Probiotics Information
Probiotics is generally defined as “the use of beneficial strains of bacteria or yeast (or simply, beneficial microorganisms) to improve the well-being of a person.” Essentially, people use probiotics to boost their immune system and to improve their digestive function. Good bacteria play an important role in human health.
Apart from helping us fully digest food, good bacteria also help control bad bacteria in the digestive tract. That’s right – we play host to both good bacteria and bad bacteria.
There are even yeast strains in the digestive tract! If you are healthy and your body has a healthy amount of good bacteria, destructive yeast and other undesirable microorganisms are suppressed.
However, when this delicate balanced is disturbed by illness or by poor food choices, the digestive tract can become inflamed or even infected. When this happens, some people turn to probiotics to aid the body in its path to recovery.
Uses of probiotics
Humans did not really ‘invent’ probiotics in the truest sense of the word. If you want a name for its real inventor, try “Mother Nature.” Evolution made sure that the strongest survivors of natural selection would have a way to fend off harmful microorganisms, should they try to proliferate in the body. And what better way to do this than by using good bacteria and yeast strains?
In modern medicine, probiotics is usually used in pediatrics because newborn infants do not have the beneficial bacteria in their digestive tract yet. That’s why pediatricians usually advocate zinc supplementation during the first few months of life. Zinc has been known to boost the immune system and the digestive system. When these two systems are healthy, beneficial bacteria can easily flourish.
In recent years, alternative healthcare practitioners and some conventional medical practitioners have turned their attention to probiotics to remedy specific conditions such as diarrhea and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
It should be noted early on that doctors do not usually prescribe probiotics to anyone, because probiotics have not been established as a cure of any single disease. A cure is different from a complementary treatment. Doctors have been trained to be wary of drugs and alternative practices that have not yet been studied rigorously.
Does this mean that you should avoid probiotics because doctors are not prescribing it to people?
Of course not. It’s actually entirely up to you. You don’t need a prescription to buy probiotic products on the market; you just need the right information so you can buy the right type of supplementation. Our first piece of advice for you if you are just starting out with probiotics is to stick with probiotic foods before you try probiotic pills or capsules.
We advocate this because the body can take care of itself if you give it the right kind of food. If you eat well, your diet will have a probiotic effect on your body. It is likely that you already have all the beneficial bacterial strains that you need to fend off certain infections. You just have to eat well to ensure that you have a healthy population of these bacteria in your body.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Adverse Effects of Probiotics
“probiotics adverse effects”
Probiotics is defined as “the use of specific strains of microorganisms to encourage a healthy proliferation of beneficial microorganisms in humans.” Probiotics is by no means a human invention because humans have been benefitting from probiotics since the beginning of time.
In adequate amounts, specific strains of bacteria have been known to help infants and adults overcome certain health difficulties, such as constipation and even diarrhea.
Similar to other forms of medical care, probiotics does have its own set of risks. It is generally accepted in the medical community that most popular forms of probiotic supplements do not have extreme or adverse side effects. However, this does not mean that there are no side effects at all.
Noted side effects of probiotic supplementation
1. In some cases, there might be some degree of bloating or increased gas production inside the digestive tract. This increased gas production is attributed to the proliferation of the beneficial bacteria inside the digestive tract, which produces gases. Though the bloating may be uncomfortable, it does not pose a threat to anyone’s health.
2. A very small segment of the population (about one in every one million people) becomes more susceptible for bacteria when probiotic supplementation is used.
3. In a few isolated cases, endocarditis caused by lactobacilli strains has been reported. These cases are too few to be used as a general basis for the safety of probiotic supplements.
4. Probiotic supplementation may cause liver abscesses in individuals who have very low immune responses, or who may have undergone major surgical operations.
5. Individuals with venous catheterizations are also at risk for sepsis if a lactobacilli strain proliferates unchecked.
6. It appears that people with pancreatitis are at higher risk for complications if probiotics is used alongside traditional treatments.
In medicine, probiotics is usually used to stimulate the digestive and immune systems of infants who do not have beneficial bacteria in their bodies. Native beneficial bacteria in the body help fend off harmful microorganisms and also help in the digestive process. Excess of any kind disturbs the natural balance inside the body, and that’s when disease starts.
