Probiotics are those naturally occurring “good” or “helpful” bacteria found in the body. They are mostly found in your digestive system, but they don’t just help with digestion.

The most common factors that require people to help out their bodies with the addition of good bacteria are poor food choices, antibiotic and NSAID use, alcohol consumption, and various viruses and illnesses.

Eating fermented foods on a frequent basis is one of the best ways to ensure that the digestive system is always repopulated with healthy bacteria. Most of us do not regularly eat fermented foods, such as live culture yogurts (yogurt in the morning for breakfast is not usually sufficient as a therapeutic dose of probiotics), buttermilk, sauerkraut, pickled vegetables (pickled in brine, not vinegar), sour cream and even unfiltered beer.

Since most of us do not have an optimal diet that properly supports intestinal bacteria on its own, we can benefit from supplementation with a high-quality probiotic supplement that gives us a reliable, controlled and effective daily dose.

Over the past 20 years, extensive research has uncovered numerous potential uses and benefits of specific kinds of probiotics for specific health concerns.

One of the key differences between a quality, high-end probiotic and a discount, grocery-store version is that the higher-quality probiotics are usually made with acid-resistant capsules and often feature pH-targeted release mechanisms that ensure the probiotics are released in the digestive tract at the right time – so that they work.

Another key reason to choose a quality probiotic is that they usually have carefully-selected strains, as opposed to the “one-size-fits-all” approach commonly taken by inferior probiotics, which specialize in treating particular health problems.

Which probiotic is right for you?

Digestion: One study discovered that probiotic therapy lowered the abdominal pain and discomfort that is often associated with digestive issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome, and also led to an improvement in bloating and distension, sensation of incomplete evacuation, passage of gas, straining, and bowel habit satisfaction.

Those looking for a probiotic to aid with digestive concerns, such as those mentioned above and others, should look for a blended product that also contains Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains.

Immune system: Certain bacteria in the gut seem to influence key aspects of the immune system, such as correcting deficiencies and increasing the numbers of certain T cells that scan for cellular abnormalities and infections. A recent study found that probiotics containing Lactobacillus gasseri and Bifidobacterium longum can reduce the occurrence of colds and gastrointestinal infections.

Antibiotic recovery: To combat the adverse effects of antibiotic use (which indescrimintately kill both good and bad bacteria, studies recommend using a probiotic that contains Saccharomyces boulardii, using the right probiotics can prevent many of the side effects of antibiotics and keep our body operating the way it is supposed to.

Seasonal allergies: Recent studies have suggested that probiotics may even be able to help relieve seasonal allergies (also known as hay fever). The theory behind this concept is based on what we know about probiotics’ effect on the immune system.

Allergies are essentially a misguided flare-up of the immune system in response to relatively harmless pollen or other allergens. Probiotics may help by changing the balance of bacteria in the intestines in a manner that might prevent the immune system from overreacting to the presence of allergens, which may help reduce allergy symptoms.

Ortho Biotic

Probiotics are good preventative and general wellness supplements.  I hope we have shown you the importance of choosing a professional supplement that provides a controlled delivery of the right probiotic in sufficient quantities, whether it is for digestive, immune or even allergy-related health concerns.

For the best all-around probiotic, I recommend Ortho Biotic.  It is a highly concentrated 7 blend formula including 20 Billion CFU (colony-forming units) of probiotics along with the addition of 200 mg of Sacchoromyces boulardii (3 Billion CFU).  If you are looking for immune support or antibiotic recovery, you should consider FloraMend Prime by Thorne Research or Sacchoromyces boulardii by Pure Encapsulations.

We hope this slide show was helpful and informative. Should you have questions, or suggestions, please feel free to fill out our Ask the Doctor form found at the Doctors Corner.

Yours in health!

Dr. Gittins