High Rise Metal Bed Frame with Headboard Brackets (Queen)

Building a bed

Building a bed  (with 2x4 wood)

I needed an extra bed in my old house for one of my tenants. Instead of buying one I decided to build one with construction wood

Building this bed turned out to be a one-day project. I was also a bit limited by the tools I had with me since I had already moved many of the tools from my old workshop. Therefore the only electric tools that I used in the construction of this bed were a table saw, a drill, a small electric hand brush and a belt sander.



High Rise Metal Bed Frame with Headboard Brackets (Queen)

I spent less than $ 30 on materials, although I already had the screws and dowels. If I had bought everything it would still be below $ 50.

I really did not use a single 2x4. Rather, I used pine wood from what is normally used for building structures. I used three planks of 2x8, one of 2x6, one of 2x10, and two of 2x2. All 8 feet long.

The stringers of the bed each have a 2x2 (1.5 "x1.5") attached to the inner lower edge, on which rest the slats that support the mattress. The image on the left is a sectional section of the bed illustrating this.


 When we use construction wood to build furniture it is necessary to carefully select the planks to be used. Fortunately, something like the structure of a bed is heavy enough so that the slightly twisted wood can be forced to straighten when assembled.

Although the lumber is brushed, it is usually not brushed to be as smooth as would be desirable for carpentry furniture projects. I had already taken my thicknesser and the table brush from my old workshop, so it was best to use an electric hand brush. The electric hand-held brush is the size of a standard brush, but rather works like a 3 "wide table brush placed upside down.The wider boards required three strokes from side to side to be brushed. planks I still had some crests between the passes that I sanded with a belt sander.


 I also brushed a quarter-inch bevel on all exposed edges. The base of the brush has a V-groove with a 45-degree angle, which allowed me to maintain a constant bevel depth if I put it on the rounded edge that brought the factory wood or on a sharp edge at 90 degrees cut result along the planks. I decided that quarter-inch bevels were part of the design in the entirety of this project.

For the bevels on the head of the boards, I simply cut them by hand with a sharp knife.


The complete design consists of a headboard and feet with a similar design, with the stringers screwed into the legs of the headboard and feet. The legs of the bed are two pieces of 2x3 joined one against another, with a hole where the stringers are screwed.

Making beautiful curves in the headboard as I did in this would have been better, but I had already taken my band saw from my old workshop. So instead I had to settle for some straight cuts.


 The horizontal parts of the head and feet are attached to the posts with 5/8 "dowels, the joints with the dowels are made by drilling and glueing only through one of the 2x3 pieces that form the posts. I secured the horizontal board with the pole piece together and drilled through both pieces, so I can make sure that the holes in both pieces are aligned, even if I do them by hand with the drill. I built a work bench


The diagram on the left indicates how everything is prepared together for drilling.

The widest plank I was using for the headboard was actually a little warped, but when I secured it to drill it I also forced it to be straightened while it was held by the sergeants. After drilling the holes, I simply enclosed the dowels in place with the sergeants still in place, so that the dowels now keep it straight.


 After gluing and inserting the dowels with a hammer I found that I had a small gap between the horizontal boards of the headboard and the post.

I did not have any sergeants long enough to reach the full width of the bed, so I attached two pieces of wood to the horizontal board with sergeants and used them to tighten the pieces of the joint against each other.

This requires that the two sergeants below in the photo are tight enough. I recommend you do not do this with anything other than metallic screw sergeants.

If all this seems very difficult for you, another option would be to use some 4 "long wood screws instead of wood dowels, it will not be so robust but it will be enough.

Zinus Dawn 14 Inch Easy To Assemble SmartBase Mattress Foundation / Platform Bed Frame / Box Spring Replacement, Full

Make your own floating bed following this tutorial

Looking for originality when decorating our house does not have to be synonymous with spending a lot of money buying furniture in exclusive stores. We always insist that there are many options at our reach, we just need a couple of good ideas and a little patience and skill to be able to manufacture the exclusive furniture ourselves.



Zinus Dawn 14 Inch Easy To Assemble SmartBase Mattress Foundation / Platform Bed Frame / Box Spring Replacement, Full

The economic cost is much lower and although we take a couple of days to manufacture it, it will be an exclusive work that we can enjoy for many years . Today we want to show you how to build the base so that a bed seems floating . Of all the DIY we have developed, this is not exactly the simplest, however the result is spectacular and you just need a little patience.

We leave you the photographs explaining step by step the procedure to get your own floating bed, attentive!

These are the basic planes of the two bases that we need.

• Both frames are joined at the top center.
• The lower base is made with slats 5 cm wide x 20 cm high and the upper frame with slats 5 cm wide x 10 cm high. Therefore, the measurement of the base will be: 120 cm x 170 cm x 20 cm and the measurement of the top frame will be: 170 cm x 2.10 cm x 10 cm. These are the corresponding measures for a mattress of 150 cm x 190 cm.
• We place a wooden plank on the base to achieve a flat and smooth surface.
• We place the headboard on the top, where we have joined the two main structures.
• The measurements of the headboard will be 170 cm x 100 cm x 5 cm.

Once we put everything together, we sanded it to be able to paint it.

In this case a mahogany wood color was chosen to be able to give contrast with the room, but obviously the color is optional.

We placed on the edge of the structure, at the bottom, a string of LED lights of 7 meters bordering it as shown in the photograph.

This is the final result:

• Much more impressive when we assemble the bed in the room.
• You already have a floating bed for your bedroom, enjoy it!

intelliBASE Wood Slat Metal Bed Frame, King

Create your own sofa bed

Having a sofa bed at home may be what we need for when we invite people to sleep, but also if we want a place to relax and enjoy our free time, whether in the living room or outdoors.

If you are one of those people who are visited by family or friends over the weekend and do not have an additional room, a sofa bed is just what you need. Or maybe you like to lie on the sofa to watch a movie, read or even take a nap in the afternoon without disarming your bed.



intelliBASE Wood Slat Metal Bed Frame, King

In response to these needs that arise in many homes, in this article we will tell you how to create your own sofa bed , both for indoor and outdoor.

How to make a standard sofa bed
We will take care of creating a sofa bed made with different structures giving us the possibility of keeping the pillows or the bedding inside . When nobody is using it to sleep, it folds up and remains like a 'common' sofa.

It is essential that you take the measure well before buying or cutting the wood. You can do it according to the space you have at home.

The base is formed by four slats joined together - as if it were a frame - and four studs, one in each corner, which will be the legs. On this basis a drawer is placed, which can be of two compartments so that it has more robustness.

To make the backrest, you need two long planks that are placed horizontally at the ends of four shorter planks. Two are placed on each point and the other two are at the same distance from each other.

To reinforce this structure even more, we recommend that between each vertical plank you put a wooden board firmly attached.

Then, place a complete board on the back-it can be made of plywood-and another on the back. The part that remains free or uncovered is where the drawer and cover will go next; with respect to the latter, it will be formed by a mattress and a table attached to the drawer or trunk with hinges.

The entire structure is lined with foam and subsequently upholstered. The idea is that, when you need to use the sofa bed, open it at the height of the hinges, remove the bedding and place the mattress on top. So your guests will sleep more comfortable!

Sofa bed
How to make a sofa bed with pallets

Sure you know the famous 'pallets', those wooden structures increasingly used in crafts and DIY due to its versatility and resistance. Carpentry enthusiasts use them a lot, they are affordable - even in some places they are given away - and they are very easy to manipulate.

A pallet sofa bed can be used both for the living room of our house and for the garden, balcony or terrace. If you will use it outdoors, you should bear in mind that the wood will need additional treatment to withstand the inclement weather.

Materials
The materials you need for this craft, ideal if you like recycling, are:

• 2 pallets
• 1 mattress (the size you want).
• 4 wheels or wooden blocks (depending on whether you want to move it or leave it fixed).
• Nails, screws, hammer.
• Electric sander and drill.
• Steps to follow
• Sand the surface of the pallets well, so that they are soft to the touch.
• Reinforce placing nails in the tables that are loose.
• Present one pallet next to the other and join them together with long screws so they do not move.

