete interferon gamma (IFNγ) -- a signaling molecule that plays a critical role in immunity -- in response to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, they said. These are the same patients who had high concentrations of neutralising antibodies, the researchers said. SARSAR

'Recently recovered COVID-19 patients produce virus-specific antibodies'

Scientists have developed a 'medicinal diet' with high amounts of starches found in fruits and vegetables, which can help protect against type 1 <keyword id="6359018" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="diabetes">diabetes</keyword> and boost our immune systems, a new study has found. 
 
The starches in diet resist digestion and pass through to the colon or large bowel where they are broken down by microbiota or gut bacteria. 
 
This process of fermentation produces acetate and butyrate which, when combined, provided complete protection against type 1 diabetes, researchers said. 
 "The Western diet affects our gut microbiota and the production of these short-chain fatty acids," said <keyword id="4349104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="eliana-marino">Eliana Marino</keyword> of <keyword id="206328" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Monash-University">Monash University</keyword> in Australia. 
 
 "Our research found that eating a diet which encourages the gut bacteria that produce high levels of acetate or butyrate improves the integrity of the gut lining, which reduces pro-inflammatory factors and promote immune tolerance," Marino added. 
 The study highlighted how non-pharmaceutical approaches including <keyword id="4349105" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="special-diets">special diets</keyword> and gut bacteria could treat or prevent autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. 
 "The findings illustrate the dawn of a new era in treating human disease with medicinal foods," said <keyword id="4349103" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="charles-mackay">Charles Mackay</keyword> of Monash University. 
 
"The materials we used are something you can digest that is comprised of natural products - resistant starches are a normal part of our diet," Mackay said. 
 
 "The diets we used are highly efficient at releasing beneficial metabolites. I would describe them as an extreme superfood," said Mackay. 
 
Autoimmune type 1 diabetes occurs when immune cells called auto-reactive T cells attack and destroy the cells that produce insulin - the hormone that regulates our blood sugar levels, researchers said. 
 
 "The diets we used are highly efficient at releasing beneficial metabolites. I would describe them as an extreme superfood," Mackay said. 
 
The diet was not just about eating vegetables or high-fibre foods but involved special food and a special process, and would need to be managed by nutritionists, dietitians and clinicians, he said.

Want to avoid diabetes? A 'medicinal diet' might help

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Nutritional yeast consist of dead yeast cells and has a cheesy, nutty flavor. </li><li>Nutritional yeast is high in protein, B vitamins, and other nutrients that boost your immune system. </li><li>You can add nutritional yeast to eggs, nachos, pasta sauces, or sprinkle it on popcorn. </li></ul>If you're looking for something savory and <keyword id="7958501" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="plant-based">plant-based</keyword> to top your pasta, eggs, or soup, consider adding nutritional yeast. It makes a great addition to a <keyword id="6400741" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Vegan">vegan</keyword> diet thanks to its high protein and vitamin B12 content. "Nutritional yeast tastes very cheesy and nutty, making it a great cheese replacement for plant-based eaters," <a href="https://www.anewviewoffood.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Debra Shapiro</a>, MD, a plant-based physician with a private practice. We spoke to experts about what this ingredient is, what the <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> benefits are, and how it can be prepared in your favorite dishes. <h2>What is nutritional yeast?</h2><a href="https://foodinsight.org/the-rising-agent-nutritional-yeast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nutritional yeast</a> consists of dead yeast cells. That's what differentiates it from the yeast used to bake bread, which is still active with live cells. Note: Since nutritional yeast is an <a href="https://www.godairyfree.org/news/guide-nutritional-yeast-recipes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inactive yeast</a>, it is unable to grow and thus, cannot be used to bake bread. However, you can use it as a seasoning on top of your bread dough to give it a cheesy, nutty flavor.There are <a href="https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/nutritional-yeast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two varieties</a> of nutritional yeast - both you can purchase as a flaky powder: <ul><li>Fortified nutritional yeast, which contains added vitamins and minerals, such as <a href="http://insider.com/vitamin-b12-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vitamin B12,</a> <a href="http://insider.com/potassium-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">potassium</a>, and <a href="http://insider.com/folate-vs-folic-acid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">folic acid</a> to increase the nutrient content. </li><li>Unfortified nutritional yeast, which only contains the vitamins and minerals naturally produced when the yeast grew in the production process, like <a href="http://insider.com/iron-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iron</a>, <a href="http://insider.com/zinc-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zinc</a>, and <a href="http://insider.com/vitamin-b6-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vitamin B6</a>. </li></ul>Note: You can find nutritional yeast in the health food or spice aisle of your local supermarket or grocery store. It should be stored in a cool place and does not need to be refrigerated. "Nutritional yeast is very popular among the vegan community even though yeast is a single-celled organism because it has no nervous system and is unable to experience pain, thus making it different from animal products.," Rhyan Geiger, a registered dietitian and owner of <a href="https://phxvegandietitian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Phoenix Vegan Dietitian</a> says. In addition to being vegan, nutritional yeast is also gluten-free, Geiger says. Here, is the nutritional content of <a href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1744022/nutrients" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one serving</a> of fortified nutritional yeast, which is about ¼ a cup:<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 430px;" border="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 43px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 43px;">Nutrient</td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 43px;">Amount</td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 43px;"><a href="https://insider.com/daily-value" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Value</a> (based on a 2,000 calorie diet)</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://insider.com/how-many-calories-should-i-eat-a-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calories</a></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">60 </td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">3%</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://insider.com/how-much-protein-do-i-need" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Protein</a></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">8 g </td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">--</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 22px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://insider.com/saturated-vs-unsaturated-fat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fat</a></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">0.5 g </td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">1%</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Carbohydrates</td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">5 g </td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">2%</td></tr><tr style="height: 75px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 75px;"><a href="https://insider.com/fiber-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fiber</a></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 75px;">3 g</td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 75px;">12%</td></tr><tr style="height: 75px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 75px;"><a href="https://insider.com/calcium-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calcium</a></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 75px;">6 mg </td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 75px;">0%</td></tr><tr style="height: 76px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 76px;"><a href="https://insider.com/iron-deficiency">Iron</a></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 76px;">1 mg </td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 76px;">6%</td></tr><tr style="height: 76px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 76px;"><a href="https://insider.com/potassium-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Potassium</a></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 76px;">342 mg </td><td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 76px;">8%</td></tr></tbody></table>Nutritional yeast is a nutritious food that boasts many health benefits. Here are three of them you should know of: <h2>1. Nutritional yeast is a complete protein </h2>Related Article Module: 8 of the best plant-based sources of protein, according to dietitians"Nutritional yeast is a complete protein meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids that our bodies don't make and must get from food sources," Geiger says.<a href="https://www.insider.com/protein-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amino acids</a> are the building blocks for your body, and help your hair, skin, nails, and muscles grow. Note: Choosing plant-based protein in place of <a href="http://insider.com/is-red-meat-bad-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">red</a> and processed meat can reduce your risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It may also help you maintain a healthy body weight. There are few plant-based <a href="https://www.insider.com/protein-what-to-know-2018-7#what-makes-something-a-complete-protein-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complete protein</a> options making nutritional yeast a crucial addition to a vegetarian or vegan diet. <h2>2. Nutritional yeast contains B vitamins</h2>Nutritional yeast is rich in B vitamins. A ¼ cup serving contains: <ul><li>Thiamin (vitamin B1): 11.8 mg / DV: 980%</li><li>Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 9.7 mg / DV: 750%</li><li>Niacin (vitamin B3): 46 mg / DV: 290%</li><li><a href="https://insider.com/vitamin-b6-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vitamin B6</a>: 5.9 mg / DV: 350%</li><li><a href="http://insider.com/b12-foods-for-vegans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vitamin B12</a>: 17.6 mcg / DV: 730%</li></ul>"B vitamins help with metabolism by converting food into energy, creating new blood cells, and maintaining healthy brain cells and other body tissues," Geiger says. While most vegans and vegetarians won't have a problem consuming their B vitamins as they are <a href="https://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/b-vitamins-how-to-get-them-in-a-vegan-diet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prevalent in foods</a> like legumes, leafy greens, and seeds they may struggle to get enough B12. That's because vitamin B12 is most commonly found in animal products like meat and dairy. It is important for the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen from our lungs to tissues throughout our body, and deficiencies are generally more common among the plant-based communityMost <a href="https://veganhealth.org/vitamin-b12-vegan-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fortified nutritional yeasts</a> contain up to 10 times the daily value of vitamin B12, making it an ideal source for vegans. <a href="https://www.insider.com/vitamin-b12-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vitamin B12 deficiency</a> can cause long-lasting neurological problems and diseases like dementia and difficulty walking.<h2>3. Nutritional yeast may boost the immune system </h2>Thanks to it's impressive nutrient profile, nutritional yeast may also boost the <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-boost-immune-system-quickly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immune system</a>.One key nutrient that it contains is beta-glucan, a soluble dietary fiber, Shapiro says. A <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07315724.2018.1478339" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2018 study</a> found that participants who consumed beta-glucan from yeast had lower and less severe upper respiratory tract infections, suggesting that this nutrient supports immune function."It also contains vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid and iron, that feed our trillions of gut microbiota," Shapiro says. The bacteria in our gut help <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3337124/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regulate</a> our immune system, thereby helping combat disease. <h2>How to use nutritional yeast</h2><ul><li>Add it to soups, salad dressings, and sauces</li><li>Sprinkle it on popcorn or nuts</li><li>Mix it with pasta or rice</li><li>Use it as a replacement for cheese on pizzas, mac and cheese, eggs, and nachos</li><li>Season tofu or plant-based meat with it</li></ul><h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>Nutritional yeast is a healthy, nutrient-dense protein that has all nine essential amino acids. It's a great option for plant-based eaters looking to bump their vitamin B12 intake along with other B vitamins, such as folic acid and riboflavin. Consider adding nutritional yeast in your diet to support immune function and prevent disease, Dr. Shapiro says. <a data-type="6036d2ce21ccc578d9260be9">8 of the best plant-based sources of protein, according to dietitians</a><a data-type="5f6bb5982c44cc11d642088b">The best sources of B12 for vegans - and when to take a supplement</a><a data-type="5f29bd054e52b754dd7820e3">5 science-backed benefits of vitamin B12 and how to get enough of it in your diet</a><a data-type="602166fcdaf40c61b517a9f4">A beginner's guide to a plant-based diet and how it can benefit your health</a>

