The intestinal tract is teeming bacteria. In all, somewhere between 400 and 500 different species of bacteria call the gastrointestinal (GI) tract "home." In an ideal setting, approximately 85% of these bacteria should be "good" bacteria, which collectively are known as intestinal flora or probiotics, while another 15% should be "bad" bacteria (pathogenic). Poor diet, disease, antibiotic medications and other causes often tip the scales in favour of the pathogens, though. That's when probiotic supplements may be called for. What are probiotic supplements and how can they be of benefit to your health?
What are Probiotic Supplements?
Probiotics grow naturally in the gut and some foods contain probiotics. If taken regularly, they can help maintain or restore healthy levels of intestinal flora. Some foods nutritionists recommend include:
- Yogurt
- Sauerkraut
- Dark chocolate
- Some ocean algaes
- Miso soup (a Japanese soup made from fermented rice, barley, rye or soy beans)
- Kimchi (a Korean dish similar to sauerkraut)
- Pickles
With the exception of dark chocolate and algae, all of these foods are fermented.
Probiotic supplements contain specific species of probiotics that have been shown to have a variety of benefits. The bacteria are cultivated just as they naturally cultivate in the fermentation process, but their growth is carefully controlled in order to provide the right types of probiotics in the right amounts. The best known of these are lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium bifidum.
Probiotic supplements are recommended for the correction of a number of conditions:
- They help improve digestion, which may help prevent more serious gastrointestinal diseases.
- Probiotics can help treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- They are believed to be able to help clear up yeast infections such as Candida.
- Studies have shown that probiotics can help prevent urinary tract infections.
- Probiotics can help treat and prevent diarrhoea.
- Probiotic treatment has been shown to reduce inflammation in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Viable (live) probiotic supplements given to terminally ill patients helped prevent multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), a leading cause of death in intensive care facilities. According to an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the reason for this was a "greater enhancement in immune activity." This suggests that live probiotic supplements taken by healthy individuals can similarly enhance the immune system.
Because probiotics occur naturally, there is little to suggest that taking probiotic supplements could have negative side effects. However, everyone's bacterial balance is different. Manufacturers and distributors of nutritional supplements always recommend taking supplements in the recommended dosages and informing your health care provider of the supplements you are taking.
