Some people are advised by their doctors to take them; others are simply health-conscious and curious about their effects. Either way, probiotics are becoming increasingly popular as nutritional supplements and a home health remedy for various ailments. Probiotics are the active, live, "good" bacteria that live in your intestinal system and fight off the detrimental type of bacteria that make you sick. Probiotics are available naturally through certain foods, but they are also available as supplements.
Probiotic Basics
It's hard to believe that bacterial organisms can be good for you, but that's exactly the case with probiotics. In fact, if you didn't have these "helper" bacteria in your body, your health would suffer. According to the Cleveland Clinic, probiotics reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your gut to stave off infections and inflammation and restore your body's balance of good vs. bad bacteria after illness, helping your body function properly.
Health Benefits
Probiotics supplements are often used to treat digestive ailments. Pennsylvania State University notes that probiotics are used to treat diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disorder and Crohn's disease. The Michigan State University Dairy Review reports that probiotics may also be helpful for lactose intolerance, osteoporosis, yeast infections and the prevention of colon cancer.
Liquid Supplements
For those who don't enjoy the taste of yogurt or other probiotics foods, or who simply want to add to their food sources of probiotics, supplements can be a good choice. One form of probiotics supplement is a liquid preparation of the organism Lactobacillus acidophilus. Liquid supplements can be helpful for people who have difficulty swallowing capsules or who need to apply probiotics topically, such as for a child's diaper rash.
Precautions
Always check with your doctor before trying liquid probiotic supplements. While probiotics, particularly in food, are generally considered safe, supplements can cause negative side effects for some people. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that people with weakened immune systems should be cautious with probiotics, and those with artificial heart valves should avoid them. Your doctor can help determine if liquid probiotics supplements are safe for you and, if so, what constitutes an appropriate dosage for your condition.
References
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide; Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics; September 2005
- Cleveland Clinic; Probiotics
- Pennyslvania State University Research Penn State; What Are Probiotics?; Pallavi Eswara; April 2007
- Michigan State University Michigan Dairy Review; Get Some Culture: Eat Yogurt; Zeynep Ustunol; July 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Lactobacillus Acidophilus; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; June 2009
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