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PROBIOTICS- The Friendly Microflora

Our body is a home to more than 100 trillion bacteria, some of them being not so beneficial while others being the good bacteria that support our health. Our gastrointestinal tract is home to more than 400 different species of bacteria weighing one and a half kilograms. To live in harmony with these microorganisms and benefit maximum from them we need to maintain a good lifestyle with a healthy and balanced diet. 
What are Probiotics?
How are they helpful?
Consequences of decreased good bacteria in our body
When do we need Probiotics?
Where to get them from?
Foods to avoid

 

 

What are Probiotics?

 Probiotics is a Greek word meaning "for life". Probiotics are  "live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts, which confer a beneficial health effect on the host" (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)). They support digestion as well as reproductive, urinary tract and overall health by improving the balance of the intestinal microflora.

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How are they helpful?

The good friendly bacteria, or probiotics, promote the body's natural immunity, keep us healthy and help our digestion. They are essential and help keep the harmful bacteria suppressed.  Probiotics have been found to be useful in:

 

S.No.

 

Benefits

Helps Fight

1

Gastro-intestinal Health

Normalize bowel elimination problems and promoting regularity.

 

 

Alleviate bowel gas, bloating and belching.

 

Prevent intestinal tract infections

 

Constipation

Chronic Diarrhoea

 

The effect of strong antibiotics

 

Candida and Helicobacter Pylori (present in stomach ulcer condition).

Crohn’s Disease (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)

Colitis (Inflammation of Large Intestine)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

2

Heart Health

Lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.

Hypercholesterolemic / dyslipidemic adults.

3

Lactose Intolerance

Improve Digestion especially of milk Products

Lactose Intolerant Individuals

4

Immune system

Protect against infections

Autoimmune diseases (e.g., allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, SLE, Psoriasis, MS)

 

5

General Health

Enhancing mineral and vitamin production and absorption, especially, vitamin B production and calcium absorption

Osteoporosis

Vitamin B deficiencies

6

Others

Anti Carcinogenic

 

Skin and hair

Cancers especially Bladder and Colon Cancer.

 

Hair fall and Acne

 

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Consequences of decreased good bacteria in our body:

When bad bacteria invade us, they take up the place of beneficial bacteria on the lining of our intestinal tract leading to a loss of the good bacteria. If this situation continues for a longer duration, the minor symptoms due to decreased good microflora may lead to serious complications. Factors in today's fast paced and stressful life contribute to the loss of good bacteria in the body - a probiotic deficiency. It is important to replace the beneficial bacteria and know how to encourage their growth, while minimising the expansion of the unfriendly ones

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When do we need Probiotics?

If you are exposed to any of these risk factors, you are a candidate for probiotic supplementation:

·        Lifestyle: Increased Stress, Rushed or irregular meals, excessive travel.

·        Diet: Unbalanced and poor diet and Increased Alcohol Consumption, high intake of foods loaded with chemical additives (packaged and processed foods).

·        Excessive Medication: Increased use of medicines (contraceptive pills, antibiotics and steroids).

·        Environmental: Pollution, and increased use of pesticides.

·        Others: Poor gut (constipation and diarrhoea), Chemotherapy, Exposure to harmful radiations.


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Where to get them from?

·        Fermented Dairy products: Yogurt, Buttermilk (Chaach), Lassie and Kefir (Thin drinkable Yogurt), but not in most commercially available ones as the cultures are not live.

·        Dietary Supplements- Probiotic drinks, Powders, Capsules etc. are very useful as they are highly concentrated sources of good bacteria as compared to the natural ones. A 65 ml. of a probiotic drink provides bacteria, which equals to nearly 60 tubs (200 ml) of commercial yogurt.

·        Helpful Foods- To ensure good gut flora, it is important to take plenty of prebiotic food, which supports the growth of probiotic flora. These Foods Include Whole Grains, Oats, Wheat Bran, Barley, Isabgol (Psyllium), Soybeans And Soy Based Products, Flaxseeds, Sunflower Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds (Methre), Garlic, Onions, Leek (like spring onions), Carrots, Citrus fruits.

 

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Foods to avoid:

Excessive intake of refined flours, sugars, processed foods suppress the growth of good bacteria and allow unfriendly ones to grow.

 

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