Probiotics - The good bugs in your belly

Living in the digestive tract of each and every one of us are around 400 different types of bacteria. These bacteria, known as 'friendly bacteria' or probiotics (meaning 'for life'), are essential to the healthy functioning of the body.

Some of these bacteria live within the large and small intestine, while others are transient, i.e. they perform their function but do not reside in the gut. They all, however, have many vital roles to play.

Also within the gut are disease causing (pathogenic) organisms. Probiotics control and protect against the proliferation of these more harmful organisms that are responsible for food poisoning, inflammation, depressing the immune system and causing infection. Probiotics also manufacture many of the B vitamins and vitamins A and K.

An imbalance in healthy bacteria can result from a poor diet, use of the contraceptive pill, alchohol consumption, smoking, antibiotic therapy and other medication.

Supplementing the diet with a probiotic formula can help to re-establish a healthy environment within the gut – leading to restored health.

Advanced Probiotics

A healthy digestive system is perhaps the most important factor in promoting long-term health. If any element of this complicated system is working inefficiently there could be a negative influence on health. This could range from indigestion and bloating to poor immunity and malnutrition.

The digestive tract is home to billions of beneficial bacteria known as probiotics. A healthy digestive tract contains in the region of 2lbs of these microscopic organisms. They help to prevent colonisation of the gut by unfriendly bacteria, yeast and parasites whilst feeding on fibre to create organic acids that can be used for energy production by the gut and help maintain a healthy intestinal environment.

However, ageing, inappropriate diet, stress, environmental pollution and medicinal drugs can all reduce numbers of these vital organisms. Those using antibiotic drugs are particularly affected because these drugs kill bacteria, be they good or bad!

Research shows that probiotic supplements are a convenient and effective way of replenishing levels of beneficial bacteria.

A new generation of probiotics are now available that provide superior viability and colonisation characteristics. They represent the very latest in probiotic technology and are so advanced that they have been shown to survive the highly acidic environment of the stomach for several hours. In the past surviving passage through the stomach was one of the biggest hurdles for probiotic supplements, which were generally recommended to be taken away from food to avoid this problem as much as possible. Advanced probiotics are so resilient that they can be stored at ambient temperatures instead of in the refrigerator, making them suitable for travel abroad.

The exact strains of beneficial bacteria used in Advanced Probiotics have been the subject of over 80 clinical trials on humans. One such study noted significantly less incidence of diarrhoea among a group of travellers visiting the river Nile when given Advanced Probiotics compared with a group given a dummy pill.

Eating fermented foods can promote healthy bacteria in the gut. Include yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu and miso regularly in your diet.

Look for probiotics that contain L. Acidopholis and B. Bifidum (also known as B. Lactis)

Probiotics may be helpful in the management of many digestive disorders.

Babies given antibiotics often develop diarrhoea. Special infant probiotic formulas have been shown to restore normal bowel function in these children.

In a well-known study, the incidence of travellers' diarrhoea was greatly reduced when the holidaymakers supplemented with probiotics.