Tag Archives: health

So, so many of us take it for granted that our stomach is doing a good job of digesting the food we eat. Hmm..how can we tell?

Well, we could run and take a slew of blood tests to see what our vitamin and mineral and body’s antioxidant levels are. Or we can help our gut by eating a good selection of fermented foods, like yogurt, kefir, bread, cheese, miso, tempeh, vinegar and olives.

What are the health benefits

of probiotics?

Probiotics may seem new to the food and supplement industry, but they have been with us from our first breath. During a delivery through the birth canal, a newborn picks up bacteria from his/her mother. These good bacteria are not transmitted when a Cesarean section is performed and have been shown to be the reason why some infants born by Cesarean section have allergies, less than optimal immune systems, and lower levels of gut microflora.

Probiotics are believed to protect us in two ways. The first is the role that they play in our digestive tract. We know that our digestive tract needs a healthy balance between the good and bad bacteria, so what gets in the way of this? It looks like our lifestyle is both the problem and the solution. Poor food choices, emotional stress, lack of sleep, antibiotic overuse, other drugs, and environmental influences can all shift the balance in favor of the bad bacteria.

When the digestive tract is healthy, it filters out and eliminates things that can damage it, such as harmful bacteria, toxins, chemicals, and other waste products.

Self-dosing with bacteria isn’t as outlandish as it might seem. An estimated 100 trillion microorganisms representing more than 500 different species inhabit every normal, healthy bowel. These microorganisms generally don’t make us sick; most are helpful. Gut-dwelling bacteria keep pathogens (harmful microorganisms) in check, aid digestion and nutrient absorption, and contribute to immune function.

Probiotic therapy may also help people with Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Clinical trial results are mixed, but several small studies suggest that certain probiotics may help maintain remission of ulcerative colitis and prevent relapse of Crohn’s disease and the recurrence of pouchitis (a complication of surgery to treat ulcerative colitis). Because these disorders are so frustrating to treat, many people are giving probiotics a try before all the evidence is in for the particular strains they’re using.

Shopping for Probiotic Supplement

When shopping for probiotics you need to know which strains you’re buying and the reputation of the manufacturer.  It’s best to consult with a nutritionist or your doctor before you buy some.

A general maintenance live probiotic supplement is available from the company I represent here.  It’s safe and pure. It contains a potent probiotic bacteria culture of Lactobacillus fermentum PCC, that helps relieve symptoms associated with occasional gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, occasional bowel irregularity, diarrhea, and other common digestive discomforts.

I take probiotics with my breakfast and dinner.  As we age our digestion needs a little support.

As always, let your primary care provider know what you’re doing.

 Note: Remember to read the How to Order Online post to get the lowest  prices.

Be Well.