Probiotics for Health and Vitality

Study after study from many of the most prestigious universities in the country support and advance the concept that probiotics are as important and basic to our health as a balanced diet and exercise. If you are like most people you say "wow, great, but what are probiotics"? Probiotics are simply micro-organisms (bacteria and yeasts) that live in our intestinal tract and contribute to our good health in exchange for a warm cozy place to live. In scientific terms this is considered a symbiotic relationship, both organisms are helped by the relationship and neither is harmed. Probiotic means "for life". These "friendly" microbes are found naturally in breast milk, foods such as yogurt, kefir, real sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, and Kombucha tea (Emperor's Best). Not all bacteria and yeast found in our digestive tract are good, some are bad or pathogenic (cause disease), other are neutral, others are good in limited amounts but bad at higher levels. Most microbes in our intestines can not be grown in a test tube; only about twenty percent are currently able to be cultured successfully. It is thought that we have over 500 different kinds of bacteria as a normal part of our digestive tract, and thousands and thousands of viruses. The make up or quantities of the different bacteria, what we refer to as intestinal flora is affected by diet, drugs (especially antibiotics), stress, and possibly even the water you drink. Studies show your health can be dramatically impacted by these shifts in flora; health can deteriorate or be regained.

Elie Metchnikoff wrote a book called "The Prolongation of Life: Optimistic Studies" and won the 1908 Nobel Prize. Much of his work and enthusiasm was directed at Probiotic research. He has championed the concept of probiotics. Much of his work was done with Louis Pasteur who developed the rabies vaccine and is credited for confirming the germ theory of disease. Although in many regards Metchnikoff and Pasteur's work were polar opposites in directions, they eventually complemented each other giving us a much better understanding of the disease process. Metchnikoff worked on immunology (how your body fights disease) and Pasteur worked on the germ theory, while both appreciated the power of vaccination. Metchnikoff a Russian by birth may well have been the catalyst that fueled yogurts rise in popularity as a health food. Yogurt of course is made with live microbes and these microbes (Lactobacillus acidophilus, etal) are considered Probiotics.

Today yogurt companies lead the charge in promoting the health benefits of their product and indirectly the health benefits of probiotics. Many foods contain probiotic microbes and give the foods their recognizable characteristics. Other foods such as beer, bread, cheese, wine, etc use microbes to produce the food. As you may be starting to understand not all bacteria or microbes are harmful, and we have become a nation and culture of microbe-phobes (scared of all bacteria, etc). The truth is most microbes don't harm us, and we should have no fear of them. Many are actually beneficial to our health and we are better off with them than without them.

Culture after culture through out the ages has recognized foods that are almost worshiped for their health giving benefits. One of the almost forgotten is a fermented beverage known as Kombucha tea. This tea has had a variety of names depending on where it is found. In Russia it was known as Kargasok tea, in China it was called Ling-tche, Japan it is recognized by the name Combucha, in Europe people have called it Manchurian tea or Kombucha tea, Korea, France, etc... etc... all have had a love affair with this tea many term miraculous. I mention it here for two reasons, one it has a world wide history as a health promoting beverage which can be traced back for centuries, and secondly it is undoubtedly the least expensive way to obtain a steady source of probiotics when brewed at home. The best source of a starter culture for this tea is emperor's best Kombucha tea, just google it or go to answers-to dot com.

Other food sources of probiotics include of course Yogurt, and Kefir, however be sure to look for a brand that says contains "live cultures". Real sauerkraut the fermented kind not the brands made with distilled vinegar. Breast milk is actually an important source for newborns, and helps to correctly establish a healthy flora that will serve individuals for life. All raw foods contain various microbes some of which undoubtedly go on to become a part of our flora.

Many probiotic species are what is referred to as transient, which means they are here today and gone tomorrow. Transient species don't stick around to long they are helpful while they are present but lack staying power. Most probiotics found in foods are transient in nature, and require constant replenishment.

Other sources of probiotics can be found in supplemental form at health food stores. These either come in pill, powder, or liquid forms. All have varying potency, some rate potency at time of manufacture others guarantee potency up to a certain date. It has been reported by some consumer watch organizations that some have no viable organisms at all. Every manufacturer has a different variety of species, not all are as beneficial as others. Some include FOS a type of sugar that has been dubbed a pre-biotic or a source of food that only feeds good bacteria, however several reports indicate that Klebsiella pneumonia thrives on FOS and may initiate and infectious state. Supplemental probiotics are the most expensive source and potency and composition can have an enormous impact on any benefits.

