Stomach Bacteria

Probiotics And Probiotic Supplements – Its Benefits EXPOSED!

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:16:33 +0000

Bacteria and other micro organisms – look around you and you will surely agree that they have earned a not-so-very-good reputation of causing a wide range of diseases – some are annoying at most while others are life threatening.

With that in mind, tossing billions of live micro organisms to keep your health and body in tip top shape sounds unacceptable for many…very hard to swallow indeed!

HOWEVER, as scientific experiments together with the evidence they have brought up has shown, you can actually prevent and even treat different sorts of illnesses with the aid of food as well as supplements containing different strains of live and beneficial bacteria.

Northern Europeans as well as Japanese people in particular consume a lot of dishes and drinks that are laced with these beneficial strains of live bacteria known as probiotics. Unsurprisingly, more and more interest is garnered by these friendly uni cellular beings in the United States since the 1990’s.

Let’s see what EXACTLY can these probiotics do for our health:

(A) Great amount of evidence shows that probiotics are of great use when it comes to maintaining urogenital health. Just like our gastro intestinal tract (which is where most of these beneficial micro organisms are found), the vagina is a finely balanced ecosystem.

The Lactobacilli strains of probiotics make the environment too acidic and hostile for the harmful and pathogenic bacterias to survive. The balance, HOWEVER, can be thrown out of balance by factors like use of spermicide, anti biotics, use of birth control pills, and those are just to name a few.

The use of probiotics help in restoring this fine balance. This could be extremely helpful in curing and preventing urogenital problems caused by bacteria such as yeast infection, vaginosis, urinary tract infection, and others.

(B) You would find a lot of women eating yogurt or inserting it into the vagina to treat yeast infections that recur every now and then. This is a folk remedy, which medical science to offer some support to.

The application or administration of Lactobacilli orally and through the vagina can help in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. HOWEVER, there is NOT enough evidence showing that it’s better than conventional treatments.

Just in case you don’t know, vaginosis is something you can’t ignore…it’s something that MUST be treated properly and immediately. You see, it creates a risk for pregnancy related complications as well as pelvic inflammatory disease.

(C) Strengthens the immune system, makes digestion way easier and more efficient, maximizes the absorption of nutrients – these are just some of the benefits and advantages of taking probiotic supplements. They have been widely and properly documented through studies conducted from different parts of the globe.

You may be asking: “Are probiotics safe to take?”

The answer: YES! You see, probiotics are already present in a normal digestive system. Believe it or not, you have billions of live and friendly micro organisms inside you, especially in your gut.

Now, there is this so called theoretical risk posed by probiotics for those people who are suffering from impaired immune function. HOWEVER, as mentioned, it’s all theory. None of the proposed and potential side effects of probiotics have been proven – at least for now.

With that in mind, it is essential that you check out the ingredients included in the probiotics supplement and have it checked by your doctor or health care provider. You sure want to get the most out of every capsule or every tablet of probiotic supplements you are taking.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – A Look At The Disease, Symptoms, And Treatment

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:06:33 +0000

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (or IBD for short) – this is a name of a group of disorders that cause your intestines to be inflamed…red and swollen. How common is this disease? VERY VERY common I must say. Just in case you are unaware, it could last a very long time and the symptoms come back over and over again.

Here’s a fact: every single year, well over 600,000 Americans suffer from some kind of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. That’s a lot in anyone’s book!

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – The Disease’s Tell Tale Signs
If you are suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease, you could have abdominal pain as well as cramps coupled with diarrhea, weight loss, an bleeding in your intestinal tract.

You see, there are two typed of Inflammatory Bowel Disease – first, there is Crohn’s Disease, then there is Ulcerative Colitis.

Crohn’s Disease – This disease usually results to ulcers – these are open sores found along the length of your digestive system’s small as well as large intestines. Usually, this Inflammatory Bowel Disease spares the rectum or it causes inflammation and infection with drainage around the rectum.

On the other hand, Ulcerative Colitis causes open sores or ulcerations in the lower section of your large intestine and oftentimes, it starts at the rectum.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – The Roots
As for the exact causes and reasons why a person is inflicted with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, unfortunately, they are unknown. HOWEVER, it is strongly believed that they are caused by a germ, a problem at the immune system, or an imbalance between good and bad bacteria at the gastro intestinal tract.

