Health Benefits of Probiotics

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Researchers are discovering beneficial uses for live bacteria in treating a variety of illnesses and health problems such as asthma, colon cancer, gum disease, obesity and a number of other ailments. In the growing field of probiotics, scientists isolate particular bacterial strains and administer them to people for specific purposes. Probiotics, or “good bacteria,” have been found to help fight invading microorganism in the body.

According to Richard Walker, director of the division of bacterial, parasitic and allergenic products for the Food and Drug Administration, probiotics may some day be prescribed by doctors just as therapeutics and drugs are prescribed today. More and more probiotic products are being submitted to the FDA for medicinal uses, says Walker.

A study at Stanford University found that probiotics taken by patients after gastric bypass surgery lost more weight than patients who did not. The results of the study were outlined during the recent Digestive Disease Week 2008 conference in San Diego.

At the University of California at San Francisco, researchers are looking for volunteers for a study where babies will be fed live bacteria to keep them free of asthma. A probiotic supplement would be introduced into breast milk formula of newborns whose parents have asthma. Researchers hope that stimulating the immune system will prevent the onset of the disease.

How do probiotics work? Scientists are not exactly sure but surmise that the good bacteria replace or crowd out the germs or bad bacteria in the intestinal tract, says Kathleen Zeiman, director of nutrition for WebMD Health and the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic. “Another theory,” she says, “is that the good bugs keep the intestinal tract acidic where bad bugs can’t survive. Our digestive tracts are lined with more than 400 different kinds of good bacteria that help fight off infection and keep us healthy. The largest group of good bacteria is the one found in yogurt. By consuming foods with probiotics, you can increase the number of healthy bacteria, boost your immunity and promote a healthy digestive system.”

Some researchers suggest a link between microbes and obesity, theorizing that some people have gut microbes that help the body absorb more calories from food, resulting in weight gain. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, an estimated 32 percent of U.S. adults are obese and 17 percent of teens are overweight.

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