Why you should add nutritional yeast to your diet even if you aren't vegan - and tips on how to cook with it

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="556535" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Diet-soda">Diet soda</keyword> may not be as healthy as you think. Research shows excessive diet soda drinking can increase sweetness cravings, erode tooth enamel, and alter your gut microbiome.</li><li>While scientific evidence links diet soda to an increased risk of Alzheimer's, dementia, and ischemic stroke, experts agree more research is needed. </li><li>This article was <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medically reviewed</a> by <a href="https://www.samanthacassetty.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Samantha Cassetty</a>, MS, RD, <keyword id="52652" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="nutrition">nutrition</keyword> and wellness expert with a private practice based in New York City.</li></ul>Just because diet soda doesn't contain <keyword id="31653" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="sugar">sugar</keyword> or calories, it doesn't mean it's healthy for you. Whether it's Diet Coke, Coke Zero, or the countless number of "light" sodas offered on grocery store shelves, it's important to realize that instead of sugar, beverage companies typically use artificial sweeteners like <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/additional-information-about-high-intensity-sweeteners-permitted-use-food-united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose</a> to mimic the taste of non-diet sodas.The fact that diet sodas rely on sugar alternatives to satisfy your cravings of something sweet and bubbly should be the first warning sign: Diet soda is not necessarily a health-conscious choice, nor does it offer nutritional value. So while choosing diet soda over regular soda may seem like a healthy decision, there's more to the drink than meets the taste bud. Here's what you need to know.<h2>5 reasons diet soda may be bad for you</h2>If you drink a reasonable amount of diet soda — or as the Mayo Clinic puts it, <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/diet-soda/faq-20057855" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"a can or two a day"</a> — it's unlikely you'll experience major negative <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> effects. But over time, the paradox of thinking that diet soda is healthier than regular soda can take a toll on your health in several ways.<ol><li> Diet soda may increase sugar cravings: Since diet soda is artificially sweetened, it can change how you associate sweetness with caloric intake. Diet soda has been shown to increase cravings for sweets, according to various studies, including one published in 2019 in<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijpo.12535" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Pediatric Obesity</a>. In turn, the increase in cravings may actually lead to<a href="https://www.insider.com/drinking-diet-low-calorie-artificially-sweetened-soda-eat-more-calories-study-2019-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> consuming more calories</a>.</li><li> Diet soda may not be effective for weight loss or diabetes: While it can seem like cutting back on sugar by replacing it with artificial sweeteners will be beneficial for weight loss or diabetes, evidence suggests otherwise. "Diet soda does not promote weight loss and it has no effect on glycemic response in adults with diabetes. Therefore, diet soda should not be used as a weight-loss strategy or means to control diabetes," says Rebecca Oh, RD, clinical dietitian at<a href="https://uscvhh.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.</a></li><li> Diet soda may alter your digestive tract: "Diet soda can alter your gut microbiota, which can have negative impacts on digestion and hormone regulation," says Oh. More research is needed to understand exactly which artificial sweeteners affect gut bacteria and how. So far,<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6363527/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> preliminary studies</a> have found that saccharin, sucralose, and stevia may alter the bacteria in your gut, though it's unclear what impact this may have on your health.</li><li> Diet soda may cause kidney damage: "Long-term consumption of diet soda can increase production of free radicals in renal tissues, potentially causing damage to the kidneys," says Oh. Additionally, a 2017 study published in the<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27797893" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology</a> showed that diet soda consumption is linked to a higher risk of kidney disease. </li><li> Diet soda may lead to tooth decay: Think diet soda is better for your teeth because it doesn't contain sugar? Think again. Even though it's sugar-free, diet soda is acidic thanks to ingredients like citric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid. These ingredients can contribute to tooth enamel erosion, at almost the same rate as non-diet soda, according to<a href="https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/nutrition-and-oral-health/sugar-free-drinks-are-they-safe-for-teeth-0115" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Colgate</a>.</li></ol><h2>What scientific research says</h2>Over the years, numerous studies have reported links between diet soda with weight gain and serious, life-threatening diseases. Scientific opinion is mixed and, at times, conflicting. While studies focus on the dangers of artificial sweeteners, what's important to understand is they aim to find correlations, not necessarily cause-and-effect:<ul><li>A<a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.016027" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2017 study</a> published in Stroke found that, among over 3,000 participants, an increase in artificially sweetened soda consumption was associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and ischemic stroke. </li><li>Another study in Stroke, published in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30802187/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2019</a> found that, among 81,7214 women, women who drank more than two artificially sweetened drinks per day were at greater risk of ischemic stroke, coronary heart disease, and premature death. </li><li>Recently,<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2749350" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> a 2019 study</a> published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that those who drink two diet sodas a day are more likely to die from circulatory diseases, as well as increased mortality overall, compared to those who had one diet soda or less a month.</li><li>Some studies have shown a link between artificially sweetened beverages and weight loss, but in a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5207632/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2017 review</a> published in PLoS Medicine researchers concluded that there are too many studies of this nature with questionable funding and sponsorship from large industries. Therefore, more unbiased research is needed to untangle the truth.</li><li>A <a href="https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/apnm-2015-0675#refg14" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2016 study</a> published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism found that the artificial sweetener aspartame was associated with insulin intolerance — which increases risk of <a href="https://www.insider.com/do-i-have-prediabetes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prediabetes</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-diabetes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">type 2 diabetes</a> — among obese individuals, but not lean ones. The researchers suggest that this might be related to another <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25231862/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2014 study's</a> findings that aspartame was linked to changes in gut bacteria that may affect insulin control. </li></ul><h2>Diet soda alternatives</h2>For most people, cutting diet soda out completely may not be the answer. But of course, moderation is key. "If you are going to drink a soda, drink a very small serving, 6 to 8 ounces max, and work on weaning your cravings," says Oh. She says this goes for diet soda or regular soda. She also says that drinking soda, diet or regular, will not hydrate you as well as drinking good old-fashioned water — <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-lemon-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">add a spritz of lemon or lime juice for flavor</a>. "Rather than focus on the 'limit' of how much diet soda you can drink, I encourage you to focus on how best to promote your health. Water is the best way to hydrate your body, quench your thirst, and promote health," says Oh. If you're missing something fizzy, Oh recommends unsweetened sparkling water or unsweetened tea over other beverage options. <h2>The takeaway</h2>While more research is needed, it is clear that drinking diet soda should be met with a mindful examination of your eating and diet habits.Since diet soda offers zero nutritional value, and could lead to overeating if unchecked, it's best to explore other alternatives that could have a better impact on your weight and overall health. <h2 id="related-articles-from-our-health-reference-library:">Related articles from our <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a> library:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/is-tofu-bad-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tofu: Health benefits, downsides, and misconceptions according to a registered dietitian</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/celery-juice-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Many health claims about celery juice are false — here are 4 proven benefits backed by science</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/whole-wheat-vs-whole-grain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whole wheat vs. whole grain: Which is more nutritious according to dietitians</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/wheat-bread-vs-white-bread" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Why 100% whole wheat bread is usually a healthier choice than white bread</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-beets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6 proven health benefits of beets: How the root vegetable may improve athletic performance and help you lose weight</a></li></ul>

