Our intestines contain over 100 trillion bacteria. This is 1,000 times the number of cells that make up the entire human body. Many of these bacteria play an important role in protecting our health:

• They make compounds that keep harmful bacteria from spreading, helping to   prevent infections.
• They help with digestion.
• They stimulate the gut’s immune system.
• They help our bodies digest foods more efficiently.
• They change certain vitamins.
• They change which genes are active in gut cells.
• They may help to prevent colon cancer.

The balance between helpful and harmful bacteria in the gut can change. If that occurs, the helpful bacteria in the body may not be able to do these important tasks as well as before. Antibiotics, poor nutrition, inflammation, stress, and other factors can kill off the helpful bacteria in the gut.

When this happens, probiotics and prebiotics may be helpful. Probiotics are products containing live microorganisms. They can be taken to improve the balance of bacteria in a person’s intestines. It is now easy to find them as dietary supplements in health food stores and pharmacies. Good quality yogurts with live active cultures, kefir, fermented milk, miso, and a number of other foods are also probiotics.

The jury is still out on how well these supplements work for different health problems. The best research has been done for the following conditions*:

Proven Benefit

• Diarrheal Illness (viral) - treatment and prevention
• Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

Suggested Benefit

• Food allergies
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Lactose intolerance
• Treatment of recurrent Clostridium dificile infection (Clostridium dificile is a bacteria that can cause serious infection in the intestine).
• Eczema

Holds Promise

• Allergic rhinitis
• Asthma
• Attention deficit disorder (ADD) / Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism
• Colic
• Colon cancer prevention
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dyslipidemia
• Liver disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Traveler’s diarrhea / bacterial enteritis
• Vaccine immuno-augmentation
• Genitourinary tract infections (UTI’s)