If you are immunosuppressed, you must speak with your doctor before you start on any probiotic supplementation. This applies especially to individuals who are taking immunosuppressant medication for other medical conditions.
People who are relatively healthy should not worry about the adverse effects of probiotics because more often than not, there are no notable adverse effects. Unless you are allergic to dairy (probiotics are usually added to dairy products such as cheese and skim milk) you won’t have to worry about bloating and excess gas.
If one type of probiotic supplementation does not work for you, then your best option is to try another type of probiotic supplement. By supplement we’re talking about milk products and even kefir or yeast-derived probiotic beverages (either from milk or just water). A world of choices await the individual who wishes to boost his or her digestive system naturally with beneficial bacteria.
Probiotics is defined as “the use of specific strains of microorganisms to encourage a healthy proliferation of beneficial microorganisms in humans.” Probiotics is by no means a human invention because humans have been benefitting from probiotics since the beginning of time.
In adequate amounts, specific strains of bacteria have been known to help infants and adults overcome certain health difficulties, such as constipation and even diarrhea.
Similar to other forms of medical care, probiotics does have its own set of risks. It is generally accepted in the medical community that most popular forms of probiotic supplements do not have extreme or adverse side effects. However, this does not mean that there are no side effects at all.
Noted side effects of probiotic supplementation
1. In some cases, there might be some degree of bloating or increased gas production inside the digestive tract. This increased gas production is attributed to the proliferation of the beneficial bacteria inside the digestive tract, which produces gases. Though the bloating may be uncomfortable, it does not pose a threat to anyone’s health.
2. A very small segment of the population (about one in every one million people) becomes more susceptible for bacteria when probiotic supplementation is used.
3. In a few isolated cases, endocarditis caused by lactobacilli strains has been reported. These cases are too few to be used as a general basis for the safety of probiotic supplements.
4. Probiotic supplementation may cause liver abscesses in individuals who have very low immune responses, or who may have undergone major surgical operations.
5. Individuals with venous catheterizations are also at risk for sepsis if a lactobacilli strain proliferates unchecked.
6. It appears that people with pancreatitis are at higher risk for complications if probiotics is used alongside traditional treatments.
In medicine, probiotics is usually used to stimulate the digestive and immune systems of infants who do not have beneficial bacteria in their bodies. Native beneficial bacteria in the body help fend off harmful microorganisms and also help in the digestive process. Excess of any kind disturbs the natural balance inside the body, and that’s when disease starts.
If you are immunosuppressed, you must speak with your doctor before you start on any probiotic supplementation. This applies especially to individuals who are taking immunosuppressant medication for other medical conditions.
People who are relatively healthy should not worry about the adverse effects of probiotics because more often than not, there are no notable adverse effects. Unless you are allergic to dairy (probiotics are usually added to dairy products such as cheese and skim milk) you won’t have to worry about bloating and excess gas.
If one type of probiotic supplementation does not work for you, then your best option is to try another type of probiotic supplement. By supplement we’re talking about milk products and even kefir or yeast-derived probiotic beverages (either from milk or just water). A world of choices await the individual who wishes to boost his or her digestive system naturally with beneficial bacteria.
The Best Probiotics Choices for You
“probiotics best”
Probiotics is one of the safest and most natural ways to improve your health. It’s easy because all you need to do is to eat specific foods that boost the beneficial bacteria are already inside you. It’s safe because there are very few side effects noted with the use of probiotics. Like exercise, probiotics can be used to produce long-term health benefits.
Now, while it is true that there is a dizzying array of supplements on the market, all these supplements are just one big option for people who want to start off right.
Your first choice should be probiotic food because even medical practitioners advocate it. Supplements have their uses, but don’t think that the only way you can try probiotics is by buying probiotic pills or capsules.
Probiotic food
Below are some food items that you might want to try. All of the foods listed below are probioti,c meaning these foods have naturally occurring beneficial bacteria.
1. Yogurt products – Supermarkets always contain a dazzling array of yogurt products. Which one should you choose? First off, if you want to be really healthy, choose plain, unflavored yogurts.