All the ways that diet soda is unhealthy for you and what to drink instead

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Thomson ReutersPatient takes a blood glucose test during event aimed to help people with diabetes to cope with their illness at Saint Luka diagnostics medical center in Sofia</div></div></div>Scientists of the United States made groundbreaking history in 2003 when the <a href="https://www.genome.gov/10001772/all-about-the--human-genome-project-hgp/">Human Genome Project</a> was completed. They told the world exactly what the genetic makeup of the human body was for the first time in history.But there are still unknown oddities to the inner workings of humans. And one of those is the unfortunate case of the <a href="http://www.healthline.com/health/autoimmune-disorders#Overview1">autoimmune disease</a>, a situation that develops when your immune system doesn't recognize your body's own healthy cells and decides to attack them. One of the body's main lines of defense against autoimmune diseases is a diverse world of microbes living on and inside the body, called the <a href="http://depts.washington.edu/ceeh/downloads/FF_Microbiome.pdf">microbiome</a>. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses are responsible for helping us complete tasks like digesting food and coagulating blood. But possibly the most important role played by the microbiome is regulating the immune system. When this community of microbes is interrupted for any number of reasons, the system gets thrown off and people start to have problems with autoimmune diseases. Two prevalent autoimmune diseases are Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. According to the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/incidence/fig1.htm">CDC</a>, the number of newly diagnosed diabetes cases jumped from 537,000 cases a year in 1991 to a roaring 1,437,000 cases in 2014. A <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4012300/">study</a> in The American Journal of Gastroenterology on celiac disease reported an increase of the disease from 5.2 per 100,000 individuals in 1990 to 19.1 per 100,000 individuals in 2011.This climbing rate is much higher than it has been historically. Scientists know that autoimmune diseases appear to be passed in families, not only by DNA inheritance, but also by inheriting the family's microbiome. A Cell Press <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1931312815000219#bib25">study</a> done by the University of Helsinki found that a person's microbiome starts in utero and it is strongly influenced by exposures at birth, which have long-term physiological effects. Breastfeeding also influences a child's microbiome from the start, so if your mother has a diverse microbiome herself, you are more likely to be protected from the onset of autoimmune diseases. Early microbiome development is a key to determining susceptibility to or protection from diseases later in life. A child's immune system is pretty much completely developed by the time they are 3 years old, so early introduction to a diverse set of microbes is especially important. Another big player in this diversity is geography. This same <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1931312815000219#bib25">study</a>, comparing children in Finland to children in Russia, showed that Finnish children develop disease more frequently due to different microbes in the environment and what their body is expecting to fight off. One in 120 children in the country develop Type 1 diabetes before turning 15 years of age. Due to a nongenetic component of being affected by autoimmune diseases, only 3%-7% of those at risk of cell destruction actually develop Type 1 diabetes.While not quite as significant as geography and breastfeeding, diet is also an important factor. Researchers have seen that diet has the ability to <a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/diet-affects-autoinflammatory-disease-gut-microbes">influence</a> immune disorders by influencing the composition of commensal bacteria and altering intestinal microbiota. A <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11882-013-0404-6#page-1">study</a> conducted by researchers at Yale and MIT has shown that fatty, salty, sugary, and fast foods are promoters of autoimmune diseases. In a world driven by convenience and quick options, these foods are exactly the ones that are becoming more popular every day. Decreased microbial diversity is a hallmark of obesity, which is on the rise due to consumption of these foods. Another University of Florida <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025792">study</a> found that bacteria producing more fatty acids lead to a higher case of Type 1 diabetes. Failure to develop a critical level of diversity in the gut microbiota leads to an increased chance of immune disorders, such as Type 1 diabetes and other diseases. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/niaid/5950870236">NIAID / Flickr</a>A healthy human t-cell, part of the immune system, is shown in this scanning electron micrograph image.</div></div></div>One <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/11/08/243929866/can-we-eat-our-way-to-a-healthier-microbiome-its-complicated">option</a> that may help is eating lots of dietary fiber. Bacteria eat this, so if you keep them happy they will provide your body with nutrients that line your gut and help overall health. Fiber from some vegetables, like garlic, hurt the bad bacteria in the gut and leave the good ones, helping to shape an individual's microbiome. However, some fiber from whole grains can cause inflammation, leading to more problems, so it's important to know what's good and what's not. The mysterious microbiome is just the latest in biological systems that scientists are learning to understand more. With an ever-changing culture and environment, it can be tough to get a good grasp on the necessary steps needed to fight off infection. Some may think that coddling their child away from the public and bacteria may be saving them, but it actually looks like the exact opposite is turning out to be true. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sean-carroll-explains-string-theory-in-60-seconds-2016-5">String theory could be the key to solving the greatest mystery in physics - explained in under 60 seconds</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="NwcTJvMzE6B0Cy3b4V-bQRMYNAySmcNx" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Teach your body to fight off disease

