Probiotics Side Effects

Welcome to my probiotics blog, dear reader. If you have a couple of minutes, I’m going to walk you through what are probiotics, their possible effects and side effects.

Let’s begin first with …

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are microorganisms (in some cases even bacteria, viruses, yeasts) that benefit the host body. The name comes from a combination of Latin and Greek that will approximately mean “for life”. Most probiotics are available in foods and supplements: yoghourt, milk (fermented or not), soy milk, other beverages. In some of these foods, the probiotics have been added during preparation (such as enhanced yoghourts).

Although at first glance, ingesting microorganisms may sound strange, you should know in every healthy human bowel live more than 500 different species of bacteria. The total number of “friendly bacteria” in your bowel is in the trillions.

So no, not all bacteria and viruses are bad for you, hence the term probiotics.

Now that we’ve established what are probiotics, let’s jump to their positive effects … and unwanted effects.

Probiotics – positive health effects

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Friendly bacteria

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Not all probiotics are created equal. This means, there are a lot of types of probiotics and they’re grouped in strains. A lot of people make a common mistake extending the health benefits of one strain of probiotics to other strains. Each has its own merit. The most common strains of probiotics are Lactobacillus, L. Reuteri, L. Brevis, L. Casei Immunitas, Lactobacillus GG, Probiotic Acidophilus, Bifido, Bifidobacterium Lactis, Acidophilus  Bifidus, just to name but a few.

I know some of you came to this blog looking for the dangers of using probiotics, but I feel it’s essential that you read first the good part first, before jumping to any rash conclusion.

An interesting video overview of probiotics effects and their importance:

Diarrhea. Probiotics are your “go-to” guy when you’re having diarrhea problems. They can prevent or cure it, depending on the case at hand. Diarrhea can be caused by a lot gastroenteritis, stomach flu, contaminated water or foods, etc. S. boulardii is particularly efficient in curing acute diarrhea, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Chron’s disease.

Lactose intolerance. Some of you may be familiar with the term, but for those who aren’t, lactose intolerance is body’s inability to digest properly milk and products based on milk. Many probiotics contain lactase, the substance responsible for breaking down milk into components easier to absorb in the body (sugar, glucose and galactose). Our body should be able to produce lactase on its own, but in lactose intolerance cases it isn’t. Couple of probiotics that get the job done: lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus salivarius, L. reuteri, L. plantarum, S. termophilus.

Colon Cancer. No conclusive study has been conducted on humans, but one of the studies shown that consumers of fermented dairy products have lower colon cancer rate. In mice, L. bulgaricus has demonstrated an unexpected ability to fend off the cancer. A study conducted in 1980 by Shahani & Ayebo, 1980 concluded that “The consumption of large quantities of dairy products such as yoghurt and fermented milk containing Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium may be related to a lower incidence of colon cancer”. For reference, you download this document: http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FNRR%2FNRR17_02%2FS0954422404000216a.pdf&code=d8111f24f1831e29533e435a6523a1b7

Cholesterol. Some studies indicate that bifido bacteria strains and lactobacillus casei ASCC 292 may be responsible for lowering the cholesterol levels. In fact as we speak new studies are conducted and promote the idea that L. acidophilus can help remove the cholesterol from blood through stool excretion (Aristo Vojdani, Ph. D, M.T.).

Blood Pressure. It is reported that more than 50 million people in US alone suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). Studies have shown that the consumption of products that contain certain lactobacilli reduces systolic blood pressure with 10-20 mm Hg.

Irritable Bowel Disease. Clinical studies (1996-2002) have shown significant reduced relapse rate and remission when using probiotics. Please refer to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539443/table/tbl1/ for a comprehensive list of probiotics and their role in preventing and even curing irritable bowel disease.

H Pilory infections. Helicobapter pylori is the major cause of gastritis, peptic ulcer and other gastric complications. In a recent study, L. acidophilus LB has been able to significantly increase the eradication of H Pilory. Other friendly bacteria that fights off H Pilory are: L. johnsonii, L. rhamnosus GG, etc. For a complete study (that’s only 86 pages long) go here: https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/5622/theroleo.pdf?sequence

Vaginal Infections. Probiotics can help a lot when it comes to women health. A report published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology mentions that L. acidophilus supplements can help replace bad bacteria such as staphylococcus, streptococcus and diplococcus.  Vaginitis symptoms were gone and remained gone until the women consumed regularly probiotic supplements. Increasing friendly bacteria can prevent vaginitis and vaginosis.

