Probiotics Are They Friend Or Foe

You may have heard the term Probiotic from friends and family but never knew what it was. In this article we will discuss good bacteria and its benefits to the body, who may need to supplement probiotics in their diet and where to find them. For those who have never heard of probiotics, this term is given to bacteria found in our intestinal tract also known as friendly bacteria.

The human gastrointestinal tract houses more than 400 different live beneficial bacteria. Among these good bacteria include L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, the two most abundant friendly bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract must keep balance with bad bacteria such as E.coli or your health starts to decline. If you suspect you have a problem in your GI tract, some of the health problems you may be experiencing are poor digestion, headaches, and intestinal yeast an overgrowth of the bacteria candida albacans which can make life unpleasant.

L. Acidophilus produces acidphilin, lactic acid, and hydrogen peroxide which together produce an antimicrobial agent in the GI tract which fight against foreign environmental borne pathogens. This effect also enhances the immune system as well as boost the digestion of foods, help alleviate digestive disorders, help prevent bad breath, enhance the synthesis (production) of B vitamins, help with calcium absorption, help as an anti-tumor and anti-cancer agent, help in the digestion of dairy products like milk, and fight against excess yeast growth such as candida.

The benefits of acidophilus, bifidus, and other probiotics to maintain proper GI health have been demonstrated by the scientific community for several years now. If your digestive system is in poor health, this poor GI condition can further reduce the levels of acidophilus and supplementation is required to restore your system to proper health.

If you have ever suffered from candida, you know with out a doubt that probiotic supplementation is a must. By supplementing with a good probiotic one can stop yeast over growth, boost the immune system, and rebuild their GI bacteria. The fastest way to destroy probiotics in the intestinal tract is by taking an antibiotic. In the past few years, doctors have been over prescribing antibiotics for every little sniffle and cold, even those with a yeast infection in the GI tract. Antibiotics are great for fighting bacteria and in some cases you just can not get around taking one; but the use of an antibiotic will destroy all the probiotics in your GI tract. Research has determined that 70% of your immune system resides in your intestinal tract, by taking an antibiotic you can knock out your immune system if you do not restore it with a good probiotic supplement. In North America, environmental toxins, food toxins, and a high stress life style can reduce the probiotic population in your GI tract as well. Note: if you are currently on an antibiotic do not take your probiotic at the same time that you take your prescribed antibiotic. The antibiotic will destroy the probiotic. Allow 2 - 3 hours between applications. If you consume your antibiotic at 12noon wait till 2pm or 3pm before taking your probiotic. This will help prevent the antibiotic from completely destroying all life in your intestinal tract.

There are several sources one can get probiotics from, by a food source or in supplement form found at your friendly health food store. Foods high in probiotic culture consist of natural cheeses, yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk. These are perhaps the best food sources for probiotics. Some other foods like wheat grass, spirulina, and chlorella are also rich in probiotics and are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that can boost the immune system and help detoxify the body. For those of you who are allergic to the list of foods first mentioned (dairy), an alternative to those food sources is a good enteric coated probiotic from your friendly health food store in capsule form. Whether you choose to eat foods high in probiotics or visit your friendly health food store, getting a daily infusion of probiotics can improve your health and quality of life.