Probiotics, Prebiotics, and other natural digestive aids.

PROBITOICS AND DAILY LIVING

Probiotics have been making the news recently with the advent of specially formulated yogurts, cereals and other fortified foods.  More and more we see foods appearing on the supermarket shelves boasting added bacteria strains for healthy digestion. In reality if you have no remarkable digestive issues and you don’t want to add another supplement to your daily regime, the easiest way to introduce good bacteria into your diet is through yogurt, buttermilk or kefir (available at any health food store), these products all contain strains of healthy bacteria. However you need to eat them regularly, and in quantity, to make sure you make the most of the benefits.  If you do have some indigestion, stomach upsets, digestive disorders, or are interested in adding some positive changes to your routine and helping that digestive process along, you might want to look at adding healthy bacteria to your diet.  When you mention the words bacteria and healthy in the same sentence it confuses people, but we must remember not all bacteria are detrimental to your health, and may, in fact, provide some health benefits, particularly those in the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria genera.  And here is where the Probiotic comes in.

What are Probiotics?

One widely used definition, developed by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is that “Probiotics are live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” (Microorganisms are tiny living organisms—such as bacteria, viruses, and yeasts—that can be seen only under a microscope.) The live microorganisms that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called “friendly bacteria” or “good bacteria.” The most common strains are thought to be Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus.

A few common Probiotics (the word means “for life”), such as Saccharomyces boulardii, are YEASTS, which are different from bacteria.  My son takes a combination of Prebiotics (Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial microorganisms already in people’s colons), Probiotics, in addition to a daily dose of Saccharomyces.  We utilize all three remedies to combat reactions to antibiotics prescribed for parasites, anaerobic bacteria and a yeast overgrowth which we have found through testing of his gut.  

For those who suffer from Celiac disease, or similar reactive gut disorders, you may find that Probiotics helps with some of the symptoms associated with flare-ups of these conditions.

Probiotics are widely available, usually in the refrigerator section of your health food store. To learn more about how Probiotics were discovered and the positive actions of Probiotics check out THE NIBBLE.

A good Probiotic should not be terribly expensive; in fact we consider it a fairly inexpensive investment for good stomach health.  Many of my friends with toddlers or infants will use Probiotics to combat what GI specialists term as “Toddler diarrhea” apparently a common complaint in children from age 6 months to 5 years old. 

If you are taking antibiotics it’s a great time to add the Probiotics to your diet along with your daily medication, especially if the course is going to be longer than the standard ten days. If you expect to be on the antibiotics for a long period, you may consider adding in the Saccharomyces boulardii in addition to the Probiotics, to further combat the yeast overgrowth that often occurs while taking antibiotics.

When it comes around to immunization time, a good dose over several days before and after the immunizations of Probiotics, vitamin C and Omega 3 fish oils may actually counteract some of the negative side effects we often see with the shots; it also may help those internal pathways remove toxins from our bodies more efficiently. 

The effect of a yeast infection on a child can be very troubling, and you may not realize the behaviors associated with yeast overgrowth.  My son in particular will become very noise sensitive, hyperactive, unable to focus and generally quite aggressive when his yeast gets out of control. The first sign we watch for is him covering his ears and telling us that sounds make his ears hurt, a quick check of his tongue usually confirms it’s a yeast problem.  He uses pro/prebiotics combinations daily and we expect this will continue at least through his childhood if not his adult life.  Read more about how childhood yeast problems may affect your child. 

Is there a link between yeast and Autism behaviours?  

Read one study that concludes “There is a great deal of evidence that a form of yeast, candida (rhymes with “Canada”) albicans, may cause autism and may exacerbate many behavior and health problems in autistic individuals, especially those with late-onset autism”. The paper linking autism, developmental delays, behaviour problems and yeast, by The Center for the Study of Autism  can be read here.

One brand of probiotic is Udo’s Choice™ these, like all Probiotics, work to maintain the delicate balance of “good” or “friendly” bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract. According to the Udo’s Choice website: Probiotics derive from the extensive group of friendly micro-organisms already present in nature that we commonly obtain from yogurt and raw foods. Udo’s Choice™ Probiotic Blends consist of SIX distinct varieties, each engineered for a specific age group or condition:

• Infant’s Blend, Children’s Blend,
  Adult’s Blend,
  Advanced Adult’s Blend (for seniors),
  Hi-Potency Bowel Blend,
  Super 8 Hi-Potency,
  And Super 5 Lozenge. 

You can go to UDO’s Choice  to learn more about their products and the strains of Probiotics available.

Make an adjustment, stay healthy ~ be happy: Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com

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