That will cut your choices significantly because most yogurts are artificially flavored. Next, look for a yogurt brand with live microorganisms. Most yogurts have lactobacilli added. Note that you need live microorganisms and not heat-killed bacteria.
2. Aged cheese products – Cheese has naturally occurring beneficial bacteria because it was derived from milk. Cultured yeast and some bacteria are added to certain cheeses to complete the process of fermentation.
Soft, dripping cheese on macaroni dishes do not count! You will just pile on the calories if you eat that kind of cheese. You need blue cheese and other hard, aged cheeses if you want the probiotic advantage.
3. Probiotic milk products – In Australia, people usually drink probiotic milk products from Dannon. In Japan and in some other countries in Asia, the Yakult brand is popular. Wherever you may be right now, try to find a brand of probiotic milk that contains live bacteria.
Again, you don’t want heat-killed bacteria. You need living, thriving bacteria. These milk products are usually sold in very small containers. You need around 2 billion to 4 billion live bacteria if you want to counter health problems such as diarrhea.
4. Kefir – Kefir is one of the oldest probiotic concoctions. Kefir is produced by adding a yeast culture to milk. The yeast consumes the sugar in the milk, which makes the milk a little sour.
Yeast crystals are then produced afterward. These crystals can be used to start the cycle anew. The best thing about kefir is that you can actually make your own at home. All you need is a few pouches of kefir culture and some sugar water or raw milk. Raw milk is your best choice because centuries ago, raw goat’s milk was used to produce kefir.
5. Miso ¬– In Japan, miso soup is a dinner staple. Miso is a yeast-based seasoning that can be used in soups and stews. Cook the miso at a low temperature so you don’t kill the beneficial bacteria. You can find miso in most groceries and supermarkets. If you can’t find fresh miso, try finding pre-mixed miso packets.
Top Probiotics Food for Healthy Individuals
“top probiotics”
In recent years, probiotics has been hailed as the single most effective way to boost the immune system without resorting to expensive drugs. If you like the idea of natural health, then probiotics encapsulates the whole essence of that concept.
Probiotics is recognized by the medical establishment and alternative health practitioners. Rarely do these two forces agree with each other, but with probiotics, it appears that scientists and naturopaths on both sides of the fence are actually nodding their heads in unison.
Probiotics can help maintain a healthy immune system and digestive system. At the same time, probiotics can also help fend off undesirable microorganisms by controlling their proliferation within the body. There is also evidence that beneficial microorganisms actually stimulate the immune system so that it functions more efficiently.
Foods for a healthier tummy
The most notable aspect of probiotics is that it protects the digestive system in its entirety. We’re talking about better digestion and disease prevention -- at the same time.
Although there are countless brands of probiotic supplements out there, we recommend that you try integrating probiotic food items into your diet so that you will get your daily dose of beneficial bacteria every single day. The key to health is consistency. By introducing probiotic food to your diet, you are making sure that your digestive system and immune system will always have a consistent and continuing source of healthy bacteria.
The first item on our list is yogurt. Yogurt containing live bacteria is your best choice for a probiotic food because you get an instant digestive boost once you consume it. Most yogurt brands contain lactobacilli bacteria and acidophilus bacteria. Both types of bacteria can be used to combat digestive malaise.
Some studies also suggest that giving a child (above the age of 3) several cups of yogurt when the child has diarrhea can reduce the length of the illness significantly. If the natural course of diarrhea is four days, a child might recover faster with yogurt supplementation, possibly within two to three days.
The second food item that you should check out is sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is a popular dish in the US and in some European countries because it is easy to produce and goes well with other side dishes and starchy foods such as potatoes. We highly recommend that you purchase only unpasteurized sauerkraut because you wouldn’t want heat to kill off all the beneficial bacteria that you are after.
If you don’t like sauerkraut, then you might want to visit the imported section of your favorite supermarket. Look for kimchi. Kimchi is a Korean food item that is produced through fermentation. This food item also has a lot of live microorganisms that might help prevent nasty infections, and it comes in a variety of flavors.
Last -- but certainly not least -- we have sourdough bread. Sourdough bread is an excellent source of carbohydrates and it naturally has probiotic bacteria. If you have had digestive problems in the past, regular servings of this bread just might help end those digestive troubles.
