Probiotic Supplements - Part IV
Bifidobacterium on lining of colon |
Frequently supplements are needed to make up for what’s missing in the diet, repopulate after antibiotic therapy, or to improve the health of our digestive tract.
Following are some very different probiotics which contain greater viability and larger numbers of colony-forming-units than most of what you can find on the shelves in drug and health food stores. Human Micro Flora Seroyal is the U.S. provider of HLC High Potency and other probiotics made by Pharmax in the United Kingdom. The original samples of hundreds of different bacterial strains were originally isolated from healthy human intestinal walls in the 1940’s. Human formed colonies have been shown to grow and establish themselves faster in the intestinal mucosa and with longer lasting results than those grown from dairy or animal strains. Four varieties of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are used in all of the HLC products. Lactobacillus predominates in the upper portion of the small intestines, while Bifidobacterium colonizes the lower portion. The bacteria is freeze dried and kept frozen until the product is shipped from the manufacturer. Due to a patented encapsulation that stabilizes the organisms, the probiotics have a 6-month shelf life at room temperature. However, it’s recommended that they be stored in the freezer or refrigerator. OM-X 12+ Another excellent probiotic is Dr. Ohhira’s 12 Plus which was developed by award-winning microbiologist Iichiroh Ohhira, Ph.D. and a team of research scientists from Okayama University in Japan. This product is produced from the careful blending of vegetables, herbs, seaweeds, mushrooms, leaves and fruits that are fermented and matured for up to five years with 12 strains of lactic acid bacteria. It also contains naturally developed organic acids, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, prebiotics, and enzymes. This product has been found beneficial to many individuals suffering from constipation as well as various other imbalances in digestive health. Florastor Lastly, many persons with acute and chronic diarrhea, including individuals with AIDS, have found relief from this product which contains a probiotic yeast, Sacchromyces boulardi. This yeast was first isolated in 1923 by a French microbiologist, Henri Boulard. He derived it from a tea that he observed Indonesian natives using to control diarrhea during a cholera epidemic. S. boulardii has been commercialized for its medicinal properties for over 50 years and is available over-the-counter by request from pharmacies. It has been demonstrated to be helpful as an aid in the treatment of Clostridium dificile, Chron’s disease, and irritable bowel in addition to the treatment of acute and chronic diarrhea from numerous causes. This probiotic yeast is entirely unrelated to the many species of Candida yeasts which cause disease via overgrowth in the intestinal and urinary tracts. S. boulardii doesn’t colonize in the human gastrointestinal tract, but rather exerts various beneficial effects as it passes through for 4 to 6 days after ingestion. Some of the ways it promotes healthy digestive function are by increasing intestinal populations of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, strengthening immune function of the gi tract, and reducing pathogenic organisms. These are only a few of the many probiotic products available to consumers today. Although those with health problems can benefit greatly by learning all they can about treatment options and available therapies, it’s best to consult the advice of a reputable physician in cases of serious illness. References for Further Information
