Probiotics and their health benefits

Probiotics aren’t just for people who are ill, they are also good for people who are also healthy and want to remain healthy. Probiotics provide some health benefits when taken daily as a supplement and for certain conditons. Probiotics are dietary supplements or foods that contain beneficial or good bacteria that are similar to those normally found in our body. Probiotics can be found in foods such as yogurt, miso and soy drinks and some juices. Activia yogurt by Dannon is one example of a probiotic food. These bacteria and yeasts have been used for thousands of years to ferment foods. Certain yogurts and other cultured dairy products contain such helpful bacteria, particularly specific strains of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.

Some scientific evidence has suggested that you can prevent or treat some illnesses with foods and supplements that contain certain kinds of live bacteria. Probiotics are responsible for 80% of our immune system function. They also have a big impact on our digestive health and our overall total health. Doctors have recommended probiotics for certain types of digestive disorders such as (IBS) irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics surround and destroy dangerous pathogens, they line your intestinal walls, make B vitamins that your body needs and prevent toxins from leaking into your bloodstream. Probiotics also help lower your risk of heart disease and keep cholesterol low. They also keep the microbes in your digestive system balanced, they enhance your digestive and overall health as well as make your immune system strong.

Probiotics may help with these conditions:

• Diarrhea


• Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections


• Shorten the duration of intestinal infections


• Treat the recurrence of pouchitis


• Crohn’s disease


• Irritable bowel syndrone (IBS)

Some doctors believe that probiotics may help improve general health when taken everyday. Probiotics are usually considered safe because they are already present in our digestive system. Most probiotics are sold as a dietary supplement so you can find them in most shops where vitamins and supplements are sold. You may want to consult your medical or health practitioner who is familiar with probiotics when taking them for a condition. Most health benefits of probiotics are strain specific, and not all strains are necessary or useful depending on your condition.