"immune system" news and stories

Hungry Girl has a quick and easy to read rundown of the properties of Vitamins A through K, complete with information about what each vitamin is, what it does and where to get it.

For example, Vitamin A is primarily found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables, while Vitamin D is in fish, like salmon and tuna, and can also be gotten from spending time in the sun. Vitamin B mostly comes from animal-based sources, but can also be found in whole grains and green, leafy vegetables. Citrus fruits will provide plenty of Vitamin C, which can help fight colds and other illnesses. Vitamin E boosts your immune system, while K regulates blood clotting. For a full listing of all you need to know about these vitamins, check out Hungry Girl's list.

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A Spanish biotech company, Puleva Biotech, has isolated and categorized the types of probiotic bacteria in breast milk in an attempt to determine the source and nature of its health benefits to children. The company says that breast milk was previously considered to be sterile, but it has isolated more than 3,000 types of bacteria in their samples. They report that they have determined the health benefits of 4 of these types and the company has come up with a unique way to use them: in yogurt.

The company has developed a yogurt, Puvela Max Defenses, that is enriched with these four strains of probiotic bacteria. Aimed at  children between the ages of four and twelve, the yogurt is intended to provide the some same health benefits to these older children that they received as infants. The four types of bacteria promote a healthy intestine, stimulate the immune system and aid in the body's absorption of vitamins and minerals.