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The main difference between a yeast infection and UTI is what causes them, which affects how each one is treated.</li><li>Yeast infections are caused by a fungus called candida and are often treated with antifungal medication.</li><li>UTIs are caused by a bacterial infection and are often treated with antibiotics.</li><li>This article was <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medically reviewed</a> by G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, OB/GYN Lead at <a href="https://www.memorialcare.org/providers/g-thomas-ruiz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center</a> in Fountain Valley, California and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kecia-gaither-md-mph-facog-3421b515/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kecia Gaither</a>, MD MPH FACOG, Director of Perinatal Services at NYC <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">Health</keyword> + Hospitals/Lincoln. </li></ul>If you've experienced discomfort in your pelvic and genital area, it may not be an STD. Yeast infections and urinary tract infections are common and can also cause uncomfortable and painful symptoms in those areas.According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/genital/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, 1.4 million people go to the doctor for yeast infections and<a href="https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults#:~:text=A%20UTI%20is%20when%20bacteria,one%20UTI%20during%20their%20lifetime." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 8.1 million for UTI treatment</a> every year. While more prevalent in women, men are also susceptible to<a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/men-and-urinary-tract-infections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> UTIs</a> and<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/male-yeast-infection/expert-answers/faq-20058464" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> yeast infections</a>. UTIs and yeast infections are commonly mistaken for each other, but they're not the same. One critical difference is what causes them. A growing fungus causes yeast infections, while UTIs come from bacteria invading the urethra. Here's how to tell the difference between UTI and yeast infections and how to treat each one. <h2>UTI symptoms</h2>If you experience a burning sensation when you urinate, that's a key sign that you likely have a UTI, says<a href="https://aeroflowurology.com/meet-the-team/aleece-fosnight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Aleece Fosnight</a>, PA, a medical advisor for AeroFlow Urology. Other UTI symptoms include:<ul><li>A strong, continuous urge to urinate </li><li>Frequent urination, every 1-2 hours or more</li><li>Cloudy, red, brown-ish, or pink urine</li><li>Robust urine odor</li><li>Pelvic pain</li></ul>On rare occasions, you may also experience <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-tell-if-you-have-a-fever-without-a-thermometer">fever</a>, back pain, or blood or a dark color in the urine. "However, this should not always be associated with a UTI and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider," says Fosnight.<h2>Yeast infection symptoms</h2>Yeast infections can cause painful urination, but unlike UTIs, there are other symptoms that usually accompany a yeast infection.<ul><li>For women, you'll probably experience discomfort of the vagina and vulva.</li><li>For men, yeast infection (balanitis) symptoms may include<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/male-yeast-infection/expert-answers/faq-20058464" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> itchiness and a burning sensation on the head of the penis</a>. Yeast infections are more common in uncircumcised men and can easily be treated with over-the-counter antifungal medicine. </li></ul>Additional yeast infection symptoms include:<ul><li>Genital redness</li><li>Itching in the vagina</li><li>Swelling of the genitals</li><li>A thick, white "<a href="https://www.unitypoint.org/livewell/article.aspx?id=06f8f035-9f6e-4a79-bb58-9045b9d7d0d8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cottage-cheese looking</a>" discharge </li></ul><h2>UTI causes</h2>Bacteria cause UTIs. In particular, E. coli is responsible for about<a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/urinary-tract-infections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 90% of urinary tract infections</a>. That's because E. coli exists naturally in the guts of many humans, and some of it can hitch a ride from the gut to the anus by attaching to your stool. If that stool then comes into contact with your urethra, the bacteria can enter your bladder causing infection.Since women have a shorter urethra than men, it's easier for bacteria to reach the bladder making UTIs very common among women. "The occurrences of UTIs are difficult to accurately measure, but it is estimated that more than half of women will have one in their lifetime," says<a href="https://thepinkroombydrcross.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Tamika K. Cross</a>, MD, FACOG, am OB-GYN at UT Health.Cross says that other factors, including <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-diabetes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diabetes</a>, a history of UTIs, and spermicides can all increase the chances of getting a UTI. Sexual partners may also pass the infection back and forth to each other, which is why women who flush out bacteria by<a href="https://www.insider.com/why-pee-after-sex-2018-12#people-with-a-vagina-should-urinate-after-sex-to-reduce-the-risk-of-getting-an-infection-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> urinating after sex</a> reduce their chances of getting a UTI. <h2>Yeast infection causes</h2>Another big difference between UTIs and<a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/vaginal-yeast-infections#18" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> vaginal yeast infections</a> is that the latter is due to a fungus called candida. A<a href="https://cmr.asm.org/content/23/2/253" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2010 review</a> estimates 56% of women in the US will have at least one yeast infection in their lifetime. About 8% of these women will have recurring yeast infections.Usually, the vagina is host to a wide range of fungi and bacteria, and the<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5019-yeast-infections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Mayo Clinic</a> says small amounts of candida in the vagina is typically harmless. However, when vaginal pH levels change from activities like douching, it can create a more hospitable environment for candida to grow. Douching also increases the likelihood of becoming infected by introducing added fragrances that irritate the vagina. To make matters worse,<a href="https://www.insider.com/douches-scented-sprays-clean-vagina-2019-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> douching can worsen existing yeast infections </a>by pushing bacteria further up the cervix.Cross says another risk factor for yeast infections is antibiotic use.<a href="https://www.insider.com/how-antibiotics-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Antibiotics work</a> by killing or preventing bacteria from reproducing. However, continued antibiotic use can disrupt the delicate balance between bacteria and other microbes that typically defend against infection.For example, a<a href="https://www.jabfm.org/content/21/4/261.full" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2008 study</a> found that women who took short courses of oral antibiotics had increased growth of the candida bacteria and more cases of vaginal yeast infections.Similar to UTIs, having diabetes, or being <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-immunocompromised-mean">immunocompromised</a> can increase the risk of yeast infections. Cross says tight-fitting clothing and non-cotton panties can also be an issue because they may trap heat and moisture, giving yeast more opportunity to cultivate. <h2>UTI treatment</h2>Both Fosnight and Cross agree antibiotics are the best way to treat UTIs. But there is a possibility of antibiotic resistance over time from recurring UTIs."Globally, <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-antibiotic-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antibiotic resistance</a> is <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on the rise</a>. This will be a growing concern for medical professionals when treating patients. Being proactive about your care by taking precautions against recurring UTIs and yeast infections can make a difference when you have three or more infections within a calendar year," says Fosnight.There are also some<a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-treat-a-uti-at-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> home remedies</a> you can try to alleviate discomfort like certain OTC medications. "If one thinks that they have a UTI early on, starting over-the-counter medications that help to decrease the bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder can help to prevent the infection from getting worse. These treatments can be<a href="https://www.rxlist.com/d-mannose/supplements.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> D-mannose</a> and<a href="https://www.insider.com/does-cranberry-juice-help-uti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> cranberry</a> supplements," says Fosnight.Home remedies may help to prevent or ease symptoms, but you should always see a medical professional when it comes to treating UTIs. <h2>Yeast infection treatment</h2>Since yeast infections are not bacterial by nature like UTIs, antibiotics are ineffective. Instead, you should use antifungal medication for<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/yeast-infection/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20379004" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> three to seven days</a>.You can get prescription or OTC antifungal medications for a yeast infection. Some examples include<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601203.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> miconazole</a>,<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682753.html"> clotrimazole</a>, and<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682012.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> butoconazole</a>. You may also try home remedies, though there's less scientific evidence for their effectiveness, so be careful. Fosnight says home remedies can include the following:<ul><li>Yogurt:<a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-home-remedies-actually-work-for-yeast-infections/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Yogurt has probiotics</a>, or healthy bacteria, which may stabilize yeast infection levels. Yogurt should be eaten. Do not place it anywhere except in your mouth.</li><li>Garlic:<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208935/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Garlic</a> has antimicrobial properties that may help. Garlic should not be inserted or applied anywhere near the vagina as there are<a href="https://www.insider.com/home-remedies-for-yeast-infections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> risks including burning of the vaginal canal</a>.</li><li>Coconut oil: Coconut oil is another option, but only if it's pure. "Coconut oil used as a vaginal suppository can decrease fungal activity in the vagina – make sure that it is pure coconut oil," Fosnight says. A pea-sized amount of coconut oil can be<a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/9_home_remedies_for_vaginal_yeast_infection/article.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> applied directly to the affected area</a> or by<a href="https://www.thinkeatsave.org/5-ways-of-using-coconut-oil-for-yeast-infections/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> dipping coconut oil at the end of a tampon</a> before insertion.<a href="https://www.yeastinfection.org/is-coconut-oil-good-for-treating-candida-infection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Tampons may be left in for 6-8 hours</a>.</li><li>Apple cider vinegar:<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788933/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Apple cider vinegar baths may be helpful</a>. "Apple cider vinegar baths have been shown to decrease yeast infections — however, do not douche with it. Dilute your bath with ½ cup of apple cider vinegar and soak for about 15 minutes," Fosnight says.</li></ul><h2>UTI prevention </h2>Stay hydrated: <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-much-water-are-you-supposed-to-drink-a-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drinking enough water</a> is essential in preventing both UTIs and yeast infections. Staying hydrated will help you urinate more often and flush out any bacteria in the urethra and bladder. Fosnight recommends drinking at least half your body weight in water, approximately 60 to 100 oz. of water daily.Get enough vitamin C: Modifying your diet can also reduce the risk of developing a urinary tract infection. For example, eating<a href="https://urologyspecialistsnc.com/nutrition-avoid-urinary-tract-infections#:~:text=Too%20much%20sugar%20promotes%20bacterial,candy%20or%20a%20sweetened%20beverage." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> foods high in vitamin C</a> can help by lowering acidity levels in urine.Try cranberry juice or supplements: Cranberries may have a<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4091907/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> protective</a> effect against UTIs,<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3497550/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> although the jury is still out</a> on how effective this is as a preventative measure. Fosnight recommends taking 1,200 milligrams of cranberry concentrate in capsules daily, but remember that it's always important to consult with a doctor before taking any supplement.D-mannose may help: Taking D-mannose, a simple sugar found in fruit, could also help manage and prevent urinary tract infections. Fosnight recommends 2 grams daily. A<a href="https://www.europeanreview.org/article/11121" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> small, preliminary 2016 study</a> documented D-mannose's effects and found a quicker resolution of symptoms and a lower recurrence rate than in women who did not take it. But the researchers emphasize more research is needed to confirm their results.Consider estrogen supplements: Estrogen supplements may also help prevent UTIs. A small<a href="http://www.chronicutiinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/L%C3%BCthje2013ScienceTM-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2013 study</a> found estrogen supplements promoted antimicrobial activity in the urethra and prevented bacteria from traveling far into the urinary tract.<h2>Yeast infection prevention</h2>Practice good hygiene: When considering vaginal yeast infections, proper hygiene is crucial. Fosnight says you should thoroughly clean your menstrual cups and change tampons frequently. Douching is not needed for hygiene as the vagina self-cleans itself, says Cross. Consider boric acid: Fosnight says that vaginal use of boric acid can not only <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tn9595" target="_blank" rel="noopener">treat yeast infections</a> but may also act as a preventative measure, when used 1-2 times per week. You can find boric acid powder at your local grocery store or pharmacy.Some ways to prevent both UTI and yeast infections include:<ul><li>Urinating after <keyword id="6355231" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sex">sex</keyword>.</li><li>Wiping front to back after every bowel movement.</li><li>Avoid wearing moist or tight-fitting bathing suits, underwear, and pants for prolonged periods of time.</li><li>Limiting sugar and carbohydrates.</li></ul><h2>Other risks and cautions</h2>While unusual, a yeast infection can cause a second condition to develop. "Only in rare occasions can a vaginal yeast infection cause a yeast urinary tract infection, whereas most UTIs are secondary to bacterial etiologies, not fungal," Fosnight tells Insider.She says the risk of fungal UTIs further increases if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.On the other hand, "UTIs do not cause vaginal yeast infections, however, the antibiotics used to treat those UTIs can cause an imbalance of the normal microbiota of the vaginal canal leading to a vaginal yeast infection."<h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>UTIs and yeast infections cause significant discomfort and pain in similar areas, but treatment is not the same for both. While home-made remedies are available for managing symptoms, proper care involves seeing a medical professional for antibiotics or anti-fungal medication. To avoid recurring infections, practicing preventive care is the key to avoiding infections, says Fosnight. Doing so requires listening to your body's needs. "In my opinion, women need to understand that UTIs and yeast infections should not be common and should be a sign that there is an imbalance in your body," she says. <h2 id="related-articles-from-our-health-reference-library:">Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-treat-a-uti-at-home">How to treat a UTI at home, and prevent one from occurring in the first place</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-treat-a-yeast-infection">3 ways to treat a yeast infection at home</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/does-birth-control-help-acne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Birth control pills can help treat acne, but some types are better than others</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-best-diet-for-endometriosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The best diet for endometriosis that can help relieve painful symptoms</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-treat-vaginismus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to treat vaginismus through dilation training and counseling</a></li></ul>