In recent years, probiotics has been hailed as the single most effective way to boost the immune system without resorting to expensive drugs. If you like the idea of natural health, then probiotics encapsulates the whole essence of that concept.
Probiotics is recognized by the medical establishment and alternative health practitioners. Rarely do these two forces agree with each other, but with probiotics, it appears that scientists and naturopaths on both sides of the fence are actually nodding their heads in unison.
Probiotics can help maintain a healthy immune system and digestive system. At the same time, probiotics can also help fend off undesirable microorganisms by controlling their proliferation within the body. There is also evidence that beneficial microorganisms actually stimulate the immune system so that it functions more efficiently.
Foods for a healthier tummy
The most notable aspect of probiotics is that it protects the digestive system in its entirety. We’re talking about better digestion and disease prevention -- at the same time.
Although there are countless brands of probiotic supplements out there, we recommend that you try integrating probiotic food items into your diet so that you will get your daily dose of beneficial bacteria every single day. The key to health is consistency. By introducing probiotic food to your diet, you are making sure that your digestive system and immune system will always have a consistent and continuing source of healthy bacteria.
The first item on our list is yogurt. Yogurt containing live bacteria is your best choice for a probiotic food because you get an instant digestive boost once you consume it. Most yogurt brands contain lactobacilli bacteria and acidophilus bacteria. Both types of bacteria can be used to combat digestive malaise.
Some studies also suggest that giving a child (above the age of 3) several cups of yogurt when the child has diarrhea can reduce the length of the illness significantly. If the natural course of diarrhea is four days, a child might recover faster with yogurt supplementation, possibly within two to three days.
The second food item that you should check out is sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is a popular dish in the US and in some European countries because it is easy to produce and goes well with other side dishes and starchy foods such as potatoes. We highly recommend that you purchase only unpasteurized sauerkraut because you wouldn’t want heat to kill off all the beneficial bacteria that you are after.
If you don’t like sauerkraut, then you might want to visit the imported section of your favorite supermarket. Look for kimchi. Kimchi is a Korean food item that is produced through fermentation. This food item also has a lot of live microorganisms that might help prevent nasty infections, and it comes in a variety of flavors.
Last -- but certainly not least -- we have sourdough bread. Sourdough bread is an excellent source of carbohydrates and it naturally has probiotic bacteria. If you have had digestive problems in the past, regular servings of this bread just might help end those digestive troubles.
Using Yogurt for Probiotics
“probiotics yogurt”
This might come as a surprise to some people, but probiotics is actually a state, not an activity. Probiotics is a state in which the body is receiving adequate amounts of beneficial bacteria. These beneficial bacteria, on the other hand, are helping the body by fending off harmful and undesirable microorganisms, particularly in the digestive tract.
Boosting the digestive & immune systems
If you want to try producing a beneficial probiotic effect in your body, you can start by eating more yogurts. Who doesn’t love yogurt? Both kids and adults love this tasty treat because it’s easy to eat and most of all, it’s creamy and tastes good.
When you’re buying yogurt, make sure that you buy a brand that has live microorganisms. If the food label states otherwise, don’t buy that brand. Heat-killed microorganisms are not as effective as live microorganisms. We want enough live microorganisms in each probiotic dose so that some of the bacteria will survive the trip down the digestive tract.
Yes, beneficial bacteria can die on the way down to the intestines, because the digestive tract was designed to sterilize food the best way it knows how. Unfortunately, it can’t choose which bacteria to kill. Food is bathed in a variety of acidic juices on the way down to the intestines. If you are taking in heat-killed bacteria, then no beneficial bacteria will make it down to the intestines at all.
Additional benefits
Yogurt also provides a host of other health benefits:
1. A small serving of yogurt can provide up to nine grams of protein (animal protein, that is). Since this particular food item has been produced from milk (which is considered nature’s most complete form of food), you will get all the benefits of milk, too.
2. Yogurt contains calcium, which is important for bone health. Calcium also helps protect your teeth.
3. Yogurt contains a variety of B-vitamins that will help boost your health in a variety of ways. B-vitamins have been known to protect the bones, boost the immune system, and repair damaged nerves. B-vitamins are also considered a potential preventive measure against certain types of cancer.