Once the structure is ready, add the wheels or legs at the bottom.
You can paint the woods of the color you want.
Let dry well and then place the mattress with a sheet or blanket. And it's ready!
Beds made with pallets.

In this project, you will have to put the sofa bed against a wall . However, if you prefer, you can use the backup technique of the previous option and attach it to the structure.

For example, there is the alternative of putting two pallets together as the base and fixing them to it. Another option is to cut a pallet in half and join it, so that the backrest is not so high. In addition, you will need cushions and pillows to decorate or make the backrest more comfortable.

Let your imagination fly and build the best sofa bed, without spending too much money and with what you have at home . Without a doubt, you will save considerably more than if you buy it in a store. In this way, you will have a beautiful space to enjoy at any time or receive as appropriate to your visits.

House Bed Frame Twin Size with legs (deluxe version) PREMIUM WOOD

BED BASE: A GOOD STRUCTURE IS THE KEY

The base of the bed is a very important part of rest. You can think that the mattress is paramount, and in fact it is. But the truth is that you need a suitable bed base for our mattress.

If you have recently decided that you have to change the mattress because it is too worn out or it is already more than 10 years old, you have to ask yourself if the time has also come to change the mattress base .

Although at first sight it seems that it is in optimal conditions, you should bear in mind that a worn bed structure will not allow your mattress to provide all its properties.



House Bed Frame Twin Size with legs (deluxe version) PREMIUM WOOD

For all this, we will analyze the different bed bases of the market and see which is best complemented by your mattress.

In addition, you will see that there are many options and that it can be a key part of the bedroom, since the bed base offers many storage options and amenities , such as the train bed, which allow us to have an amazing bedroom for our children, who can share room without losing space.

WHAT TYPES OF BED BASES ARE THERE?
Bed bases are many, of all types and styles you can imagine. Then we will present the different types of beds that are demanded in the market.

We will show you, on the one hand, the bed structures that best take advantage of the space and, on the other, other types of more general bedding:

BETTER USE OF SPACE
1. NIGHT BED AND BED CANGURO
The differences between trundle and kangaroo are not too many, but they do exist. Specifically, a trundle bed is formed by two beds, or even three, forming a single piece of furniture.

A kangaroo bed is made up of a bed frame that has another bed base underneath. The latter is easily extracted from below to form two beds. In general, the two terms are confused and that is why we have decided to talk to you about the two together.

In the market we can find two types of bed, but the truth is that the trundle bed with drawers is an evolution of the kangaroo bed .

In addition, the trundle bed can have more functionalities than that of housing two beds, since it can be found with three beds, more in the style of bunk beds, and can have drawers, desks and even closets.

If you are looking for a double bed with storage , this can be a very good solution, especially for small rooms.

2. TRAIN AND LITERA BED
The train beds are very similar to the bunk beds of a lifetime, but there is a difference between the two. In the case of bunk beds, one bed is on top of the other, vertically.

On the contrary, the train bed does not have a bed on top of the other just in the vertical, but it is on top but on one side. Look at the images and compare:

Today we find many ways to take advantage of space. In fact, you can find folding bunk beds, that is, they are taken out of the closet when you go to sleep, being able to enjoy much more of the room when the beds are collected.

But if you need a bed base with drawers , and even with wardrobes, the best option is a train bed, since the bed is to one side and not just above, you can use the space between them to Save all kinds of things, so it's a good choice of double bed with storage.

The train bed seems like a great opportunity for the children's rooms , especially if they have to share a room and the bedroom tends to be elongated.

3. FOLDING BED
The folding beds also allow us to take advantage of the space optimally, since they can be stored almost anywhere when we do not need them . In addition, this type of bed structure is usually very resistant and flexible. It is undoubtedly a good option that can get us out of trouble when we receive guests at home.


In the market there is a wide range of extra beds. Before buying one you will have to take into account the size you want, if you want it to be folded vertically or horizontally, the quality of the mattress and the supports.

4. FOLDING BED
Although there are very modern, this type of bed dates from the nineteenth century. They are an ideal solution to the lack of space and solve us in a moment any unexpected visit.

Nowadays, there are very modern and sophisticated ones. There are folding beds that are barely detectable, as they adapt perfectly to the decoration of the home.

In addition, some even have folding desk, wardrobe, drawers and even bookstore. We can also choose between the vertical or horizontal folding option.

What do you think about this option? We LOVE YOU


5. SOFA BASE GOLD BED (ABATIBLE SOFA)
The sofa bed is great to gain space in the room and, in addition, allows us to store many things under it , so it is another of the best options if we want a bed with storage.

If we need more cabinets, this type of bed is great for it. It has happened to all of us that we do not know where to store our clothes when we change seasons, or we need to store many towels or sheets ... If you feel identified, this is your solution.

Also, if you are looking for a base for a bed without legs (although there are also legs) these are ideal . Take a look at our article " Selection of the best cheaper canapés " to buy the right canapé without leaving you a fortune.

Now, if you are looking for a mattress and canapé offer, read our post with comparisons, opinions and advice!



OTHER BEDS

1. SOMIER
The box spring is the classic of the classics. It consists of a support that is usually made of metal (although there are also wooden ones) that has transverse sheets of wood or other materials.

The firmness of the same will depend on the amount of sheets that are available and the width of these. Many of them allow to regulate the firmness, adapting to the needs of the consumer by means of the displacement of some tensors .

somier
They exist in a multitude of sizes. The larger ones for double beds usually have a bar in the center that allows more firmness.

This type of bed base would be very suitable for a latex mattress , since it allows good ventilation.

2. UPHOLSTERED BASE
This type of bed base, unlike the bed bases, offer a lot of firmness to the mattress and our rest , since its base is totally rigid. Upholstered bases can be of two types:

1. Rigid cover, which hardly allows perspiration, but which are ideal for spring mattresses.

2. Upholstered with breathable fabrics and even have a microperforated board, which considerably increases the ventilation of the mattress, providing the greatest firmness to foam mattresses, springs or viscoelastic mattresses . In Alsobre we do not recommend latex, since they are the ones that need more ventilation.

I WANT TO SEE THE BEST CHEAPEST UPHOLSTERY BASES

This type of upholstered base is designed with 3D fabric and transpiration valves (the 4 dots that you see in the center) that allow a better aeration of the mattress.

CHECK OUT THE CHEAPEST 3D FABRIC UPHOLSTERY BASES THAT WE RECOMMEND


3. ARTICULATED BASE
The articulated bases are a real pass. They allow you to be in bed reading, watching TV, looking at your mobile or tablet ... having at all times an ideal posture for your health and avoid hurting especially your back.

Although if you have insomnia problems, in our article Home Remedies to sleep well   We recommend that you do not do these things in bed, especially before going to sleep. If you want more information on the subject , take a look at the article.

Articulated beds have an advantage that we like very much in Alsobre , since we advocate for health and care.

And this type of bed allows us to lift the legs, so they are ideal for people with tired legs, poor circulation or back pain .

There is no doubt that they are ideal for people who have to spend a lot of time in bed and have reduced mobility, as it allows them to move.

Its main drawback is usually the price and space it occupies, although we can find some very cheap that are worth buying. And eye! You will have to buy a mattress for an articulated bed, it is not worth anyone .

THE INTELLIGENT MATTRESS THAT IMPROVES YOUR SLEEP HABITS THANKS TO YOUR TECHNOLOGY

AS IT DOES?

4. TATAMI BED
This type of bed comes directly from Japan and I do not know about you, but it really amazes us. The most normal thing is that they are made with natural products, wood, rice straw ...

Visually they seem beautiful, but you can also give more uses to your bed base, something that you had not raised.

This type of beds have a special mattress called futon, which must be very easy to store and transport, which allows us to increase its functionality a lot.