As for being contagious, worry NOT. Your family members won’t catch the disease from you. It cannot be spread. HOWEVER, evidence shows that it runs in the family. YES, Inflammatory Bowel Disease can be hereditary.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease -Treating It And Fighting Back Against It
The best thing to do when suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease? Simple – take good care of yourself! It’s very crucial that you eat a balanced and healthy diet.

Depending on the symptoms your are suffering from and its intensity, your physician may need to ask you to cut down the amount of fiber and dairy from your diet. Along with eating a balanced and healthy meal, you may also need to take probiotic supplements.

Probiotic supplements that are oozing with good and beneficial bacteria help greatly in boosting up the immune system, fighting the bad micro organisms in your digestive system and restore its balance, relieve sores, and those are just to name a few.

Most probably, you may face a team of doctors. A family physician, gastroenterologist (who is an expert in stomach as well as intestinal disorders), and when things get worse, a surgeon may also be needed.

So what is the goal of the treatment?

That is to get rid of the inflammation. There are many types of medicine that could tone down and reduce inflammation – drugs like sulfasalazine, immune system suppressors, and those are just to name a few. HOWEVER, many of these medicines have side effects. Antibiotics, for one thing, will eliminate everything in it’s path – good bacteria included. That’s why it is highly recommended that you take probiotics to replenish the amount of good and beneficial bacteria in your body. Having their numbers withered down could lead to other disorders you don’t want even a bit of!

Gastroparesis – It’s NOT Something You Want To Experience!

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:55:33 +0000

Gastroparesis – this is a disorder that occurs when your stomach muscles are NOT working properly. Sometimes, this condition is also called as “Delayed Gastric Emptying”. Usually, after you swallow your food, your stomach muscles get to work right away: it starts squeezing and tightening…movements that are better known as contractions.

These movements or contractions of the stomach muscles crush the food and move it to the small intestines…moving on to the next step of the digestive process. Now, when you are suffering from Gastroparesis, your stomach muscles don’t move or contract properly. This means the process of crushing food and moving it to the small intestines is delayed…or sometimes even prevented!

Without a doubt, things could get inconvenient when you are suffering from Gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis – The Symptoms
The symptoms and tell tale signs of Gastroparesis can be mild or severe. It could include the following: (A) Heartburn as well as stomach pain (B) Nausea (C) Vomiting…most especially, vomiting bits and pieces of undigested food (D) lack of appetite and feeling full only after a couple of bites of food (E) surprising and unintended weight loss (F) fluctuating and unstable levels of blood sugar, and those are just to name a few!

Just in case you haven’t noticed, these symptoms could mean and suggest a lot of problems that are entirely different from Gastroparesis. With that in mind, diagnosing Gastroparesis is a very tricky business.

Gastroparesis – Curing The Disorder
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this digestive disorder. The treatment that the doctor would recommend would focus on treating the underlying problem which causes Gastroparesis while controlling your symptoms as well.

Usually, your doctor would ask you to stop taking drugs that could affect your digestive system. HOWEVER, don’t get ahead of your doctor. You should NOT stop taking any drugs (especially if it’s a part of a treatment for another condition) with talking to your doctor first.

Also, your physician might focus on treating eating disorders, curing infections, and dealing with other issues that may be causing Gastroparesis. You may also find probiotic supplements to be of great help. For those of you who don’t know it, aside from fighting the bad bacteria in your body (especially in your digestive system), probiotics, which are helpful and beneficial strains of bacteria, aid greatly in your digestion.

They make the process smoother and more efficient. With a better and healthier digestive system, you are a step closer to getting rid of Gastroparesis.

Dietary Changes: This is one of the most common recommendations of doctors when dealing with Gastroparesis. Since you are NOT able to eat normally, it is very crucial to make sure you are getting sufficient nutrients. Here are some steps you may need to take:

1. Instead of going for 2 to 3 large meals a day, go for several and smaller meals. As mentioned earlier, people suffering from Gastroparesis feel full only after a few bites.

