Foods for Better Health & Wellness

Kalee Carson

Probiotics, the "Good Bacteria"

We have all heard a lot about probiotics probably the most in regard to what’s in the yogurt we eat. Really though, what exactly is a probiotic and why do we need them?

What Are Probiotics?

The word Probiotic comes from Greek terminology Pro meaning ‘For’ and ‘Biotic’ meaning ‘Life’ so these are bacteria that are ‘for life’ or life giving. By now we know that there are literally trillions of bacteria that live in the human body along with viruses, and many other organisms in fact they outnumber human cells about 10 to 1. In balance, these things all live in harmony. However, when something gets out of balance the body goes into a state of dis-ease.

This can happen due to an overgrowth of bad bacteria, for which the doctor might prescribe a round of strong antibiotics. That antibiotic is not selective about the bacteria that it kills; it kills all of it, the good and the bad! That’s when you end up with an imbalance in the gut. The good bacteria are gone and some of the other organisms, such as yeast, can get a foothold and they can start to overgrow. Once that happens they can leak into the bloodstream and travel all over the body!!

Probiotic Sources

What can you do, you say?! There are many ways to keep this from happening. First of all, yogurt, organic, with lots of active cultures and no added sugar. One of my favorite brands is The Greek Gods greek yogurt, it contains 5 of the most important live, active cultures and comes in some of the most delicious flavors!! They also just came out with their own line of Kefir, which I also recommend as a good source of probiotics. It is sort of a liquid yogurt and I find kids love it as well as adults!!

Another lesser known source of probiotics are fermented vegetables. Things like sauerkraut, sour pickles, and kimchee to name a few. They have to be in a natural and unpasteurized form in order for the beneficial bacteria to be present. The process of pasteurization and the heat involved kills them.

The last and, nowadays, probably most common way people can acquire probiotics is in supplement form. They are found everywhere from supermarket to drugstore to health food store shelves. Here I must say, buyer beware, there are many, many kinds to choose from and many are not worth the boxes they come in. Remember, probiotics are living organisms and if they are sitting on the shelf of a store for months on end they are likely going to be DEAD and will do you no good. There are exceptions to this but they are few. Ask your salesperson at your local health food store to assist you in deciding which probiotic supplement is best for your purposes. They are knowledgeable and happy to help, don’t be surprised if they lead you to a refrigerator full of bottles. This is the best way to keep the organisms fresh and alive longer. I have included a list of the most common of the probiotics you will see listed on labels.

• Lactobacillus bulgaricus

• Lactobacillus GG

• Certain varieties of Bifidobacteria

• Lactobacillus johnsonii

• B. infantis

• Lactobacillus plantarum

• Bifidobacterium animalis

• Bacillus coagulans

• Bifidobacterium longum

• Lactobacillus casei

• Lactococcus lactis

Probiotics and Acne

Scientists are also discovering an important link between the health of the gut and the occurrence of acne on the skin. So much so, that they now recommend the use of probiotics along with acne medication in teenage patients who have severe acne problems, to help clear things up more quickly. Many doctors have also come to recognize the importance of probiotics for their patients and strongly recommend that they take them along with prescribed antibiotics, if not all the time. Probiotics can also boost the immune system, lower Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels and help fight obesity!!!

Probiotics and Yeast Infections

Many women have found that taking probiotics on a continuous basis may help to resolve the problem of recurrent vaginal yeast infections and recurrent bacterial vaginitis as well. These are similar conditions that are attributed to an imbalance of the flora (good and bad bacteria) in the vagina due to an imbalance of vaginal pH. Also, being swimsuit season, ladies, don’t leave those wet swimsuits on!! That is an invitation for the type of environment the yeast just loves. Take them off, keep them clean, and let them dry!!

Love,
Kalee

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