Anecdotal or individual reports of the health giving benefits of probiotics or their associated food sources include such a wide variety of ailments and conditions that at first blush you are tempted to dismiss these as not possible. The trouble with such a quick judgment is it lacks serious consideration and review of relevant information. What seems impossible today with the right information or knowledge can seem self evident tomorrow. As one very astute doctor once noted "people (doctors included) are down on anything they are not up on". History is proof that anecdotal evidence or limited observations is the root of all scientific accomplishments. Science starts with observations, which are then followed up with experimentation to support or refute suggested hypothesis for explaining the observation. To date we have failed to do sufficient follow up studies to support or refute these anecdotal reports regarding probiotics and noted health improvements. Individual reports of health benefits attributed to probiotics consumption includes, but is not limited to the following conditions: Intestinal complaints (IBS, crohns disease, diarrhea, gas), Allergies, Hair loss, PMS (women), Reduced number of colds and flu, Elie Metchnikoff and reports from Russia include increased life span, Eczema, Food sensitivities (not life threatening food allergies), Improved mood, Dementia, Turrets syndrome, and Headaches; including migraine. Research is showing that many of these claims can now be supported with studies that pass the peer review test and are readily published in major professional journals world wide. Some of these articles can be found in journals like; The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, The Journal of Microbiology, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Urology Times, Pediatrics, Journal of Infectious Diseases, and numerous nutritional publications. This list is in no way exhaustive, new and exciting studies are being conducted and published daily. Keeping up with this is virtually impossible. This research is being fueled by previous successes and has been growing exponentially for a decade or more. Depending on what level of study you accept as supportive and reliable, I believe at some point I have read a study that supports just about every claim listed above. A few are listed below:

Borody, Warren, Leis, Surace, Ashman, and Siarakas. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. July 2004;38(6) pgs 475-83.
*Supports for use in diarrhea, colitis, clostridium difficile syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation.

Isolauri, Arvola, Sutas, Moilanen, and Salminen. Clin. Exp. Allergy. 2000; 30 pgs 1604-1610.
*Supports for use in eczema

Casas and Dobrogosz. Review Article- Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease. 2000; 12 pgs 247-285.
*Supports broad spectrum protection against disease, autism, heart disease.

Vanderhoof, and Young. Probiotics In Pediatrics. Pediatrics. May 2002. Vol 109 Issue 5.
*Supports immune regulation, diarrhea, crohn's disease, respiratory infections, food sensitivities, arthritis.

Bottcher, Nordin, Sandin, Midtvedt, and Bjorksten. Clin. Exp. Allergy. 2000, 30 pgs 1590-1596.
*Supports flora differences between allergic and non allergic individuals.

Vuopio-Varkila and Varkila. Infectious Immunology. 1996, 64 pgs 5403-5405.
*Supports anti-cancer.

Isolauri. Probiotics in Human Disease. American Journal Clinical Nutrition. 2001. 73, pgs 1142-1146.
*Supports broad spectrum protection.

Coconnier, Lievin, Hemery, and Servin. Applied Environmental Microbiology. 1998. 64 pgs 4573-4580.
*Supports antagonistic activity of probiotics against Helicobacter pylori infection in humans - anti ulcer.

Wilson. The Microecology of Clostidium difficile. Clin. Infectious Disease. 1993 16pgs 214-218.
*Supports antagonistic activity of probiotics against Clostridium difficle.

Farrel and Peppercorn. Lancet. Jan 26, 2002. Vol 359 Issue 9303.
*Supports the use of probiotics in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Jones and Hoffer. Canadian Medical Association Journal. June 11, 2002. Vol 166 Issue12.
*Supports anti cancer activity

Reid, Gregor and Bruce. Journal of Infectious Diseases. March 2, 2002. Vol 183 Issue 5.
*Supports the use of probiotics in reducing urogenital infections.

As you can readily see probiotics is not a passing fad, the folklore behind foods like Kombucha tea and yogurt now have scientific support for their validation. The strength of the studies already published is far too great to ignore, and with the use of antibiotics which kills and destroys your intestinal flora, finding a cheap source of probiotics is likely in everyone's best interest. Restoring your normal flora is more of a challenge than popping a few pills of probiotics or eating a cup of yogurt. Making probiotics a part of your daily regime is good insurance. Enjoy yogurt, brew some of your own Emperor's Best Kombucha tea, try Kefir, eat fresh fruits and vegetables and drink non chlorinated water. One of the first things you might notice is more energy or greater endurance. What ever your health goals or challenges probiotics should be seriously considered.