Saturday, 8 February 2014

The Value Of Using Organic Probiotics

By Marcie Goodman


The World Health organization defines a probiotic as any living microorganism that has a health benefit when ingested. These supplements are associated with many health benefits as they help keep the correct balance of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of the human body. Organic probiotics are often recommended by health practitioners as they contain no extra ingredients like preservatives or fillers.

One tends to think that all bacteria are bad but this is far from true. The human gut is home to millions of bacteria that are vital to health. There are many factors like diet, aging, medication and illness that can destroy the balance. This can cause all sorts of health problems for the individual.

Bacteria adhere to sites lining the gastrointestinal tract. If there are enough healthy bacteria, the theory is that they dominate and protect against the adherence of harmful bacteria. Most often, the healthy bacteria in a supplement come from two groups, Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. Within each group, there are different species and within each species, different strains.

A probiotic comes in many forms such as tablets, powders, capsules and even in foods like yoghurt. Whatever the form, the importance is that it contains enough organisms to survive and grow in the intestines. The amount of live cells per dose varies considerably and this can also determine effectiveness.

A general purpose probiotic is best for those who simply want to stay healthy and strengthen their immune systems. Other products are designed for specific purposes, such as helping with diarrhea or constipation. A choice has to be based on the purpose for which it is required.

Research has proved that healthy bacteria are particularly useful against diarrhea associated with the use of antibiotics. However, current research is revealing that they are capable of much more than just helping with digestive problems. One of their primary functions is to stimulate the immune system.

Studies are being done to see how successful they are at treating conditions like ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel syndrome. There is even evidence emerging that these supplements may help those suffering from food allergies by restoring the balance of gut flora. Another interesting study conducted on those suffering from obesity, revealed that they have different gut flora from individuals of normal weight.

These products can be found at many different health stores and are also available from a multitude of online stores. This is why it is so important to select a reputable company. Reliable products should state the name of the precise probiotics they contain, as well as how many organisms a single dose provides.

A scientific understanding of the probiotic and and its potential for preventing and treating health conditions is still at an early stage. However, the fact that they appear to have a strengthening effect on the immune system is undisputed. Organic probiotics are those that do not contain any added ingredients that may actually affect the growth of the healthy bacteria.




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