| What Are Probiotics? | | | | Probiotics can be found in some foods like yogurt, |
| One widely used definition, developed by the | | | | olives, kim chee, sauerkraut, buttermilk, aged |
| World Health Organization and the Food and | | | | cheeses, miso, tempeh, cultured dairy products, |
| Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is | | | | some juices, and soy beverages. However, the |
| that probiotics are "live microorganisms, which, | | | | most effective way to guarantee that you |
| when administered in adequate amounts, confer a | | | | increase and maintain the amount of healthy |
| health benefit on the host." | | | | bacteria in your system is to take a high-quality |
| Your intestinal tract contains over 100 trillion | | | | probiotic supplement. When searching for a |
| bacteria-both good and bad. The friendly or | | | | probiotic product, it is essential to find one that |
| healthy bacteria are vital to proper development | | | | contains enough healthy bacteria, as well as a |
| of the immune system. These tiny organisms help | | | | delivery system that enables the good bacteria to |
| restore health and balance to the intestinal tract | | | | survive harsh stomach acids and reach your gut |
| which are beneficial to: | | | | alive, intact, and viable. |
| 1. protect against microorganisms that could cause | | | | Some of the most important factors to consider |
| disease | | | | are: |
| 2. to aid in the digestion and absorption of food | | | | 1. Guaranteeing the supplement contains the |
| and nutrients | | | | specific probiotic strains and species that have a |
| Creating and maintaining a healthy balance of | | | | known pedigree and are backed by research. |
| beneficial bacteria can best be achieved by using | | | | In choosing a probiotic, claims of efficacy should |
| probiotics. Most often, the bacteria come from | | | | be made only for products that have been tested |
| two groups, Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. Within | | | | in studies and found to be efficacious. Therefore, |
| each group, there are different species (for | | | | consumers should look for products that list a |
| example, Lactobacillus acidophilus and | | | | specific strain of proven bacteria clearly on the |
| Bifidobacterium bifidus), and within each species, | | | | label. |
| different strains (or varieties). A few common | | | | The strains that seem to be considered in the |
| probiotics, such as Saccharomyces boulardii, are | | | | most important category include the Key |
| yeasts, which are different from bacteria. | | | | ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium |
| Healthy Bacteria Can Help Strengthen Your Overall | | | | Bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum, and |
| Health | | | | Bifidobacterium lactis. |
| The good bacteria live, colonize, thrive, and | | | | 2. Ensure the probiotics can be kept alive and |
| reproduce in your gastrointestinal tract, beginning | | | | viable until they are delivered to the site of action. |
| just below the stomach, and form a complex and | | | | For a probiotics supplement to be effective, it |
| enormously diverse ecosystem. These resident | | | | must be delivered alive to its site of action. Most |
| bacteria synthesize the B-complex vitamins, | | | | capsules, tablets, powders, liquids, foods, and pills, |
| crowd out yeast and parasites, help regulate blood | | | | even if enteric-coated, deliver little if any viable |
| cholesterol levels, and produce antibiotic | | | | probiotics where they can colonize. |
| compounds. | | | | These delivery systems are unable to keep these |
| Each person's mix of bacteria varies. Interactions | | | | bacteria alive and transport them to the site of |
| between a person and the microorganisms in his | | | | action where they can be utilized by the intestinal |
| body, and among the microorganisms themselves, | | | | tract. What this simply means is that even if your |
| can be crucial to the person's health and well-being. | | | | system receives the good bacteria, it's most |
| When the bacteria in your gut are abundant and | | | | often dead and in a state that isn't beneficial or |
| healthy, they promote good health, prevent illness, | | | | usable to your system. |
| and protect your well-being. Their health is literally | | | | Ultimately,you're taking a chance by using a |
| your health. Maintaining a healthy intestinal tract is | | | | probiotic that can't guarantee its delivery system. |
| essential because your GI tract contains 80% of | | | | In the long run, you may not be receiving the |
| the cells that make immune antibodies. | | | | health benefits that you're hoping and paying for. |
| The Bacterial Balancing Act | | | | Every day you make choices and are exposed to |
| This bacterial "balancing act" can be thrown off in | | | | environmental stressors and that compromise and |
| two major ways: | | | | diminish these good bacteria-junk foods, caffeine, |
| 1. By antibiotics, when they kill friendly bacteria in | | | | artificial sweeteners, trans fats, pesticides, |
| the gut along with unfriendly bacteria. | | | | antibiotics, chlorinated drinking water, and other |
| 2."Unfriendly" microorganisms such as | | | | toxins. These factors, along with your own |
| disease-causing bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and | | | | lifestyle choices including inadequate nutrition, |
| parasites can also upset the balance. | | | | alcohol, and stress can all wreak havoc in the |
| When the delicate balance of healthy bacteria in | | | | gastrointestinal tract by destroying healthy |
| your system is compromised, undesirable bacteria | | | | bacteria in your gut. Consider taking |
| is allowed to multiply, and unfriendly organisms | | | | supplementation of a quality product containing |
| such as disease-causing bacteria, yeasts, and fungi | | | | effective, live, pedigree proven probiotics. |
| set up shop in your digestive tract. When the | | | | As always If you are thinking about using a |
| ratio of good bacteria to bad is lowered, problems | | | | probiotic product, consult your health care |
| begin to arise such as excessive gas, bloating, | | | | provider first. No therapy should be used in place |
| constipation, intestinal toxicity, and poor absorption | | | | of conventional medical care or to delay seeking |
| of nutrients. | | | | that care. |
| Probiotics: Where Are You? | | | | |