Your Guide to Probiotics
What are Probiotics?
In short, probiotics are "good bacteria." As defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, probiotics are "live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host." Probiotics are essentially the bacteria that are already aturally found in the human stomach and digestive system, but also as supplements and through the consumption of foods like yogurt, fermented milk, miso, and tempeh. Naturally, our intestines host over 100 trillion microorganisms from 400 microbial species. Most often, the bacteria come from two groups, Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. This "good bactera" is essential to the proper development and functioning of the immune system so it can fight against free radicals and all kinds of "bad bacteria," as well as aid the absorption of nutrients from food through digestion.
When to Take Probiotics
Probiotics are not essential until the body's natural balance of good bacteria is thrown off and the good microflora in the intestines no longer crowd out harmful bacteria. This can happen any number of ways—antibiotics, which kill off the good as well as the bad bacteria, or when bad bacteria or parasites naturally take over. If you experience these symptoms, your body's bacterial balace may be off:
- Diarrhea
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Tooth decay and periodontal disease
- Skin infections
- Vaginal infections
To see the entire list of symptoms, see here.
Early studies have shown that adding probiotics, like Acidophilus, to the diet can help cure diarrhea related to antibiotic intake. Acidophilus also helps to restore pH balance and prevent yeast infections and other vaginal infections caused by microfloral imbalance.
Where to Find Probiotics
- Yogurt: Check the package to make sure it lists "live cultures" or "L. acidophilus."
- Kefir: A fermented milk drink, with a consistency somewhere between milk and yogurt. Aids in the digestion of lactose.
- Supplements: L. Acidophilus can be found in most natural foods and health stores.
Causes of Microbial Imbalance
A good number of things can cause an imbalance in the microflora of the intestines. Most often it arises from a foreign agent entering the body, like antibiotics, that directly target the bacteria in the gut. However, there are a good deal of environmental factors that can contribute to altering the pH and bacterial balance of the body, including these:
- Sugar intake increase: We are bombarded daily with opportunities to consume refined sugar, but overconsumption alters your body's natural pH, which should be about 7.35 or 7.45. If the pH is altered, the body has difficulty healing itself and the immune system is repressed. Learn how to check your body's pH here.
- Tobacco, coffee, tea, alcohol: Consuming too much of any of these things produces an acidifying effect in the body.
- Stress and exercise: Stress weakens the body's natural defenses against bad bacteria in a number of ways, and exercising too much or too little leaves the body depleted of the correct amount of sugars and proteins it needs to maintain healthy pH levels.
So remember, consume in moderation, be extremely careful with antibiotic intake, and keep yogurt and fermented dairy products in your diet to keep the healthy microflora flourishing.
