Probiotics are bacteria and yeast, but they are the ones that are good and necessary for your health!
If you automatically think of ‘bacteria’ as a bad thing, think again. Your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are ‘good’ bacteria, and they are a necessary part of keeping your gut healthy.
Probiotics are naturally found in your body, but overusage of antibiotics, whether recently or over a number of years, can kill these natural probiotics. Replacement can be made by doing one or more of the following each day: eating yogurt with live enzymes, eating fermented foods, or taking probiotic supplements.
I always recommend a client to detox at the beginning of any wellness plan, and then ‘start’ their system over when clean of toxins, and set up a good stage with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and mucus so that the body can have a good rate of absorption of the nutrients, minerals, etc. in the new eating plan. After that system is setup, maintenance of probiotics can usually be achieved through diet, with supplements only needed if the gut flora and environment has been damaged by heavy antibiotics or some other unforeseen event.
What do these probiotics do?
•When you lose the good bacteria in your body, probiotics help replace them.
•They can help balance your ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria so your body works like it should.
Many types of bacteria are classified as probiotics, however, they generally fall into two groups. They are:
Lactobacillus. The most common probiotic, it is found in yogurts and other fermented foods. It can be helpful to people who have lactose issues (usually caused by the sugar ‘lactose’ in milk), and who suffer diarrhea due to a lack of this bacteria.
Bifidobacterium can also be found in some dairy products, and a shortage is often evident with symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
In addition to these digestive issues, some of the other conditions that can be treated with probiotics are:
Skin conditions (such as eczema)
Urinary and vaginal health
Allergy and cold prevention
Oral health
If you are lacking proper balances of good bacteria, and you begin ingesting fermented foods or probiotic supplements and fortified foods, you may experience upset stomach, diarrhea, gas and bloating for the first couple of days as they begin to work. If you experience this for more than one week, or seem to have any unusual reaction, quit taking them and contact a physician.
Mild side effects might include upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, and bloating for the first couple of days after you start them. They may also trigger allergic reactions. Stop taking them and talk to your doctor if you have problems.
Lisa C. Baker, CNC, RNHP, is a certified Nutritional Counselor, and also holds a certificate in Complementary and Integrative Health. She is a member of the American Nutritional Association, the International Association of Natural Health Practitioners, International Institute for Complementary Therapists, and is a Registered Natural Health Practitioner by the IANHP.
Mrs. Baker is a musician and recording artist, a mother of one, and resides in Muskogee, Oklahoma with her husband and their kitties.