Can we protect our DNA?

Article by Don Goldberg

We are warned that various toxins and mutagenic agents can damage our DNA. How do we protect ourselves from this danger, other than avoiding exposure–not an easy thing.
                
We usually think about antioxidant supplements in this regard, and perhaps herbal agents like milk thistle and artichoke leaf that protect and optimize liver function. According to a study published in the Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology; 2014, Vol. 24, No. 3, 371-8, there may be another option available to us.

According to the authors, “cooking proteins at high temperatures can create mutagens that may change and damage DNA in body organs and the digestive tract. In the lab, doctors gave mice the probiotic lactobacillus rhamnosus for 10 days before exposing them to mutagens. The probiotic significantly inhibited the DNA damage in the liver and colon. Doctors said adding lactobacillus rhamnosus to the diet can raise antimutagens to protective levels in the body.”

They used lactobacillus rhamnosus, with good results. I don’t know if they tried other types of probiotics as well.

Some examples of probiotic supplement blends that contain lactobacillus rhamnosus are as follow:

NOW Foods, Gr8-Dophilus, Willner Code 66035 (120 VeggiCaps)
Garden of Life, Primal Defense Ultra, Willner Code 51694 (90 VeggiCaps)

Don Goldberg

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Note: A version of this article appeared in the Summer 2016 Willner Window Newsletter/Product Catalog.