Bacteria: friend or foe?

Our digestive system contains millions of bacteria (referred to as gut flora) that live in a delicate balance with one another. This includes beneficial or “friendly” bacteria that have the upper hand in a healthy digestive system and act as natural defenders to the body’s immune system. This is vital for good health and wellbeing and in a healthy person you could expect to find upto 1kg of friendly bacteria living together in perfect balance.

When the digestive system is not working well, or when the gut flora is out of balance, a whole host of potential ailments and diseases can start to threaten the body, including:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Poor nutrient absorption
Difficulty in digesting certain foods, especially dairy

If the imbalance persists it’s thought the risks of conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), gastroenteritis and colon cancer can increase.

Probiotics

One of the most beneficial areas in the body for bacterial growth is the large intestine (colon). Many strains of bacteria live in harmony in the large bowel, but one in particular has captivated a lot of interest from the scientific community – Lactobacillus sporogenes.

Lactobacillus sporogenes has been linked with offering the following potential health benefits:

Help the body’s defence system by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. A key benefit of this is reducing the risk of diarrhoea, especially “traveller’s diarrhoea and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
Help improve digestion and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, particularly easing constipation and bloating
Help symptoms associated with lactose intolerance, including easing abdominal pain and bloating and relieving cramps and wind.
Help improve the quality of life for people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Probiotics can be cultivated and added to foods like yoghurts and milk drinks, or they can be made into dietary supplements. The key to an effective probiotic is its ability to survive the journey from your mouth to your gut. Many experts in the field believe that food products with added probiotics are not robust enough to survive this journey and therefore recommend using a dietary supplement for maximum benefits.

Could a probiotic supplement help me?

If you answer yes to any of these questions a probiotic supplement may help maintain your gut health:

Do you suffer from bloating and excessive flatulence?
Do you suffer from irregular or unpredictable bowel motions?
Are you taking antibiotics?
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