What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms, and in most cases bacteria, similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. Also called friendly bacteria or good bacteria, the good bacteria exist in contrast to bad bacteria in the body that can harm health.
What causes imbalances between good and bad bacteria?
The balance between good and bad bacteria can be compromised for many reasons.
- Long-term use of antibiotics and other medications, including oral contraceptives and hormone therapy
- Weakened immune system
- High sugar and starch diet
- Lack of anti-fungal foods such as garlic, coconut, cinnamon, turmeric, and foods with probiotics
- Unfriendly microorganisms such as disease-causing bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and parasites
- Elevated heavy metals
What are some types of probiotics?
Probiotics are available in foods and dietary supplements such as capsules, tablets, and powders. Foods containing probiotics include yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, as well as some juices and soy beverages. In probiotic foods and supplements, the bacteria may have been present originally or added during preparation. Effects found from one species or strain of probiotics do not necessarily hold true for others, or even for different preparations of the same species or strain.
The bacteria often come from two groups: Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. Within each group, different species are present such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus. Within each species, different strains or varieties exist. A few common probiotics, such as Saccharomyces boulardii, are yeasts, which are different from bacteria.
What are the potential benefits of probiotics?
Probiotic are used to prevent and treat certain illnesses while supporting general wellness.
- Supports the immune system
- Protects against unhealthy intestinal bacteria associated with cancer
- Aids digestion and absorption of food and nutrients
- Releases enzymes to help alleviate symptoms of intestinal malabsorption
- Supports deroxification
- Helps elicit anti-tumor effects1
What is the history of probiotics?
Some probiotic foods date back to ancient times, such as fermented foods and cultured milk products.
Probiotics and Antibiotics
I always recommend that my patients take a high quality form of acidophilus during and after a dose of any antibiotic. Antibiotics are a useful tool for eliminating a severe infection, but they also bring with them some side effects that the acidophilus can help to counter. When we take antibiotics, they kill all bacteria in our intestines – the harmful bacteria that is infecting the body, but also the good bacteria that live there naturally. The problem with clearing all bacteria from the intestine is that this leaves you open to yeast, or other bacteria moving in.
How to choose a probiotic
When choosing your probiotics, it is important to get a high quality brand that has been continually refrigerated and is within its expiration date. Taking probiotics to repopulate your intestine is like choosing a healthy seedling for your garden. A baby plant needs to be given water and sun while in the store in order to take root properly in your garden. Probiotics are live bacteria, so they need to be refrigerated or they will die in the bottle. Many probiotic supplements have been sitting on the shelf too long and so they no longer contain live bacteria that can be “transplanted” to your intestines. Also, make sure to use probiotics at a different time of day than your antibiotic pills so that the antibiotic will not kill the good bacteria. You should also continue taking probiotics for 10-30 days after a course of antibiotics to really make sure everything gets back to normal.
Probiotics and Kids
Probiotics are useful for other health conditions in children as well. According to a systematic review of every study done on probiotics for children, probiotics have been proven to be effective in treating childhood diarrhea and eczema. In one or more of these studies, probiotics have also been successful in preventing eczema, colic, and respiratory tract infections in children. There is even evidence that probiotics may also be useful in children with Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, juvenile chronic arthritis, leukemia, milk intolerance, recurrent urinary tract infections and can also be used to treat premature babies.
For More Information
- Life Over Cancer by Keith Block, MD
- Anticancer by David Servan-Schreiber MD, PhD
- The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing by Lise Alschuler, ND and Karolyn A. Gazella
