Secrets of Probiotics

What are probiotics?

It may come as a surprise, but bacteria can actually be good for you.  While we often think of bacteria as harmful, there are in fact, good and bad types of bacteria.  Probiotics are the “friendly” type and we generally want to find large numbers of them in the digestive tract. 

What can probiotics do for you?

Probiotics are often used to re-introduce the good bacteria into the colon after a course of antibiotics.  Antibiotics are often necessary to treat infections and they can be extremely helpful in killing off the bacteria that causes us to be sick.  Unfortunately, however, antibiotics do not discriminate between different types of bacteria and they can end up killing off good (necessary) bacteria as well as the harmful bacteria.  A decrease in beneficial bacteria may then lead to diarrhea.  Taking a probiotic supplement may help to prevent this.

A lack of good bacteria may also lead to the development of other infections such as yeast infections or urinary tract infections. Probiotics are commonly used in the treatment of these conditions.

Probiotics may also reduce the bloating and diarrhea associated with lactose intolerance. Probiotics are used to treat diarrhea in infants suffering from the stomach virus rotavirus enteritis. 

Researchers are now looking at the effects of probiotics on immune function, allergies, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, skin health, and inflammatory conditions of the GI tract.

Are probiotics safe?

Probiotics are considered to be safe because they are bacteria that are part of the normal digestive tract.  Probiotics can be found in yogurt (though the strains of bacteria and quantities contained vary significantly from brand to brand) and as supplements in the form of powders, capsules, tablets, and liquids.  Young children can use a specially formulated infant probiotic supplement.  According to Motherisk, probiotics during pregnancy have an excellent safety record.