Within the tatamis we have the most original Japanese that are at ground level (as in the image above) and some that have adapted a little more to our customs, rising a few inches off the ground.

To sleep, the futon is pulled out and stretched on the tatami and ... voila! We have a Japanese bed in a few minutes.

During the day we can pick up the futon and use the tatami to do yoga or other sports, let the children play and we can even put the futon in such a way that it can serve as a sofa.

How about?
It can be considered a type of modern and original bed, without a doubt.

Great Deal Furniture | Baron | Mid Century Queen Platform Bed Frame | in Navy Blue

How to make a bed bunk yourself?

The lack of space is usually the most common problem in shared rooms, an effective solution to optimize it is to decide to put a bunk that leaves more room free. Finding the model that suits your needs and having the appropriate measures for your stay is not always easy. Therefore, below you will find tips on how to make a bunk yourself.



Great Deal Furniture | Baron | Mid Century Queen Platform Bed Frame | in Navy Blue

What tools and materials do you need to make a bed bunk?

• Wooden boards
• keyhole saw
• Flexometer
• Wood glue
• Wood drill
• Laundries
• Metric screw
• Self-locking hex nut
• Key

How to make a bed bunk yourself?

Before starting it is important that you bear in mind that the furniture you are going to build takes up a lot of space, therefore you need a clear area to work more comfortable. In addition, we recommend you to build the independent modules and assemble them inside the room, since a mounted bunk is very difficult to manipulate and it will cost you to enter it in the bedroom.

1. Take measures. Measure the width and length of the beds. The height of the litter should be the high sum of each of the beds plus a stop that separates them of about 40 centimeters. To make a bunk you will build two independent beds exactly the same, which you will then attach to a structure at different heights. To make the beds, first create the bed frame. If you want guidance before starting on what jigsaw you need for your DIY jobs, learn how to choose jigsaw.

2. Mount the bed frame. Cut two planks approximately 15 centimeters wide, however long the mattress you are going to use. Half of these planks screw a long strip, which is where the slats that will form the bed frame of each of the beds rest . Cut these slats and distribute along the bedding leaving the same distance between them. Fix them to the strip on which they rest with wooden glue and lag screws. Repeat the process so that you would already have the two mattresses mounted, where you will put the mattresses.

3. Mount the mattress on the legs. Make two equal modules that make the legs of the beds. Cut two equal planks of 15 cm wide by the height of the bed, join them together by screwing planks of 15 centimeters by the width of the bed, one of these planks will go in the upper part of the module forming a structure in the shape of U inverted, the other will go in half. Remember to make a guide with a small bit in the wood before introducing the lag screws.

It is in this last plank, you will fix the bed base, also with wooden glue and lag screws. Do not forget, when taking measurements, take into account the thickness of the wood. Now you should have mounted two independent beds that are what will form your bunk afterwards.

4. Mount the structure of the bunk. Mount two equal structures that will be the legs of the litter. Cut two wooden planks of 15 centimeters in width by the height that is going to be the litter and join them with planks screwed to the edge of 15 centimeters by the width that has the litter. There will be 4 planks that you will use to join in each structure, one in the upper part, another in the lower part and two in the middle. This step is the same as the previous one, but this time, the legs are much higher since they are where you will mount the two beds.

5. Place on the legs the stop that separates the two beds. Now to separate the bed below and the one above, you must set a top to that structure that you have made before, do it on the inner side of about 15 centimeters wide by 40 centimeters long that supports the weight of the upper bed. This stop will be made of wood and you will fix it with thick screws and self-locking hexagonal nuts by tightening it with a key. It must be very fixed, since this stop supports the entire weight of the upper bed. If you are looking for guidance on the ideal nut for your projects, discover what hex nuts are .

6. Attach the beds to the structures. The structures previously assembled are the litter legs. The most comfortable way to place the beds in them is as follows; put one of the structures on the floor, mount the beds on top leaving the top between them, then put the second of the structures on top. Fix each bed to the legs with screw and nut. Carefully lift the bunk to make it straight and it will be mounted.

7. Put the ladder. With wooden planks creates a stair respecting the height of the bunk. You must fix it on one side to access the upper bed, these joints are made with wooden glue and lag screws.

It is a project that requires work and dedication, but the result is worth it, if you have dared to make your own bunk or any furniture in your home you can share it with us in our Projects section. If you have questions, you can open a thread of conversation in our forums where we will be happy to help.

Bradford Cal King Dark Copper Gold Bed Frame

HOW TO MAKE A VERY NICE PALLET BED

Learning how to make a pallet bed is relatively fast, you should only have some skill for DIY, patience and follow a few simple steps:



Bradford Cal King Dark Copper Gold Bed Frame

How to make a pallet bed

• The first thing you have to do is get some pallets that are in the best possible state, because that will save you work later. You need two pallets for a single bed of 0.90 x 1.90 m and the matrimonials measure 1.35 x 1.90 or 1.50 x 1.90 m. How many do you need to make the pallet bed will depend on the size of these. Generally, two are enough to make a small bed or four to make it bigger. Double the amount if you want your pallet bed to be higher, and that depends on your taste. A wooden board the size of the mattress to place it below it will be useful to preserve its shape and last longer.
• Then you must remove the dirt from the pallet, if any, with water and a lot of pressure. Then wait for it to dry completely.
• If the wood of the pallet does not have any treatment, it is recommended that you preventively apply a fungicide treatment (against mold) that you will find in the DIY warehouses. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and then let it dry. This process will allow your pallet bed to last a lot of time, especially if there is a lot of humidity in your area, otherwise you can skip this step.
• Check it carefully and remove all nails that are protruding, bent or rusted, it is important that you do this to make the pallet bed secure. That is why you must eliminate any element that carries a risk of personal harm.
• As the pallets generally come from industrial environments, they have an ordinary finish, so that for the bed to be well finished you should start by sanding the surface of the pallet with a medium or thick sandpaper, it is important that you do not get splinters and that it's smooth
• Now remove with a brush or whatever you have on hand, the wood dust until it is clean. It is time to apply the primer, a liquid that will cover / seal the pores and improve the surface of the wood to paint it, it also improves the absorption of the paint. These substances are quick drying, so soon you can continue to make your bed of pallets.
• Once the wood of the pallets is dry , you can start painting it preferably with wood glazes of the tone that you like. I recommend that you take into account the decoration of your room as a whole so that you achieve a harmonious whole.
• When you have the pallets ready , start to make the structure of the pallet bed joining them together, for this I use special wood plates (joining brackets, perforated plates, fittings in L or T, etc.). There are many ways, I like straight lines because they are smaller and look less. You can place two plates per side to fix the structure, and they are placed in strategic places so they can not be seen: on the bottom, on the top where the headboard would go, etc. There are other methods to join wooden boards but after some experiences, I assure you that the plates are the most practical. They can also be joined with very long screws or with wooden blocks, but they are more complicated methods.
• The size of the structure of the pallet bed depends on your taste, if you do not mind that it is a little wider than the mattress, it is likely that you do not have to cut the pallets, besides that you would have a free surface to put a lamp or books.
• Now that you know how to make a pallet bed, you can be inspired to make your own bed or that of your children.

Cardinal & Crest Wood Platform Bed Frame | Modern Wooden Design | Solid Wood | Made in U.S.A. | Easy Assembly | Grey, California King

LEARN HOW TO MAKE A REMOVABLE BED STEP BY STEP

Today we woke up creative! And we decided to share one of our best tutorials to explain STEP BY STEP how to make a bed frame from which we can move without problems to take it to another site.

In this way, we will make the complete structure of a bed starting from several tables and wooden blocks and with a carpentry technique that will allow us to assemble all the pieces together without using any fixing element. This will make disassembling and transporting it almost, almost child's play.



Cardinal & Crest Wood Platform Bed Frame | Modern Wooden Design | Solid Wood | Made in U.S.A. | Easy Assembly | Grey, California King

Take note!

