Probiotics are live microorganisms like those naturally present in your gastrointestinal system. They are available in pill or capsule form or in foods. Foods that contain probiotics include yogurt, miso, soy milk, and some juices. Although you don't need probiotics to be healthy, these microorganisms may provide some of the same health benefits that the bacteria already existing in your body do--such as assisting with digestion and helping protect against harmful bacteria, reports the Mayo Clinic. Probiotics are not regulated by the FDA. Tell your physician if you are taking probiotics. There are some positive effects of probiotics that you should be aware of.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Probiotics provide a wide range of gastrointestinal benefits. They are beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea caused by antibiotic usage. Antibiotics work to kill harmful bacteria in our bodies, but they also kill some of the good and healthy bacteria in the gut. Taking a probiotic while on antibiotics has been known to alleviate diarrhea.
Probiotics are also helpful in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Irritable bowel syndrome commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation, states Mayo Clinic. With enough "friendly" bacteria in the intestinal system, the symptoms of IBS may be lessened. Similarly, probiotics may ease symptoms of lactose intolerance, a condition in which the gut lacks the enzyme needed to digest significant amounts of the major sugar in milk, and which also causes gastrointestinal symptoms, reports the National Institutes of Health.
Vaginal Infections
The antibiotics you take to fight an infection destroy many of the good bacteria in your body. When this occurs, it may lead to an overgrowth of Candidia albicans. Candida is a yeast that is the cause of vaginal yeast infections. According to Medline, antibiotics used to treat other types of infections change the normal balance between organisms in the vagina by decreasing the number of protective bacteria. Some women suffer from recurring yeast infections unrelated to antibiotic treatment. Symptoms include vaginal irritation, burning, increased whitish colored discharge, and pain with intercourse. A probiotic may be helpful in replacing good bacteria and helping to prevent vaginal yeast infections. Probiotics will not cure a vaginal yeast infection. If you think you may have a yeast infection, contact your gynecologist. He will prescribe a medication to treat your infection.
General Health Benefits
It is believed that probiotics may help to improve general health and wellness. A small 2005 study in Sweden, for instance, found that a group of employees who were given the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri missed less work due to respiratory or gastrointestinal illness than did employees who were not given the probiotic, reports Mayo Clinic. Probiotics may strengthen the body's immunity though your gastrointestinal system. They are currently being studied and used for the treatment of childhood eczema, reducing bladder and colon cancer recurrence, and reducing stomach and respiratory infections in children.
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