Balance your GI flora by taking a probiotic supplement. Probiotics are live, microbial food ingredients similar to the health-enhancing microorganisms found in the gut. Well-researched health benefits show taking a probiotic will help . . .
- Boost immunity by enhancing the production of antibodies
- Support the synthesis of vitamins and increase bioavailability of nutrients
- Protect the GI tract from disease-causing bacteria
- Alleviate symptoms of GI illness (diarrhea and constipation, IBS)
- Reduce seasonal and food allergies
Regarding dietary allergens and immunity, scientists believe probiotics achieve their health benefits by stimulating the immune response to increase the secretion of immunoglobulin-A (IgA), which boosts the body’s response to food allergens. Elevated IgA may also decrease pathogens in the gut, which improves the balance of GI flora. Probiotics elevate natural “killer cells” that gobble up disease-generating “invader cells” and may protect nutrients that would otherwise be destroyed by pathogens.
Probiotic supplements come in liquid, powder, chewable and capsule form, ranging from one million to tens of billions of live organisms. Most are sold refrigerated, but not all of them need to be refrigerated. Keep probiotics properly stored so as not to kill the live, healthy bacteria.
Even though probiotics have well documented health benefits, they are not a panacea. Probiotics are most effective when you are supporting your health with a balanced whole foods diet. Your naturopath can determine the best probiotic strains and dosage and any other supplements suited for your specific health concerns.
Contact Dr. Samia McCully to see which probiotic is best for you!
Resources
Pizzorno, J. E. & Murray, M.T. Textbook of Natural Medicine: 4th Ed. (2013). Content cited from the following chapters and pages:
“Chronic Candidiasis” p. 466
“Immune Support” (Chapter 56, p 516 – 523)
“Probiotics” (Chapter 116, p. 979-993)
“ADHD” (Chapter 150, p. 1252-1258)
Laitinen K, Isolauri E. “Management of food allergy: vitamins, fatty acids or probiotics?” Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. (2005),17:1305-1311. PMID: 16292082: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16292082
Kligler B, Hanaway P, Cohrssen A. “Probiotics in children.” Pediatr Clin North Am. (2007), 54:949-967:xi. PMID: 18061785 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2007.10.002 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18061785
Verna EC, Lucak S. “Use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders: what to recommend?” Therap Adv Gastroenterol. (2010) 3:307-319. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1756283X10373814
Macfarlane GT, Cummings JH. “Probiotics and prebiotics: can regulating the activities of the intestinal bacteria benefit health.” BMJ. (1999) 318:999-1003. Accessed 12 April 2017: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1115424/
Kiani, L., Cambridge Scientific Abstracts- Discovery Guide. Bugs in our Gut: How Probiotics Keep Us Healthy. (2006). Accessed 12 April 2017: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.503.8094&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Mayo Clinic. Probiotics. Accessed 12 April 2017: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/probiotics/faq-20058065