How to tell the difference between a yeast infection and UTI

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The best diet for <keyword id="18257" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="ADHD">ADHD</keyword> includes foods like omega fatty acids, protein, and B vitamins.</li><li>Polyphenols, which are found in fruits like berries or starchy vegetables like spinach, are antioxidants that can counteract oxidative stress in the brain and may help reduce the symptoms of ADHD.</li><li>People with ADHD should also avoid foods with preservatives and food colorings, as these have been shown to worsen ADHD.</li><li>This article <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was medically reviewed</a> by <a href="http://www.psychiatristnyc.com/" target="_blank" title="Dr. Zlatin Ivanov, MD" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow sponsored">Zlatin Ivanov, MD</a>, who is certified in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology at <a href="http://www.psychiatristnyc.com/" target="_blank" title="Psychiatrist NYC" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow sponsored">Psychiatrist NYC</a>.</li></ul>Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd.shtml#:~:text=The%20overall%20prevalence%20of%20current,all%20other%20race%2Fethnicity%20groups." target="_blank" rel="noopener">mental health condition that affects 4.4% of adults</a> and has been diagnosed in 9.4% of<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html#:~:text=The%20estimated%20number%20of%20children,children%20aged%206%E2%80%9311%20years" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> children</a> in the US. People with ADHD may experience <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350878" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms</a> such as trouble concentrating, restlessness and impulsivity, or struggling to complete tasks. Though ADHD is typically treated with stimulants like Adderall, research shows that the right diet can also help improve symptoms — and the wrong diet can worsen them. Here's what to know about what you should and should not eat if you have ADHD. <h2>Foods to eat with ADHD</h2>ADHD is a disorder that is thought to be caused by imbalances in brain chemistry, particularly <a href="https://www.gulfbend.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&amp;id=13861#:~:text=ADHD%20symptoms%20may%20also%20be,that%20is%20synthesized%20by%20dopamine.ine.">neurotransmitters</a>. There are many foods and nutrients that are beneficial for proper brain function and <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword>, and thus beneficial for ADHD. Some of these foods include:<h3>Omega fatty acids </h3>Omega fatty acids, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, are beneficial for brain health, says <a href="https://umanaidoomd.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uma Naidoo, MD</a>, author of <a href="https://book.umanaidoomd.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This Is Your Brain on Food</a> and Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massachusetts General Hospital</a>. She says that omega-3s are beneficial for two reasons: <ul><li>They're anti-inflammatory and lower <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/neuroinflammation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neuroinflammation</a>, which is an inflammatory response in the brain that has been linked to various mental health disorders.</li><li>Since omega-3s help make up<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2174995/#:~:text=Dietary%20omega%2D3%20fatty%20acids%20are%20incorporated%20into%20cellular%20membranes,protein%20function%20and%20gene%20expression." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> cell membranes</a>, they can help neurotransmitters in your brain function better, Naidoo says. </li></ul>A 2017 systematic review published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5603098/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Lipids </a>found that those who consumed omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids experienced ADHD symptom improvement, including less hyperactivity, better ability to pay attention, and less impulsivity. While most people think omega-3 fatty acids are synonymous with fish, you can get it from other vegetarian or vegan sources, such as avocados and nuts, says <a href="https://www.uclahealth.org/zhaoping-li" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD</a>, director of the <a href="https://www.uclahealth.org/clinicalnutrition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UCLA Center of Human Nutrition</a> and Chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition.According to the National Institutes of Health, the adequate daily intake of Omega-3 fatty acids is 1.6 grams in men and 1.1 grams in women. Some <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-Consumer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">foods high in omega-3</a> are:<ul><li>Seafood</li><ul><li>Salmon, 1.24 g in 3 oz</li><li>Herring, 0.94 g in 3 oz</li><li>Sardines, 0.74 g in 3 oz</li></ul><li>Nuts</li><ul><li>Walnuts 2.57 g in 1 oz</li></ul><li>Seeds</li><ul><li>Chia 5.06 g in 1 oz</li><li>Flax 2.35 g in 1 tbsp </li></ul><li>Oils</li><ul><li>Flaxseed oil, 7.26 g in 1 tbsp</li><li>Canola oil, 1.28 g in 1 tbsp</li><li>Soybean oil .92 g in 1 tbsp</li></ul></ul><h3>Protein </h3>Li says it's crucial for the brain to get adequate protein for proper function. That's because protein is broken down into amino acids, which help the brain produce <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224629/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neurotransmitters and neuromodulators</a> — chemical messengers in the brain. This is beneficial for ADHD since it's believed that ADHD is in part due to <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4784-attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder-adhd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">imbalances of neurotransmitters</a> such as dopamine. Naidoo says that eating breakfast is non-negotiable for people with ADHD, and that protein should be incorporated into breakfast. "It was shown that individuals who ate a healthy breakfast were more alert, attentive and could process information more rapidly," says Naidoo. "So skipping meals can worsen these symptoms possibly related to lower blood sugar and the brain needs energy through the food we eat in order to function properly."Incorporating protein into breakfast to get those amino acids and brain function boost sets your day up for success. Some<a href="https://www.choosemyplate.gov/eathealthy/protein-foods" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> foods high in protein</a> include:<ul><li>Meat and poultry</li><li>Seafood</li><li>Eggs</li><li>Nuts</li><li>Seeds</li><li>Beans</li><li>Peas</li></ul>With meats, Li says to eat quality meat that hasn't been fed antibiotics or hormones because any remaining antibiotics in the meat may change the gut microbiota and could <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893446/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worsen ADHD</a>. <h3>Polyphenols</h3>Polyphenols are compounds that are natural antioxidants, and they are found in many fruits and vegetables. <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-are-antioxidants-good-for" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antioxidants</a> help prevent damage from free radicals, which are compounds that can bind to healthy cells and damage the DNA and proteins inside of themThe imbalance between the antioxidants and free radicals in your body is known as oxidative stress. Researchers believe that oxidative stress in the brain could be linked to ADHD, according to a 2018 review published in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5946190/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nutrients</a>. This review determined that polyphenol supplements such as Pycnogenol can counteract oxidative stress in the brain, thereby possibly improving ADHD symptoms. Naidoo says some foods <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2010221.pdf?origin=ppub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high in polyphenols</a> are:<ul><li>Fruit, especially berries</li><ul><li>Blackberries 260 [unit of measurement … grams/IU/pls specify] per 100g</li><li>Strawberries 235 per 100g</li><li>Blueberries 836 per 100g</li></ul><li>Colorful <a href="https://www.diabetes.org/nutrition/healthy-food-choices-made-easy/non-starchy-vegetables" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-starchy vegetables</a> </li><ul><li>Spinach 119 per 100g</li><li>Yellow onions 74 per 100g</li><li>Shallots 113 per 100g</li></ul><li>Cloves 15,188 per 100g</li><li>Cocoa powder 3448 per 100g</li><li>Dark chocolate 1664 per 100g</li><li>Green tea 89 per 100g</li></ul><h3>B vitamins</h3>B vitamins are important for brain health, since they can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772032/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improve brain chemistry and support mental health function</a>. Naidoo says that they are particularly helpful for people with ADHD, since they can support the functioning of neurotransmitters.A 2017 review published in the <a href="https://isom.ca/article/micronutrient-deficiencies-adhd-global-research-consensus/">Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine</a> found that deficiencies in micronutrients, including B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6, are linked to ADHD in children. Blood testing can be conducted to learn if you are deficient in these vitamins along with any others. Some foods high in B vitamins, particularly <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">B6</a> and <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">B12</a> include:<ul><li>Meats</li><ul><li>Chicken breast .5 mg B6 per 3 oz, 29% DV and .3 mcg B12 per 3 oz, 13% DV</li><li>Turkey .4 mg B6 per 3 oz, 25% DV</li><li>Beef (sirloin) 1.4 mcg B12 per 3 oz, 58% DV</li><li>Beef liver .9 mg B6 per 3 oz 53% DV and 70.7 mcg B12, 2,946% DV</li></ul><li>Seafood </li><ul><li>Tuna .9 mg B6 per 3 oz 53% DV and 2.5 mcg B12 per 3 oz, 104% DV</li><li>Salmon .6 mg B6 per 3 oz, 35% DV and 4.8 mcg B12 per 3 oz, 200% DV</li><li>Clams 84.1 mcg B12 per 3 oz, 3,504% DV </li></ul><li>Eggs .6 mcg B12 per 1 egg, 25% DV</li><li>Milk 1.2 mcg B12 per 1 cup 50% DV</li><li>Nuts (mix) .1 mg B6 per 1 oz, 6% DV</li><li>Chickpeas 1.1 mg B6 per 1 cup, 65% DV</li><li>Spinach 1.1 mg B6 per 1/2 cup, 65% DV</li></ul><h2> Foods to limit or avoid with ADHD </h2>Some ingredients and food groups may worsen ADHD symptoms in certain individuals. Some of these include:<h3>Chemicals and preservatives </h3>Though the reason for this isn't clear, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2394588/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some studies</a> have found a link between food additives, including preservatives, and worsened hyperactivity in children without ADHD. Naidoo recommends ADHD patients steer clear of processed foods, packaged foods, and frozen foods since these are very likely to contain preservatives and stabilizers. She urges everyone to look at food labels carefully. "If there are names you can't pronounce and there's a large number of [ingredients], then you know to skip it and try to get towards whole healthy foods," says Naidoo.Li seconds this, adding: "Any chemicals or artificially generated compounds are of concern."There's no concrete evidence about preservatives alone worsening ADHD, as evidence is anecdotal rather than through studies. But both experts agree that people with ADHD should avoid them. <h3>Certain food colorings</h3>There's a bit more evidence the negative effect of food coloring on <a href="https://www.insider.com/adult-adhd-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADHD symptoms</a>. Three <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4321798/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food colorings of particular concern</a> are:<ul><li>Red #40 </li><li>FD&amp;C Yellow #5 </li><li>FD&amp;C Yellow #6 </li></ul>These<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/color-additives-questions-and-answers-consumers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> are found in foods</a> like snack foods, cereal, baked goods, sauces, crackers, and beverages.A 2012 meta-analysis published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4321798/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry</a> looked at various studies regarding elimination diets consisting of eliminating foods with dyes. The researchers estimated that 33% of children with ADHD responded to this type of elimination diet, experiencing reduced symptoms, proving it may be beneficial for some. "In the US, the most popular food dyes are Red #40, Yellow #5 and Yellow #6. The three make up 90% of all the food dye used in the US," says Li. This is why they are the most commonly studied and believed to have harmful effects. In Europe, products containing these dyes <a href="https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/07/eu-places-warning-labels-on-foods-containing-dyes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">require a warning label</a>. In the US, they do not. You can check the ingredient list on the labels to see if foods have these ingredients.<h3>Gluten</h3>Gluten is not inherently "bad" or harmful for people with ADHD. However, Naidoo says if someone with ADHD has c<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/celiacdisease.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eliac disease</a> (an immune disease in which gluten damages the small intestine) or a gluten sensitivity, then eating gluten may worsen their ADHD symptoms. A small 2006 study (132 people) published in the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6710768_A_Preliminary_Investigation_of_ADHD_Symptoms_in_Persons_With_Celiac_Disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Attention Disorders</a> looked at people with celiac disease and found that after six months of a gluten-free diet, there was a noticeable improvement in people exhibiting ADHD symptoms, such as hyperactivity.If you aren't sure if you may have a gluten insensitivity or celiac disease, speak to your doctor who can conduct testing to help you get answers. <h3>Dairy</h3>You don't need to be lactose intolerant to experience troubles from dairy. Naidoo says that dairy, or specifically, casein (a protein in milk), is a culprit for possibly worsening ADHD symptoms. There are multiple types of casein, but the one that may affect ADHD is beta-casein, which has two forms, A1 and A2. It is believed that A1 is the main culprit with dairy.A small 2016 study (45 participants) published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818854/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nutrition Journal</a> studied the difference between those who drank milk that had A1 and A2, and those who drank milk that only contained A2. The participants who drank the milk with A1 and A2 had slower cognitive processing and less accuracy than those who drank the milk only containing A2, leading the researchers to conclude that people with ADHD may want to avoid the A1 protein. More thorough research is needed to know if this applies to a broader population of ADHD patients.Naidoo says that an alternative to dairy can be any type of nut milk. There's also A2 milk, which she says is becoming more widely available at grocery stores. However, other dairy products such as cheese do not have the same option to isolate the A2 protein, so you may have to make more drastic diet changes regarding other dairy products like cheeses, ice creams, and yogurts. <h2>When to see a doctor</h2>[recirc: https://www.insider.com/adult-adhd-symptoms] A diet of whole foods rich in omega 3s, protein, polyphenols, and B vitamins is great for general health, and may also help people with ADHD control their symptoms. However, it's important to make sure that you're also receiving the correct medical treatment.Speak to your doctor so they can help you work on getting your symptoms under control through the safest, healthiest means possible. <h1>Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Health Reference</a>:</h1><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/post/preview?post_id=5f5bc4421e1b353d193f05c4&amp;mode=desktopktop">T</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/post/preview?post_id=5f5bc4421e1b353d193f05c4&amp;mode=desktopktop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he 3 types of non-stimulant ADHD medications and how they work</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/adult-adhd-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to recognize the symptoms of ADHD in adults</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-adderall-do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How Adderall works and how it helps ADHD</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/types-of-adhd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to recognize the 3 different types of ADHD and treat them</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/is-adhd-genetic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADHD is partially genetic, but there are other risk factors that play a key role</a></li></ul>

