Probiotics can be used as a treatment to aid your digestion and enhance your immune system. You can get probiotics in an array of yogurt products and other foods, along with dietary supplements. Much research is still being done on their possible benefits, but so far, one of the most promising uses is to prevent and treat diarrhea.
About Diarrhea
Most everyone has coped with acute diarrhea now and then, perhaps during a bout with stomach flu, a side effect of medication or a case of food poisoning. But chronic diarrhea, lasting four weeks or more, can be a sign of serious disease. According to MayoClinic.com, persistent diarrhea merits a visit to your doctor. Possible complications include celiac disease, colon cancer, hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis or Crohn's disease.
Digestive Balance
Adding probiotics to your diet might help to restore a healthy balance of micro-organisms in your digestive system. Gastrointestinal ailments may cause the imbalance, upsetting the ratio of "good" and "bad" bacteria that normally live in your digestive tract. With an infection or inflammatory bowel disease, harmful bacteria may multiply and beneficial bacteria dwindle, causing diarrhea and other symptoms. Or a medical treatment, such as antibiotics or chemotherapy, can kill off the good bacteria along with the bad.
Probiotics and Research
Like the micro-organisms in your body, probiotics in foods and supplements are living, beneficial bacteria---or sometimes, beneficial viruses and yeasts. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that the strongest evidence from probiotics research supports their effectiveness against diarrhea, especially diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Researchers also are looking at probiotics' use for ailments including inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's. NCCAD says the research is promising, but questions remain about the many types and strains of probiotics and what constitutes a "dose."
Should You Try Them?
Probiotic foods and supplements are generally considered safe, since their micro-organisms can occur naturally in your body, notes Cleveland Clinic. Consult your doctor if you're considering using probiotics as a diarrhea treatment. Though side effects tend to be mild, such as initial gas and bloating, there's potential for more serious side effects, allergic reactions or a bad interaction with other medications. Besides yogurt products, probiotics are in some juices, soy drinks, soft cheeses, pickles and other foods. Probiotic supplements come in capsules, tablets, powders and liquids.