2. Go for softer foods like vegetable and pasta, which are cooked more thoroughly to make digesting them a lot easier.

3. Go easy and limit fat – this can slow digestion. Also, steer clear from too much fiber since this can be hard to digest and can put your digestive system under stress.

4. Beef up your diet with nutrition drinks like Boost, Ensure, as well as solid food that have been pureed with the help of a blender.

E. Coli Infection – Everything You Need To Know About The Condition

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 03:25:33 +0000

Escherichia coli (known as E. coli for short) – for those of you who don’t know it, this is a bacteria (a germ) that has made quite a name for causing severe cramps as well as diarrhea. When it comes to kids and older people, the symptoms are far worse. This is especially true if you are someone who is suffering from another illness.

E. Coli Infection – The Causes
So what are the root causes of E. Coli Infection? Let’s take a closer look:

(A) eating undercooked and ground beef (it’s undercooked when the insides are pink)

(B) drinking impure…or even worse, contaminated water

(D) Working with cattle

And those are just to name a few!

Get this – even the healthiest beef and dairy cattle could carry the E. coli bacteria in their intestines. Now, during the slaughtering process, the meat could be easily contaminated. Finally, when the beef is ground up, the germs are mixed throughout the meat. And eating that meat undercooked is a surefire way to get infected!

You should also take note that this germ can be easily passed from one person to another. If you have this infection (and you don’t know it) and you don’t wash your hands with soap well enough after you went to the bathroom, you can easily pass the bacteria to other people around you by just touching things…that’s especially true for food.

People who are suffering from E. coli infection are very contagious. Kids should NOT go to a day care center until they have 2 stool cultures that are negative…evidence that the infection is gone without a trace. The same thing can be said with older people: they should stay in their nursing homes and in bed until the 2 negative stool cultures are made.

E. Coli Infection – A Look At The Symptoms
Seven days after you are infected with E. coli, the symptoms will start to appear. The first and most prominent symptom of the infection: sudden and severe abdominal cramps. This is followed by watery diarrhea after a couple of hours. As a result, your body will lose fluids and electrolytes…leading to dehydration.

This will inevitably make you feel sick and tired. This watery diarrhea would last for about a day or so. Next, to the diarrhea, your stools will be bright red and bloody. This is the result of the sores caused by the E. coli infection. The bloody diarrhea would last for about 2 to 5 days. Just how inconvenient could it get? Get this – for someone suffering from E. coli infection, having 10 or more bowel movements a day is common.

Heck! Some E. coli infection victims even say that their stools are all blood and no stools!

You may also experience mild fever, nausea, as well as vomiting. If you are experiencing all of these symptoms, watery as well as bloody diarrhea, cramps, mild fever, and others, talk to your doctor right away!

E. Coli Infection – Fighting Back Against It
Unfortunately, there is no special treatment against E. Coli Infection except drinking a lot of water, watching for complications. HOWEVER, there is one thing you can do to prevent getting it – aside from washing your hands, making sure your food and drinks are pure and NOT contaminated, you should also supplement yourself with probiotics.

Probiotics are good and beneficial bacteria that naturally inhabit your gut. Unfortunately, their numbers are decimated due to stress, pollution, medicine, etc. These good bacteria are responsible for defending your digestive system against the bad ones and taking probiotic supplement is an excellent way to make sure you have sufficient probiotic count.

Probiotics And Aging – How A Common Food Boosts Up Your Immune System!

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:15:34 +0000

Cheese – this very common food found in many households acts as a carrier for probiotic bacteria…what’s even better is that these helpful and live micro organisms can aid in restoring your immune system’s power!

That’s what the scientists from Finland found out when they examined cheese as it enhances the immunity and defensive system of an elderly. This research, which was published in FEMS Immunology And Medical Micro Biology, showed that consuming the probiotics from cheese on a daily basis can help one cope up and tackle age related changes in one’s immune system.

According to Dr. Fandi Ibrahim, the lead author hailingfrom the University Of Turku in Finland, the unstoppable increase of aged individuals in our modern society makes the search for creative and innovative ways to stop their immune systems from degrading a top health issue…it is a PRIORITY!

