Probiotics are more commonly known for their usefulness in combating IBS, diarrhea, and other such digestive disorders, but did you know that they can cure constipation as well?

Probiotics are friendly bacteria that exist in our gut, mouth, throat and in the vaginal tract. They come by the millions. They are called friendly because unlike regular bacteria, which cause illness, probiotics will attack any harmful organisms in your body and destroy them, keeping you well and disease free.

There are two major types of probiotics, and they exist in different areas of the intestinal tract. Lactobacilli, the most common and most useful strain of probiotics, exist in the upper gut. It coats the stomach lining, so that any pathogens that get into the stomach encounter the probiotic first. Lactobacilli are also responsible for digestion of milk and milk products; when you don’t have it, you will suffer lactose intolerance. They are also the ones that cure diarrhea.

The second type of probiotic is called bifidobacteria, and this one lines the colon. This is the probiotic type that is responsible for stopping constipation and inflammation in the colon. It ensures that there is proper pH balance so that your waste, or digested food, gets what it needs to be expelled properly. When you are short of bifidobacteria, you will suffer constipation. In fact, it can get much worse with time because your gut is open to infection. Colon cancer can occur because waste spends too much time in your body.

Sometimes you will take in lots of water, but you still get constipation because the cells that line your colon draw all the water out of the stool. Probiotics will target these cells so that it can adjust their water absorption. Sometimes, your colon is lined with organisms so that even if you eat roughage, your stool doesn’t get the grip it needs to be expelled. Other times, there might be bacteria which prevent peristalsis, the movement of the colon muscles that causes you to excrete. All these can be corrected by taking the right probiotic.

The way to make sure that you always have optimal levels of probiotics is to take them in your diet or to take them as supplements regularly. In the diet, you can take them in the form of milk and milk products like yoghurt and cheese. You can also get probiotics from vinegars and from garlic. These are all easily incorporated into the diet and commonly available.

You need to replace one type of probiotic at any one time. If you take probiotic supplements that contain both bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, one of them will be rendered inactive. It’s a waste. What is recommended is that you switch regularly from one to the other. Check the labels when you buy to see what strain you are getting.

In the diet, your body knows where probiotic replacement is needed most, and so whatever you consume will be taken to that area. The best way to ensure that you are well supplied at all times is to make probiotics a part of your daily diet.

Sources

1. http://www.ei-resource.org/related-conditions-books/digestive-disorders/digestive-wellness/ Probiotics and Prebiotics by Liz Lipski

2. http://www.functionalingredientsmag.com/article/Formulations/probiotics-strains-matter.aspx

3. Laurel On Health Food – http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com

4. National Institutes of Health – http://www.nih.gov/

5. U.S. National Library of Medicine – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

One of the best treatments for a yeast infection are probiotics.  A yeast infection is caused by Candida, a fungus that actually is present in the body naturally. When its levels get upset for one reason or the other, then a yeast infection will occur. Some people think that yeast infections are only found in the vaginal tracts of women. Not true. Yeast infections can be found in the throat and on the tongue and mouth, on the skin and in the gut.

People with reduced immunity for any reason (e.g. HIV, diabetes) are likely to suffer a yeast infection. And so are people who have had their levels of Candida upset by internal (illness for instance, or taking antibiotics) or external factors (even hot, humid weather can cause a Candida imbalance). This occurs more frequently in women than in men, unless it’s caused by an autoimmune disease when the frequency is equally likely in both men and women. In healthy women it’s caused by contraceptives, antibiotics or just illness. Sometimes, it will just occur. It will be mostly in the vaginal tract and can be terribly uncomfortable and hard to cure, especially if you do not know what it is. In men it will attack their scrotal area as well as the urinary tract, and may manifest on the penis too.

When it attacks the throat and mouth, a yeast infection will show up as a white layer. Your mouth, throat and tongue are generally supposed to have a healthy pink color. If you notice a white layer, or white patches, then it’s likely that you are suffering a yeast infection.

How do probiotics help?

