Good Bacteria,
Great Benefits:
Probiotics Pack a Powerful Punch at Any Age
Scientists have only recently begun to discover
the full potential of probiotics. But as research continues,
much is being learned about these beneficial bacteria and how
they may improve the health of people everywhere.
Available
in foods such as yogurt and kefir (a fermented milk drink) as
well as in dietary supplements, probiotics are generally defined
as live microorganisms (bacteria or yeast) that have been shown
to help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the digestive
tract. This is especially important because nearly three-quarters
of your immune system is located in your digestive tract, so
when that balance is upset, your health may suffer as a result.
Ideally, there should be a balance of approximately 80% good
bacteria and 20% percent harmful bacteria in your intestines.
Unfortunately, factors such as poor diet, stress, illness, and
exposure to toxic substances can affect that healthy environment.
Antibiotic use can also significantly alter the
bacterial balance in your gut. Although their main purpose is
to kill harmful bacteria, antibiotics often kill the existing
beneficial bacteria as well. This can lead to diarrhea and other
intestinal issues. Likewise, using anti-bacterial soaps has the
same effect—killing
many good bacteria at the same time it kills the bad bacteria.
Because of their vital role in maintaining a
healthy bacterial balance in the digestive tract, studies have
shown that probiotics help enhance the body’s immune function. In addition to
helping promote intestinal health, probiotics also assist with
the digestion of dairy products—no doubt welcome news for
those suffering from lactose intolerance. Other potential benefits
of probiotics include maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood
pressure levels, reducing inflammation and improving mineral
absorption, and current research is also looking into how probiotics
may help prevent irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel
disease. For women, supplemental Lactobacilli may help support
vaginal and urinary tract health, thus preventing the discomfort
of a yeast or urinary tract infection. Lactobacilli are the most
prevalent beneficial bacteria in a healthy urogenital tract.
Infants and children may also benefit from using
probiotics. Although newborns receive their first beneficial
gut bacteria during the birthing process, supplying additional
good bacteria (such as the essential strain Bifidobacterium infantis)
throughout the early years may help support overall digestive
and immune health. Probiotics may also reduce the risk of developing
allergies at a young age, since they help support the intestinal
lining and prohibit allergens from entering the digestive tract.
Adults over 50 years of age should also consider
supplementing their diet with probiotics to obtain the immunity-enhancing
benefits of these helpful bacteria, as preliminary research has
shown that the amount of good bacteria in our intestines declines
considerably with age. |