He adds that consuming probiotic bacteria from cheese, yogurt, food supplements, and other sources has been reported to boost up and enhance the immune response. And now, it was discovered that cheese is one of the finest carriers of the same beneficial micro organisms!

The team led by Dr. Ibrahim strongly believes that daily consumption of probiotic cheese can help tackle age related deterioration of the immune system. This came to be known as immunosenescene.

For those of you who are NOT aware of what this brings, deterioration of the immune system means your body won’t be able to kill tumor cells. Along with that, your immune response against vaccinations and infections greatly decrease in power.

Infectious diseases, chronic inflammation, different disorders, cancers – these are just to name some of the life threatening hallmarks of immunosenescene.

Fighting The Rotting With Probiotics!
To fight against immunosenescene, the team of Dr. Ibrahim targeted the gastro intestinal tract. This is the main gate where bacteria and other micro organisms (taken through food and drinks) enter.

Along with that, this is also where 70 percent of immunoglobin cells are made.

To start their research, the team took volunteers who are aged 72 to 103 (who live in the same nursing and caring home) to eat either placebo or probiotic cheese together with their breakfast for 4 weeks or so.

After that, blood tests were carried out to see what are the effects of probiotic bacteria in the cheese on the immune system.

The result?

VERY promising! The results showed a clear enhancement of the natural and acquired immunity by activating the NK blood cells combined with an increase in the phagocytic activity in the body.

In conclusion, Ibrahim said that the primary aim of their study is to see if specific strains of live and beneficial (probiotic) bacteria found in cheese could have immune enhancing effects on healthy older individuals, particularly those who are living in nursing homes.

And YES, the research / study has demonstrated that taking in or consuming probiotic cheese can help tremendously in boosting one’s immune system.

Including cheese, or better yet other dishes and supplements that are rich in probiotics can help enhance the external challenge’s faced by an elderly’s immune response…leading to better overall health.

More and more studies and researches are being made…delving deeper into the realm of probiotic bacteria – how they can help you and me live and healthier and fitter lives.

So far, the results are very impressive and promising. Don’t you think it’s about time you include probiotics in your daily diet?

10 Things You Should Know About Before Shopping For Probiotic Supplements

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:04:34 +0000

Out to shop for probiotics? Yeah? Then you should know these 10 golden rules before you hit the store. This will make sure that you get the most out of your probiotic supplements:

(1) The supplement MUST be guaranteed through expiration. The manufacturers should guarantee you that they still have the promised CFU on their expiration date. Keep this in mind: all of the probiotics need to arrive to your home ALIVE!

(2) Keep those bottles of probiotic supplements refrigerated and packaged in amber glass bottles. You see, probiotics are living micro organisms. And that means they are easily perishable. Harmful moisture coupled with oxygen leak could harm your live and beneficial micro organisms…rendering your purchase useless!

(3) The probiotic supplement you take should be formulated at 10 billion CFU (or Colony Forming Units) every dose at least. If you are on the hunt for a more effective dose, then you should go for those that have 20 to 40 billion CFU. HOWEVER, more important than the sheer numbers is the delivery of the micro organisms. Again, they should arrive alive!

It MUST come with an acid proof delivery system.

(4) As mentioned earlier, it MUST be beefed up with an acid proof delivery system. YES, technology exists to give you an acid proof delivery system…which means you get well over 95 percent of supplements contents deep into the gastro intestinal tract where the strains would do their work. Did I mention they should arrive ALIVE?

(5) The supplement should be beefed up with Lactobacillus as well as Bifidobacterium strains. The CFU of every strain should be guaranteed separately. Having about 3 to 5 different strains in a supplement is more than enough. Having too many, on the other hand, could create unwanted competition between the strains.

(6) To make sure you are getting quality probiotics supplements, you should check if your company provides independent 3rd party lab testing online. The strength of the supplement in CFU, activity of the strains, the purity – all of these and more should be included in the report.

(7) The probiotics should get proper stimulation when they reach the intestinal tract. The supplements should come with a stimulant that will help the probiotics do their job when they reach the gastro intestinal tract. Researching this is crucial before making a purchase.

