Probiotics

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are friendly bacteria very similar to those that are found in our digestive system. They help to regulate our digestive tract along with several other benefits such as:

* Many studies have suggested that certain probiotics might help treat or prevent some types of gastroenteritis, diarrhea and allergic skin reactions, and the bugs are being investigated for many other ailments.

* Scientists in Argentina are investigating whether milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria might reduce amounts of cancer-causing substances in the intestine.

* The University of California at Los Angeles researchers are looking at whether probiotic supplements can treat allergy-induced skin rashes in babies.

* A Canadian study published a few months ago suggested that fermented milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus caseii could help prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea.

* Israeli scientists are studying whether these supplements can improve complications in liver disease.

Probiotics are not new, yogurt, which contains probiotics has been used for hundreds of years to ease digestive distress.

It has only been in recent times that scientists are looking into probiotics further and are finding new uses.

Such as using probiotics to help the body fight off illness causing bacteria which some believe is the root to many of our illnesses and not just digestive maladies such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

Many companies are now adding probiotics to their products (such as Dannon, Kraft Foods and General Mills) and consumers are eating up these products to the tune of several million dollars a year.

Many scientists believe that we should be supplementing our diets with probitic supplements and on this page we will discuss the most popular over the counter probiotic products available.

With many of us now stressed out over the economy and other new making issues, probiotics are more important than ever.