Step 1

We commission the tables with which we will build the structure of the bed to the extent of our mattress . The first thing we have to do is cut with the circular saw strips that will serve as support for the mattress.

Step 2

We already have all the pieces that we need, so we started working on the crossbars of the bed, using the jigsaw to cut half the wood.

Step 3

The chisel and the mallet will help us complete the job.

Step 4

We reduce and smooth with the electric brush the surface of the studs in which we will work next to turn them into the legs of our bed.

Step 5

Being a hardwood block before making the cuts to half wood we will have to make some holes with the drill and spindle drill bit.

Step 6

Now, yes, we go through the holes with the jigsaw until we get the notches we need so that these pieces fit perfectly with the crossbars.

Step 7

We finish the cuts with the rasp and then we sand all the pieces of the bed.

Step 8

We make holes in the slats that will support the mattress.

Step 9

With lag screws we fix the slats to the crossbars.

Step 10

We assemble piece by piece , as if it were a puzzle, our new bed.

Step 11

As we want it to be completely removable and easy to transport, we are also going to make the slatted base in the manner of slats that we join together with blinds.

Step 12

We support the bed frame on the bed and we can only place the mattress and enjoy a piece that from now on will accompany us without problems wherever we go.

Step 13

Completed work! In this simple way we have created the structure of a removable bed. A different and practical carpentry work.

Zinus Gene 16 Inch SmartBase Deluxe Mattress Foundation / 2 Extra Inches high for Under-bed Storage / Platform Bed Frame / Box Spring Replacement / Strong / Sturdy / Quiet Noise-Free, Full

4 fantastic ideas to build your bed!

Sometimes we have a lot of materials at home that we no longer use or that simply went out of fashion, it is also the case of those shelves, furniture, chairs and other things that deteriorated as time passed and we stored them. Perhaps you have considered the possibility of being yourself building the bed that will be in your room or in any other place in the house, there are many possible materials to make this dream come true, whether in wood, tubes, cardboard, etc. , so the first thing you should do is make a list of the materials you need and which ones you already have at hand, remember that the best thing we can do for the environment is to recycle and this can be a great opportunity to do so. If you still wonder what materials to use? Or how to make it resistant? I am pleased to inform you that in the next post you will learn how to make the bed of your dreams on a low budget. Let's do it!



Zinus Gene 16 Inch SmartBase Deluxe Mattress Foundation / 2 Extra Inches high for Under-bed Storage / Platform Bed Frame / Box Spring Replacement / Strong / Sturdy / Quiet Noise-Free, Full

Hanging base

Many people tend to have a taste for swings, perhaps because these remind them of the games they enjoyed in their childhood or they usually prefer to read a book lying in a hammock, maybe you are wondering how to have a bed that is suspended or rather a swing type bed, what is certain is that it is not impossible to make your dream come true, you just have to find the following things: you must make sure that the roof can support the weight of the structure, placing hooks and strong cables, then you must fix the hooks on the roof (preferably steel), insert the thick rope into the hoops and in this way you will enjoy your bed in the best style of a swing.

A bed with drawers

Our room is usually multifunctional most of the time, in the we usually rest, study, work among other things, that's why the good use of the available square meters is so important. The place is sometimes somewhat reduced by all the things that we keep, either our belongings and other objects, so it's time to make the most of the available space under the bed:

1- Measure the space that is under the bed and take notes.

2 - Go to a carpentry shop, and buy orders cut in wood with the measures you took.

3- Begin to assemble the drawers at home and place them under the bed.

4- Finally paint both the bed and the drawers of the same tone so you do not miss the combination.

Make a pallet base

When we buy appliances or walk through a supermarket we can see the pallets that remain available, sometimes they give them away or sell them, but it turns out that this material is one of the most functional, with them we can make furniture beds, banks, libraries, etc. This material is very used in vintage decorations and has become a true trend in terms of decoration for its ecological quality, put into practice the following steps and make the base of your bed: get 4 pallets and smooth them carefully to eliminate splinters, then paint them the color you have chosen and join them with nails to give more stability.

Use resistant cardboard

Do you need to save costs? The solution is very simple RECYCLE! Yes, because the experts have proven that one of the best ways to reduce investment costs is to recycle the things we have at home, this, besides being green, is usually a great help for your pocket, so if what you are looking for is a Original idea to improve your room you can build the bed with cardboard boxes. The first thing you should do is choose thick cardboard boxes (one that looks like wood) you have to unfold and fold the boxes with each other to reinforce them; then screw a box with another, always maintaining the height, you place a thick sheet on the base that you built, this will be the one that holds the mattress and you will get a very comfortable bed, this type of beds is ideal for a teenager's room.

A tube base

Possibly you have some tubes in the warehouse of your house and you do not know what to do with them, there are currently innumerable bed designs that you can make with this material, this will give your room a somewhat industrial style, which together with a good combination can make such an important place a very original stay, take note: you will need 2 long tubes of 2.00 meters each for the base; 7 long tubes of 1.70 meters for the head and other bases; 4 tubes of 1.00 meter for the legs of the bed, 4 elbows and 6 "T", remember that everything varies according to the design you want to make. Then you must begin to join the tubes to fix the structure, you can leave the pipe with its original color or paint it, then place the wooden base and proceed to assemble the mattress.

Transparent bed

The base of your bed should be very original, as this should be combined with the rest of the decoration that the room has, so if you want to make your room a more modern place you can place under the bed some drawers in transparent acrylic, this will allow you to take advantage of the available space in order to obtain more useful space, in which you can store books, shoes, sheets, toys, among others, while the rest of the decoration is still intact and the order is the protagonist of the place.

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Probiotics During Pregnancy

What are probiotics ? Probiotics are live microorganisms, most of which are bacteria followed by yeast. They are similar to microorganisms occurring naturally found in the intestines, or the gut, of each person. Three of the most commonly used probiotics include Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium , and Saccharomyces . They are often called "friendly bacteria." Probiotics help with the support of your digestive health.



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Probiotics Are Safe During Pregnancy

Are probiotics safe? Probiotics are probably safe. Even so, due to the great variety of probiotics and limited studies, probiotics can not be declared completely safe.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institute of Health (NIH), probiotics are probably safe due to current data indicating that probiotic supplements are rarely absorbed. The chances of contracting bacteremia from taking Lactobacillus probiotics is less than 1 per 1 million, and the chances of getting fungemia from Saccharomyces boulardii is approximately 1 per 5.6 million individuals taking the probiotic.

With limited studies with the use of probiotics during pregnancy, there are no associations with the use of probiotics and miscarriages or malformations of either. In addition, a meta-analysis by Canadian researchers found no association with the use of probiotics and the incidence of cesarean section, birth weight, or gestational age.

The NLM and NIH concluded that there does not appear to be any risk of probiotic use for pregnant women or during breastfeeding.

How do Probiotics Work during Pregnancy?

The precise way probiotics work is still up for debate. Researchers are still investigating their exact mechanism. However, the initial thinking is that in the same way bad bacteria attack the body, good bacteria attack destructive invaders. One assumption is they help reduce bad bacteria in your body, which can lower the potential of certain infections or other health concerns.

The precise way in which probiotics work is still being discussed. Researchers continue to investigate its exact mechanism. However, the initial thoughts are in the same way that bad bacteria attack the body, good bacteria attack destructive invaders. One assumption is that they help reduce the bad bacteria in your body, which can lower the potential of some infections and other health concerns.

What are the Benefits of Probiotics During Pregnancy?

Probiotics, whether from foods or supplements, help your digestive system work more. As noted above, probiotics are assumed to be less in the presence of bad bacteria. Helping your intestines move food along and reducing bad bacteria help reduce the likelihood of experiencing health issues.

Probiotics, whether of food or supplements, help your digestive system work more effectively. As mentioned above, probiotics are assumed to decrease the presence of bad bacteria. Helping your intestines move food and reducing bad bacteria can reduce the chances of experiencing health complications.

