Your Path to Healthy Living and a Healthy Life

Clinical Pearls

Probiotics

With all the news about Mad Cow Disease, SARS, chicken flu, and antibiotic resistant bacteria, it is small wonder we have become a germ-phobic society.

It is good to be aware that there are many serious, disease-causing microbes in our environment, but we should also be knowledgeable about strains of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that contribute to our good health. I am referring to the lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and other friendly bacteria that live symbiotically in our intestinal tracts.

The probiotics confer numerous benefits which include: production of B vitamins and vitamin K, aid in digestion of foods, production of antibiotic and antifungal substances, decreasing blood cholesterol levels, and the absorption of nutrients.

In a healthy gut, the percentage of healthy bacteria is 85% compared to 15% coliform (unfriendly) bacteria. The use of antibiotics for infections, traces of antibiotics in meats and dairy products, alcohol, chlorine in tap water, anti-inflammatories, some prescription drugs, and other toxins in our environment can kill off probiotics and reverse the above percentages.

When this happens it can result in the overgrowth of fungi and pathogenic bacteria, gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, malabsorption, increased risk for food allergies, inflammatory bowel conditions, and toxicity.

Individuals suffering from any of these problems would benefit from using a high-quality probiotic product. Even healthy people can benefit from periodic use of probiotics because so many things can lead to the decimation of your friendly flora. Remember, these germs are our friends. Contact our office to purchase your probiotics. (250) 755-1930.

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