| Trillions of microorganisms live on and inside us. | | | | irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative coalitis, |
| Human beings, as well as animals, play host to | | | | inflammatory bowel disease and pouchitis. |
| many types and high number of microbes. | | | | Probiotics helps prevent lactose intolerance. |
| Microbes live on our gastrointestinal tract. Microbes | | | | Yogurt was found to aid digestion of lactose |
| live on our skin, in our mouth, and all the way | | | | because the lactic acid bacteria used to make |
| through our gastrointestinal tract. In fact, in | | | | yogurt produce lactase and digest the lactose |
| reference to the human body, it has been | | | | before it reaches the colon. In addition to yogurt |
| estimated that there are more microbes | | | | starter bacteria, L acidophilus and Bifidobacterium |
| associated with it than there are human cells in it. | | | | have been shown by several studies to improve |
| It has been estimated that more than 400 | | | | digestion of lactose. |
| different species, or type of bacteria make their | | | | It is unlikely that eating yogurt will significantly |
| homes on humans. By providing large numbers of | | | | increase the number of beneficial bacteria in your |
| these friendly bacteria to the intestinal tract that | | | | digestive tract. The bacteria used to produced a |
| may increase the population of these bacteria | | | | fermented food like yogurt is not concentrated |
| compared to other, less desirable, strains. These | | | | for the purpose of supplementing your body's |
| strains may then competitively inhabit the growth | | | | probiotics level. Besides the lack of potency found |
| of undesirable strains by competing for space and | | | | in food producing bacteria, sugars and |
| nutrients, while also inhibiting the production of | | | | preservatives cause the bacteria to go through |
| toxic substances produced by some desirable | | | | their life cycle before the food product even |
| strains. | | | | reaches your store. The strains used in natural |
| Many types of diarrhea illnesses, with many | | | | probiotics are selected as being the most |
| different causes disrupt intestinal function. | | | | beneficial for supplementing the probiotics level in |
| Recently, a paper was published which reviewed | | | | your body. These strains are not found in yogurt. |
| nine studies on the effect of Lactobacillus therapy | | | | In general, everyone should supplements |
| for diarrhea in children. This paper conclude that | | | | themselves with probiotics. Without taking |
| "Lactobacillus is safe and effective as a treatment | | | | probiotics supplements, most people will not have |
| for children with acute infectious diarrhea" | | | | enough beneficial bacteria in their systems to deal |
| Can it replace antibiotics? | | | | with many digestive tract related upset. However, |
| The purpose of antibiotics is to kill harmful | | | | there are some common conditions associated |
| bacteria. Unfortunately they often kill normal | | | | with a lack of beneficial bacteria. If you have poor |
| bacteria also. This can result in disruption of the | | | | skin, diarrhea or constipation, slow peristalsis (how |
| bacteria flora, leading to the diarrhea and other | | | | long it takes your food to be digested and |
| intestinal disturbance. Replenishing the flora with | | | | eliminated), flatulence or bowel wind, bad breath, |
| normal bacteria during and after antibiotics | | | | bad body odour, lactose intolerance, or a low |
| therapy seems to minimize disruptive effects of | | | | resistance to infections on a regular basis, your |
| antibiotics use. Studies have been recently | | | | body be telling that you need more beneficial |
| reported suggesting a role of probiotics in | | | | bacteria. The best way is to supply your body |
| decreasing symptoms in patients suffering from | | | | with natural probiotics supplements. |