Consider Probiotics To Maintain Good Gut Health

1 min

Probiotics are the healthy and beneficial bacteria that normally inhabit the human digestive tract. They help in turning your food into nutrition and in completing the digestive process – and there’s evidence that if they are out of balance, the immune system may be as well. Consider supplementing probiotics beyond just getting them from your diet if one or more of the following applies to you:

1. You are on, or have recently taken antibiotics, which can wipe out “friendly” intestinal bacteria in addition to the bad bugs that caused the infection.
2. You have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis.
3. You are traveling in underdeveloped countries, and want to reduce the risk of traveler’s Start a few weeks before your trip and continue for several weeks upon return.
4. Children born via C-section and/or bottle fed are showing a tendency toward health issues that could be improved with probiotics. Talk to your child’s pediatrician or a pediatric Integrative Medicine provider about what might be best for them and how soon you should begin. Several option exist for infant support, in powder form to make it easier for them to take.

Most of these helpful bacteria occur naturally in cultured milk products, such as yogurt with active cultures or kefir, as well as in naturally fermented pickles and sauerkraut. However, concentrations in these foods may not be high enough to be effective – you may want to take probiotics in liquid or capsule form as well, particularly if you are concerned about any of the above conditions.

The dose is one tablespoon of the liquid culture or one to two capsules with meals unless the label directs otherwise. Always check the expiration date to make sure that the bacteria these products contain are alive and in good condition and look for probiotics with “colony forming units” (CFUs) in the 20 billion per serving range with a variety of different species. Be sure to protect your supply of these alive and friendly bugs from heat, moisture, and air to ensure best effectiveness. Many options require refrigeration to keep these healthful bacteria alive, so check the label and store appropriately.

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