Amazing & well-researched Probiotics

I can almost guarentee that any person (young or old) who walks in my door will benefit from taking probiotics. Why? Because the vast majority of people living in the US suffer from "dysbiosis". Dysbiosis is an imbalance of bacteria in the intestines. It happens when you don't have healthy protective bacteria in your system, such as after taking antibiotics, or in the case of a baby who wasn't breastfed.

Breastmilk is where we originally obtain our healthy bacteria, and without it, all sorts of microbes have a shot at colonizing your intestine. Long term, bad bacterial and/or yeast colonization will turn into GI problems such as constipation, gas, bloating, IBS, and even ulcers and other acute conditions. Immune problems also increase when there's no good bacteria present in your intestines. And I strongly believe that the overwhelming still relatively new problem of autoimmune disease is in large part due to dysbiosis. It is connected through a process by which dysbiosis leads to a leaky gut, which send proteins into the blood stream, causing immune system dysfunction.

So what's the solution? Take probiotics. And they must be the right kind, as found on my web site, http://www.nutrolution.com/ . Human grade, pharmaceutical grade, and FOS free to begin. I've posted a couple research studies below which highlight the benefits of probiotic supplementation with pregnant women and the elderly. There is so much more research available, not to mention clinical experience to support the regular use of probiotics for general health and disease prevention.

Research Study #1: Probiotic Supplementation During Pregnancy May Be Beneficial


Reference:"Impact of maternal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling on pregnancy outcome and prenatal and postnatal growth: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study," Luoto R, Laitinen K, et al, J Nutr. 2010 Feb 4:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland).

Summary:In a randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 256 pregnant women, results indicate that probiotic supplementation and dietary counseling during pregnancy may improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce risk of gestational diabetes and larger birth size. The women were randomized in their first trimester to one of three groups: 1) diet+probiotic group: received intensive dietary counseling and probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12); 2) diet group: received intensive dietary counseling; 3) diet+placebo group: received intensive dietary counseling and placebo. During pregnancy, 13% of women in the diet+probiotic group were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, compared with 36% in the diet+placebo group and 34% in the diet group. Additionally, probiotic supplementation was associated with reduced risk of larger birth size. Thus, the authors conclude, "The results of the present study show that probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary coun seling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic. In view of the fact that birth size is a risk marker for later obesity, the present results are of significance for public health in demonstrating that this risk is modifiable."
 
Research Study #2: Probiotic Supplementation May Be Beneficial For Chronic Constipation

Reference:"Efficacy of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) supplement in management of constipation among nursing home residents," An HM, Ha NJ, et al, Nutr J, 2010; 9(1):5. (Address: Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 139-742, Republic of Korea. E-mail: aashhm@hanmail.net ).

Summary:In an intervention study involving 19 nursing home residents with chronic constipation, results indicate that supplementation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB: beneficial probiotics) may be effective in improving constipation. The subjects were assigned to LAB (3.0 x 1011 CFU/g) twice (to be taken 30 minutes after breakfast and dinner) a day for 2 weeks. At intervention end, increase in frequency of defecation and amount of stool excreted in defecation habit was observed. Additionally, tryptophanase and urease enzyme activities of intestinal microflora significantly decreased. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "LAB, when added to the standard treatment regimen for nursing home residents with chronic constipation, increased defecation habit such as frequency of defecation, amount and state of stool. So, it may be used as functional probiotics to improve human health by helping to prevent constipation."