(8) The probiotics should be of with human origin and NOT soil based. Soil based micro organisms are NOT found in the body and they are NOT as compatible. You sure don’t want to do more harm than good.

(9) The supplements should be effective and economical to use. Along with that, you should also take the lowest dose possible to get the optimal results. There is no point in buying a low priced probiotic supplements if you need to take 6 pills a day? With that in mind, do your homework before buying probiotic supplements.

(10) 100 percent money back guarantee. If the manufacturer of the probiotic supplement you are taking is NOT offering one, chances are, they do NOT have enough faith in their product. That’s a tell tale sign that what you are getting is different or not as good as they claim to be.

If the probiotic supplement you are planning to buy does NOT come along with a money back guarantee, it’s time to move on to another.

IBS Vs. Probiotics – See Who Wins!

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:55:34 +0000

For people who are suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS for short, here’s some excellent news for you: the probiotic strain B. infantis shows promising results when it comes to normalizing the frequency of bowel movements in people who are suffering from constipation and diarrhea.

Just in case you don’t know, constipation and diarrhea are 2 ends of spectrum in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Probiotics, by the way, are viable micro organisms that have beneficial physiologic and even therapeutic effects and activities.

Probiotics is the subject of different analysis that are shown at the 70th Annual Scientific Meeting Of The American College for Gastroenterology. Different and recent studies have shown promising results in the role that probiotics play in treating IBS.

Together with his colleagues at the University Cork College in Ireland as well as University Of Manchester in UK, Dr. Eamonn Quigley showed results of a subset analysis concerning a trial of the strain B. infantis where 85 women suffering from IBS received the strain and 80 women taking placebo for 4 straight weeks.

According to the research, using B. infantis significantly normalized bowel movement in IBS patients (with diarrhea or constipation). It increased the bowel movements in constipated women while decreasing it for those who are suffering from diarrhea.

On the other hand, scientists and researchers at the Mayo Clinic conducted a meta analysis of different clinical trials involving probiotics and focusing especially on how it fights IBS. This meta analysis examined 7 randomized and controlled trials in their research.

The focus of the analysis is the improvement in the symptom of bloating. There is significant variation in the effect of different probiotics used in the study. In conclusion, YES, probiotics lead to modest improvement in bloating. HOWEVER, along with that, the researchers state that more and larger trials are needed to drive the point home.

Last BUT not the least, there is a team of investigators from the University Of Mexico who conducted a systematic review on the safety and efficacy of probiotics when treating IBS. Using 8 randomized clinical trials in adults, the group noted the large variation in the results of the studies that included only a small number of patients.

In conclusion, the group stated that different regimens involving probiotics could be useful for treating IBS. BUT larger trials are essential to confirm the findings found in the earlier studies and smaller studies analyzed by the team.

A Look At Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
For those of you who don’t know it, IBS is a functional gastro intestinal (GI for short) disorder which is identified by abdominal discomfort and pain together with an altered bowel habit. It could be constipation, diarrhea, or even both.

Well over 58 million people suffer from IBS. 80 percent of the people suffering from IBS are women. While this is a real medical condition, it is NOT life threatening and it will NOT lead to more serious conditions. HOWEVER, it is definitely something you don’t want to put up with for years!

BUT now, you don’t have to!

Not when there probiotics and probiotic supplements (especially those that contain B. infantis) that will help you cope up with this annoying and usually painful medical condition or disorder.

Why NOT have a look at some of the most respectable probiotics supplements out there? It’s an excellent first step NOT just in fighting IBS but in keeping your body healthy and excellent shape!

Probiotics Side Effects – Are There Any?

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:40:34 +0000

Many live strains of micro organisms boast a long history of being used as probiotics MINUS the health setbacks and disadvantages brought by conventional medicine.

So that means taking probiotics is safe regardless of how much I take, right?

WRONG! You see, the safety of probiotics is yet to be studied thoroughly and scientifically. Even the most enthusiastic fans of probiotics and probiotic supplements would agree that more information and tests are needed to see if it’s safe for kids, elder people, people who are suffering from compromised immune system to take probiotics on a regular basis.

