Personal Care Corner

Probiotics: What a Little Friendly Bacteria Can do for You

by Carrie A. Corson, from the November 2002 newsletter

Just what are Probiotics and why are they so important to our health? Literally translated, 'probiotic' means 'for life.' The proper scientific definition of a probiotic is "a live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects those who take it by improving their intestinal microbial balance."

By taking a high quality probiotic, we are able to maintain a balance of the good and bad bacteria that live in our GI tract (primarily in the colon). Many health care professionals believe that this balance, which is ideally 85% good bacteria to 15% bad bacteria, is the foundation of good health. This balance allows our immune system to function at a higher level, leaving us less vulnerable to colds and flu, allergies and repeated infections. High numbers of good bacteria also allow our digestive system to work much more effectively. Lack of beneficial bacteria can result in any of the following digestive disorders: Gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. Other disorders such as candida, yeast infections, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, skin problems (including acne, eczema and psoriasis) and high cholesterol levels have also been linked to low levels of beneficial bacteria. Basically, when we don't have enough good bacteria, the bad bacteria or pathogens are allowed to take over. These pathogens begin to release chemicals that are toxic to our bodies. It is believed that these toxins are responsible for many of the disorders listed above.

Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle is much more conducive to allowing pathogens to flourish than it is for our bodies to maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria. Here are a few culprits that destroy friendly bacteria:

• The use of antibiotics (including second hand antibiotics from meat and dairy products)
• Excess sugar and carbohydrates in our diets
• Fatty acid deficiency
• Use of some prescription drugs (including birth control pills and steroids)
• Ingestion of chlorine (found in many municipal water supplies)
• Stress and tension

So it's probiotics to the rescue. Beneficial bacteria virtually crowd out parasites, viruses and pathogenic bacteria, thus preventing them from taking up residence in your system. Microbes simply cannot live in a properly acidic environment. Beneficial bacteria are also important in the manufacture and processing of nutrients, especially B vitamins. They can also help manufacture lactase which aids in the digestion of dairy products.

It is possible to get beneficial bacteria from some food sources including yogurt, kefir, acidophilus milk, Japanese Tempeh and Miso, and some cheeses. But keep in mind that these food sources may not provide you with the appropriate type of bacteria (there are lots of different strains of beneficial bacteria) and they may not provide enough of the beneficial bacteria. Also the viability of any live culture varies greatly depending on the manufacturing process of the food product. Of course Probiotics are available in supplement form.

Here at the Moscow Food Co-op, they are available in liquid, powder, capsules and chewable tablets. Some of them do require while others are shelf stable (viable at room temperature). Many health professionals believe that everyone can benefit from taking Probiotics in some form. Some folks who might see the most dramatic difference to their health are:

• Anyone who has a hectic and stressful lifestyle
• Anyone who is prone to infections, including colds
• Anyone who has a history of Digestive Stress--especially IBS
• Women who are prone to Thrush
• Anyone who is or has been taking antibiotics
• Anyone traveling abroad (they can really help protect against infection brought on by eating or drinking contaminated food or water).

I have often been asked if it is okay to take a probiotic while taking an antibiotic. According to my research, the answer is yes. It is recommended that you do not take them at the same time, but allow at least two hours apart.

As always with any dietary supplement, quality counts. How probiotics are manufactured is very important. Full disclosure labeling can help answer some questions about exactly what bacteria is in a product and at what count. If you have more specific questions about which strains of bacteria can best help with your symptoms, it's a good idea to contact the manufacturer directly.

And as always, consult a health care professional if you are thinking of adding a probiotic to your supplement regime.

Copyright: Copyright on articles, recipes and images are jointly held by the Moscow Food Co-op and the respective contributors, except were otherwise noted.

Return to Resource Archive

For additions or corrections to this page, please contact the Webmaster.