Probiotics Overview

Probiotics is another name for the beneficial bacteria that should be living in everyone's digestive system. Other names of probiotics include normal flora, good bacteria and beneficial cultures and consist of the bacteria Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. Probiotics can also be found in yogurt or in supplemental tablets and capsules under the name Acidophilus or L. casei.

Probiotics and antibiotics are polar opposites. The pro- prefix in probiotics means "for" or "supporting." The anti- prefix in antibiotics means "against' or "contraindicating." Bio- or -biotics is another word pertaining to life or the process of life. Hence, probiotics literally means "for life" and antibiotics literally means "against life."

Unfortunately, antibiotics destroy the normal flora in the digestive tract. Antibiotics are still used because they are still effective in eradicating infections. The bad part comes when a person is weened off of the antibiotics and is left with a yeast infection, thrush of the mouth or another infection caused by the growing fungus and absence of normal flora.

Probiotics replenishes the good bacteria that should be flourishing in the digestive tract. To obtain probiotics, you can buy the form that comes in a capsule. Capsule form is better than dry pills. The best kind is the one that is refrigerated because it actually has live cultures. Live cultures are best to operate in the digestive tract.

Research has shown that vitamins, minerals and probiotics coming from natural sources are absorbed better into the body than those from pills. Using more natural probiotics forms trumps taking supplements for several reasons:

Buying yogurt is less expensive. The probiotics in yogurt are live cultures making them more effective. Still, there are capsule forms of probiotics that have living bacteria in them and must be refrigerated to maintain viability.

The best yogurt to buy is the one with the least amount of added sugar an one that hasn't been heat treated after fermentation. The problem with yogurt is the label proclaiming how much probiotics are in it and the actual amount being much less. If this leads you to buy the capsule form, always read the labels to make sure that there are no added ingredients that you may give you an allergy.

Whenever considering taking probiotics, notice that, if you take probiotics while taking antibiotics, you will destroy the probiotics' effect with the antibiotics. It is better to take the probiotics after finishing the antibiotics. This will help in restoration of the body processes. Healing can begin and not be impeded by antibiotics constantly destroying normal flora.

Another thing to consider is that, when testing the probiotics dosage in the laboratories, the amount used and endorsed as safe, may not be the same amount placed in the capsule form. This may be also true of yogurt. Still, research all avenues of probiotic formats, dosages and administrations.