PROBIOTICS
Sara B. Ducey
www.saraducey.com
Bethesda,
Maryland
©
February 2001
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that live
in your bowels. They include a number of
strains from the Lactobacilus and Bifidobacter families. There are so many
bacteria in our bowels that the combined weight is several pounds. When these
beneficial bacteria are underfed or crowded out by pathogenic bacteria, yeasts
and other microorganisms, we call that DYSBIOSIS.
Benefits of Probiotics:
- Produce
Vitamins: B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, Biotin (another B vitamin), Vitamin A, and
about 50% of your total Vitamin K!
- Promote
Healthy Digestion and Bowel Function
- Boost
the Number of Immune Cells: having
a flourishing population of healthy bacteria actually increases your
immune strength substantially.
Conditions That Respond to Probiotic Therapy:
- Acne
vulgaris
- Autoimmune
illness
- Belching,
gas and flatulence
- Candida albicans
overgrowth
- Colon
cancer
- Constipation
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Food
allergy and intolerance
- Irritable
bowel syndrome
- Premenstrual
syndrome
- Vaginal
yeast infections
How
to Increase the Probiotics:
- Eat
Probiotics (the bacteria, themselves)
- Fermented
dairy: yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir
- Fermented
vegetables: kim chee; sauerkraut;
pickles
- Eat
Prebiotics (food for probiotics)
- Fructo-oligosaccharides
(FOS)
- Foods
rich in fibers (plant foods)
- Kill
Pathogenic Bacteria and/or Yeasts
- Short
and Medium Chain Triglycerides from butter and coconut fats
- Polyphenols
(teas; wine; ginseng)
- Garlic
-- a natural antibiotic
- Grapefruit
Seed Extract -- antifungal
- Feed
the Cells of the Stomach and Intestines so they are Less Vulnerable
- L-glutamine
(an amino acid) that is the preferred food of the stomach and intestinal
cells
- Products
designed to help rebuild the structure and function of the gut can be
purchased at the Apothecary
Pharmacy in Bethesda. A
couple of these include:
- Perma
Plus (Pathway)
- Perm
A Vite® (Allergy Research Group)
References
My favorite book that discusses this (and other
fascinating issues) is: DIGESTIVE WELLNESS, 2nd edition, Elizabeth
Lipsky, Keats, Publishing, © 2000.
Local professionals who consult on this issue
include:
