Probiotics are defined by the Mayo Clinic as dietary supplements or foods that contain beneficial bacteria that are similar to those normally found in your body. It may be difficult to picture bacteria as beneficial but probiotics are an example of how you can treat and prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing live bacteria. Probiotics are found in yogurt, milk, soy and some juices.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder that affects the colon and large bowel. The National Institutes of Health list the side effects of irritable bowel syndrome as abdominal pain or discomfort often reported as cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome may be caused by a lack of good bacteria and adding probiotics to your diet may help ease symptoms.
Reproductive Health
The vagina is similar in sensitivity to the intestinal tract. Vaginal health can be affected by antibiotics, spermicides and birth control pills. Harvard Medical School studies show that probiotic treatment restores the balance of microflora which help with bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection and urinary tract infections.
Diarrhea
Lactobacillus GG is a type of probiotic that can shorten the course of infectious diarrhea in infants and children. However, this benefit is not seen in adults. Two large reviews by Harvard Medical School suggest that probiotics when compared to a placebo reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 60 percent.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is inflammation to any area of the gastrointestinal tract starting from the mouth to the anus and commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine. Several small studies from the National Institutes of Health suggest that certain probiotics may help prevent relapse of Crohn's disease. However more studies are needed on what particular strains work best for preventing relapse.
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