Pre-eminent Probiotics

More people are becoming increasingly aware that probiotics, or the "good" bacteria, are essential for good health. Yet if asked what the specific health benefits are, some are still confused. Equally confusing is the vast number of diverse strains of good bacteria that fall under the umbrella term "probiotics."

Probiotics have been found to be useful by people suffering from Stress, Thrush, Depression, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Fatigue, Low immunity, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Food Sensitivities, Digestive Problems, Rotavirus, Colon Cancer, Skin Problems, Diarrhoea, Flatulence and high cholesterol.

Probiotics are naturally occurring friendly bacteria that are an integral part of everyone's digestive system. When consumed in either food or as supplements they enhance health in several ways. They can stimulate the immune system, stave off bacteria and viruses, and help with food and nutrient assimilation.

Probiotics are live beneficial microorganisms that impart overall health benefits. There are more than 400 species of bacteria residing in an individual's digestive tract. When the intestinal flora is balanced, the good bacteria can prevent detrimental organisms from invading the gut and leaving the gastrointestinal tract susceptible to ailments. Supplemental probiotics furnish and maintain an optimal intestinal flora environment when something disrupts the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria.

Most consumers are first introduced to probiotics through food sources, especially yogurt that contains live, active cultures. Most yogurt products began to infiltrate store shelves in the 1970s and have captured both the mass market and health food store consumers. The probiotics strains most prevalent in today's yogurt are species of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, which are lactic acid bacteria that comprise a majority of the intestinal flora and repel colonization of potentially harmful pathogenic organisms. In addition to the ubiquitous Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria there are different strains offering specific health benefits as well.

Our bodies contain hundreds of various strains of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract. The proper balance of good bacteria promotes a healthy digestive system. They colonize the exterior surface of cells in the gastrointestinal tract and prevent potentially detrimental pathogenic organisms from proliferation. Probiotics also produce components shown to hinder the growth of certain types of harmful bacteria as well as lower the risk for altered metabolic activity. In order for probiotics to work efficaciously by reproducing and colonizing, they must first survive the stomach acid and intestinal bile.

For over 100 years it has been recognized that certain bacteria are beneficial for our digestive systems and overall health. Recently an increasing number of high quality research studies have been proving these benefits and elucidating new uses for probiotics. For example, probiotics have been shown to help adults and children avoid or recover more quickly from gastrointestinal tract ailments, including diarrhea and dehydration. Probiotics are also frequently used after antibiotic treatment in order to regain healthy digestion. In one recent report in Digestion (2001, 63:1-7) it is stated that Lactobacillus supplements may halt the side effects of antibiotics used to treat ulcers. Side effects ranged from nausea and diarrhea to loss of appetite and bloating. People given the probiotics supplement and antibiotics had a 60% lower risk of bloating and a 70% lower risk of diarrhea.

Women have comprised a solid audience for probiotics' benefits when being treated for yeast in countering yeast infections, many of which are exacerbated by antibiotic use.

Study results released December 2000 at the American Society for Cell Biology's 40th Annual Meeting demonstrated that L. acidophilus may help ward off disease-causing microbes from adhering to cells. In addition, a report in Gastroenterology (Paolo Gionchetti et al. Gastroenterology 2000 119: 305-309.August 2000) indicated probiotics' role in controlling pouchitis, or inflammation of the small intestine, after undergoing surgery for ulcerative colitis.

Probiotics have also been used to counter thrush and bolster the immunity of lactating women. Young children have even been prescribed probiotics for ear infections and to treat food sensitivities by restoring balance to the intestinal flora diminished by antibiotics.

A study recently published in The Lancet suggests that probiotics supplements may help prevent atopic and other immunological diseases leading to pediatric allergies. The probiotic supplement administered was Lactobacillus rhamnosus (The Lancet, 357, 9262:1076-9, 2001). Additionally, researchers in Finland found that the frequency of atopic eczema in the probiotics group was half of that in the placebo group (Hatakka K. et al. BMJ2001; 322: 1327-1329).

Typically, the ratio of good bacteria to bad in the gastrointestinal tract is 85% and 15%, respectively. Factors that affect healthy, balanced intestinal microflora include diet, prescription drug regimen (especially the use of antibiotics), stress, pH and ancillary illnesses. Since most consumers are susceptible to some or all of the contributing factors of a compromised balance of intestinal microflora, probiotics offer a well-researched and proven way to counter the ill effects of these factors and bolster health. Supplemental probiotic consumption achieves this balance safely and effectively.

This article from the Journals of the American Medical Association provides further information regarding the positive effects of probiotics on the human body.
 

Our probiotics are naturally occurring live microorganisms that are an integral component of everyone’s digestive system.  These micro organisms are as below,

Lactobacillus acidophilus…………………………….…………...…...40%

Bifidobacterium bifidum……………………………………………... 40%

L.  bulgaricus... ... ... ... .……………………………………………….10%

S. thermophilus…………………... ... ... ... ..………………………. 10%

These micro organisms  are typically packaged in capsules.  The problem with capsules is that the products must be kept refrigerated in order to preserve the live organisms so they will have a reasonable shelf life. The LiveBac® process was designed to make probiotic products stable at room temperature.  This gives them a much better shelf life with out being kept in refrigeration and means we can safely post them with no problems. It is recommended that they are kept in the refrigerator once opened.

What this all means is that Pre-eminent Probiotics are the best product of this type to buy from a mail order business.

Below is a recent news Bulletin from New Zealand.

NZ scientists seek 400 expectant mothers whose babies could take part in study to reduce the development of allergies

30 March 2004

More than 400 expectant mothers are being asked to take part in a study which could dramatically reduce the number of children developing allergies.

Wellington Medical School and Auckland University need the babies to take a probiotic bacteria from the day they are born until the age of two years, to see whether an increase in the development of allergies can be reversed.

Professor Peter Black says that if the trial is successful, it could turn around rates of allergies, which have increased dramatically in the past 20 years.

A similar trial in Finland has halved the rate of eczema in children in their first two years.

Professor Black says the results of the study will not be known for about three years, but if the probiotics work it will be a major breakthrough.


© 2004 NZCity, IRN