Probiotics
Antibiotics is used to fight many bacterial infections and diseases, however while fighting off the bad bacteria, antibiotics also kill off good bacteria such as the very important Lactobacillus. Many people who commence antibiotic courses suffer problems such as diarrhoea and fevers due to this depletion in necessary bacteria. It is therefore common for these people to supplement probiotics in association with their antibiotic course. Probiotics are microorganisms or bacteria that live in the human intestinal tract. Probiotics help the body's natural immunity, keep us healthy and help our digestion system. As opposed to antibiotics, probiotics are supplements containing live bacteria (sometimes referred to as "friendly" bacteria) that aid in proper bodily function. This is an effective way to fight the adverse consequences of antibiotics, as well as boosting the natural immune system while fighting infection or disease. A common bacterium that is found in Probiotics is Lactobacillus.

Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus is a genus of bacteria, considered to be a major part of the lactic acid bacteria group. The name Lactobacillus resembles its function of converting lactose and other sugars into lactic acid. They appear commonly throughout the gastrointestinal tract, mouth and vagina, and are considered harmless and beneficial. Lactobacillus has a number of interesting uses. Some species are used industrially, in the production of a number of consumer products. Lactobacillus is used in the fermenting process of many types of cheese, yogurt, pickles, beer, wine and a number of other foods. Each particular species of lactobacillus is generally used in the production of only one of these products. However the Lactobacillus genus is more commonly used medically, consumed in foods or as a dietary supplement in capsule form.

Lactobacillus In Probiotics
Some of the Lactobacillus species have a number of health benefits to numerous parts of the body, and are therefore commonly integrated with probiotic supplements. Lactobacillus has been found to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer potential, as well as many other incredible medical benefits. An example of a significant species is the Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is considered a probiotic. The Lactobacillus acidophilus breaks down lactose in foods and produces lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and many other by-products that create a harsh environment for bad bacteria. Additionally, it competes for food that many of these bad bacteria depend on, therefore restricting outbreaks.

Similar to other probiotics, Lactobacillus increases the health of the gastrointestinal tract and boosts the immune system. They also aid in fighting Yeast infections (Candida outbreak), and offset adverse effects of antibiotics such as diarrhoea. Lactobacillus in probiotics can help to treat and prevent allergies, cardiovascular diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance and cholesterol and blood pressure problems. Being a relatively new product on the medical market, probiotics is not yet widely used. However as research discovers the benefits of supplementing bacteria such as lactobacillus, it will become regularly used in the treating and preventing of a range of infections and diseases. Although it is capable of all this, probiotics is most notable for its impact on our general health. It helps to sustain a greater well-being, which can in turn affect how long we live, how healthy we feel and our quality of life.

Bishop writes about the benefits of good bacteria including lactobacillus.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 9:22 pm and is filed under Supplements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.