Probiotics are healthy, friendly bacteria that exist in your gut. In women, they exist in the vagina as well and to the urinary tract in both sexes. Probiotics naturally discourage fungal infection – they are there to arm your body from infection and disease. When you suffer a yeast infection, it’s very likely that your probiotic levels have gone down and need to be replaced.

Lactobacillus, or lactic acid bacteria is the one that is active in preventing and treating yeast infections. It is commonly found in yoghurt, but other probiotic containing foods may have it as well. Remember probiotics do not come in isolation – if a type of food generally has probiotics, it will have many different strains of friendly bacteria.

A study published in 2000 in the International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, it was found that vaginal candidiasis has increased worldwide due to lack of enough lactobacilli bacteria in women’s bodies.

A regular intake of probiotics will ensure that you do not suffer yeast infections. They can be very nagging – highly recurring and hard to treat. Yoghurt comes recommended. Garlic as well. It is loaded with probiotics that restore candida to its proper levels. It’s recommended that other than taking them as part of your diet, you also apply them directly to the affected area. A clove of garlic placed into the vagina daily will cure a yeast infection in a matter of days, for instance.

If you have a genital yeast infection, its best to avoid sex at the time so that you don’t pass it onto your partner. And if you unknowingly do, because yeast infections can take time to manifest, load them up on probiotics as well.

Remember that kids get yeast infections too, not of the genital area but of the tongue and mouth usually. Keep children on a regular probiotic loaded diet.

The best way to ward off yeast infections though is to make sure that you regularly eat probiotic foods or take probiotic supplements as they have concentrated probiotic strains.

Sources:

1. http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com/probioticsforyeast.html
2. http://www.juiceplus-vitamins.com/health/acidophilus-collectively-as-probiotics-help-rather-than-harm.php
3. The Probiotic Solution by Dr. Mark Brudnak
4. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Lactose intolerance is the body’s inability to digest milk and milk products. A large number of people are familiar with it – that bloated feeling that you get or the urge to visit the toilet immediately after you take milk or anything that contains milk.

In fact a large percentage of the population all around the world suffers from lactose intolerance. Studies have shown that in the US alone, 15% of Caucasians suffer it, over 50% of Mexican Americans, and over 80% of African Americans have lactose intolerance as well, (between 30 and 50 million Americans) pretty high numbers for one country alone.

What causes lactose intolerance?

Your stomach lining is naturally supposed to produce an enzyme called lactase which is used to break down lactose, the major sugar in milk. When we are babies, our lactase levels are highest but as we grow older, they get less and less. The less they are, the more you are likely to suffer lactose intolerance.

When you take in milk or milk products, they are not broken down into absorbable form – sugar, glucose and galactose. What happens is that the milk will get to your stomach and pass through to the small intestines untouched, and it will either cause you to bloat or have diarrhoea. There are other symptoms as well; you’ll get stomach pains cramping and may feel nauseated.

How do Probiotics Deal with Lactose Intolerance?

In many probiotics, you will find lactase, which we have seen is the basic enzyme that breaks down milk. Probiotics in themselves contain bacteria that are beneficial to the body, but do not occur naturally or get depleted for one reason or another. The absence of these bacteria means that your body is less able to protect itself from infection and you will have gastric as well as other internal problems.

When these beneficial live bacteria are introduced in the body in the form of probiotic supplements, they adhere to the stomach lining and release the lactase which they contain. This means that when milk or milk products get to the lining, they will find the necessary enzymes to digest them.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 61, 587 people between the ages of 50-76 said that the top reason why they used probiotics containing acidophilus was for lactose intolerance. The survey was done between 2000-2002. This is a significant finding because the older we grow, the more lactose intolerant we become. At middle age, you are lucky if you have any lactase enzymes being naturally produced at all. By the time you are 70, you will not be able to digest lactose naturally, and thus the preference for probiotics to help with lactose intolerance.

Not all cases of lactose intolerance can be helped by probiotics however.