The best diet for people with ADHD: Foods to eat and avoid

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Gates Foundation</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/bill-gates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Bill and Melinda Gates</a> foundation is investing millions of dollars in new strategies to create consumable gut-microbe therapies that could change the way our stomachs process food.</li><li>The hope is that new probiotics (which would be far more complex and microbe-rich than yogurt or fermented food) will help both undernourished and obese children live healthier lives.</li><li>Gates has been investing in this kind of microbial bio-therapy for about 10 years, and predicts "we will get a breakthrough" in nutrition in the coming decade.</li></ul>Bill Gates readily admits: he's always been "kind of a weirdo." That's what got the Microsoft co-founder into computers in the first place, he says.But these days, Gates' odd streak is perhaps most apparent when it comes to his fascination with the human gut.In November, Gates brought <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-wants-world-to-move-past-flush-toilets-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a jar of poop on stage</a> with him at an event in Beijing, just to demonstrate that there could be trillions of virus particles, bacteria, and parasitic worm eggs inside.Read More: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-wants-world-to-move-past-flush-toilets-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill Gates is so obsessed with redesigning the world's toilets, he brought a jar of poop onstage in Beijing to prove it</a>Gates' interest in digestion goes beyond the disgusting and debilitating kinds of bacteria in our systems. The billionaire investor recently said that he believes we can re-vamp the inner workings of our guts by seeding the microbial colonies that live inside us."One thing that people are not expecting a breakthrough in that I'm quite optimistic we will get a breakthrough in is understanding nutrition," Gates said during a conversation last week at the 92nd Street Y in New York. He thinks hacking the microbiome is the way to do it. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">The Gates Notes, LLCBill Gates, Melinda Gates and host W. Kamau Bell at the 92 St. Y on February 12, 2019.</div></div></div><h2>A robust, diverse microbiome sets us up for healthy development </h2>Good nutrition is a growing problem in countries both rich and poor.While 22.2% of kids under 5 worldwide are stunted - meaning they <a href="https://www.who.int/nutrition/healthygrowthproj_stunted_videos/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aren't growing and developing</a> in a healthy way because of poor nutrition and infections - another 38 million children under 5 around the globe (5.6% of all kids) are overweight.Part of the reason kids are not developing as they should is that their microbiomes aren't robust. A person's microbiome is the complex mix of <a href="https://ep.bmj.com/content/102/5/257" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bacteria, viruses, and fungi</a> that live inside the gut; it's more than 2 million genes strong - more numerous than the human genome.Starting at birth, when a baby's sterile intestine is first exposed to a mother's microbes, 300 to 500 different bacterial species begin to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3983973/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">colonize this environment</a>. Normally, this colonization is helped along by a <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(19)30049-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mother's nutrient-rich breast milk,</a> as well as all the other things babies happen to put in their mouths.But if a baby's microbiome doesn't develop properly, it can have <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/wuso-gmi030818.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serious long-term consequences</a> for the way they process food, leading to stunted growth on one end of the spectrum or to obesity on the other. After babies are about a year old, their microbial colonies stabilize, which means the first months of life are the essential time to develop a rich microbiome. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">RIJASOLO/AFP/Getty ImagesSchoolchildren attend a class at Akileisoke Primary School, after lunch, offered by the World Food Programme's Under-nutrition Prevention Programme, in the Amboasary-South district of southern Madagascar, on December 14, 2018.</div></div></div><h2>Our microbiome determines how much nutrition we can get from the food we eat</h2>Take the case of Madagascar, where stunting (low height for a kid's age) is a problem for 53% of the country's children under 5. Because kids there are not getting enough of key nutrients like iron, Vitamin A, zinc, and iodine - which are critical to healthy development - they can't grow up to achieve their full potential."They don't develop physically, they don't develop mentally," Gates said.Similarly, in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13421" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bangladesh</a>, scientists have discovered that severely malnourished babies tend to have more "immature" microbiomes than other infants, suggesting that the first months of life are critical to how well nourished we can be throughout our lives. "Even if they're getting enough food, there's something about inflammation in their gut that their body isn't able to grow properly," Gates said. That has long-term impacts on the economy. The <a href="http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NUTRITION/Resources/281846-1271963823772/Madagascar.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank</a> estimates that Madagascar misses out on $720 million in GDP every year because of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. On the other end of the spectrum, rich nations like Germany, Australia, and the US are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28982806" target="_blank" rel="noopener">missing out on billions because of poor nutrition</a> as well. One <a href="https://journals.humankinetics.com/doi/10.1123/jpah.3.2.148" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> looked at the impacts of obesity in three US states - California, North Carolina, and Massachusetts - and estimated that those economies lose a total of $41 billion a year in indirect obesity costs like sick time, early death, and insurance payouts. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">Science</keyword> Monitor via Getty ImagesMothers feed their malnourished children a porridge made of rice, marrow, dried shrimp, carrots, oil and iodized salt during a nutrition class, on May 30, 2017 in Antsirabe, Madagascar.</div></div></div><h2>A microbiome treatment could help guts grow up strong</h2>Gates thinks one day, a probiotic powder, food, or other kind of microbial therapy could address these nutritional problems by introducing some missing bacteria into our guts. "We're actually trying to intervene with that, so that [children's] guts aren't complaining, so they're able to grow," Gates said. The Gates Foundation is hoping that scientists can soon come up with a cheap microbiome treatment that's far more complex than just eating a yogurt. New <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/landmark-study-to-address-global-malnutrition-and-restorative-effect-of-infant-probiotic-300630823.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">probiotic therapies</a> would include "a substantially larger number of difficult-to-grow commensal strains" of bacteria, the Gates Foundation said in its latest call for gut-therapy research.Teams that receive phase-one funding for these projects will get $100,000 from the Gates Foundation. If they're successful with that, researchers could get a second round of up to $1 million in cash to develop their new gut therapies. Already, the Gates Foundation has invested in a probiotic powder for babies called Evivo. Mothers mix the powder into breast milk to help babies repair and improve their gut microbiome. In theory, that could help malnourished babies boost their metabolism and develop a more robust immune system. <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/landmark-study-to-address-global-malnutrition-and-restorative-effect-of-infant-probiotic-300630823.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trials</a> of Evivo in severely malnourished kids under 6 months of age started in Bangladesh last year. Another Gates-funded project at the <a href="https://gordonlab.wustl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington University School of Medicine</a> is feeding special "microbiota-directed foods" to undernourished kids in Bangladesh, too. Ideally, the <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/challenge/new-approaches-manufacturing-gut-microbial-biotherapeutics-round-22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gates Foundation says</a>, these fixes will one day be sold around the world for less than 10 cents per dose. That could create long-term diet solutions, both in poor places where the Gates Foundation works and in rich countries facing obesity epidemics. Gut bacteria play a role in obesity, too, since they <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5960470/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">send signals to the brain</a> to tell us when we're <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27616451/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full</a>. "Why is it that it's not easy to have some sort of broader approach that lets us control our appetite?" Gates said. "The microbiome looks like it will give us a solution there."Nutritionists are increasingly recognizing that there are no <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/keto-and-whole30-diets-myths-vs-reality-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hard-and-fast rules</a> that apply to everyone when it comes to diet, since each person's body (and microbiome) is different."We now know there is no diet or dietary intervention that is right for everyone, or even for an individual throughout their lifespan," a group of researchers wrote in a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)33170-2/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email#articleInformation">Lancet</a> article published in January.But Gates is convinced that if we can keep the microbes in our guts humming along happily, that'll be a good start. "Nutrition has always been a great mystery," Gates said. "A lot of myths - 'try this, try that.' But in this decade, I think that we can solve that." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-net-worth-spending-money-microsoft-billionaire-ceo-2019-1">Bill Gates has a net worth of over $96 billion - here's how he makes and spends his money</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Bill Gates says a diet 'breakthrough' based on the microbes crawling in your gut could help the world's waistlines

