Probiotics
We are all familiar with the term ‘probiotics’ because it is practically synonymous with the word yogurt these days. Do we really understand why our yogurt is now competitively marketed for its probiotic content? Aside from processing and absorbing food, our digestive system is responsible in large part for our immune system. Thousands of different strains of ‘good’ bacteria flourish in our intestines and exist in a fine balance to perform many of our body’s crucial functions. When we encounter a change in diet, stress or exposure to bad bacteria or viruses, the microorganisms in our body are thrown out of balance leaving us vulnerable to infection as well as malnourished. Antibiotics are Western medicine's solution to these bacterial imbalances and infections. Each antibiotic targets specific strains of bacteria responsible for any given disorder. While we are thankful to modern medicine for this tool and not disputing the need for them at times, the problem arises when the antibiotics also inevitably kill off many of the good bacteria that perform so many important functions. Thus, the most common side effect from antibiotics is diarrhea because our intestines have lost the main players in digestion and absorption. It’s important to replace these ‘good’ bacteria in order to get your digestion back and immune system up and running again to prevent another cold or illness.
The National Institutes of Health states that the following issues benefit directly from probiotic supplementation:
- To treat diarrhea (this is the strongest area of evidence, especially for diarrhea from rotavirus)
- To prevent and treat urinary tract infections and yeast infections
- To treat irritable bowel syndrome
- To reduce recurrence of bladder cancer
- To shorten how long an intestinal infection lasts
- To prevent and treat pouchitis (a condition that can follow surgery to remove the colon)
- To prevent and manage atopic dermatitis (eczema) in children
Most of us could use a boost of "good" flora in our system now and again. Regular dosing of probiotics may enhance nutrient absorption in general and boost your immunity. It has been shown that even things such as exposure to pesticides in our food sources and environmental pollution may negatively affect our internal balance of microorganisms on a daily basis. During times like pregnancy, where it is best to take pharmaceuticals minimally, probiotics can help with nausea, morning sickness, and overall energy boosting. In hospitalized patients they may prevent the infection of hospital bred bacterial infections. In children, probiotics can help treat and prevent an array of common illness from ear infections to diarrhea.
If you do need to take antibiotics, we really encourage you to take a form of potent probiotics at the same time. The ‘pro’ will not interfere with the ‘anti’ simply because they are just not as strong in function and have a synchronistic relationship. Taking probiotics can help prevent side effects and subsequent infections from recurring. So next time you need to take an antibiotic make sure you pick up some probiotics to accompany your prescription.
When you purchase probiotics, try to find a vitamin center that has a refrigerated section such as Weaver Street Market, Whole Foods and GNC. Live bacteria are extremely susceptible to heat and must be kept cool or they will expire and the benefit is lost. Yogurt is actually an imperfect source of probiotics because there is much less standardization in the number of live bacteria you will receive from eating yogurt and you do not get the benefit of an array of multiple strains like you find in a reputable supplement. You will find many brands at the store and now you can find excellent formulations for specific problems such as recurrent yeast infections and immune health. These will come as capsules or powders you can sprinkle on food or drinks. The vitamin center expert is always ready to help you find the right type of probiotic for your situation.
Probiotics are a simple, natural strategy of supplementation that can benefit our bodies in a wide variety of ways. The benefits are numerous and side effects nil. This cold and flu season consider adding these to not only help digest that Thanksgiving turkey but to enhance your immune system and prevent any of those seasonal infections like bronchitis that the winter season may bring.