A Look At The Side Effects
Probiotics side effects: if they do occur, they are very mild and they usually involve one’s digestive system. True, there are more serious effects BUT they are very rare. According to some theories, probiotics could cause infections that need to be treated with antibiotics. That’s especially true for people who are already suffering from other health conditions.

Along with that, taking probiotics without taking any precaution could also cause unhealthy metabolic activities. Too much stimulation of the immune system, gene transfer (this is the insertion of genetic material into a cell) – these are just some of the not so good activities that uninhibited taking of probiotics could lead to.

Here are some things you may want to consider:

(A) If you are thinking about using probiotic supplements for a treatment of a certain condition, you should consult your health care provider first. Probiotic supplements are NOT supervised by the FDA so it should NOT be used in place of conventional medical care…BUT to make conventional treatment even more effective.

(B) Effects of one of the species or strains of probiotics do NOT necessarily hold true for its brothers and cousins. Matter of fact, the way your prepare the same strain or specie could alter its health benefits and effects.

(C) Once you experience something that concerns you after taking a probiotic product or supplement, you should stop it and contact your health care provider right away!

Now, get this – there is no reason to be alarmed. Probiotics, without a doubt, are crucial for maintaining our health in good shape. Matter of fact, we were born with them and they perform a lot of essential functions such as:

(A) Keeping the gastro intestinal tract too hostile and acidic for pathogens to handle.

(B) Makes the digestion and absorption of nutrients easier and faster.

Additionally, there are many on going studies around the globe that look at the health benefits brought by these friendly and live micro organisms:

(A) At the Tulane University School Of Public Health And Tropical Medicine, investigators are looking at and studying the effectiveness of probiotics when it comes to treating diarrhea in undernourished kids.

(B) On the other hand, at the Mayo Clinic College Of Medicine, many researchers are checking out probiotics for possibly lowering the levels of different substances in urine that can cause kidney problems.

(C) Along with that, there is a team in Tufts New England Medical Center looking at the possibility of treating antibiotic resistant types of bacteria by using probiotics. This would be of great use for those people suffering severe infections, hospitalized, living in nursing homes, or burdened with a compromised immune system.

Probiotic Strains – Knowing Some Of Them And What They Can Do

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:15:34 +0000

All probiotic strains are beneficial for one’s health, right?

WRONG! Pardon me BUT I have to burst your bubble.

I don’t know where this idea came from (maybe from the advertisements of popular probiotic supplement brands and companies) BUT this is totally mistaken. True, generally, probiotics are considered safe to take BUT not all of them bring health benefits.

So sit back, hold back a little from rushing to the food and drug store to buy a bottle of probiotics supplements, and take some time to know some of the most beneficial and most popular probiotic strains that you SHOULD take.

Check this out:

Probiotic Strain 1: Bacillus coagulans
According to research and studies, this probiotic strain is very helpful when it comes relieving abdominal pain and bloating experienced by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (or IBS for short) patients. Along with that, application of this probiotic strain showed heightened immune response against viral challenge.

Probiotic Strain 2: Bifidobacterium
In a study involving mice, Bifidobacterium provided enough protection against against Salmonella typhimurium. For improved colonization of Bifidobacterium, using prebiotics that will feed and keep the strain alive is essential.

Here are other benefits that this strain brings:

(A) Aids in apoptotic response when used in conjunction with resistant starch against colon cancer.

(B) Helps greatly in reducing inflammation and reduces the incidence of diarrhea, especially those patients who are suffering from Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD).

(C) Reduces the severity of infection and ulcerations caused by H. pylori – a bacteria strain that is responsible for peptic or stomach ulcers.

Probiotic Strain 3: Lactobacillus acidophilus
Enhances clearance of Candida albicans by inducing a certain immune response. Lactobacillus acidophilus reduces allergic response, incidence of tumor formation and size of intestinal tumors, and those are just to name a few.

Compared to other probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus has the best or superior survival power in the conditions of the gastro intestinal tract compared to other probiotic strains.

For people who are suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, you would be pleased to know that this tough BUT friendly strain of bacteria helps greatly in reducing inflammation while inhibiting the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria like H. pylori, Salmonella typhimurium, and others.

