What are Probiotics
Probiotics and prebiotics are microorganisms such as bacteria or yeast that are believed to improve health. They are available in supplements and foods. The idea of taking live bacteria or yeast may seem strange at first. After all, we take antibiotics and use antibacterial substances to fight bacteria. But our bodies naturally teem with such organisms.
Difference between Probiotics and Prebiotics
Probiotics are found in foods such as yogurt, while prebiotics are found in whole grains, bananas, onions, garlic, honey and artichokes. In addition, probiotics and prebiotics are added to some foods and available as dietary supplements.
The digestive system is home to more than 500 different bacterias. They help keep intestinal linings healthy and assist in breaking down food. Beneficial organisms are also believed to help regulate healthy immune response.
Researchers believe that some digestive disorders result when the balance of friendly bacteria in the intestines becomes disturbed. This can happen after an infection or after taking antibiotics. Intestinal problems can also arise when the lining of the intestines is damaged. Introducing new beneficial organisms in the form of probiotics may help.
The average person has probiotics that weight about 3.50 pounds, were the average heart weights less than 1 pound and the average brain 3 pounds!
Probiotics Side Effects
Side effects are rare, and most healthy adults can safely add foods that contain prebiotics. If you’re considering taking supplements, check with your doctor to be sure that they’re right for you.
Benefits of Probiotics
Although more research is needed, there’s encouraging evidence that probiotics may help. Probiotics may be responsible for up to 70% of our immune response:
Treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics
Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections
Treat irritable bowel syndrome
Reduce bladder cancer recurrence
Speed treatment of certain intestinal infections
Prevent and treat eczema in children
Prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu
Probiotics and Antibiotics
According to probiotics.org antibiotics that are regularly given by doctors for so many ailments, devastate probiotics! Since probiotics are responsible for about 70% of our immune response, you can see the effect that antibiotics have to our immune system. If you have to take antibiotics, it is strongly suggested that you take probiotics afterwards to replenish some of the damaged probiotics!
Probiotic Strains
There are approximately 400 different probiotic strains in our bodies. Since probiotics exist throughout our bodies and not just in our digestive system, the different type of strains are beneficial in different areas of our bodies. Some of these probiotics are permanent residents, and others are transient. Interestingly, only 20 strains account for 75% of the mass of bacteria that live in our bodies.
Probiotics and supplements
According to Casey Adams, Ph.D. in his book, “Probiotics – Protection Against Infection”, it has been proven that probiotics produce a huge number of vitamins, such as:
Vitamin A
Vitamin K
Vitamins B1-B3, B5-B7, B9, B12
Essential Fatty Acids
Additionally, probiotics also increase the digestibility, bioavailability and processing of a large number of nutrients, including:
copper
calcium
magnesium
iron
manganese
potassium
zinc
proteins
fats
carbohydrates
sugars
milk
phytonutrients
cholesterol
Probiotics you get from supplements only stay in our bodies for 2 weeks
It is interesting to note that no study has shown supplemented probiotic strains remain in the body for more than two weeks. What probiotics from supplements do, is to strengthen our immune system while our own strains are created and replenished. That is an extremely important step and that is why probiotic supplementation is so important!