Tooth decay. Tooth decay is mainly produced by Streptococcus type bacteria. The way streptococcus work is they colonize your teeth and start converting sugar into tooth damaging acids. Do you know who keeps them in check? Well, you guessed. A probacteria called Lactobacillus salivarius.

Produce vitamins. We all know the importance of vitamin supplements. In fact, I’m sure you’ve bought and consumed quite a few up till now. But did you know, probiotics are able to synthesize the vitamins and improve the absorption of minerals you need? The absorption rate of the essential vitamins is much higher than taking vitamin supplements.

Friendly bacteria can produce vitamins K2, Biotin (vitamin B), B12, Folic Acid, vitamin A, essential fatty acids.

So, to sum up a few of the benefits of probiotics (and some other fun facts):

• There are 10 times more probiotics in our body than cells. They live in our entire body (not just stomach or bowel) and are crucial to our well being.

• A strong ally in the fight against cold, cancer, constipation

• Probiotics are responsible for 70-80% of our immune system

• A shield against harmful pathogens. The good bacteria will fend off the bad one. It will produce series of chemicals (your own personal antibiotics) that will kill the unwanted intruders.

• Succeed where synthetic antibiotics fail. It is a known fact that probiotic bacteria is able to kill some antibiotic resistant bacteria (like Staphylococcus aureus).

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Probiotics Side Effects

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Probiotics side effects

I’m sure you can see now how probiotics are essential in your overall health. But you may have dropped by my little blog because you want to know more about potential side effects as well.

I’m going to categorize the side effects into 2 categories: mild and severe.

Mild Side Effects

Probiotics can cause a series of mild side effects in some people such as (but not limited to): gas (the most common one), bloating and diarrhea (although probacteria is known as a cure, in some isolated cases it can be the cause also), lower abdominal pain, headaches (reported but inconclusive), skin rashes (not really done by bacteria but an allergy to one of the ingredients of the supplement like soy or milk), dehydration (in some cases when excessive drainage is triggered).

Probiotics supplements aren’t intended for infants. Their use at a young age could cause allergies.

A little research should be involved whenever you’re thinking about purchasing probiotics supplements. You should investigate the reputation and reliability of the manufacturer before making any purchase.

Probiotics supplements can be destroyed in the stomach. This can be avoided in the right circumstance, like taking the supplements before eating or better encapsulation.

Probiotics leave the body after a while, so they can’t replace already damaged friendly bacteria. However, as long as they stay in the body, they do help and perform their intended purpose. They’re like a welcomed guest that you know it’s going to leave at some point, although you might want him to stick around for a bit.

Life Threatening Side Effects

In some cases when the patient is critically ill, probiotics can do more harm than good. One such instance would be patients suffering from severe acute Pancreatitis ~ Source: Dutch Acute Pancreatitis Study Group, February 2008.

Another case, when the consumption of probiotics supplements should be avoided is when the patient has a very weakened immune system (due to immunosuppressant medication or a disease that weakens the immune system).

To most people, bacteria are invisible nasties that bring about all manner of malaise in the body. But did you know that there are types of bacteria that are actually good for your health? Following extensive research on these microorganisms, scientists have discovered that 1,000 different species of bacteria are present in the human body.

The harmful bacteria cause bacterial infections like TB, salmonella, syphilis and meningitis and many others, some of which are life threatening. Doctors often prescribe antibiotics/antibacterial drugs to fight illnesses caused by bacteria.

Antibiotics either kill bacteria or stop them from multiplying. Unfortunately, taking antibiotics may cause a reduction of the good bacteria in the body, which creates an imbalance and may cause problems like fungal infections and problems with digestion.

The beneficial bacteria or probiotics offer protection against the harmful bacteria in addition to many other health benefits in the body. The main advantage perhaps is that it forms a barrier that prevents the harmful bacteria from multiplying, especially in the digestive tract. So, what are probiotics and how do probiotics work?

Good bacteria the human body is mostly present in the digestive system and in the urinary and genital tract. Whenever there is a reduction in the number of good bacteria in these areas, an imbalance is created, which can cause problems. This is one of the most common causes of yeast infections in women.

Replenishing the good bacteria helps to restore the balance and correct the problems resulting from imbalance. The friendly bacteria in the digestive tract play an important role in breaking down the food during digestion and helping in the digestion of milk sugar, as well as creating an environment that is unfavorable for the growth or survival of harmful bacteria and other organisms.

