We all know that our world is teeming with bacteria–both good and bad. Inside our bodies is no exception, and both good and bad bacteria reside in your digestive tract. The good bacteria promote optimal digestion, optimal pH balance, and support immune system function. Good bacteria even produce their own antibiotic-like enzymes that protect us from food-borne pathogens. They help promote vitamin and nutrient synthesis,help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and also protect against viral activity. A healthy population of good bacteria helps to keep the bad bacteria and yeast away. Bad, or foreign bacteria, create harmful by-products that promote immune system dysfunction, poor digestion, yeast overgrowth, ulcers, skin problems, and intestinal permeability, just to name a few.
In a perfect world, we would have only good bacteria living in our gut and no bad bacteria. This, however, is rarely the case. Due to poor diet, antibiotic use, poor digestion, etc., most people have at least some foreign bacteria living in their digestive tract. To maintain a healthy population of good gut bacteria, it is advised to supplement regularly with Probiotics, also commonly referred to as Flora.
Probiotics are made up of different types of bacteria that are known to be healthy inhabitants of our digestive tract. It is best to take probiotics on a regular basis to maintain a healthy floral environment, although there are times when you might really want to focus on taking more, or maybe taking a different kind of probiotic. During times of digestive distress, foreign travel, acute illness, after antibiotic use, yeast infections, or if you have a skin condition–these are all instances when probiotics are indicted.
There are many different strains of bacteria in probiotic formulas, and it can be confusing to know which type to use. Some of the bacteria that are in probiotics formulas include Lactobacillus species and Sacchromyces boulardii. Certain bacteria are better for certain conditions, so let your doctor help you decide which formula is right for you.
There are numerous combinations of probiotics available, each containing different strengths of different strains of bacteria, and each claiming that their formula is the best.The FDA does not regulate nutritional supplements, so checking the quality control is critical with probiotics. Some unscrupulous companies sell probiotics that don’t contain what the label says it does, and sometimes the capsules are even filled with dead, useless bacteria! Stick with a reputable company that only sells to licensed practitioners. These companies have independent quality control testing that assures you are getting the highest quality, highest potency ingredients. You can also get probiotics from eating cultured yogurt, although the potency is typically much higher in standardized capsules or powders. Although some probiotics can survive outside of the refrigerator, it is best to keep them refrigerated whenever possible to prolong the lifespan and potency of the bacteria.