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Yogurt's effect on Eczema
Vicki Koenig, MS, RD, CDN

We all know that the probiotics (beneficial bacteria) found in Stonyfield Farm yogurt can help enhance your digestive and immune health. What you might not know  is that the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus in the same quantity found in one serving of Stonyfield Farm yogurt has been shown to lower incidence and severity of eczema in toddlers, too. It’s not just any yogurt. The specific probiotic cultures make a big difference. If you tolerate milk or soy, eating Stonyfield Farm dairy yogurts and O'Soy soy-yogurt can be part of a delicious approach to help reduce eczema.

What is eczema?
Eczema is the most common category of skin diseases. It’s caused by both irritation and an immune response. It can be a skin reaction to something you came in contact with like a new detergent. Or you can have a skin reaction if you have a family history of allergic hypersensitivity or atopy. This skin irritation can be the response to a food allergy, exposure to respiratory irritants like dust mites or pollen, environmental or chemical irritants or because of psychological stress. Symptoms of eczema include redness, itching, crusting and weeping skin ulcers.

How common is eczema?
Eczema is thought to affect 10% of the general population. Prevalence has increased two- to threefold in industrial countries.  It’s upwards of 15-25% of dermatological patients.

A study conducted on eczema prevalence in Sweden published in 2003 found that 14.6% reported having eczema. More women have it. It’s linked to living closer to heavy traffic environments as well as to respiratory conditions like asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Eczema and Probiotics
In a recently published study from New Zealand, it was shown that with intake of the therapeutic probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus at the same level as one serving of Stonyfield Farm yogurt, there was reduced incidence and severity of eczema at one and two years of age.

Pregnant women at 35 weeks gestation were given either L. rhamnosus, B. lactis or placebo. After birth, either probiotic or placebo was put in breast milk or water and syringe-fed. Children were evaluated at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) was performed on all children in the study who had visible eczema. L. rhamnosus HN001 (the strain Stonyfield uses) was found to have a protective effect against the development of eczema at 1 and 2 years. Children receiving it had less eczema and the eczema symptoms were milder. The group receiving B. Lactis saw no difference from placebo. The specific strain of probiotic makes a difference.

Based on the results of this study, there is the potential that through diet, one could help decrease the incidence and severity of eczema in a young child. For example, a pregnant woman could eat daily servings of Stonyfield Farm yogurt like YoMommy and then breastfeed her baby for at least 6 months while eating yogurt daily.  She can introduce YoBaby Simply Plain at 6 months and provide YoBaby yogurt or other Stonyfield Farm varieties throughout the child’s first 2 years.

While incidence of eczema is increasing worldwide, it’s good to know there are ways to potentially decrease it.

Reference:

• How common is Eczema?
  
  
• Jon M. Hanifin; Michael L. Reed; Eczema Prevalence and Impact Working Group: A Population-Based Survey of Eczema Prevalence in the United States.  Dermatitis.  2007;18(2):82-91.
  
• Montnemery, P, et al: Prevalence of self-reported eczema in relation to living environment, socio-economic status and respiratory symptoms assessed in a questionnaire study BMC Dermatology 2003, 3:4.
  
  
• Wickens, K., Black, P., Stanley, T., Mitchell, E., Fitzharris, P., Crane, J.: A differential effect of two probiotics in the prevention of eczema and atopy.  World Allergy Organization Journal, Volume WAC 2007 Abstracts: S316, 2007.

Having a Ball with Exercise
Advice from Certified Fitness Trainer Dawn Bonic

Stability balls are one of the most useful pieces of fitness equipment. Also called Pilates balls, yoga balls, and Swiss balls, they challenge your body by placing it on an unstable surface and asking many muscles to work simultaneously to maintain balance and coordination.

There are lots of great exercises you can do with a stability ball. Here’s just a small sample to get you started.

Crunches Lie with the ball under the small of your back. Begin with a straight torso, not with the back arched over the ball. Perform traditional crunches by lifting the torso up and down. Make sure the body returns to a straight line on the downward phase, not arched.
Ball as Weight Bench Use your stability ball as a weight bench when doing chest presses, flies, or other exercises. Rest your head and shoulder blades on the ball. Keep your hips lifted so your torso and spine are straight. You’ll feel the exercise not only in your chest but also in your lower back and the back of your legs.
Wall Squats Hold the ball against a wall, then lean the small of your back against it. Keeping your knees directly over the balls of your feet or your ankle (never over the toes or beyond), lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Return to a standing position by pressing upward through your heels.
Push-ups Lie with your torso on the ball facing the floor, then perform traditional push-ups. This takes a lot of pressure off the lower back and helps you maintain proper alignment. People who can’t perform push-ups on the floor can often do them with a ball. To make the exercise more challenging, place the ball under your thighs or shins rather than your torso.
Hamstring Curls Lie on the floor with your legs straight and your feet on top of the ball. Bend your knees and roll the ball toward your hips with your feet. Return to a straightened leg. To make this exercise more challenging, keep the hips lifted high off the floor.