So yes, some people will get help with lactose intolerance from probiotics, but not all. The best way to go about it is to look for a probiotic that specifically contains some kinds of bacteria:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactobacillus bulgaricus
• Streptococcus salivarius
• Lactobacillus reuteri
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Streptococcus thermophilus

These particular strains have been known best to help many people with lactose intolerance, otherwise not just any probiotic will do.

Sources:

• Cathy Wong – What is Lactose Intolerance?
• Cathy Wong – Acidophilus and Other Probiotics
• Do probiotics reduce adult lactose intolerance? A systematic review – APPLIED EVIDENCE: New research findings that are changing clinical practice
• http://www.probiotics-lovethatbug.com/lactose-intolerant.html
• Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Probiotic Bacteria

Probiotics are great for general health and for treating specific problems especially related to the gut, but the range in the market can leave a consumer confused as to what would be best for them. To help with this, it is important to know that there are actually different strains of probiotics and each strain is beneficial in a specific way. It will help you to know what to look for in a probiotic.

There are 2 different types of Probiotic bacteria:

Lactobacilli

These are the most numerous in the upper gut (there is a different type that is found in the colon, although many commercially manufactured probiotic supplements contain both). Lactobacilli has some specific benefits:

• It prevents growth of disease causing microbes especially of the Candida variety, e coli, h pylori and salmonella.
• It is the best for treating diarrhoea brought on by taking antibiotics.
• It is specific also to the treatment of lactose intolerance. It helps with production of lactase which is the enzyme necessary to break down the sugar that’s found in milk.
• It is useful in increasing nutrient absorption, especially of vitamin B and others like iron, magnesium and phosphorous.
• It’s this strain that provides antigens when there are harmful foreign bacteria in the intestinal tract. This makes it the strain that fights food poisoning.
• It’s responsible for the acid levels in the gut – a low pH in your stomach means less pathogens and less yeast.
• It’s the one that fights vaginal and urinary tract infections.

Bifidobacteria

This strain is found in the colon. It lines the entire lower intestine and the colon, which means it’s the protective army of the lower part of your gut.

• It protects the large intestines from harmful bacteria and yeasts.
• It produces acids that keep the lower intestinal tract at the right pH levels. This is important because an imbalance would allow microbes to grow and cause disease.
• It’s the one that kicks in when you have been on antibiotic therapy. They will reduce the effects on your gut from the medication.
• It’s the main bacteria in the guts of babies. It aids with nutrient absorption and thus helps the baby to grow.
• It stops the growth of bacteria that produce nitrates, which are toxic and can cause cancer in the long run.
• It’s a toxin fighter – it aids the liver in getting rid of any toxins that may have been ingested, especially if they are ingested in trace amounts.
• It’s responsible for bowel movements, the ones that tell you when its time to go for a number 2.
• It also aids in fighting diarrhoea that has been caused by antibiotics.

Now you know the 2 major strains and which part and how they benefit your body most. The way to choose is to isolate your problem, so that when you are choosing a probiotic, you can be able to know what to look for. You may also want to know which specific bacteria exist in different probiotics (they are numerous), but generally knowing the 2 strains and where they work best should be a start-off point.

Remember though, that fortunately, most probiotics contain both so it may not be such a tough choice to make. Make sure to buy a brand that’s well reputed and that’s been known to work.

Sources:

1. http://www.ei-resource.org/related-conditions-books/digestive-disorders/digestive-wellness/ Probiotics and Prebiotics by Liz Lipski
2. http://www.functionalingredientsmag.com/article/Formulations/probiotics-strains-matter.aspx – Probiotic Strains Matter by Mary Ellen Sanders

If you suffer from IBS, there is a safe and natural way you can relieve your symptoms: using probiotics. In many cases in modern medicine, we resort to antibiotics to treat even minor ailments. Yes, antibiotics kill off bad bacteria, but along with it, they kill off good bacteria as well that naturally exists in your gut to protect you from inflammation.

IBS, as the name suggests, is an irritation of the stomach that causes painful cramps, diarrhoea and bloating. It’s said to be more common in men than women, but at least a third of the population is said to suffer from IBS especially as they get older. In the US alone, it’s estimated that 15-30 million people suffer from IBS.

