The Power of Probiotics

Probiotics are causing a revolution in natural and holistic medicine. You can get them in a convenient sized drink, infused into your favourite yoghurt and there’s hardly a week goes by without some new research being published on them. They increase the absorption of vitamins and minerals from our food and they are essential for our health…

What are probiotics?

Probiotics, from the Greek ‘for life’ refers to over 400 strains of friendly bacteria that naturally reside within our intestines. These hard working bacteria keep us healthy by:

• Enhancing immunity. Several studies suggest that probiotics enhance immunity by secreting natural antibiotics, stimulating the production of natural anti-viral agents and preventing bacteria from attaching to the intestinal walls as well as competing for nutrients.
• Easing the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome. A recent study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that the probiotic acidophilus showed a significant benefit in 50% of patients with the primary symptoms of IBS, including abdominal bloating, cramping and diarrhoea.
• Combating the negative effects of antibiotics. Antibiotics wipe out both ‘bad’ and ‘good’ bacteria predisposing the body to diarrhoea and yeast infections. Taking a probiotic supplement during and 3 months after treatment can prevent this. (Make sure you take the probiotic at least 2 to 3 hours before or after the antibiotic, so that it isn’t inactivated).
• Controlling diarrhoea. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and travellers’ diarrhoea both respond well to acidophilus.
• Combating vaginal yeast and other infections associated with Candida. A study in the International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics attributed the increase in recurring vaginal candidiasis worldwide to growing antibiotic resistance as well as to a lack of sufficient Lactobacilli in many women. According to the study’s authors, Lactobacilli constitute ‘the vagina’s primary defence mechanism against Candida’.
• Relieving urinary tract infections. Probiotics such as acidophilus have been shown to release ‘bacteriocins’ or antibiotic-like substances, whjich are powerful enough to neutralize Escherichia (E.) coli bacteria, the source of many urinary tract infections.

To do their job well, these ‘good’ health-promoting bacteria, such as lactobacillus acidophilus and lactob acillus sporagenes need to outnumber the ‘bad’ disease promoting bacteria, such as E.coli, Klebsiella and Bacteroides in a ratio of 70/30. Unfortunately the high consumption of processed and refined foods, the low intake of fruit, vegetables and fibre, excessive amounts of stress and the excessive use of antibiotics, birth control pills and alcohol, means that millions of people within the UK have the reverse of this ideal ratio – a situation referred to as dysbiosis. And it is dysbiosis that practitioners such as myself believe creates the breeding ground for general ill health. And an important part of the solution to dysbiosis is the use of probiotics.

Which Probiotic?

In an ideal world you would be able to eat a natural source of probiotics such as a probiotic yoghurt to receive your daily dose of ‘good’ bacteria. Various research studies have shown, however, that levels of live probiotics vary dramatically between products. But many of the bacteria in probiotic yoghurts will be killed as they pass through the acid conditions of the stomach and are therefore of questionable long-term benefit. A high quality probiotic supplement, that contains strains of probiotics, such as lactobacilli and the bifidobacteria, or spore-form bacteria, which have proven theraputic value (and which survive the passage through the stomach successfully), gets round these problems.

Probio-Intensive

This is my probiotic of choice for people who have bloating or wind, or any chronic health condition that might be related to the gut. Each capsule provides three billion organisms of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium longum and unlike most probiotics on the market, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, so you can travel with it. My suggestion is to take Pribio-Intensive for up to 6 months – this ensures that the bowels are repopulated as much as they can be. After that you should consider switching to a maintenance probiotic such as Higher Nature’s Probio-Daily.

Probio-Daily

I recommend Higher Nature’s Probio-Daily as the ideal daily maintenance probiotic. IT contains a ‘spore’ form of probiotic called Lactobacillus sporogenes at an optimum strength (established by studies) of 150 million per tablet. L. Sporogenese is able to witstand the acid of the stomach because it passes through in spore form, and then starts to multiply in the intestines. This supplement comes with a probiotic food called FOS – a sweet-tasting substance derived from plants which feeds the good bacteria, encouraging them to multiply. My suggestion is to take one tablet up to three times a day – this would be enough to keep your intestines in an optimum state of health.

Acidobifidus

For children or adults who don’t like swallowing tablets or capsules I recommend Higher Nature’s Acidophilus. It provides Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidus infatis, longum, and brevis in powder form that can be sprinkled on food. Take 1/2 teaspoon a day.

Summary

Probiotics are an essential part of any programme that is designed to restore an optimum level of health to the intestines and promote wellbeing. The key is to take them daily, take them for at least a couple of months and to choose one that meets your particular health needs and fits into your lifestyle!

Dr Mark Atkinson is widely regarded as a pioneer in teh field of holistic medicine and a leading authority on teh use of drug-free approaches to health, healing and well-being.

Dr Mark Atkinson © Higher Nature Health Essentials March 2006