Probiotics Protect

Probiotics Protect



Protect against cancer, irritable bowel, vaginal problems and help with eczema and lactose intolerance.

A list of the benefits of probiotics sounds too good to be true, but so far studies have corroborated that by taking the good flora, you inhibit bad flora growth and this means you are less susceptible to harboring toxic or carcinogenic compounds and enzymes that could lead to diseases such as cancer, IBS, Crohn’s disease and vaginal disease. This same concept – inhabiting the space with a good bacteria rather than a bad bacteria, means probiotics can also help with lactose intolerance, eczema, yeast infections and bad breath.

And get this: Probiotics are the ideal counterbalance when it comes to eating too much sugar, or taking antibiotics. “If people are eating too much sugar, then they may have too much yeast, so probiotics can offset that,” says Kraft.

Probiotics help offset taking antibiotics too. “Any time we take antibiotics, their purpose is to kill bacteria,” says Kraft. “The probiotics in our gut are bacteria. In addition to killing the bacteria that is causing our ear infection or sinus infection, it not only wipes out the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria and then it opens up a space. When we take antibiotics it is good to supplement with probiotics [food or supplement] so you can replace it with the kind of bacteria you need in your gut.”

Who needs what, at what age?

Probiotics are more likely to survive and therefore be effective when taken after a meal, rather than before or during, says Erasmus. The concentration of good bacteria in your body varies, based on your age. Here’s what we know about different needs at different life stages—and what to look for if you are considering a probiotics supplement:

Birth to 5: Newborns and most young children need probiotics that contain bifidobacterium infantis. This strain represents 95 percent of a baby’s intestinal flora.
Five to 50: Probiotic needs are essentially the same for this age group. Look for as many strains or live cultures are possible.
“From 5 to about 50, you can use the same type of bacteria blend, but you are going to be looking at different concentrations,” says Lalonde. You don’t give a child who is 8-year-old and weighs 80 pounds the same concentration as someone who is 25 and weights 120. Some manufacturers are making children’s product to control the dose for you.

After 50: Once you hit the AARP membership age, studies show that the bifidobacterium in your gut begins to naturally decrease, leaving a space for bad bacteria to invade. This means after 50 you need a probiotic blend that supplies a richer blend of the bifidobacterium strains. With the most reliable products you will be able to get a breakdown of the active live cultures or good bacteria on labels.
One more buzz-worthy note from the Natural Products Expo. A new Belgian study has linked daily probiotics with a protective effect against cancer. The researchers found that probiotics discourage bad bacteria from forming, leaving less potential for those “bad guys” to invite growth of the ultimate bad guys in the form of cancer cells.