Probiotic Strain 4: Lactobacillus casei
Just like the previous probiotic strains I have brought up, Lactobacillus casei shields you against the Salmonella typhimirium. For you to get the most out of it, using prebiotics in conjunction with this strain is necessary for improved colonization.

Dealing with IBD? No problem! This probiotic strain can greatly reduce the inflammation you are experiencing brought by the said disease. Lactobacillus casei also reduces the severity of H. pylori infection in your stomach (as mentioned, this is the primary reason of peptic ulcer).

Salmonella, E. coli, H. pylori – these are just some of the harmful micro organisms and bacteria that Lactobacillus casei stops. Strong enough to survive the not so friendly and acidic condition in your gastro intestinal tract, the strain Lactobacillus casei is one of the most commonly used strains in food supplements.

Don’t get me wrong – this is NOT an exhaustive list of beneficial strains of probiotics. This is just to show what are the most popular and widely used strains are. Bottom line: if you want to make sure you are getting the health benefits promised by your food supplement and probiotics provider, check the label to see which strains are included and do a research on them.

Probiotics – More Strains And More Benefits To Whet Your Appetite!

admin — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:00:35 +0000

Let’s not beat around the bush fellas. Right here, I’ll show you 4 different strains of probiotics that (1) boost your defenses (2) get rid and soothe irritable bowel syndrome (3) wards off eczema (4) and fights traveler’s diarrhea.

Check these out:

Strain 1: Boost Your Immunity Probiotic
Different lab studies and experiments have shown that many probiotic strains have invigorating and boosting effect on one’s immune system and natural defenses. According to theory, this should increase one’s resistance against diseases. HOWEVER, surprisingly, only a couple of strains like L. casei DN-114001, L. rhamnosus GG, together with L. acidophilus NCFM can reduce the frequency and severity of different diseases like winter colds.

In a study involving 360 people who are aged over 60, it showed that regular use of L. casei DN-114001 significantly cuts down the duration of respiratory infections by one and a half days. Along with that, it also reduces the severity by 20 percent.

Along with that, in a study that involves 571 kids who are in day care, the strain L. rhamnosus GG significantly reduced both the sick days along with the number of infections that are serious enough to need antibiotics.

Lastly, in a winter study which includes well over 200 pre schoolers, the third strain which is the L. acidophilus NCFM greatly reduced the incidence of fever by a whopping 48 percent, cough by 42 percent, and the need for antibiotics by 68 percent. That’s a great deal no matter how you look at it.

Furthermore, researchers think that people from other age groups can enjoy the same benefits.

Strain 2: Soothe IBS Probiotic
Well over 10 million American women surely know the belly pain, bloating, and discomfort caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (or IBS). Here’s the annoying thing: experts and doctors can’t pin point what causes IBS. Also, they do not have the right meds to treat the condition.

HOWEVER, here’s something encouraging: the strains B. infantis 35624 and L. plantarum DSM9843 get rid of IBS without breaking any sweat.

In 2 different trials that had well over 400 patients, a daily dose of the first strain relieved the pain and discomfort in the gut. On the other hand, in a study with 60 patients, a daily dose of the second strain reduced gas by well over 50 percent.

Strain 3: Ward Off Eczema Probiotic
Scientists and experts link a modern epidemic of allergic conditions with the lack of bacteria (including the good ones) in our overly sanitized lives. And there are research showing certain probiotics that raise the allergy calming chemicals in the blood.

Strain 4: Fight The Traveler’s Diarrhea Probiotic
So you are off to the Philippines? Mexico? Or some place else? Get this: well over 50 percent of international travelers are caught by diarrhea that originate from the parasites and infectious bacteria found in unsanitary water (something that is very common in less developed places). Hence the name Traveler’s Diarrhea.

BUT don’t fret, there are studies that show that S. cereveisiae bouldarii can reduce the risk of developing traveler’s diarrhea. Just make sure you start taking it about a week before traveling. Not to mention it can also cure other established infections.

More and more research and studies are delving deep into the world of these friendly micro organisms – what they do and how they can help us live a better and healthier lives.

Be on the watch!

BUT as studies continue, why not stick with the probiotics and start taking them?