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty</div></div></div><ul><li>Researchers have started to identify bacteria that may play a role in elite performance by helping athletes get energy from food or break down chemicals that cause soreness.</li><li>A Harvard team is planning to sell probiotics based on this research.</li><li>But there are are still major questions about whether probiotics work.</li></ul>Many people have wondered whether some unknown factor sets elite athletes apart - beyond their training regimens, strict diets, and exceptional psychological strength.New research suggests one distinguishing element could be unique gut bacteria that helps athletes' bodies process food for energy, reduce inflammation, and eliminate chemicals that cause fatigue and soreness.That's according to a presentation from researchers at the Church Lab at Harvard Medical School, who shared their work August 20 at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society. The scientists are trying to identify these special bacteria and develop probiotic products based on them.If these products work as planned, they could help others improve their internal microorganisms and cultivate internal physiological traits that enhance athletic performance- all using naturally occurring bacteria."When we first started thinking about this, I was asked whether we could use genomics to predict the next Michael Jordan," Jonathan Scheiman, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/acs-ngn072717.php">said in a news release</a>. "But my response was that a better question is: Can you extract Jordan's biology and give it to others to help make the next Michael Jordan?"There's reason to be skeptical of this effort, however: Probiotic products that can create some ideal bacterial population don't yet exist.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Paul Gilham/Getty</div></div></div><h2>How gut bacteria might affect athletic performance</h2>The Harvard researchers plan to base their forthcoming probiotic on the <keyword id="41551" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword> of the microbiome, the bacterial community that live in and on us. While there are a number of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=4&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiLndPZye3VAhWB6YMKHdN5DFQQFgg8MAM&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Fnews%2Fscientists-bust-myth-that-our-bodies-have-more-bacteria-than-human-cells-1.19136&amp;usg=AFQjCNGpk-BhlwY76UgO9wOmH2BJMINANQ">myths about the microbiome</a>, most researchers believe that our microbial populations play an essential role in various aspects of human health.As Scheiman explained <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd1Pwo_eAq4&amp;list=PLLG7h7fPoH8IE5bjJfnxCxLRCd1ggBt1X&amp;index=4">in a press briefing</a> at the conference, "this collective community, in particular in the gut, greatly influences our health, development, functionality, even has implications in disease for processes such as energy metabolism, protein metabolism, neurology, and immunology."Various factors influence our internal bacteria, including what we eat, how we exercise, and genetics. The Harvard researchers wanted to see what sorts of bacterial communities were most closely associated with specific groups of athletes.Scheiman and team recruited elite athletes from a number of sports - participants included marathoners, ultramarathoners, and elite rowers. The researchers sequenced the athletes' internal microbiomes, and tracked them over time to see how their bacteria changed while they were competing, training, and resting.In a group of 20 marathoners running the Boston Marathon, they found that populations of a certain bacteria spiked after the race, especially when compared to the gut bacteria of 20 healthy non-racers. That particular microbe breaks down lactic acid, which is produced during physical activity and makes people feel fatigued and sore. High levels of that that bacteria could have helped the runners push harder through the race.The researchers also found that athletes from different sports have different sorts of internal bacteria. Ultramarathoners, who need to eat and process food during competition, had an especially high concentration of microbes that break down and make use of carbohydrates and fiber. But they didn't find those same concentrations in Olympic rowers.The researchers are now trying to see if providing these bacteria - eventually in the form of a probiotic pill - can increase athletic performance. For their next studies, they are starting with mice.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Rob Ludacer</div></div></div><h2>Can it really work?</h2>Scheiman explained at the conference that he hopes the biology of the athletes he's studied could help regular people figure out how to change their own microbiomes in beneficial ways."In essence, we're mining the biology of the most fit and healthy people in the world and then extracting that information to help them and others," he said. But there are still questions about whether simply taking a probiotic could make a difference.Hopes for miraculous probiotics have been high ever since researchers figured out that gut bacteria populations change over time, and that the presence or absence of certain bacteria is connected to traits like athletic performance, obesity, and anxiety. Researchers have <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-probiotics-what-do-they-do-health-2017-8">told Business Insider</a> they think new probiotics have the potential to improve health. But they've also acknowledged that there's little evidence to suggest we know how to make such probiotics work effectively.Probiotics have been shown to help with a few specific health conditions, like <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24723255">preventing a serious intestinal disease in premature infants</a> or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5322762/">treating a C. difficile infection</a>. But there's not much <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-probiotics-what-do-they-do-health-2017-8">evidence that probiotics treat</a> the vast majority of conditions they are advertised for.Although the microbiome can change rapidly, we're not good at directing that process. Most of the time, newly introduced bacteria don't successfully colonize a gut, <a href="http://mrl.colostate.edu/faculty/#1490910636108-de174916-bc5c">Ian Orme</a>, a professor of microbiology at Colorado State University, previously <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-probiotics-what-do-they-do-health-2017-8">told Business Insider</a>.We're not even very good at altering our microbiomes by changing what we eat. "So far, we have limited evidence of how particular nutrients, foods or dietary patterns influence the gut microbiota," <a href="http://www.ncl.ac.uk/hnrc/people/profile/john.mathers">John Mathers</a>, the director of the Human Nutrition Research Center at Newcastle University, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/personalized-nutrition-dietary-advice-dna-test-microbiome-2017-6">told Business Insider</a>. Although the Harvard team is identifying bacteria that could help successful athletes, they don't necessarily know yet that an ideal bacterial community for ultrarunners exists or that changing someone's internal flora will make them a better rower or runner. Despite these challenges, the researchers plan to launch a company called Fitbiomics to produce probiotics this fall."I would like to think that a year after we launch, we could have a novel probiotic on the market," Scheiman said.But until the team demonstrates that it's possible to use bacteria to boost one's health or physical performance, the best thing an aspiring athlete can do is keep practicing and eating well. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/does-that-probiotic-pill-actually-work-2016-10">A microbiologist reveals why most probiotics are a sham</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Harvard researchers have identified gut bacteria that help athletes - and plan to make them available to everyone in supplements

Stomach flu: 14 foods and drinks that are safe to consume and won't upset your digestion

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-11733p1.html">Shutterstock/Suzanne Tucker</a>There might be a new way to fight fat.</div>Significant changes to the bacteria that live in our guts may be partially behind the rapid weight-loss success of patients who undergo gastric bypass <keyword id="26785" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="surgery">surgery</keyword>, a new study in mice shows. 
Gastric bypass is a form of weight-loss surgery performed on morbidly obese people. The stomach is made smaller, to about the size of the egg, so that people feel full faster and are not able to eat as much. 
Because gastric bypass is extremely invasive, understanding the mechanisms changing the microbial community in patients' guts after surgery could help scientists design less invasive ways to help dangerously obese people lose weight. 
New <a href="http://stm.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed/3005687">research</a> published Thursday, March 27, in the journal <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">Science</keyword> Translational Medicine, suggests that some of the effects of gastric bypass, like decreased weight and body fat, are aided by changes to microbes — bacteria, viruses, and yes, even fungus — in everyone's intestines.
To see how gastric bypass affects microbes in the distal gut, which is where the small intestine meets the large intestine, researchers divided obese mice into three of groups: those that received gastric bypass surgery; those that continued to eat a high-fat, high-carb <keyword id="6358230" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="diet">diet</keyword>; and those that ate a reduced-calorie diet.
Although the bypass mice and those on a restricted diet lost the same amount of weight, the animals who received surgery had changes to their gut bacteria. They showed an increase in bacterial populations associated with healthy, lean humans and a decrease in bacterial populations associated with obese people. Two other groups of bacteria were increased, but their function is still not known.
The gut bacteria of the dieting mice didn't change.
To confirm their results, altered gut microbes from each of the three mice groups were transferred into the gastrointestinal systems of skinny mice. After two weeks, the mice who received microbes from the mice that had gastric bypass had lost weight, even though they ate the same amount of food as the control mice.
There was no change in weight of the mice who were treated with microbes from either the mice on high-fat diet and the calorie-restricted diet.
This suggests that gastric bypass — and not calorie restriction or weight loss in general — triggers these microbial changes. And these changes are one way that gastric bypass causes weight loss.
"Our study suggests that the specific effects of gastric bypass on the microbiota contribute to its ability to cause weight loss and that finding ways to manipulate microbial populations to mimic those effects could become a valuable new tool to address <keyword id="6364492" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Obesity">obesity</keyword>," Lee Kaplan, a senior author of the paper, said in a statement.

