Probiotics reduce the incidence of diarrhea during antibiotic therapy

At a Glance

According to a meta-analysis of 63 studies, taking probiotics significantly reduces the risk of developing diarrhea that often results from the use of antibiotics.

 Read more about this research below. 

Antibiotics are prescribed for the treatment of bacterial infections. They serve their purpose by killing the harmful bacteria inside the body. Unfortunately they kill many of the helpful bacteria within the body as well. This can create a disturbance in the flora of the gastrointestinal tract. A common symptom of this disturbance is diarrhea, which occurs in as many as 30% of those taking antibiotics. Probiotics are microorganisms that can help maintain or restore the balance of gut flora.

In a large meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers pooled data from 63 different randomized clinical trials to determine the usefulness of probiotics in the “prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.” The trials involved 11,811 participants, the majority of which were outpatients, but some of those included were hospitalized patients. The majority of the trials used a Lactobacillus based strain; the other strains included Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and/or Bacillus. Analysis of all the included data revealed that those taking probiotics had on average a 42% lower risk of developing diarrhea than those in the control groups.

The results of this meta-analysis support the idea that concurrent use of probiotics during antibiotic therapy may help maintain gut flora balance and reduce the incidence of side effects such as diarrhea.

Hempel S, Newberry SJ, Maher AR, et al. Probiotics for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association. 2012;307(18):1959-69.

Probiotics and Prebiotics Team Up for Healthy Digestion

What are probiotics?

probiotics  plural of pro·bi·ot·ic (Noun)
Noun

    A probiotic substance or preparation.
    A microorganism introduced into the body for its beneficial qualities.

 The root of the word probiotic comes from the Greek word pro, meaning to promote and biotic, meaning life. But what are probiotics actually, and how do they work?

 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines probiotics as "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host."  Probiotics are indeed alive, and most of these microorganisms are bacteria.  People may associate bacteria with antibiotics and antibacterial products. However, not all bacteria are harmful. In fact some types of bacteria beneficial and helpful to maintaining our health. That's right, not all bacteria are bad for us!

Our digestive system normally has both "good" bacteria and "bad" bacteria. Maintaining the correct balance between the "good" bacteria and the "bad" bacteria is necessary for optimal health. But medications, diet, diseases, and the environment can upset that balance. Scientists now have discovered the the balance of bacteria in stomach and the gut to be a key to optimal health.

Maintaining a good population of healthy bacteria within the digestive system helps our body in many ways, especially with fighting off infections caused by pathogenic bacteria.

Is your body able to handle this on its own or do you need to start including probiotics in your diet?

To achieve and maintain optimal health, we need to consume both probiotics and prebiotics in our diet. Prebiotics (good bacteria promoters) and probiotics (good bacteria) are partners that work together synergistically in the body to promote gut health.

Probiotics are found in fermented dairy foods including yogurt, kefir, and aged cheeses, which contain live cultures such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Some non-dairy foods also have beneficial cultures, as well, such as kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh and soy beverages.

Prebiotics are natural, non-digestible food ingredients that are linked to promoting the growth of helpful bacteria in your gut. Indeed, they're "good" bacteria promoters.  Prebiotics may improve gastrointestinal (GI) health as well as potentially enhance calcium absorption.

Some common foods that contain prebiotics are bananas, onions, leeks, garlic, asparagus, raw wheat bran and baked wheat flour. 

How to Boost Your Immunity to Colds and Flu

  As cold and flu season begins it seems that every place you go someone is sneezing! How can you boost your immunity so that you can stay healthy this fall and winter? Getting sick is not only unpleasant, but inconvenient, and  zaps your energy level too.

   If you have kids, you know how hard it is to avoid catching germs from those little slimy hands – they are like sponges! On average, school-age kids in America experience eight to ten colds a year? If you have two children, and the average cold lasts for 10 days, and each parent gets half of their colds. That’s (8+8+4+4) x 10=240 days of someone possibly being sick in your household –more than half the year!

   Fortunately, there are some easy ways to strengthen your immune system by adding some common yet nutritious foods to your diet. They have high immunity-boosting nutrients (e.g. vitamins A, B, and C, zinc), anti-viral and/or anti-bacterial properties:

   1. Yogurt or Kefir (ideally plain as added sugar can suppress immunity) – probiotics help strengthen immune system.

   2.  Pumpkin seeds – high in zinc and omega-3, both essential for a healthy immune system.

   3.  Cold water fish – good source of protein and omega-3.

   4.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, apples – they are rich in beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.

   5.  Ground seeds, lentils, beans and whole grains – good source of B vitamins and protein.

   6.  Ginger – has anti-viral properties.

   7.  Garlic – has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

   8.  Honey (raw) –has anti-viral properties.

   9.  Green tea –has anti-viral properties.

  10. Mushrooms (maitake, reishi, shiitake) – elevate flu-fighting agents.

  11. Avoid sugar and alcohol, both of which can weaken your immune system.