If you have recently completed a course of antibiotics, you would do your body a lot of good by taking probiotics. These are available as supplements that can be bought from health food stores and are safe if taken in the recommended amount. Additionally, probiotics are found in food products like yogurt, buttermilk, wheat grass, spirulina and kefir.

Health benefits of probiotics
By aiding in breaking down the milk sugar during digestion, probiotics help those who suffer from lactose intoleranceStudies have also shown that probiotics help in strengthening the immune system by regulating the antibodies and lymphocytes in the body.

This is one way they help to fight infections. Probiotics help to normalize the bowel function and help patients suffering from Irritable Bowel SyndromeProbiotics also help with the absorption of some important minerals like zinc, iron, calcium and B vitamins, thus making them available in the bodyThey also help in preventing inflammation of the intestinesProbiotics are also good for lowering or preventing diarrhea.

Babies who consume infant probiotics also have lower rates of diaper rashStudies have also shown that probiotics regulate the transmit time of fecal matter in the intestines thus reducing constipationProbiotics help in preventing and treating candidiasis, vaginitis and yeast infections
Whether you are in good health or experience the mentioned problems, environmental factors and other lifestyle factors may necessitate the use of probiotics for maitaining good health.

We often hear the word probiotics in various health commercials but do not know much about them. So what is the meaning of word probiotics? Well, the word probiotics is derived from two Latin words, where “pro” means for and “biotic” means life. They are composed of lived bacteria that is beneficial for humans and various organisms.

What are probiotics good for?

Various products that are known as porbiotics have right amounts of microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria and bifido bacteria. These two highly beneficial bacteria are present in yoghurt and various health supplements.They are vital for proper functiong of various body mechanisms.

Certain dietary habits can also affect the balance of harmful and good bacteria in the body. Few of these habits are listed below:

• All those who consume excessive alcohol have very low porbiotics, as most of them are killed. This leads to the growth of yeast and other harmful bacteria.

• Many antibiotics that are usually taken by people for common ailments can kill good bacteria in the intestinal tract.

• Any imbalance in the ratio of bad and good bacteria in the body can lead to intestinal toxicity and constipation.

How Does Probiotics Work?

We often associate “bacteria” with something that is not beneifical for our body. Actually, bacterium is responsible for many illnesses and infectious diseases and even causes death in humans. Due to this, people take every possible step to eliminate them from their body.

Probiotics contain helpful bacteria and it is there in controlled amounts. Lactobacilli, a common microbe present in probiotics is beneficial in improving digestion. They help in the conversion of lactose into lactic acid. Lactic acid also inhibit the growth of various harmful bacteria in the body.

Lactobacillus is also found in vagina and gut. These body areas need acidic environment in order to function in a proper way.

Now that you know what are probiotics good for, let’s study more about their health benefits:

• Enhances the secretion of vital enzymes like lactase

• Improves digestive system

• Improves the body’s reaction and absorption of minerals and vitamins

• Kills harmful viruses and bacteria

• Improves immune system, and makes body more resistant to diseases and infections

• Boosts the production of lactic acid in the body. It helps in regulating the pH value in female genitalia and intestines and prevents the growth of yeast.

• Inhibits the growth of bad bacteria in the body

Probiotics also help in treating various common medical conditions such as:

• Yeast infection
• Vaginal infection
• Diarrhea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Urinary tract infection in women
• Lactose intolerance
• Colon cancer

Aside from various foods that have probiotics, doctors now recommend various dietary supplements that have probiotics as they can boost overall health of a person.

Before buying these dietary supplements enriched with probiotics, it is important that you consult your doctor what is the best one for you to take. Most of the probiotic supplements on the market have varying levels of potency and have different species of helpful bacteria. With proper research and expert advice, you can easily choose the best probiotic supplement for your needs.

What are Probiotics

Microorganisms like bacteria or yeast that can be used for the improvement of health are known as Probiotics. While foods might also contain Probiotics, however, they can also be supplemented into the diet as well. Probiotics supplements are easily available in the market these days. Many people get shocked if they are recommended to take live bacteria or yeast. Nonetheless, antibiotics which are similar to Probiotics are being commonly used today to help the immune system in the human body to combat bacteria. Thus, some bacteria can actually prove to be healthy for an individual and the human body, which are categorized as Probiotics.

Probiotics and Health Benefits

Our bodies naturally contain Probiotics in them; however, unhealthy eating and living habits cause the number of the Probiotics in our bodies to slowly decrease. As a result of this, Probiotics are not able to carry out the role they are designed to play in our bodies and are unable to offer the health benefits they are supposed to. In this case, using Probiotic supplements can be beneficial in many ways.