The Trauma Of Gastric Bypass May Not Be Necessary For Massive Weight Loss

Thomson ReutersIn our never-ending quest to get healthy, there's a constant, nagging hope that we'll find a hidden key to fitness - some trick or piece of information that finally makes it easy to look and feel how we want.That's why bizarre diets take off and nutrition "breakthroughs" tend to go viral (even though these findings <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/diet-nutrition-advice-2016-8">rarely change what we know about eating healthy</a>).Recently, dieters and investors alike have started betting on companies offering "personalized nutrition": dietary advice supposedly based on our own genes or even the bacteria living in our guts.The pitch from such companies goes something like this: We're all unique, and we know that our genes and bacterial populations have a huge impact on our health - so harnessing that information can give us a tailored guide to healthy eating.But there's reason to believe modern science may not be up to this task just yet. <h2>The promise of personalized nutrition</h2>"No two humans are alike and no two diets are good for everyone," says Naveen Jain, the founder of a company called <a href="https://www.viome.com/">Viome</a>, which monitors its clients' microbiomes (specifically, their gut bacteria) and other biomarkers and uses that data to give dietary advice. Viome charges its customers $99 a month (or $1,000 a year)."We test you every 3 months to see how your body is reacting to carbs, protein, and fat, and we adjust your diet based on what is going on in your metabolic system," Jain says.Personalized or precision dietary advice, like precision medicine, is based on the realization that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another - a perspective shift that could transform the way <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)00176-8/fulltext">we think of health in general</a>. People <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/349/6254/1343">with certain genetic variants thrive</a> on high fat diets, while others are much more sensitive to the effects of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/is-cholesterol-in-eggs-bad-for-you-2015-2">consuming dietary cholesterol</a>. That's the reason why <a href="http://lifegenetics.net/shop/dna-test-slim/">so</a> <a href="https://www.nutrigenomix.com/about-us">many</a> <a href="https://habit.com/">companies</a> are offering these DNA- and now also microbiome-based dietary services. But Ginger Hultin, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the <a href="http://www.eatright.org/">Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics</a>, tells Business Insider that microbiome testing doesn't yet have any proven practical applications."It's too early," she says. "Right now, the science is still up and coming on dietary interventions for supporting the microbiome."Our gut bacteria influence our metabolism, immune system, and other aspects of health, <a href="http://www.ncl.ac.uk/hnrc/people/profile/john.mathers">John Mathers</a>, the director of the Human Nutrition Research Center at Newcastle University, tells Business Insider. But those complex interactions and relationships are not yet fully understood by health scientists."So far, we have limited evidence of how particular nutrients, foods or dietary patterns influence the gut microbiota and vanishingly little evidence of how knowledge of the gut microbiome influences nutritional needs," Mathers says.According to Hultin, the current scientific understanding of our gut suggests that the more diversity of bacteria in there, the better. And we know that a high-fiber, plant-based diet is associated with diverse gut flora. But that knowledge basically backs up the idea that vegetables are good for you - standard advice that any dietitian or nutritionist could provide. Beyond that, Hultin says, we don't know enough to tell people how to eat based on their gut bacteria.ViomeBusiness Insider asked Jain if he could provide evidence that Viome's dietary advice (based on the microbiome and other metabolic biomarkers found in the gut and blood) improves health. He responded, "that's a question you should be asking 6 months or a year from now."Jain also acknowledged that for now, Viome can't diagnose disease based on their analyses of customers' microbiomes. The company is instead hoping that it will learn to do so as technology advances. Jain did, however, provide Business Insider with <a href="https://www.viome.com/our-science/">a number of studies</a> indicating that the microbiome is connected to various chronic health conditions, ranging from obesity to Alzheimer's."Papers are showing that every single chronic disease - from Parkinson's to asthma - is directly linked to the microbiome," he says. "If you can balance your gut and remove chronic inflammation ... if we can do that, we can create a world where no one will ever get sick."The problem, however, is that even if Viome does succeed in figuring out how to diagnose clients with certain conditions, no one has figured out how to cure any diseases by modifying the microbiome (with perhaps the exception of giving people a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3365524/">fecal transplant to fight off a Clostridium difficile infection</a>). We're far from being able to "create a world where no one will ever get sick" based on treating the microbiome, good as that may sound."I don't think we know nearly enough about the microbiome to understand the significance of test results for dietary advice," <a href="http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/faculty/Marion_Nestle">Marion Nestle</a>, a professor of nutrition and public health at New York University, tells Business Insider.<h2>Dieting based on your DNA</h2>In addition to personalizing dietary advice based on the bacteria in your gut, for years many companies have offered dietary services based on DNA tests - based on a science known as nutrigenomics."Our groundbreaking DNA test will change the way you think about fitness and nutrition forever," <a href="https://www.dnafit.com/">reads the website of one such company, called DNAFit</a>. "Whether you're looking to shape up, build muscle or just want to eat a little healthier, your genetics hold valuable information about the best way to do this, just for you."In certain cases, a dietitian or genetic counselor can find useful information in a DNA test - certain genes may indicate a basic intolerance for foods like lactose or caffeine, and genes that are common among people with obesity might help explain why a person struggles to regulate their eating (though for the most part, genetic explanations for conditions like obesity are complex and not fully understood).But this type of genetic information is most likely to be helpful in specific cases involving some kind of unsolved food sensitivity mystery, a rare occurrence since most people are already aware that they react poorly to certain foods.Mike Nudelman/Business InsiderHultin says that so far, nutrigenomics "is actually further along [than microbiome research] and there's some really interesting things going on there."But Nestle is skeptical."I suppose that DNA testing could turn up evidence of inborn metabolic errors" that make it hard for people to process certain foods, she says, "but most adults with them have figured out what they have to do to avoid symptoms."A<a href="http://www.eatrightpro.org/~/media/eatrightpro%20files/practice/position%20and%20practice%20papers/position%20papers/nutritionalgenomics.ashx"> position paper</a> from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics concurs: "The use of nutrigenetic testing to provide dietary advice is not ready for routine dietetics practice," it states.<h2>Are any of these services worth the money?</h2>So is a DNA test or microbiome analysis worth it as a way to help you eat healthier? So far, most experts seem to think the answer is not yet.<a href="http://www.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmj.i1102">Several reviews</a> of existing research have found no evidence that genetic information, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26348710">including the data gathered by several existing companies</a>, improves dietary health. In other words, even if there's useful information hidden in our DNA, we haven't learned enough about genetics to use information successfully.Andreas Rentz/Getty"I am skeptical about many of these products because of the slender - or nonexistent - scientific basis for them," John Mathers told <a href="https://www.vox.com/2016/11/2/13453434/personalized-diet-nutrition-dna">Vox</a>.Hultin also points out that there are many things people can attempt to test or change before shelling out for one of these dietary services."Is there some work that needs to be done on your diet, lifestyle, stress, or sleep?" she asks. Genetic testing is likely only useful after you've dealt with the obvious issues and gotten professional advice, she says. And even then, any information you gain is probably best put into context by a medical professional.Mathers warns consumers to beware of the initial excitement that usually surrounds new dietary trends. "In my view, there are been a lot of hype about links between the microbiome and health and, based on current evidence, the idea that knowledge of our microbiome can be used to tell us what we should eat is part of that hype," he says.This doesn't mean that personalized nutrition services can't offer useful guidelines. Many of the companies that offer these products pair their testing results with advice from a nutritionist or other professional. Plus, much of their advice tends to be "eat more vegetables," which is a good suggestion for most people, even if they are charging a lot for that advice.If nothing else, it might be fun to learn what's in your DNA or microbiome - though these are expensive ways to get that information. But don't expect them to solve some mystery of dietary health."The tests are fun but their usefulness has yet to be shown," says Nestle. "I'd rather spend the money on good dinners." <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/field-sea-stars-deadly-trap-okeanos-explorer-2017-5">This field of sea stars is actually a death trap that scientists never saw coming</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

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