Probiotics: The "Good" Bacteria

What are probiotics? Why are they so important for your immune system? Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Streptococcus residing in your intestinal tract. They manufacture vitamins, especially B vitamins like biotin, niacin, folic acid and B-6, that detoxify chemicals and metabolize hormones. They empower enzymes that maximize food assimilation and digestion.

Probiotics are an amazing fighting force. These disease fighters compete at a basic level with harmful microorganisms in your body:

*First, probiotics deprive undesirable bacteria of nourishment thus preventing their growth.

*Second, probiotics or acidophilus, attack specific pathogens by changing your body’s acid/alkaline balance to an antibiotic environment (Probiotic activity against vaginal yeast infections is a good example of this.) If you are taking long courses of drug antibiotics, remember that they kill all bacteria, both bad and good. All intestinal flora are severely diminished. For most people, poor digestion, diarrhea or constipation, flatulence, bad breath, bloating, tiredness, migraines, even acne are a result of long antibiotic treatment.

Probiotic organisms prevent disease, even treat infections by restoring micro-organism balance in your intestinal tract. It doesn’t matter how good your diet is if your body can’t use it. There are up to 4 lbs of bacteria in the human intestinal tract. Your body must maintain an ecological balance of these bacteria to protect your health. Our modern lifestyle destroys normal body balance. Health experts say most people have around 15% “good” bacteria and 85% “bad” bacteria… an environment ideal for disease development. Stress, alcohol, chemicalized foods, environmental pollutants, antibiotics and steroid drugs all hamper our ability to use nourishment. When unfriendly bacteria get the upper hand in balance, the door opens to infections.

The best way to get probiotics in your diet? Add them through foods like yogurt, kefir or raw sauerkraut. Think of probiotic supplements as an insurance policy for your health. Most supplements have lactobacillus acidophilus (which attaches in the small intestine), bifidobacterium (which attaches in the large intestine), and lactobacillus bulgaricus (three protective strains of flora). Together they produce hydrogen peroxide, a byproduct that helps maintain protective microbial balance and protect against pathogens.

What probiotics can do for you:

*Probiotics boost immune response, inhibiting growth of pathogenic organisms
*Probiotics detoxify the intestinal tract by protecting intestinal mucosa levels
*Probiotics develop a barrier to food-borne allergies
*Probiotics neutralize antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria
*Probiotics reduce cancer risk
*Probiotics reduce risk of inflammatory bowel disease, IBS and diverticulosis
*Probiotics synthesize needed vitamins (like vitamin K) for healing
*Probiotics prevent diarrhea by improving digestion of proteins and fats

Important new discoveries about probiotics:

Probiotics from foods and supplements are a viable way to improve your health. Probiotics play a key role in preventing osteoporosis. Bone loss is one unfortunate result of a lack of friendly microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin K, a vital building block of healthy bones, is a byproduct of lactobacilli.

We are always more than welcome to help you find what is right for you and your family. Contact us at 419-375-2659 or email us at schlarmanshealth@gmail.com with any questions that you may have regarding probiotics or any other concern!