What causes IBS? Your gut is exposed; you are not producing the right enzymes because the bacterial balance in your gut has been upset. As well, you are open to infection and irritation should any irritants come along. Even foods that someone who doesn’t suffer IBS can stand, like chilli, leaves discomfort because the stomach treats it as an irritant.

How do probiotics help?

Probiotics, or friendly bacteria, will re-introduce the fortification that your gut needs. The particular strain of bacteria called lactobacillus, contained in many probiotics is the one that specifically will help you fight IBS. Lactobacilli will line your gut so that you are able to produce the right enzymes to aid digestion and reduce irritation.

In a placebo controlled trial done in France of 200+ people, probiotics were found to significantly improve the symptoms of IBS in 80.61% of them. Doctors in Australia did similar studies, and the subjects reported immediate improvement.

In a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, probiotics were shown to restore the balance of flora in the gut so that IBS sufferers who were in the study were able to report almost immediate improvement.

Its not a one size fits all though. Different probiotics will work differently for different people and you may have to try several specific ones before you get the one that will help relieve your IBS symptoms. Probiotics come in different strains and the best thing to do is to know which strains work best in which part of your gut. This will make your search for a probiotic more specific.

As a general measure though, you should introduce probiotic laden foods into your diet. Drink lots of yoghurt. Take cheeses, fermented milk, add garlic to your food and look for fermented grains. Yoghurt is the most popularly known source of probiotics, and a daily dose of yoghurt should be able to help you get started. You can get a probiotic supplements as well, especially if your IBS symptoms are very serious. Make sure to read the labels so that you know what specific strain you are getting, although many supplements contain a combination of strains of bacteria.

Sources:

1. http://edshealthtips.com/which-is-the-best-probiotic-for-ibs/
2. http://www.institut-rosell.com/
3. American Journal of Gastroenterology

Probiotics - The Friendly Bacteria

You may have heard of probiotics and may be wondering how they can be of benefit to your health. The benefits are numerous, but before we get to them, let’s talk a little about what probiotics are.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are simply friendly bacteria that are found throughout your gut. They line your entire gut by the millions and their main function is to fight off inflammation. If you ingest something that contains harmful bacteria, probiotics will meet these bacteria and they will be destroyed.

Sometimes, for a number of reasons (naturally, taking antibiotics, illness and many more), these bacteria are reduced in numbers. That leaves you open to disease and inflammation. The most common will be gut problems: you will get diarrhea, bloat, abdominal cramping, and pains in the stomach and it may even get worse than that. You may have taken a course of antibiotics and noticed how after you were done, you got lose stools and stomach cramping, loss of appetite, or bloat. In women, sometimes it manifests as vaginal thrush. These signs are your body telling you that your friendly bacteria level is down and you need to do something about it.

In recent years however, it’s been discovered that you can introduce these live bacteria into the body through either supplements or certain foods. The supplements are easily available Online. The foods that contain probiotics include yogurt, garlic, cheese, buttermilk and sour cream.

To know just how beneficial they are to your body, here are some of the things that probiotics will do for you:

1. They increase nutrient absorption, especially the B vitamin range, as well as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and many others.
2. They will reduce inflammation in your stomach naturally. If, for instance you have diarrhea, and you take probiotics, likely chances are that it will ease off.
3. If you suffer from lactose intolerance, probiotics will help you to digest milk and milk products with much less discomfort. They contain specific strains of bacteria that release the enzyme lactase that is required to break down the sugar found in milk and its products.
4. If you suffer constipation, especially if you are elderly, they will help you become more regular. Try them if you do suffer constipation and are not elderly – they may just work.
5. Sometimes bile can turn carcinogenic once in the colon – rare but it does happen. If you are regularly on probiotics, you can prevent this from happening.
6. You have generally enhanced immunity since you have an army of friendly bacteria that attack any unfriendly ones that may pay you a visit. The result is better overall health.
7. If you suffer frequent yeast infections, probiotics are known to work almost 100% of the time (unless you have an autoimmune disorder). Women who get frequent thrush attacks should take probiotics regularly. Yeast infections can also manifest on the tongue as a white residue. Take lots of yoghurt and eat garlic, then brush your tongue and you will get rid of that white layer.
8. Sufferers of IBS should take probiotics on a regular basis. As the name suggests, it’s an irritable bowel. Line your gut with friendly bacteria so that you can minimize sensitivity. They will attack and ward off any bacteria that cause diarrhoea, bloat and cramping.
9. You have chances of decreasing your cholesterol levels by taking probiotics regularly.
10. This last one is one that many people don’t know about. If you suffer bad breath, it may be that your colon needs a cleaning. Probiotics will go in there and do the job. Your colon, once cleansed will stop causing you to have bad breath. If you have bad breath and have tried solutions that haven’t worked, try probiotics.