Probiotics are understood to help with the following:

•     Diarrhea infection
•     Diarrhea related to antibiotics
•     Irritable bowel syndrome
•     Inflammatory bowel disease
•     Bacterial vaginosis
•     Eczema (contradictory results)
•     Reduced Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis

A study conducted by the journal of Natural Medicine reported that the use of probiotics reduced the chances of suffering from gestational diabetes.

How common is the use of probiotics during pregnancy?

With constipation and diarrhea, which are two common symptoms experienced during pregnancy, the use of probiotics during pregnancy is common. The Canadian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada found that 45 to 93% of midwives had prescribed some form of natural health products to pregnant women.

Where Can You Get Probiotics During Pregnancy?

Probiotics are commonly consumed in yogurt with live culture or through supplements. Here is an article that shares how you can get probiotics naturally.

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What are probiotics and why should you know about their benefits

You will be surprised to know that the way you feel, and even how you shine every day, is directly linked to the health of your intestine

To maintain good health, your gut must properly absorb nutrients and help eliminate waste products and toxins daily.

Unfortunately, most people are faced with an excessive number of toxins in their intestines, so they are not functioning in the most optimal way that would be appropriate.

Your gut is not only the center of your body, but also the center of your health and well-being. Therefore, if your intestine is not healthy, you will not either!



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What are probiotics?

Probiotics are the benign bacteria that help nourish and balance your intestinal microbiome

The word "probiotic" is derived from pro = para and bio = life. Therefore everything together would be something like "for life", sounds good eh!

Probiotics are like a body of security for our health that help us:

• * Monitor malignant bacteria and microorganisms
• * Supports the work of digestion and absorption of nutrients
• * Ensures that your body receives the vitamins, minerals, fats and amino acids from the foods you are consuming
• * They are necessary for the generation of certain vitamins of group B, vitamin K, folate and some short chains of fatty acids.
• * Contributes to the optimal functioning of the immune system
• * Help your body maintain its own PH

Benign bacteria (probiotics) are absolutely vital in keeping malignant bacteria at bay, keeping potential infections in check, keeping inflammation under control and preventing infections from spreading throughout your body.

What are probiotic strains?

 Not all probiotic bacteria are the same. They differ in relation to spices and strains.

Different strains have different results for the human body. Most probiotics include two main strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria bifidum, however, the best probiotic supplements usually include more strains.

At the end of the article, the different strains will be discussed.

Probiotics must live and colonize inside the intestine so that they can produce benefits. Probiotics differ and therefore the benefits that can be obtained from them are not measured by the number of living bacteria in the food you eat or in the supplements you eat. The real benefits of probiotics depend on the ability of the bacteria to survive and colonize within your gut.
This is measured by colony forming units (1). Colony forming units represent a bacterium or yeast that is capable of living and reproducing to form a group of the same bacteria or yeast.

What is the relationship between probiotics and your intestine?

• probiotic foods, function and benefits
• Benefits of healthy eating and probiotics,

According to Hippocrates, "All diseases begin in the intestine."

Healing your bowel is one of the first and most important steps to recover health and vitality. Thanks to foods rich in probiotics that help repopulate the benign bacteria we need to support our digestive tract.

So why should we pay special attention to probiotics?

About 70% of our immune cells are lodged in our digestive system!

There are more bacteria in our digestive system than there are in the rest of the cells of your body, the bacteria in your intestine weighs more than 1 kilo ..

And believe me that that extra kilo you should not lose it! In addition, 95% of your serototine (the "feel good" hormone or "happiness") is lodged in your gut as well.

More and more scientists, doctors and researchers are discovering the incredible link (2) between your intestinal health and your relationship with your mental well-being.

It turns out that in some cases, "chronic" diseases such as depression (3), anxiety (4) and schizophrenia (5), may be linked to some serious imbalances and inflammation of the intestine.

Researchers at the University of Oxford (6) have found that "prebiotic" supplements (those that feed the benign bacteria in your intestine) can have an anti-anxiolytic effect, as it alters the way people process emotions . The participants in this study not only experienced less anxiety when faced with negative stimuli, but also showed lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol

Symptoms of an intestine in imbalance

Benefits of probiotics to relief stomach upset

So how can you tell if you have a balanced intestinal bacterium or not?

Some symptoms of an imbalance in your intestinal microbiome include:

• *Acne
• * Food allergies
• * Sensitivity to certain foods
• * Flawed sleep patterns
• *Irritable bowel syndrome
• * Chronic fatigue
• * Learning and behavior disorders
• * Irregular mood
• *Lactose intolerance
• * Problems with the skin, such as eczema, psoriasis ..
• * Autoimmune diseases (lupus, arthritis, etc.)
• * Uncontrolled binge eating (and wanting to take them out)
• * Stomach cramps and stomach cramps after meals
• * Gases, stomach swelling and diarrhea recurrently

There are more symptoms that can be linked to poor intestinal health.

Another "curious" clue we can have for the health of our gut would be.

The stool

Stools are a byproduct of a healthy or unhealthy intestine. When it is produced, how and what form and smells it has, it gives us clues to the health of your digestive system.

Basically your stools are an indicator of whether or not you are getting enough probiotics on a daily basis.

What you see in your toilet can be a health indicator

Type 1 and 2 indicate constipation, 3 and 4 are within normal, 5 indicates lack of fiber, and 6 and 7 indicate inflammation of the intestine.

Good feces: like a sausage, without difficulty to leave.

Feces "not so good": separated pieces and hard, in the form of balls, or too liquid or watery.

If you are experiencing the "not so good" form of stool more often than the good one, it is time for you to take action and start taking care of your bowel.

Why are probiotics important?
I will not stop emphasizing the importance of your intestinal health for your well-being in general. And one of the best things you can do for your gut is to provide it on a recurring basis with foods rich in probiotics.

Dr. Mercola says (5) "Your body contains about 100 trillion bacteria, more than 10 times the number of cells you have in your entire body. It is increasingly clear that the type and amount of microorganisms in your intestine interact with your body in ways in which they can prevent or accelerate the development of some diseases.

The GreenMed portal (6) of medical research has compiled a list of more than 200 studies that talk about the excellent properties of probiotics and how they can help alleviate hundreds of diseases and ailments. Here is a brief list of what they can do for you:

Digestive Health

If your intestine lacks benign bacteria and other microorganisms, you will not be able to digest nutrients efficiently, no matter how much healthy food you eat. If you want to absorb as many nutrients as possible, then you need a lot of benign bacteria in your intestine. Probiotics are also vital to keep a large amount of toxic microorganisms out of your body, keeping your body healthy and happy.

Everything that enters your intestine is filtered through beneficial bacteria and is either sent to the excretory system, or transferred to the entire cell of your body where necessary. Be sure that your cells are only getting what is healthy by nourishing your body with healthy food and lots of probiotics.

Intestinal dysbiosis

Symbiosis means living in harmony, while dysbiosis refers to the imbalance of the microbial colonies of the body. In a healthy digestive system, the numerous bacterial strains keep balanced and superjacent to each other to remain balanced and healthy. The imbalance occurs when this mutual supervision is unable to occur effectively and one strain dominates the other, compromising the system as a whole and making its work harder on benign bacteria.

Enrollment with antibiotics

Antibiotics have helped lots of people recover from diseases and infections. However, antibiotics are extremely hard on your digestive system, since they not only attack the malignant bacteria, but also the benign one.

Detrimental effects of antibiotics for intestinal flora

Recovering your system during and after having been treated with antibiotics is very important for your intestinal health and general well-being. Therefore, if you have been taking antibiotics recently or are taking them now, start using a good probiotic. It will not interfere with the medication, it will only improve your body's ability to fight the infection by boosting your healthy intestinal flora, strengthening your immune system.

