What are probiotics?: Probiotics are health supplements that contain specific live microorganisms that have been proven by scientific studies to be beneficial to the gut and the body at large. Now, I know it sounds awkward to intentionally aim to consume bacteria especially in the current age where we try to sanitize all our environment and wash all our hands like crazy. But these group of microorganisms are the good gut bacteria. A healthy human body is made up of up to 100 trillion microorganisms comprising more than 500 species. What do the good gut bacteria do? In the gut, these bacteria do not make us sick, rather they help keep the bad (pathogenic) bacteria in check, help aid digestion and enhance our immune function.
What are the health benefits of probiotics?: There are many health benefits of healthy bugs packaged into various products called probiotics. Probiotics are good for men and women alike, adults and children and even babies. Probiotics are mostly formulated into daily supplements as capsules, powder or liquids, but you can also get some probiotics from food such as yogurt, pickles, kimchi, kombucha and some baby formula.
Now, lets dive into the real deal. First and foremost, probiotics help protect the gut and prevent gastrointestinal discomfort caused by diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), H.pylori, Clostridium difficile among others. Probiotics also prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Probiotics support the lining of your intestines to prevent entry of bad bacteria into your systemic circulation. Furthermore, some of the good gut bacteria produce enzymes that help with digestion of food, leading to better absorption of food micronutrients. In babies, probiotics help improve symptoms of infantile colic, infant regurgitation and constipation. The most recommended product for baby is Biogaia, but this can be used by adults as well
What are the types on probiotics?: there are two main types of bacteria that are used in probiotic products: Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. The most common type of good yeast is Saccharomyces boulardii. The amount of bacteria present in each dose of probiotics is expressed as CFU, which stands for colony-forming units. Different probiotic products are marketed and labelled for specific indications, so be sure to read the label to see if the product covers the indication you are searching for. For example Align contains a pure strain of Bifidobacterium and is labelled to improve the symptoms of IBS. The best time to take a probiotic is on an empty stomach ie 30 minutes to 1 hour before food or 3 hours after food.
Caution: probiotics are mostly harmless in a healthy individual, however it may cause illness in immunocompromised patients ie in patients receiving drugs that suppress immunity. The use of probiotics is not recommended in acute diarrhea and vomiting. Always consult your healthcare providers before commencing the use of probiotics. When choosing a probiotic product, always look out for the NPN number to ensure that it is approved by health canada.
Thanks for reading to the end, see you in my next post.
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