Probiotics are considered safe to take since they occur naturally in your gut anyway. Depending on how badly you need them, you can choose between the supplements or taking in foods that contain them, but the best way to make sure that you are always armed in your gut is to include probiotic loaded foods in your diet.

Sources

1. http://www.healthcastle.com/yogurt-probiotics-benefits.shtml
2. http://www.upwardquest.com/probiotics-benefits.html
3. http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0905c.shtml

What are Probiotics?

The discovery of probiotics and its benefits have often been hailed as the most important breakthrough in the field of natural healing. There has been a steady increase in the number of people who are opting for probiotic supplements so much so that from 1994 to 2003 there was an astounding three fold increase in the spending on probiotics supplements in the US alone. This conspicuous increase in the number of probiotic users goes a long way in proving its extraordinary health benefits

What are Probiotics?

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, probiotics are living microorganisms which when administered in correct doses can provide remarkable heath benefits. Microorganisms are essentially microscopic natural organisms like yeast, virus and bacteria.

Probiotics vs. PreBiotics

Probiotics and Prebiotics are different from each other with the latter being types of non-digestible food ingredients that facilitate the growth and activity of bowel microorganisms. However, both prebiotics and probiotics are natural microorganisms that help in improving digestive health.

Natural Sources of Probiotics

Studies carried out by several eminent bodies have proved beyond a doubt the efficacy of probiotics in overall health improvement. Fortunately for us, probiotics can be naturally found in several food items that we consume. As a matter of fact, it is often believed that cultured milk products and fermented food were introduced in ancient times to harness the health benefits achieved through the probiotic content in these food items. Probiotics provide a natural and gentle solution to most of our digestive and gastric problems. Some of the common sources of probiotics include miso, yoghurt, soy beverages, fermented and unfermented milk, some juices and tempeh

What types of bacteria are classified as probiotics?

The microorganisms classified as probiotics are similar to the bacteria found in the digestive system. Research has indicated that there are two primary groups of this bowel fauna: Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. There are different species in these two groups and each species in further bifurcated into different varieties or strains.

How do Probiotics Help?

We have an integral relationship with bacteria, yeast and other microorganisms; they live on the human skin, in the digestive system and the various orifices of the body. While some microorganisms like E-Coli can prove detrimental to health there are others which are a vital part of the body’s natural defense system. So it would not be incorrect to state that there exists a healthy balance between the bad and the good bacteria in the body. But this balance can be thrown awry in two scenarios

When antibiotics are administered, antibiotics kill bacteria, virus and other microorganisms without distinguishing between the good and the bad. This in turn can cause digestive problems like diarrhea, cramping and gas. In this case, probiotics can offset the effect of antibiotics by introducing good bowel fauna into the system. The same also hold true in case of lactose intolerance a condition caused due to the lack of an essential enzyme needed for the digestion of lactose, once again probiotic supplements can come to the rescue because the bacterial strain can help in digestion.

Bad microorganisms like yeast, fungi, virus and bacteria that cause diseases can also upset the balance of bacteria in the body but probiotics can help to restore the balance after a parasitic attack.

With hundreds of probiotic supplements on the market, it’s nearly impossible to determine which probiotics work and which ones don’t. How can you know the probiotic that is right for you?

