What are the Health Benefits of Probiotics?
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
by John Bradstreet
World Vitamins Online
The definition of probiotics, according to The Joint FAO/WHO Working Group, is defined as "live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host". Because many of us associate bacteria with disease it is probably difficult for some people to get behind the idea that consuming a couple of billion of them a day is good for your health. But the scientific evidence is mounting that you can treat or prevent some diseases with foods or supplements that contain certain types of bacteria. In Northern Europe people consume a lot of these beneficial bacteria, called probiotics, because their diets traditionally contain foods that are fermented with live bacteria such as yogurt. Beverages containing probiotics are also very common in Japan.
* Improve the bio-availability of important nutrients
* Provide powerful abilities to normalize bowel function in those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
* Clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic showed improvements in patients suffering from bloating.
* Lowered the rate of diarrhea and diaper rash in infants.
* Reduce lactose intolerance.
* Reduce constipation in the elderly.
* Some forms can be helpful in the growth of healthy bacteria in the colon. This lowers the conversion of bile in the colon into carcinogens.
* Enhance the immune system.
In a healthy person there is an estimated 1 trillion bacteria of about 500 different types living in the bowel. These microorganisms do not make you sick; in fact most of them are beneficial to our health. The function of these bacteria is to keep harmful bacteria at a minimum, aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients in food and help our immune systems. Knowing this self-dosing with live bacteria does not seem a strange thing to do.
The best case for probiotics can be made for treatment of diarrhea. Studies have shown that they can reduce the duration of infectious diarrhea in children and infants, but not in adults. Two important studies have shown that probiotics can reduce this duration by as much as 60% when compared to a placebo. People that suffer from Crohn's Disease and irritable bowel disease have had some success with probiotics therapy. Both of these conditions have been frustrating for conventional medicine to come up with a cure.
Probiotics have been used successfully in maintaining urogenital health in women. Like the intestinal tract the vagina is a finely tuned ecosystem. The bacteria that normally inhabit the vagina cause it to be to acidic for harmful bacteria to survive. Several factors such as spermicides, birth control pills and antibiotics can throw this system out of balance. Treatment with probiotics can restore the balance of microorganisms and is helpful in treating common urogenital problems in women such as bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Vaginosis must be treated as it can create a risk of pregnancy related complications and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Probiotics are generally considered to be safe. This is because they are already present in a normal digestive system. People with impaired immune systems could be at a theoretical risk. As with any supplementation program one should always consult with their primary care doctor.
--------
John Bradstreet is an experienced Biochemist with extensive knowledge in nutritional supplementation. He is a great source of information. To learn more about Probiotics we have included additional links at the bottom of the page to help educate you on the subject. You are also invited to visit our Vitamin and Supplement Blog for information on this and other subjects.
This Article has been viewed 7 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.