Health is the real wealth and to manage this wealth Naturopathy can play important role in our life. Lady of the house is considered the pillar of a family and to make her family healthy she herself has to be healthy and happy. To help womenfolk to achieve excellence in health Women Lines is committed to creating awareness. It is such a pleasure to have Saravanan Naturopathic Physician as an Influencer for Naturopathy on Womenlines panel. This month Dr. Saravanan Naturopath is shaing information regarding Probiotics-
Microbial cultures have been used for centuries to ferment food and alcohol. In the 1900s many scientific research and observations were done on these cultures and they were recognized that they can prevent and may even cure some diseases. These microbial cultures were then named probiotics or “pro-life”. (Antibiotics means “against-life”)
Dairy products like milk and yogurt contain probiotics. The most frequently used bacteria in these products include the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species.
Nutritional Benefits
Intestinal Tract Health
A large number of studies indicate that probiotics are useful in the treatment of diarrhea, including diarrhea induced by antibiotics in adults. It helps with diarrhea during travels and diarrhea due to rotaviruses in children.
Diarrhea is the major cause of infant death and it is very debilitating thus Lactobacillus GG, L. casei, B. bifidum and S. thermophilus have been researched extensively. The widespread availability of probiotics will help prevent these diseases. Probiotic bacteria have also proven to help to maintain gut integrity and mediate the effects of inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and alcoholic liver disease[iv]. Probiotics may help improve intestinal mobility and relieve constipation in the elderly. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis produced a bacteriocin named UO004. the finding suggest that the bacteriocin may resist to the acidic conditions of fermented milk and of the stomach and small intestine as well as to more neutral conditions like in large intestine.
Better Absorption of Nutrients from Food.
Probiotics may aid in the improved digestibility of some dietary nutrients like protein and fat. Short-chain fatty acids such as lactic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid produced by probiotics may help maintain a balanced pH and protect against pathological changes in the colonic mucosa.
Improved Immune Response.
In vitro studies conducted on animals and humans indicate that probiotics can improve specific and nonspecific immune responses. This is possible through active macrophages, increased levels of cytokines, increased natural killer cell activity and increased levels of immunoglobulin when probiotics are consumed.
Manage Lactose Intolerances
Studies also show that strains of probiotic flora, like S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus and other lactobacilli in fermented milk products, can alleviate symptoms of lactose intolerance by providing bacterial lactase to the intestine and stomach. Many people suffer from lactose intolerance, thus consuming these probiotics may aid in the digestion of dairy and dairy products.
Manage Allergies
Probiotics may be beneficial in the prevention of allergic reaction by improving mucosal barrier function. Children benefit as their immune responses are increased. Probiotics such as Lactobacillus GG may be helpful in alleviating some of the symptoms of food allergies associated with milk protein. A Finnish study indicated that consuming probiotics helped overcome respiratory illness in children.
Cancer Management
In vitro and animal studies show that probiotics may reduce colon cancer risk by reducing the occurrence and number of tumors. Lactobacillus species and Eubacterium aerofaciens, both producers of lactic acid, were associated with the populations with the lower risk of colon cancer, while Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium species were associated with higher risk of colon cancer. Another study showed a reduced incidence of relapse in bladder cancer patients.
How long do we take probiotics for?
Probiotics do not remain in the intestine permanently. They are effective when they are metabolized and grown during intestinal colonization. Therefore daily consumption of probiotics is the best way to attain maximum health benefits.
When is the best time and how much to consume of the probiotics?
If you are healthy, it is recommended that you take your probiotics first thing in the morning of the recommended dosage. Speak to our naturopath if you have any specific health challenge as dosage and frequency may vary.
Commercially used probiotic species.
Lactobacillus species – L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. fermentum, L. gasseri, L. johnsonii, L. lactis, L. paracasei, L. plantarum, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, L. salivarius,
Bifidobacterium species – B. bifidum, B. breve, B. lactis, B. longum,
Streptococcus species – S. thermophilus
Article written by Saravanan ND – Naturopathic Physician and transformational coach. At Naturopathic Therapies Clinic. www.naturopathic-therapies.com
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