In our healthy gut there are over trillion of microbacteria that are essential to our life. The greater the diversity of microbiota the better digestion, absorption and defense against pathogens. The microorganisms that live in the intestinal tract are referred as intestinal flora (microbiota). Probiotics are found alive in some fermented food or can be delivered in capsule form. They help maintain the “friendly bacteria” that helps with digestion, production of vitamins, maintain mental health and over all being. Prebiotics are “food” for the bacteria in the intestines.
A good source of prebiotics comes from plant fiber that undergo through a process of fermentation in our intestine. Probiotics are found in fermented foods like tempeh, aged cheese, cottage cheese, fermented meats, fermented vegetable, kefir, kimchi, kombucha, miso, natto, sour cream, and yogurt. Prebiotics are the food for the probiotics after they go through a process of fermentation in the gut. A good source of prebiotics source are most found in vegetable and fruits. When your diet is rich in fermenting fiber and in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) the healthier your microbiota.
What are some signs bad gut bacteria?
Constipation, excess intestinal gas, chronic diarrhea, chronic bad breath, candida, vitamin B deficiency, dairy product allergies and intolerances which ultimately lead to neurological problems and other diseases. More and more research links certain gut microbiota with weight gain and mental health.
There is an increasing need of supplementation with probiotics because of the usage of antibiotics, poor diets, stress, disease, malabsorption and aging. Some probiotics minimizes the allergic reactions, diarrhea, constipation, improve lactose intolerance, ulcerative colitis, vitamin K synthesis, atopic dermatitis, and fight the overgrowth of bacteria and parasites. More and more research shows a correlation between neurodegenerative disease and microbiota.
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus sometimes called “travel probiotic” because sometimes helps with occasional traveler’s diarrhea. Bacillus bifidum is important in healthy digestion of dairy products, breaking down of carbohydrates, fat, protein. L. Acidophilus colonizes the walls of small intestine and helps with the digestion of dairy foods.
L. Fermentum helps reduce occasional gas and bloating. Bifidobacterium strain B.Lactis Bl-04 helps prevent the toxic effect of wheat gliadin. Taking the right probiotic depends on the age. People over 50 years old should include this stain B.Infantis which reduces inflammation.
Finding the right probiotic formula is not an easy thing. Things to watch for are integrity, potency, proper storage, stability of probiotics in capsule, by passing the stomach acid, the right combination of certain organisms and stains. Probiotics have to survive through the manufacturing process, shelf life and through stomach acid.
Specific encapsulation procedure ensures the probiotics remain alive and fully potent. Taking in the account growing number of people with food intolerances, I look for probiotic formula that are dairy free and non GMO with a delivery of billion of CFU (colony-forming units) and the most diverse strains follow the protocol for at least 30 days.
References
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4. Johnston BC, Supina AL, Ospina M, Vohra S. Probiotics for the prevention of pediatric antibioticassociated diarrhea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD004827.
5. Toki S, Kagaya S, Shinohara M, Wakiguchi H, Matsumoto T, Takahata Y, Morimatsu F, Saito H, Matsumoto K. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus casei suppress Escherichia coli-induced chemokine expression in intestinal epithelial cells. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2009;148(1):45-58. Epub 2008 Aug 21.
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