Probiotic Supplements

Image by mjecker via Flickr

Probiotic supplements are big business these days. You'll find literally hundreds of different probiotic supplements on the market. If you have no experience with these products or just don't understand what they're for, it can be hard to choose the correct supplement for you. Here's a little description of probiotics and the proper uses of probiotic supplements.

There are hundreds of different species of bacteria living in our digestive tracts. These are living microscopic organisms, some are good for us, others not so good. For optimum health it's important to have a large percentage of the good or "friendly" bacteria. Hopefully about 85% of your gut flora is good and about 15% is bad. Some of this can be achieved by taking a good probiotic supplement. The right ratio of good to bad bacteria helps to keep your immune system healthy and will help your body get better nutritional value from the foods you eat. As if that wasn't enough, the right probiotic supplement will help relieve diarrhea and give your body some help with getting rid of toxins.

There are a number of things that can diminish the healthy bacteria in your gut. Broad spectrum antibiotics are a big culprit. Antibiotics can kill the good bacteria right along with the bad. Age or an impaired immune system can also decrease your population of friendly bacteria. A lot of the good bacteria comes from a healthy diet so if you're not eating properly then you're again at risk for an unhealthy gut. If you fall into any of these categories consider adding a probiotic supplement to your diet. There are plenty of age appropriate probiotic supplements on the market. Always choose the one that's right for you.

It's possbile to make lifestyle choices that support the good bacteria. Eat fermented foods. Before processed food became common fermentation was a good way to preserve perishables, not so much today. Yogurt, sauerkraut and kombucha are some easy to find fermented items. Good bacteria really like fiber too. It's their favorite snack. Eat lots of high fiber foods and imagine the healthy, thriving population of beneficial bacteria in you digestive tract. Even with these lifestyle modifications it doesn't hurt to take a daily dose of a probiotic supplement. The more good bacteria you have the less room there will be for the bad bacteria. There are several variables that determine the proper dosage of probiotic supplements. It's a good idea to choose one that's appropriate for you age, and read the recommended dosage instructions. It's always a good idea to check with your doctor about such matters as well.