Mental health

Have you ever heard the bowel mentioned as your "second mind"? Some people call it that because it houses the 500 million neurons that make up your enteric nervous system. The SNE creates 50% of all the dopamine in your body and 95% of our serotonin. These hormones play a fundamental role in making us feel happy and satisfied. It makes sense that an unhealthy intestine can interrupt the proper functioning of these fundamental hormones.

Benefits of probiotics and nutrition for mental health

It has been proved (7) that the correction of healthy bacteria in the intestine can optimize the function of neutrotransmitters, causing an improvement in mental health and can even improve behavior and improve focus and memory.

Allergies

Research in Australia at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (8) has begun using probiotics to help children overcome severe allergies to peanuts. At the end of a study that lasted 18 months (9), where 30 children were given Lactobacillus rhamnosus, a bacterial strain used as a probiotic, they found that 80% of the participants were able to tolerate the peanuts again ... Incredible yes? J

Many food allergies can be linked to poor intestinal health, while there is an insufficient level of bacterial levels present.

Heavy metals, Bisphenol A (BPA), Pesticides and cancerous food preservatives

This is one of the negative "side effects" of modern civilization: the era of convenience and canned food. Even if we are careful, the toxins will enter our body in one way or another. For some people it will be very harmful, while for others it will mean absolutely nothing (each body is a world ..)

What can make the difference? A healthy intestine. A system full of benign bacteria will be able to detoxify these harmful substances and keep them at bay so that they do not interfere with your health and well-being.

A large part of these negative symptoms in the body are due to the overload of toxins and to a gut that is too weak to get rid of them. Every detoxifying regimen should focus first on strengthening the intestine.

Think about this: When your bowel is not balanced, either by dysbiosis or leaky bowel syndrome, you literally have holes in your intestinal lining. Imagine it this way:

You have a screen in the window whose function is not to get bugs ... right? Now imagine that there are holes in your screen. The insects would be able to enter directly ... no? Your intestine works the same. Holes in your "screen", allow insects (toxins, etc) to enter your bloodstream and create huge problems for your health in general, both internally and externally.

When this happens, your immune system becomes confused and begins to attack, creating autoimmunity (attacks itself). This does not happen in each case, but in all cases of autoimmunity (10), it is well established that the Leaky Gut Syndrome is present, sometimes undetected.

What kind of symptoms can indicate an excess of toxins?

•     Hormonal imbalance (especially with bisphenol A, which mimics estrogen in the body and disrupts the endocrine system)
•     Unexpected nausea
•     Digestive problems
•     Abdominal and stomach pain
•     Nervous system dysfunction
•     Asthma
•     Headaches
•     Blurred thinking
•     Continuous sudden changes in behavior

Skin health

Many times, your skin is a reflection of what is happening inside your body. So, instead of working from the outside, you need to work from within.

Foods that benefit the skin and keep it beautiful

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and has approximately 20 square meters in total. Your skin is a protective organ and keeps everything inside you healthy and away from microbes, chemicals and bacteria. Your skin is also one of the most important eliminatory organs, and is sometimes called "your third kidney", due to its responsibility to help release toxins from the body.

When the intestinal bacteria is unbalanced, it can cause Leaky Gut Syndrome, which means that the toxins are released into the bloodstream in large quantities. If you are prone to acne or other problems related to the skin, this can lead to skin rashes and more skin problems. Remember that your skin is a reflection of what is happening inside your body.

Dr. Whitney P. Bowe, MD (11) A certified dermatologist and medical professional, talks about the benefits that probiotics have on our skin.

"Although more studies are needed about the beneficial aspects that probiotics have for the cure of acne, either topical or oral solution. I think we can expect some amazing products for acne in the near future. In the meantime, I would recommend that patients with acne or rosacea talk to their dermatologists so they can add foods with probiotic cultures, like some yogurts, and take at least one probiotic supplement on a daily basis. "

Every time there is more and more research (12) coming to light letting us know that taking probiotics can help those with some discomfort in the skin.

Weak immunity

Healthy bacteria can train your immune system to distinguish between "alien" microbes that originate in your body, making probiotics the best allies in the fight against infections.

Prevention of diseases

Studies in animals have shown that consuming fermented foods rich in probiotics can annihilate several types of cancerous tumors. (13)

• Possible food poisoning
• Probiotics can help against food poisoning
• Bad bacteria lurk in your gut. Probiotics help replenish the beneficial bacteria and make your digestion work as it should.
• Taking probiotics on a regular basis gives the body a better defense against possible "invasions" from outside with which you can come into contact.
• How to include more probiotics in your diet.

            The fact of including probiotics with moderation in your diet is a good idea. This ensures that you are giving your bowel the best chance to be balanced and keep your immune system strong and working for you, instead of against you.

Below are some foods to start testing

Fermented foods

Types of fermented foods and their benefits

Almost all cultures include foods fermented in their diet, which provide probiotics (beneficial bacteria), vitamins and enzymes that help keep your digestive system healthy. Also mention that the massive use of antibiotics, and the lack of food as less processed as possible, literally means that your digestive system is lacking in these vital microorganisms and nutrients. Taking fermented foods helps replenish benign bacteria.

Yogurt- Yogurt is probably the most popular and known fermented food in our diet. Dairy-free varieties are recommended for their best benefits. Coconut or almond yogurt are great options. If you are preparad@ to take things a step further, you can even prepare your own yogurt. This is obviously the best option since you are controlling all the ingredients that you put in your yogurt, since most of those sold in the establishments are loaded with refined sugars and other additives.

Kefir- It is one of the richest foods in probiotics that exist. It is sometimes used to help in conditions such as leaky bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, and candida. It is the "superior" version of yogurt. ... has about three times more probiotics than yogurt. This is because it is fermented with 10-20 different types of bacteria and yeast, while yogurt only has a couple of them.

Kefir also contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps you be more "sleepy" and relaxed. It also has phosphorus, which is the second most abundant mineral in our body, and it helps us use carbohydrates and proteins for the energy of cells.

Sauerkraut- Sauerkraut is rich in probiotics and is an excellent way to repopulate healthy levels of intestinal bacteria. Some European countries use it to treat and prevent peptic ulcers. Because it helps the bowel, it can be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, acne, skin problems, colds, allergies, acid reflux, bone strengthening, and other benefits.

Dr. Mercola (14) sent samples of sauerkraut to a laboratory to investigate how many pribiotics it contained:

"When analyzing it. We found that in a sample of 150 grams of this fermented vegetable, there were literally 10 trillion bacteria. "

Kimchi - EL Kimchi comes from Korea and is an even more powerful food than sauerkraut in terms of probiotics. It usually contains cabbage, red peppers, onion, garlic and salt.

Research in Korea has published a summary of more than 130 studies (15) that have demonstrated the incredible healing properties of kimchi. It helps with colds, improves the immune system, protein digestion, prevents teeth deterioration, prevents the risk of obesity, and also nutritional deficiencies.

In animal studies (16) Kimchi has been shown to have the ability to suppress tumors.

Studies by Professor Miri Kim, from the National University of Chungnam, (17) along with others, found that kimchi is effective in preventing cancer and detoxifying heavy metals the liver, kidney and small intestine.

Umeboshi- The Umeboshi is a plum. It has been used in the Japanese, Chinese and Korean diet for hundreds of years. During the wars of the 15th and 16th century the samurai warriors used umeboshi to recover from fatigue. The medicinal uses of umeboshi have been documented in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 3000 years. The citric acid in umeboshi converts lactic acid into water and helps eliminate it from the body. When lactic acid accumulates in the body it can cause fatigue and fatigue. The fruit is also used to treat vomiting, diarrhea, nausea in general, infections, liver poisoning, ..

Kombucha - Ancient China, they called it the "Elixir of Eternal Health", used to help the body recover from degenerative diseases. It has recently become popular in the western world and is being studied for its possible preventive properties against cancer. Kombucha is a sweet tea that has been fermented using benign bacteria and yeast, being a powerful probiotic. It is used to combat digestive problems, candida, provides enzymes and bacterial acids to detoxify the body naturally and has been shown to be beneficial against joint pain. Kombucha contains glucosamine, an amino-sugar that helps preserve cartilage and relieve arthritis symptoms.

