The Pros of Probiotics
When we think of bacteria in food, we think of disease, and things that make you sick, like E-Coli. But did you know there are foods containing "good" bacteria that are a health plus? That's what is called a probiotic, and it's the topic of my Today Show segment.
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Our bodies contain trillions of bacteria. Probiotics refers to foods and dietary supplements that contain beneficial - or "friendly" - bacteria promoting digestive health (among other things).Although you don't need added probiotics to be healthy, these bacteria can be a support to good health. While claims abound, here are some actions, supported by strong scientific evidence:
(1) Supports and helps maintain the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria in your digestive tract
(2) Relieves diarrhea often caused by antibiotic use (that kills good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract)
(3) Helps prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections
(4) Helps relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
Probiotics are naturally found in yogurt, and fermented foods (from sauerkraut, to soy sauce, to tempeh and miso). Some yogurts have added even more probiotics (Activia, YoPlus), to pack more of a good-bacterial punch. You'll also find probiotic bars (like Attune), and fortified cereals.
While foods should be your number one go-to choice to boost probiotic intake, there are also many dietary supplement (pills) around. Some well-known brands include Phillips Colon Health, available at most supermarkets and pharmacies, or other specialty brands often found at Whole Foods and similar stores.
Aim for a mixture of different bacteria - as you might imagine, they all have different actions. There are two major groups - Lactobacillus (acidophilus) and Bifidobacterium (bifidum), so look for these terms on the foods and supplements.
A final bit of advice: probiotics can support a healthy diet and digestive tract. Talk to your doctor before adding probiotic supplements (not food sources), and discuss whether you need further medical attention for your personal digestive issues.
What's your experience been with probiotics? I'd love to know!
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When I take probiotics like yogurt i get heart-burn, loose motion and a sense of being bloted. Is this normal?
One thing we can take away from this morning's segment on the Today Show is that not all probiotics are created equal because different strains can help a variety of ailments. Like Natalie mentioned, Florastor is a supplement that can help with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in adults and children.
Florastor and Florastor Kids contain a beneficial probiotic yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii). S.boulardii is unique because, unlike bacterial strains of probiotics, it won't be killed off when taken along with antibiotic treatment, so your gut stays filled with good microorganisms helping to keep diarrhea at bay.
In the book, "The Power of Probiotics," researchers Lynne McFarland, Ph.D. and Gary Elmer, Ph.D., report that “the strongest evidence for the role of living organisms in the treatment of AAD comes from randomized, controlled clinical trials involving the probiotic yeast S. boulardii.” Florastor is also the only probiotic supplement clinically proven to help with recurrent C. diff, the most severe form on AAD. For more information, visit www.florastor.com.
This is great information...and I am thrilled to see so it aired on msnbc!!! Our son has been helped dramatically with his struggle with food allergies and Eczema. Nothing was helping him and the potent meds and creams that his allergist was giving him actually began to weaken his body and do him harm. We had to take him to a Children's Hospital to have him weaned off of oral steroids at three years of age. It has been a looong road but I am happy to say that because we gave him the Vidazorb kids chewable probiotics.....he is now so so so much better! We saw a rapid improvement in his overall health and he now looks and feels so much better!!! It has been an answer to our prayers and we love probiotics!!! Thank you!!!
how did u extract prebiotics?