4. Yogurt contains minerals such as potassium that are necessary for normal human metabolism.
5. Yogurt can aid people in weight loss, but they have to buy plain yogurt to avoid additional sugar calories.
Scientific findings
Yogurt usually contains lactobacilli strains which are excellent for the digestive system. In recent years, there have been several studies that have attributed additional health benefits of probiotic supplementation:
1. Probiotics can help lessen the severity of Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by helping regulate the immune system’s mechanism. Beneficial bacteria can help modify the existing micro-flora in a person’s digestive tract, too.
2. Probiotics may help protect the ill and elderly by reducing the ‘sick days’ associated with common health problems such as flu and colds. This is further indication that probiotics does have a positive impact on a person’s immune system.
3. Some studies suggest that consuming probiotic food items regularly can help cut the risk for stomach ulcers -- at least the ones caused by the pathogen Helicobacter pylorii.
This might come as a surprise to some people, but probiotics is actually a state, not an activity. Probiotics is a state in which the body is receiving adequate amounts of beneficial bacteria. These beneficial bacteria, on the other hand, are helping the body by fending off harmful and undesirable microorganisms, particularly in the digestive tract.
Boosting the digestive & immune systems
If you want to try producing a beneficial probiotic effect in your body, you can start by eating more yogurts. Who doesn’t love yogurt? Both kids and adults love this tasty treat because it’s easy to eat and most of all, it’s creamy and tastes good.
When you’re buying yogurt, make sure that you buy a brand that has live microorganisms. If the food label states otherwise, don’t buy that brand. Heat-killed microorganisms are not as effective as live microorganisms. We want enough live microorganisms in each probiotic dose so that some of the bacteria will survive the trip down the digestive tract.
Yes, beneficial bacteria can die on the way down to the intestines, because the digestive tract was designed to sterilize food the best way it knows how. Unfortunately, it can’t choose which bacteria to kill. Food is bathed in a variety of acidic juices on the way down to the intestines. If you are taking in heat-killed bacteria, then no beneficial bacteria will make it down to the intestines at all.
Additional benefits
Yogurt also provides a host of other health benefits:
1. A small serving of yogurt can provide up to nine grams of protein (animal protein, that is). Since this particular food item has been produced from milk (which is considered nature’s most complete form of food), you will get all the benefits of milk, too.
2. Yogurt contains calcium, which is important for bone health. Calcium also helps protect your teeth.
3. Yogurt contains a variety of B-vitamins that will help boost your health in a variety of ways. B-vitamins have been known to protect the bones, boost the immune system, and repair damaged nerves. B-vitamins are also considered a potential preventive measure against certain types of cancer.
4. Yogurt contains minerals such as potassium that are necessary for normal human metabolism.
5. Yogurt can aid people in weight loss, but they have to buy plain yogurt to avoid additional sugar calories.
Scientific findings
Yogurt usually contains lactobacilli strains which are excellent for the digestive system. In recent years, there have been several studies that have attributed additional health benefits of probiotic supplementation:
1. Probiotics can help lessen the severity of Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by helping regulate the immune system’s mechanism. Beneficial bacteria can help modify the existing micro-flora in a person’s digestive tract, too.
2. Probiotics may help protect the ill and elderly by reducing the ‘sick days’ associated with common health problems such as flu and colds. This is further indication that probiotics does have a positive impact on a person’s immune system.
3. Some studies suggest that consuming probiotic food items regularly can help cut the risk for stomach ulcers -- at least the ones caused by the pathogen Helicobacter pylorii.
Yogurt With Probiotics
“yogurt with probiotics”
Yogurt is probably the most popular food item in the dairy product sections of grocery stores across the country. People love the taste and consistency of yogurt. But did you know that this milk-derived treat can actually help improve your immune system and your digestive process?
Yogurt is a natural medium for beneficial bacteria such as bifido and lactobacillus bacteria. These two groups of bacteria are naturally occurring in the human body. They perform key tasks such as protecting the digestive tract and stimulating the immune system so it will work more efficiently.