Kombucha can also be made at home

          

Fermented cod liver oil - This oil, as opposed to normal fish oil supplements, is processed cold by fermentation instead of heat processing. This preserves liposoluble vitamins and omega 3, which can be damaged by high temperatures. This oil contains vitamin A and D, both are important to the immune system and are precursors of the hormone-activating expression genes. Consuming cod liver oil regularly can be beneficial to help against joint pain and arthritis, bone health, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, depression, breast cancer, wound healing ... etc (18)

Miso- It is a traditional Japanese pasta made of soy beans, sea salt and koji. Pasta is often used to make soup or to eat it with rice, beans, dates more than 2500 years ago. It has all the essential amino acids and is therefore considered a complete protein, in addition to providing all the probiotics essential for the digestive tract. It is known to protect against radiation and heavy metals (19), because it contains dipicolinic acid, an alkaloid that helps to remove heavy metals from the body.

Natto - Another Japanese meal, low in calories, is a fermented superfood high in protein that is considered one of the "secrets of health" of the Japanese for centuries. Natto helps longevity, beauty, mental capacity and better cardiovascular health. The average Japanese live five years longer than the Americans, so Natto is a secret to which you must give an opportunity.

Natto is an excellent source of vitamin K, very important for bone health and strength, as well as for circulation and blood clots.

Probiotic supplements

Probiotics are abundant in fermented foods, but their probiotic concentration is not sufficient to be used therapeutically when the intestinal flora has been drastically eliminated. In this case, contact your medical specialist in case you have a severe digestive problem.

Therefore, it is advisable that you incorporate fermented foods rich in probiotics on a regular basis as part of your diet to maintain your adequate levels as a form of prevention. It can be accompanied if desired with a quality probiotic supplement, as a form of prevention therapy.

How to choose a good probiotic supplement

    Look at the strains of bacteria

Some probiotic supplements contain only a single strain of bacteria, while others contain 10 or more. In certain cases this may be beneficial to have only one strain (if you are locating something specific or fighting some negative effects of certain antibiotics.), But for daily supplementation it is better to obtain a probiotic with more than 10 individual strains.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus : is the most popular probiotic strain that has been shown to be helpful against the growth of candida and the immune system. It also contains vitamin K as a bi-product, and is important for the digestion of dairy products. If you have dairy intolerance it can be due to a deficiency of this bacterium.

Bifidobacteria Bifidum : is another that you may have heard in television ads. It helps with digestion, the synthesis of vitamin B and the function of the immune system.

Longum: helps maintain the integrity of your intestinal wall and is useful in eliminating toxins. This bacterium also assists in decomposing cereals, legumes and cruciferous vegetables.

Saccharomyces Boulardii: it is good for those who travel and usually have diarrhea or any other type of indigestion. It also plays a great role in fighting chronic candida.

Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus Acidiphilus and Streptococcus Thermophiles help the intestine to digest and absorb lactose (milk sugars).

Bifidobacterium Infantis 35624, Lactobacillus Plantarum 299V and Bifidobacterium Bifidum MIMBb75 , regulate bowel movements and relieve gas, bloating and pain.

    Look at the colony forming units

20-50 billion is a good place to start. Consult your health professional if you want to find the best dose for your individual needs

•     Avoid unnecessary ingredients

Phillips’ Colon Health Probiotic Capsules

How to understand : Probiotic side effects

A few weeks ago, I spoke to you about the microbiota , the millions of bacteria that coexist with us in perfect harmony, and that play important functions such as protecting our organism from potentially harmful microorganisms, controlling the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal cells, produce vitamins etc, and whose imbalance (dysbiosis) seems to be responsible for multiple diseases.

In that post, I gave you a series of recommendations to take care of our bacteria ... but what if that is not enough? What if we need something more to recover an extremely damaged flora?



Phillips’ Colon Health Probiotic Capsules

Today I talk about probiotics, but before ... I'm going to do a bit of history (which you already know I like):

We have proof of the use of fermented milk for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections since, at least, the year 76 BC ., Note that it is not something new, it has rained since then.

In 1901, Metchnikoff proposed the theory that the gut microbiota could be modulated in a beneficial way for the organism by the oral administration of the bacteria involved in the fermentation of yogurt, since these would be able to suppress the putrefactive bacteria, and that for this reason, the Bulgarian peasants (great lovers and consumers of yogurt) would be so long-lived. He published his observations in the book "Prolongation of Life" ... a visionary, do not you think?

yogurt

In 1909, Isaac Carasso , another visionary, but in this case of business, created the trademark Danone in Barcelona, ​​and began to market the yogurt, which until then, was dispensed in pharmacies and was used to prevent or alleviate various disorders (diarrhea, constipation, cystitis, dermatitis, colitis ...)

In 1965, Lilly and Stillwell introduce the term probiotic, and define it as "that factor of microbiological origin that stimulates the growth of other organisms."

So, as you can see, probiotics are not new ... their properties have been known for centuries, but more and more research is being done on them, different strains are cultivated and commercialized and new benefits are discovered, hence the title of the post … what's new Old man?

But what are they exactly?

Before "getting into work" ... I think it is necessary to differentiate three concepts :

• - Probiotics : They are live microorganisms that when delivered in adequate amounts promote health benefits in the body of the individual who consumes them.
• - Prebiotics : Selectively fermented ingredients that give rise to specific changes in the composition and / or activity of the gastrointestinal flora, thus conferring benefits to the health of the host
• - Symbiotics : Products that contain both probiotics and prebiotics

The Spanish Society of Probiotics and Prebiotics (SEPYP), establishes a series of conditions in its consensus document to be able to speak properly of probiotics:

•     They are living microorganisms that, when administered in adequate quantities, confer a benefit on the health of the recipient.
•     The substances "constituents of" or "produced by" microorganisms can not be considered probiotic.
•     To be able to talk about probiotics, it must be demonstrated scientifically, through studies carried out in human population and with adequate scientific methodology, which produces beneficial effects in the organism.
•     Laboratory studies are essential and provide a lot of information, but they are not enough to ensure a benefit in humans.
•     The health effects demonstrated for a strain are not extrapolated to other strains of the same area.
•     A strain that proves to be effective for an indication does not have to be valid for others. Thus, the effectiveness of some strains is amply demonstrated for gastrointestinal indications, others are effective for the prevention of infections etc.
•     The scientific evidences demonstrated on a population (for example children), can not be extrapolated to others (for example elderly people, pregnant women ...)

Why do I tell you this?

Because not everything we think is a probiotic is , not all probiotics are the same or are worth for the same things ... and it is important to differentiate and not assume that what goes well for the neighbor of the fifth will go well with me ... as with all drugs, go.

What are its main properties?

•     They are able to survive in the gastrointestinal tract and adhere to the epithelium (the most superficial layer of the intestine)
•     They are able to modulate / change / improve the gut microbiota.
•     Decrease intestinal permeability, getting the intestine to function properly (intestinal permeability gives for another post, only I advance you that seems to be involved in many pathologies)
•     They produce changes in the immune system, modulating and / or stimulating it ... and therefore have (or could have) an effect on infections and autoimmune diseases.
•     Its use is safe in humans

What are the main microorganisms that deserve to be called probiotics?

•     Strains of bacteria belonging to the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus
•     Strains of bacteria that belong to other genera, such as Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus
•     Non-pathogenic yeasts, mainly Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces boulardii

What has been shown to be useful?

On this occasion, I will not put all references to the studies that I name (the post would be too long) ... but if someone is interested in any particular, ask and send it.

Diarrhea.

