What are probiotics?
The term “probiotic” means supporting life, as
opposed to "antibiotic" which essentially means against life.
It is generally accepted that antibiotics deplete the friendly bacteria in our intestines which perform
many important functions. Stress, faulty diet, and poor
digestion are also factors in the depletion of these vital
factors. Replenishing the flora in our gut on a regular basis,
and particularly when undergoing a course of antibiotics, is a
simple, important and effective strategy to protect our overall
health.
Probiotics are friendly and beneficial bacteria.
Although there are
hundreds of different strains of bacteria that
live in the digestive tract, beneficial bacteria
are generally placed in two categories:
lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium
bifidum. These bacteria are normal inhabitants
of the large and small intestines. They provide
many health benefits.
Why are probiotics so important?
- Probiotics reduce the
levels of harmful bacteria such as E.Coli and
Salmonella by producing metabolic end-products
that inhibit or antagonize them. These
compounds include hydrogen peroxide, lactic
and acetic acids. **
- Inhibiting levels of
microbial pathogens: L. Acidophilus may
inhibit pathogens by lowering the pH in the
intestines. The production of organic acids
effectively lowers intestinal pH to a level
that is beneficial to good bacteria and
destructive to pathogens.
- Protecting the immune
system. Some research ( see link at
right) shows that L. Bulgaricus and L. Casei
are the truly effective strains for this
function.
- Preventing establishment of
harmful fungus and parasites: L. Acidophilus
and B. Bifidus aggressively attach themselves
to the walls of the colon. In doing so, they
may inhibit Candida albicans, bacteria and the
parasite Giardia lamblia.
- Lowering levels of toxic
by-products: Harmful bacteria can produce
toxins, such as indole, skatole, and methane
because of their metabolic reaction to certain
foods. Reducing their numbers may lower toxin
levels in the colon.
- Assist in digestion of
lactose: Clinical studies have shown that L.
Acidophilus assists the body’s natural process
of digestion, particularly lactose and dietary
carbohydrates.
- Synthesizing important B
vitamins: Probiotics have been found to be
beneficial in the synthesis of folic acid,
niacin, pantothenic acid, and biotin.
-
Which
Probiotics are best?
Strains that naturally occur in the human
digestive tract are called resident strains.
Strains that do not naturally occur are called
transient. Acidophilus and B. Bifidum are common
resident probiotics. Other resident strains are
Lactobacillus Salivarius, Bifidobacterium
Infantis, and Bifidobacterium Longum.
While
transient strains may offer some of the same
benefits of resident strains, naturally
occurring flora are known to work in harmony
with each other, and they will stay and grow in
the intestines, while transient strains leave
with normal evacuation.
Probiotics are often enhanced with pre
-biotics, which are substrates that enable the beneficial flora
to implant in the colon and grow. FOS
(Fructooligosaccharides) are on example of this, another is
inulin.
Much of
the information here comes from Brenda Watson at Renewlife.com
** last year, it seemed every month brought new alarms about
the food supply, with spinach, green onions, oysters, and peanut
butter leading the lists of infected foods.
Some research done at the University of Cork may offer a
strategy to cope with this situation.
The study investigated the effects of oral
treatment of pigs with a defined lactic acid
bacteria culture mixture on both clinical and
microbiological signs of Salmonella enterica serovar
Typhimurium infection. Fifteen weaned pigs blocked
by sex and weight were administered control milk or
a mixture of five probiotic strains as either a milk
fermentate or milk suspension for a total of 30
days. The mixture consisted of two strains of
Lactobacillus murinus and one strain each of
Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius,
Lactobacillus pentosus and Pediococcus pentosaceous.
Following probiotic administration for six days,
animals were challenged orally with serovar
Typhimurium. The health of the animals and the
microbiological composition of their feces were
monitored for 23 days post-infection.
The study found that animals treated with probiotics
showed reduced incidence, severity and duration of
diarrhea. These animals also gained weight at a
greater rate than control pigs administered skim
milk. Mean fecal numbers of Salmonella were
significantly reduced in probiotic-treated animals
at 15 days post-infection.
Researchers concluded that the administration of
probiotic bacteria improved both the clinical and
microbiological outcome of Salmonella infection.
These strains offer significant benefit for use in
the food industry and may have potential in human
applications.
|
What are Prebiotics?
Prebiotic is the name given to certain
health-promoting but indigestible fibers, mostly carbohydrates, which help
the
probiotics implant and multiply in your gut. Some sources
are jerusalem artichokes, legumes, peas and grains.
Inulin is perhaps the best known, it
is a natural, plant-derived dietary fiber,
prebiotic and non-absorbable oligosaccharide, or
sugar. It has been suggested that Inulin should be avoided
because it binds to minerals in the small intestine. The
contrary is actually true: allowing the minerals to
proceed unhindered to the large intestine, where absorption
is enhanced, improves their uptake. This may well
contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis and osteopenia.
Prebiotics usually
appear on labels as FOS, or
fructooligosaccharides. FOS are resistant to digestion in
the upper gastrointestinal tract and are, therefore, able to
stimulate the growth of Bifidobacterium and
Lactobacillus strains farther down in the large
intestine. FOS have been shown to increase the
absorption of calcium and magnesium and decrease
triglycerides. In animal studies, FOS are also demonstrating
anticancer effects, significantly reducing the incidence of
colon tumors.
|
