Probiotics: Foods that Act as Medicine in our Body

Probiotics 

(There are actually 10 times more probiotics in our gut than cells in our body) 

Awareness on Probiotics continues to increase now-a-days, hence probiotic research and probiotic foods are fast growing topics these days. I am here providing a science-based reference about Probiotics. Then, what is Probiotics? The most broadly accepted definition in the scientific community is  “Probiotics are live microorganisms, that when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” That means Probiotics are bacterias, when administered into our digestive tract, they support our body’s ability to absorb nutrients and fight infection. On a daily basis, we are exposed to many foods, toxins and stresses which have a negative impact on our digestive health. In order to restore our digestive health, they must be addressed. If they’re not addressed, then our gut bacteria become imbalanced and our system can become a breeding ground for bad bacteria, yeast, viruses, fungi and parasites. The only way to maintain a healthy digestive health or to heal a infected gut, we must eliminate the foods that feed bad bacteria and to start consuming probiotic-rich foods and supplements. 

At which stage it develops in our body?

Probiotics or live microorganisms are found in our systems right from the moment that we stepped into the world. At the time of delivery, when a going to born baby is in the birth canal of its mother, it get exposed to the bacteria of its mother for the first time. This process starts a chain of process inside the GI tract of the new born, and the GI tract of the new born starts to produce good bacteria.

Benefits of Probiotics

Many of the microorganisms found in probiotic foods or supplements are similar to microorganisms that naturally live in our bodies. Probiotics contains a variety of microorganisms. The most common among them are bacteria that belong to groups called Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Yeasts such as Saccharomyces boulardii may also be used as probiotics. When good bacteria prevails in our gut, they are responsible for: producing vitamin B-12, butyrate and vitamin K2, crowding out bad bacteria, yeast and fungi, creating enzymes that destroy harmful bacteria and stimulating secretion of IgA and regulatory T Cells.

Probiotic benefits have been proven effective in these following areas:

• It helps in reducing the risk of certain acute common infectious diseases.
• it helps in boosting immune system 
• It helps in improving digestive function
• It improve tolerance to lactose
• It fights with food-borne illnesses
• It heals inflammatory bowel conditions
• It reduces diarrhea associated with antibiotic therapy
• It prevents and treats urinary tract infections
• It may also be of use in maintaining urogenital health. 
• It reduces crying time in colicky babies
• It manages and prevents eczema in children
• It also helps in maintaining a flawless skin

Why it is needed?

Probiotics are needed in order to improve our gut flora balance. Most people in the world, including children, are in need of a probiotic boost due to the use of prescribed medication particularly antibiotics as well as high carbohydrate diets, the consumption of chlorinated and fluoridated water, and conventional foods such as non-organic meat and dairy that contain antibiotic residues. These chemicals kill off probiotics in our system. If this continues for a longer period of time, this will damage our digestive tract. So, it's my honest request, always make sure to avoid the probiotic killers. Examples of some probiotic killers are Antibiotics, Sugar, Tap Water, GMO Foods, Grains, Emotional Stress, Chemicals and medications.

Safety and Side Effects of Probiotics?

Bovine Sources

If anyone think that Probiotics are safe to use or not, then I must say it depends upon one’s state of health only. In one hand, Probiotics has a very good effect on people who are generally healthy. Side effects, if occur to them i.e. mild digestive symptoms like gas. On the other hand, probiotics leads to severe side effects in people who are suffering from serious medical problems i.e. surgical patients, very sick infants, and people who have weakened immune systems. Side effects of Probiotics can sometimes include diarrhea if we take too much and too fast. In order to get the positive effects, we can start off with a smaller amount like one yakult drink or one probiotics capsule per day. But overall, I experienced positive effects of probiotics and there is no side effects!

How Probiotics Work?

We must know that our gut contains both beneficial and harmful bacterias. According to the digestive experts, the balance of gut flora should be approximately 85% good bacteria and 15% bad bacteria. If the balance goes disturbed, a condition known as dysbiosis (Dysbiosis generally refers to a state of imbalance i.e. too much of a certain type of fungus, yeast or bacteria that is affecting our body in a negative way) will develop. By consuming certain types of probiotics foods and supplements only, we can help bring these ratios back into balance.

Food Sources

Non-diary sources

Yogurt: Yogurt is one of the most familiar sources of probiotics. It helps in flourishing "good" bacteria that keep a healthy balance in your gut. Yogurt can rank at the top of probiotics foods if it comes from raw grass-fed animals. I must say, one must keep in mind three things. (i) that it comes from goat’s, sheep milk or cows milk; (ii) that it is grass-fed; and (iii) that must be organic when it comes to buying yogurt.

Raw Cheese: Goat’s milk, sheep’s milk and cow’s milk cheeses are particularly high in probiotics, including thermophillus, bifudus, bulgaricus and acidophilus. Cheese also may act as a carrier for probiotics, which may boost our immune system. I must say, always buy raw and non-pasteurized cheese. certain strains in some fermented soft cheeses survive the journey through our stomach and intestines as all probiotics can not survive the journey. 

Buttermilk: Buttermilk is one of the easiest source to get probiotics into your diet. Buttermilk is the milk that's cultured with lactic acid bacteria, hence rich in probiotics. It is something we can say acidophilus milk i.e. milk that is fermented with bacteria. 

Sour Pickles: Naturally fermented kinds of pickle also used as probiotics. Natural means where vinegar isn't used in the pickling process. A sea salt and water solution feeds the growth of good bacteria, so sour pickles gives some digestive benefits. 

Probiotic Supplements

Probiotic Supplements

Probiotics also come in supplements in all forms that is capsule, tablet, powder, and liquid. They don't provide the extra nutrition alongwith the foods we eat generally, but they are convenient and easy in order to use & avail the benefits. One can take probiotic lozenges and gums which helps in maintaining our oral health. For example, it will reduce periodontal disease, throat infections and bad breath. 

Probiotics through the passing years

it is important to know that probiotics are not a new concept for mankind. Throughout history, different cultures have thrived on probiotics that are found in fermented and cultured foods. These fermented and cultured foods were invented for food preservation long before the invention of refrigerator. With the invention of refrigerator, we don’t have to culture or ferment our foods to keep them from spoiling. In this way, we lose out on those vital probiotics. So, I can say, invention of refrigerator could be one of the worst inventions for our digestive health.

What studies revealed?

• Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) have found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) can help with intestinal problems, respiratory infections and some skin disorders. 
• According to a review of five controlled studies, published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, Certain strains of B. lactis and L. casei improved stool consistency and frequency of bowel movements in people with constipation.
• A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, have found that certain probiotic strains boost measures of immune response, but whether this translates into any clinical benefits is uncertain. 
• A study published in the Journal of Functional Foods found that people who consumed yogurt containing two “novel” strains of probiotics experienced small losses in body fat, but no changes in body weight.
• Some studies also report that certain probiotics can play a role in reducing the development of allergy in children, decrease Helicobacter pylori colonization of the stomach and manage relapse of some inflammatory bowel conditions.

Text from the Blogger

It is normal if anyone is considering probiotics both from food sources or as a dietary supplement. But, if anyone have health problems, then he/she must consult his/her health care provider first. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children first consult their health care provider before taking probiotics. In this respect, one has to tell any complementary or integrative health approaches he/she uses to his/her health care provider. That means he/she must give the health care provider a clear picture of what he/she does to manage his/her health that helps in ensuring coordinated and safe care.