•     Acute diarrhea secondary to infectious gastroenteritis is common in children and can be serious. The administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG has been shown to be useful in children, since it significantly reduces the duration of diarrhea, especially when the cause is the dreaded rotavirus . The effect of probiotics in adults is less studied, but some strains (such as Enterococcus faecium SF 68) have been shown to be effective in these cases. Lactobacillus GG, Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 and Saccharomyces Boulard are effective in the prevention of some types of acute diarrhea, both in adults and children.
•     The diarrhea associated with antibiotics appears in approximately 20% of consumers of the same, and it is thought that it is due to the alteration that they produce on the intestinal flora, after all, that is their mission , to kill bacteria; The problem is that it also ends with the "good" bacteria, causing the bad ones to proliferate. It has been shown that the use of Saccharomyces boulardii or Lactobacillus rhamnosus, while antibiotic therapy lasts, prevents or shortens diarrhea secondary to erythromycin, clindamycin or ampicillin, among others. In addition, the efficacy of Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 in hospitalized adults for the prevention of diarrhea associated with antibiotics and Clostridium difficile diarrhea is demonstrated.
•     Traveler's diarrhea ... diarrhea that can spoil more than one holiday, and that is usually due to infection by Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, and Campylobacter spp, could improve with the use of probiotics, although the results of several studies do not They are, still conclusive .
•     Radiation-induced diarrhea , could be improved with the use of preparations that include Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophillus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus bulagricus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium brevis, Binfantis, Saccharomyces thermophilus (450 × 109) ... although it is not perfectly demonstrated .

Constipation.

The bifidobacteria present in some dairy products can reduce intestinal transit time, which benefits in case of constipation.

Intestinal Inflammatory Disease.

It is thought that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurs because, in genetically predisposed people, the intestinal flora itself triggers an exaggerated and chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall . In these patients, in addition, profound alterations have been found in the microbiota, so the administration of specific probiotics can be very useful, especially in case of pouchitis and ulcerative colitis.

• In the case of Crohn's disease, the benefit is not perfectly demonstrated.
• Irritable bowel syndrome / colicky pain.
• Several studies show the efficacy of different strains when it comes to improving pain, distension of the abdomen and flatulence (Bifidobacterium and combinations).
• Lactobacillus reuters seems to be effective in some cases of infant colic.
• Necrotizing enterocolitis.

Supplementation with probiotics in preterm infants (before week 33 of gestation), seems to reduce the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and death due to this cause.

Lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance, both permanent and transient (after suffering from gastroenteritis, for example), affects a significant number of people. It is produced by the lack of lactase , the enzyme responsible for digesting lactose (milk sugar), which, when it reaches the large intestine, is fermented by the bacteria that live there, producing short-chain fatty acids and gas, and as a consequence: cramping pain, flatulence and diarrhea.

However, many people intolerant to lactose (eye, not all), perfectly tolerate fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir ...), and this is due, no more or less, to the probiotics present in these foods: lactobacilli ( containing lactases) since yogurt moves more slowly through the intestine than milk (giving time for their lactases to digest much of the lactose) .... Now you know why doctors advise taking yogurt after a gastroenteritis .


One of the "niches" of the human microbiome is the breast, and from these microorganisms the baby benefits during the entire duration of breastfeeding.

But in this area, as in others, when there is an imbalance (a dysbiosis) and start to proliferate pathogenic microorganisms against the beneficial ... problems arise.

In recent years, much progress has been made in the investigation of the infectious complications that occurred during the breastfeeding period, and it has been demonstrated that all of them can be solved or improved considerably with the use of specific probiotics ... I attest: during my 3 prolonged lactations I have suffered some of them, and, in my case , they worked perfectly.

In the case of mastitis, for example, treatment with probiotics could be started early and, if it does not improve in a couple of days, associate an antibiotic to which the bacteria that are typically responsible for this condition are sensitive (for this reason, ideal is to make a crop).

In case of breast abscess, it is almost always necessary to perform drainage and to regulate antibiotics, but the addition of probiotics to the treatment improves the evolution.

And the rest of complications, usually respond favorably, yes, if they appear, you should always check with your midwife or doctor to control the evolution of the picture.

Improvement of the immune response.

Probiotics, as I have already mentioned, have a protective effect against pathogenic microorganisms, since they prevent them from proliferating and reinforce the barrier effect of the intestinal wall.

But it is also that they are able to increase the activity of several types of cells (macrophages and lymphocytes) that are part of our immune system (which is what defends us from viruses, bacteria, etc.) and stimulate the response of this system.

Atopic disease / Allergies.

Some strains of specific probiotics have shown efficacy for the treatment and prevention of atopic eczema:

Thus, if there is a history of severe atopic dermatitis, it has been proven that, during the last month of pregnancy, the mother is given specific strains of Lactobacillus, as long as the delivery is vaginal (this is the only way for the baby acquire maternal flora), and the mother maintains breastfeeding as long as possible, the risk of atopy is greatly reduced.

Other studies show that the use of probiotics in the first months of life can improve the symptoms of atopic disease in infants at risk of allergies.

Vaginal infections

Most of the vaginal infections are produced by Candida Albicans , which is a yeast (a fungus), which is part of our normal vaginal flora, but which, under certain circumstances (taking antibiotics, decompensated diabetes, high-carbohydrate diets) carbon ...), can proliferate and produce the annoying candidiasis.

Well, many strains of Lactobacillus, help the treatment and prevention of recurrent infections by said yeast, plus they can also improve bacterial vaginosis.

Other effects in the process of demonstrating or not sufficiently demonstrated:

Weightloss.

People with overweight and obesity, have a characteristic intestinal flora, different from that found in thin people as I explained here and here .

In addition, several studies show that when performing a transplant of feces of obese mice to thin mice, the latter begin to gain weight.

For all this, it seems sensible to think that some strains of probiotics could be beneficial in the treatment of obesity ... and that is what is investigated:

•     It seems that they inhibit the absorption of fat , since when consuming them, the amount of fat excreted in the faeces increases, this fact could also be responsible for the improvement in the lipid profile (decreasing the "bad" cholesterol or LDL and the triglycerides and increasing the "good" cholesterol or HDL)
•     They increase the production of GLP-1 , which has a satiating effect and favors weight loss.
•     The bacterium L. gasseri can reduce abdominal fat by 8.5%

Promising ... do not you think?
Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori.
Although more studies are needed, it is very possible that the use of probiotics as adjuvants to the classic treatments (antibiotics associated with antacids), increases the success rates.

Acute pancreatitis

The administration of synbiotics in patients with severe acute pancreatitis seems to improve the prognosis of these patients.

Colorectal cancer:

Studies in animals show the reduction of cancer risk by supplementation with strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria that can modify the microbiota.

Other studies show that high consumption of dairy products can reduce the risk of colon cancer due to its antitumor activity.

Others:

Currently, there are many publications that ensure that its use can be beneficial in dental diseases (caries, periodontitis ...), endometriosis or other gynecological pathologies, preoperative gastrointestinal surgeries, urinary tract infections, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, autism ... the list is vast , although more studies are needed to confirm them.

But nothing is perfect ...

Do not forget that probiotics do not work the same in all people, nor all are valid for all things.

These are medicines, and although they are safe and generally well tolerated, we must remember that they must always be prescribed by a doctor and that they can have side effects (digestive discomfort, bloating, gas) that usually disappear in a few days.

In addition, its use is contraindicated in people who have a depressed immune system (patients undergoing immunosuppressive drugs, with immunodeficiency syndromes ...), since introducing bacteria or fungi into their bodies (even if they are potentially beneficial), could be dangerous.

The results are usually not immediate, sometimes you have to take them for weeks to get the desired effect.

And finally, its use must be limited in time ... let's not forget that they are drugs and that they are also microorganisms.

In short ... they have great advantages, they have shown great benefits over many diseases and situations more or less pathological, but not all are worth for the same, are not indicated in all people, and always, must be prescribed, and controlled by a doctor, at the right doses and for a limited time ... remember that they are not candy !.