Most people think bacteria are bad and associated only with disease. But there are many beneficial bacteria in our body.
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts with strange names that are believed to provide health benefits, especially to your digestive system. We all have different types of bacteria in our body because we eat foods from different parts of the world. Probiotics, also known as the microbial flora, begin to accumulate before or after birth, depending on the diet of the mother. They help complete the breakdown of food and also benefit the immune system. Beneficial bacteria can be destroyed by antibiotics and too many processed foods.
Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in our digestive system and help with metabolism, and aid digestion and absorption of food. Not all bacteria in our bodies are probiotics, but they all have a function. Most scientists agree that we have about a trillion cells in our bodies; we also have 10 times that amount of bacteria on and in our body. We couldn’t live without bacteria and not everyone who is exposed to disease-causing bacteria gets sick because their immune system is capable of eliminating or attacking the threat.
Although a great deal of research has been done on probiotics, much remains to be learned. Clinical research continues to grow, but regular supplementation with probiotics seems to have many benefits:
- Outcompete undesirable microorganisms and stimulate the immune response.
- Help to maintain a desirable community of microorganisms.
- Stabilize the digestive tract’s barriers against undesirable microorganisms or produce substances that inhibit their growth.
- Help the community of microorganisms in the digestive tract return to normal after being disturbed (for example, by an antibiotic or a disease).
- Reduction of dermatitis and eczema.
- Fewer symptoms of asthma and allergies.
- Improved digestion for those with Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel disease.
Probiotics may have a variety of effects in the body, and different probiotics may act in different ways. According to Dr. Chet, when choosing a probiotic, look for one with the most variety, at least four different types. Select a probiotic that contains a prebiotic, the special sugars from fruit that the bacteria use to grow. Probiotics can be taken daily, the more variety the better. So, make friends with some good bugs. Your gut will thank you for it and so will your whole body.
Resource: Probiotics
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Althea
Althea A. McLeish Wilson, RN, MSN
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