There's a war in your stomach!

Or...  Eating Bugs - Probiotics and you!

Before I start, let me do the usual disclaimers: I'm not a health professional, just some guy on the internets.  Anything described on the site is stuff I'm willing to do to myself.  Ask your mother or doctor for permission before playing along.  Oh... and a lot of this is reposted from wikipedia... but at least you don't have to go find it on your own.

Maybe I need a disclaimer page.

Probiotics (affectionately referred to as "bugs" in my household) have a long history in the way of health benefits, which according to current research, is just beginning.

(Pro)biotics differ from (Anti)biotics in that instead of killing off stuff, they actually add healthy bacteria to your system.  Your gut (that's a complex medical term) is responsible for more than just digestion.  Research is constantly finding new roles your gut plays in things like, immunology and the prevention of cancer.

Portions of your digestive tract are essentially a giant ecosystem for bacteria and other microorganisms.  The healthy bacteria help with digestion (thus the poop yogurt commercials), assist in breaking down nutrients (so you get the most from your food / supplements), and even clear out some of the bad stuff that tries to get into your system.  Unhealthy bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and parasites have the opposite effect on your system.

The American Society for Microbiology convened a study with National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and discussed that these bugs can also help with:

• Treating Diarrhea
• IBS
• Lactose Intolerance
• Lowering Cholesterol
• Lowering Blood Pressure
• Managing and Treating Eczema in kids

Check the wiki entry for which strains do what.

Probiotics can be found in the following foods from around the world:

• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Miso
• Soy Sauce
• Kimchi
• Yakult
• Dahi
• Mother's Milk

You can also find probiotics in Pill and Capsule form at most major grocery stores.  While you're shopping, check out some digestive enzymes.  They help keep you from getting gassy with meals, since they assist with breaking down food in the stomach.

That's pretty much it for bugs.  I'll update the post if I think of anything else.  Probiotics do require that you regularly consume them to maintain the bacterial colonies (Kefir requires less maintenance) and they take a little time to kick in (thus Dannon's two week deal).

I found eating a yogurt a day to be less convenient than drinking a DanActive, Yokult, or a kefir drink, but really -- I can think of worse things than eating a yogurt every day.  Plus, the organic food service we use (Greenling) offers kefir from local dairies.

If you're looking to get the most out of your diet and body, give probiotics a try for a month and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Learn more about probiotics' history here:

• History of Probiotics - 4500 years and counting
• Ilya Ilyich Mechikov - Father of immunology; theorized about toxic bacteria in the gut
• Minoru Shirota - Researched intestinal health; created Yokult