The natural health and wellness of the body are improved by Probiotics.

• The growth of bacterial and parasitic diseases, fungi and yeasts is suppressed.

• Illness triggering parasites and viruses can be effectively eliminated.

• The immune system is enhanced.

• The risk of the development of cancer is reduced.

• The adverse side effects of antibiotics can be coped.

• The natural balance of the body is restored.

Probiotics: Yummmmy!!!

Probiotics: Yummy!

Probiotics offer many other health benefits. If you’re worried for possible Probiotics Side Effects, read the linked article…

When to Take Probiotics?

Many people generally do not know when they should take Probiotics. The fact of the matter is that Probiotics needs to be taken only under circumstances. People should take Probiotics if/when:

• They frequently take antibiotics.

• They have fewer bowel movements or suffer from constipation.

• They do not eat fermented foods or yoghurt often.

• They are suffering from any kind of fungal or yeast infections.

In such a situation taking Probiotics might be quite necessary for an individual and the best way to supply Probiotics to the body is by buying a Probiotic supplement.

How to Take Probiotics?

As mentioned, one way of taking Probiotics is through supplements. However, Probiotics can also be taken with foods too.  Foods that generally contain Probiotics include: Aged cheese, Cottage cheese, Fermented Yoghurt, Pickled ginger.

There are many other foods, especially those from Asia, which particularly contain Probiotics. To ensure that Probiotics prove to be most beneficial they should be taken right after a meal. Antibiotics and Probiotics should never be taken at the same time. Probiotics should be taken at the same meal time every day. These small factors can increase the effectiveness of Probiotics to a great extent.

Conclusion

The health benefits of Probiotics cannot be denied. Since they are naturally present in the body, therefore, they obvious serve some positive purpose. Thus, whether people decide to include fermented foods and edibles containing Probiotics in their diet, or they decide to take Probiotic supplements, either way it is important that they take Probiotics in order to remain healthy.

Probiotics are microorganisms, or bacteria that are naturally found in the digestive tract of humans.  These “good” bacteria are found in abundance in the intestinal tract.  There are hundreds of different types of natural bacteria that reside in a healthy individual.  The most common of these bacteria is lactobacillus.

What do probiotics do? 

They exist to thwart the growth of bad bacteria that can lead to digestion and bowel issues. They also have a role to play in breaking down food and maintaining healthy digestion.  It is also believed that without healthy levels of probiotic bacteria in the intestinal tract, one will have intestinal issues such as diarrhea, gas or bloating.  They may also have more medical benefits than originally thought.  It is now believed that some probiotics may very well be responsible for preventing bladder cancer from returning in patients who have undergone treatment.

What do probiotics do

There are a number of healthy benefits to probiotics.  The first is that they are enormously helpful to humans.  A delicate symbiotic relationship exists between the human and the probiotic bacteria.  The human benefits by having bacteria to break down food (like milk for instance) and the bacteria benefit by having a place to thrive.  There is also evidence that probiotics can help treat diarrhea after antibiotics, prevent and treat eczema in young children, speed the healing process after inestinal infections and even reduce how severe a cold/flu infection can be. Individuals who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome are also encouraged to take a supplement of probiotics as they help ease the symptoms of this condition.

There are a few ways to increase the amount of probiotics in your body.  The first way is by consuming yogurt products that contain “live active cultures“.  The cultures in yogurt are probiotic bacteria and will colonize the intestinal track through the consumption of the yogurt.  There are some foods that also conatain probiotics: kimchi, miso, and saurkraut all contain natural probiotics.  Another way to  increase the amount of probiotic bacteria in your system is to take a supplement.  There are many versions of probiotic supplements on the market today from chew-ables to swallowed capsules that will release these organisms into your system.  Many people prefer supplements because they don’t have to consume as much of the food in order to get the benefits of the probiotic bacteria. If you’re worried about adverse effects, please read the Probiotics Side Effects post.

In conclusion, a healthy amount of probiotics are good for individuals to maintain good health.  There is certainly enough evidence that increase the amount of probiotics cannot harm an individual.  Although there is still debate about how helpful these microorganisms are, there is enough evidence to show that they do play a role in good digestive and intestinal health.  The benefits of better digestion, replacement of intestinal flora after antibiotic treatment, relief of irritable bowel are all enough to encourage individuals to try to supplment their diet with probiotics.  The suggestion that probiotics may help aid or help to cure more serious medical conditions like bladder cancer’s return make probiotics worth a chance as they cannot do any harm.