That’s where we come in. Probioticsreport.com is the leading source of information and research on probiotics. We have spent several hundred hours doing research to provide a guide that helps inform the consumer trying to find unbiased information on the best probiotics available.

There are numerous clinical studies showing the benefits of probiotics. Here are some of the benefits of probiotics

• Relieves bloating and embarrassing gas
• Helps you digest milk, cheese, and other “trouble foods”
• Recharges your immunity and boosts vitality
• Less constipation and more Painless bowel movements
• Less abdominal pain and heartburn
• Less bowel irritation and diarrhea
• Improved digestion and a Well behaved bowel
• Less food allergies

How do we define “best probiotics”?

We gather ratings from consumers, experts, and clinical studies to rank the best probiotic pills using these eight criteria.

• Overall value
• Speed of results
• Safety
• Consumer results and feedback
• Company reputation
• Long term results and benefits
• Guarantee
• Ingredient Quality

While we have done our best to get the results, keep in mind that everyone has unique body chemistry, and what may work for most may not work for you. It is a trial and error process but probioticsreport.com does its best to minimize it by reporting the top 5 brands that work for most people.

A probiotic dairy product containing L. gasseri CECT5714 and L. coryniformis CECT5711 induces immunological changes in children suffering from allergy.

Martínez-Cañavate, A., Sierra, S., Lara-Villoslada, F., Romero, J., Maldonado, J., Boza, J., Xaus, J., and Olivares, M.

Pediatr Allergy Immunol – 01-SEP-2009; 20(6): 592-600

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a dairy-based probiotic to alter immunoregulation in children with allergies.

Methods: 44 patients were randomly distributed in a double blind comparative study. Both groups consumed 200 mL of a fermented dairy product (yogurt) for 3 months. The treatment group consumed a product where Lactobacillus bulgaricus was replaced by a mixture of Lactobacillus gasseri CECT5714 and Lactobacillus coryniformis CECT5711. The mixture contained at least 10⁶ CFU/g of each strain. Parameters (serum IgE, CD⁴/CD²⁵ regulatory T cells, eosinophils, basophils, NK cells and mucosal sIgA) were measured in fecal samples, blood and serum.

Results: The treatment group consuming the yogurt with L. gasseri plus L. bulgaricus showed a significant decrease in IgE (p=0.03). Further, there was an increase in CD⁴/CD²⁵ regulatory T (p= 0.01) cells and NK cells (p=0.03) with no increase in eosinophils or basophils. Secretory IgA (sIgA) was also increased (p=0.01).

Conclusions: The use of probiotics in children can have beneficial effects on the immune parameters important in the development of an allergic immune response. Innate and acquired immune parameters were positively affected by the use of yogurt supplemented with L. gasseri plus L. bulgaricus.

A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of synbiotic versus probiotic or prebiotic treatment to improve the quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Fujimori, S., Gudis, K., Mitsui, K., Seo, T., Yonezawa, M., Tanaka, S., Tatsuguchi, A., and Sakamoto, C.

Nutrition – 01-MAY-2009; 25(5): 520-5

Objectives: To compare the use of probiotics, prebiotics or combined (synbiotic) therapy in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC)

Methods: 120 UC out-patients were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups (N=40 each). The probiotic group were given one daily capsule containing Bifidobacterium longum (2 x 10⁹CFU). The prebiotic group was given a daily dose of 8.0g of psyllium (prebiotic). The synbiotic group received both the B. longum and the psyllium at the same dosage. All patients completed a quality-of-life questionnaire at 2 weeks and again at 4 weeks. The questionnaire was scored and results compared. C-reactive protein, CRP, as a measure of inflammation was also tested.

Results: All groups showed an improvement in their questionnaire scores at 4 weeks, with the synbiotic group showing the greatest improvement (p=0.03) in quality-of-life scoring. CRP levels decreased significantly only with the synbiotic group. (p=0.04)

Conclusions: Synbiotic therapy of UC patients shows promise in improving the quality of life and appears to have synergistic activity in improving inflammatory parameters, as measured by CRP as well.