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.
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