If you are interested in trying probiotics and you are not allergic to dairy products, then you try eating yogurt more regularly to help aid with your digestion. But when buying any type of yogurt product, look at the label first.
You need yogurt with living bacteria if you want the probiotic advantage. If the yogurt has been subjected to ‘heat killing,’ then all the bacteria in the yogurt are probably dead. This applies to any other health food that claims to have a probiotic benefit. Probiotic food needs to have live bacteria before they can be considered truly probiotic.
Benefits of probiotics
Still not convinced that probiotics just might help you? Here are some facts on probiotics in general:
1. In some cases, probiotics can help reduce the symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This is attributed to the fact that beneficial bacteria can influence not just the digestive system, but also the immune system.
2. Some studies have shown that eating yogurt when you are having diarrhea can help shorten the needed recovery time. This applies most especially to children who need extra help when they are dealing with diarrhea.
3. Probiotics may help ease constipation in both adults and children.
4. A recent study suggests that yogurt, kefir, and most probiotic foods can stimulate the immune system to the extent that the strengthened immune system is able to fight off common infections easily.
5. There is some evidence that probiotics may help even the elderly when they are recovering from common infections.
6. If you are susceptible to ulcers, you might want to start eating yogurt more regularly. Research has revealed that the good bacteria in probiotic food can actually help counter the harmful bacteria responsible for ulcers.
7. Probiotics has been known to fight off yeast-related problems in the human body. Vaginal yeast infections are common in women, and everyone can suffer from yeast infections in the digestive tract.
8. More recently, researchers have identified a link between dairy products and blood pressure. It appears that men and women who consume a lot of yogurt and milk are able to lower their blood pressure to a certain degree.
9. Yogurt can also help people lose weight while maintaining a healthy digestive tract. The reason is that yogurt has a modest fat content, which helps communicate to the body that it is full. When the body is full, it doesn’t crave a large number of calories in the next meal.
Yogurt is probably the most popular food item in the dairy product sections of grocery stores across the country. People love the taste and consistency of yogurt. But did you know that this milk-derived treat can actually help improve your immune system and your digestive process?
Yogurt is a natural medium for beneficial bacteria such as bifido and lactobacillus bacteria. These two groups of bacteria are naturally occurring in the human body. They perform key tasks such as protecting the digestive tract and stimulating the immune system so it will work more efficiently.
If you are interested in trying probiotics and you are not allergic to dairy products, then you try eating yogurt more regularly to help aid with your digestion. But when buying any type of yogurt product, look at the label first.
You need yogurt with living bacteria if you want the probiotic advantage. If the yogurt has been subjected to ‘heat killing,’ then all the bacteria in the yogurt are probably dead. This applies to any other health food that claims to have a probiotic benefit. Probiotic food needs to have live bacteria before they can be considered truly probiotic.
Benefits of probiotics
Still not convinced that probiotics just might help you? Here are some facts on probiotics in general:
1. In some cases, probiotics can help reduce the symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This is attributed to the fact that beneficial bacteria can influence not just the digestive system, but also the immune system.
2. Some studies have shown that eating yogurt when you are having diarrhea can help shorten the needed recovery time. This applies most especially to children who need extra help when they are dealing with diarrhea.
3. Probiotics may help ease constipation in both adults and children.
4. A recent study suggests that yogurt, kefir, and most probiotic foods can stimulate the immune system to the extent that the strengthened immune system is able to fight off common infections easily.
5. There is some evidence that probiotics may help even the elderly when they are recovering from common infections.
6. If you are susceptible to ulcers, you might want to start eating yogurt more regularly. Research has revealed that the good bacteria in probiotic food can actually help counter the harmful bacteria responsible for ulcers.
7. Probiotics has been known to fight off yeast-related problems in the human body. Vaginal yeast infections are common in women, and everyone can suffer from yeast infections in the digestive tract.
8. More recently, researchers have identified a link between dairy products and blood pressure. It appears that men and women who consume a lot of yogurt and milk are able to lower their blood pressure to a certain degree.
9. Yogurt can also help people lose weight while maintaining a healthy digestive tract. The reason is that yogurt has a modest fat content, which helps communicate to the body that it is full. When the body is full, it doesn’t crave a large number of calories in the next meal.
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