PROBIOTICS HEALTH BENEFITS

BEAT THE BUGS IN 2008 – THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PROBIOTICS

We’ve all experienced a stomach upset after eating a dodgy meal, so the prospect of deliberately consuming bacteria doesn’t appeal at all.

But that’s exactly what we should be doing according to the latest scientific evidence.

Research published in two medical journals this month suggests friendly gut bacteria - probiotics - reduce the length of time hospital patients require antibiotics and the time they spend in intensive care.

Probiotics such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria help to promote good digestion and have a beneficial effect on the immune system. But antibiotics, gastric infections and poor diet can knock them out.

Here’s how toping up with daily supplement can boost your health.

Thrush

In one study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a threefold decrease in the number of thrush bouts was seen when patients consumed the probiotics species Lactobacillus acidophilus every day for six months. Taking probiotics increases the number of friendly bugs in your vagina which help fight off the E.coli bacteria that cause thrush.

Food poisoning

Probiotics zap food poisoning bacteria and stomach viruses in two ways. The first is through sheer weight of numbers - “if you bolster up the good bacteria they are more likely to fight off the bad," says Colette Shortt, a visiting professor at the University of Ulster in Londonderry. "Probiotic bacteria also produce lactic acid which makes an acid environment in the gut that is hostile to bad bugs."

Eczema

A study last year in the Lancet found that children who received lactobacilli for the first 6 months of their lives and whose mums had been given the supplement during pregnancy had half the risk of developing eczema in the first two years of life. “Years ago, poorer hygiene conditions meant children were exposed to more bad bacteria which helped their immune systems develop and reduced allergies like eczema - but of course a lot of children got ill too,” says Bengt Bjorksten, Executive Director of the Centre for Allergy Research at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. ”Healthy bacteria like lactobacilli appear to have the good effect of building up resistance to allergy without any of the side effects.”

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ten out of twelve studies investigating the effects of probiotics on irritable bowel syndrome found they were of benefit. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is much more common in people who have had gastro-enteritis, so probiotics probably help by restoring a better ratio of good to bad bacteria.

Stress

According to microbiologist Professor Glenn Gibson at the University of Reading, probiotics may reduce feelings of stress and emotional stress.

"Some harmful bacteria species such as Clostridia produce toxins which can cross the blood to brain barrier, potentially affecting brain function. By comparison probiotics do not produce harmful toxins and have the ability to combat the bacteria that can."

Infection

A study in the British Medical Journal found that children of nursery school age who were given probiotics in their milk had 1 per cent fewer respiratory infections and 19 per cent fewer prescriptions for antibiotics.

And according to a study at Kiel University in Germany, a probiotic multivitamin stimulated the body's ability to fight viral infections such as colds and ’flu.

Probiotic products

So, how does one choose the best type of probiotic? The best way is to look for a probiotic that is tailored to you health needs. For example, e if you have just been prescribed a course of antibiotics then talk to your pharmacist about taking a probiotic to compliment. Pharmacist x from x says “There are now probiotics called A’Biotica from DTECTA, that promote digestive health and immunity for patients on antibiotics that come in capsule form and should be taken when taking a course of antibiotics.”

Drinks

There are now a range of yoghurt drinks available but sadly many of these are high in sugar.

Supplements

The key to choosing a supplement is to look for the stamp of approval from the Institut Rosell who are the premier research institute for probiotics in Europe.

If you do take probiotics there’s really no point in doing it half-heartedly. They need to be taken regularly every day, or at least for a period of time, to replenish the bugs that are naturally flushed from your body daily.

HEALTH FORUM - You can discuss this topic further on our new Alternative Health Forum.

Author Details: DTECTA Probiotics