American Fitness Professionals & Associates

Probiotics, “BUGS” in your belly by Scott Josephson

Remember when Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet

eating her curds and whey? Whether she knew it or

not, she might of been eating a healthy dose of

“probiotics”. Imagine that? Probiotics are made

from living bacteria that affect the balance of other

organisms and bacteria in the gut. These microorganisms

are essential for healthy living. This

friendly flora works to digest and absorb nutrients

in your food. Research suggests an unhealthy ratio

of “bad bacteria to good” might trigger issues such as

severe stomach pain, fever, fatigue and inflammatory

bowel disease. Here’s where a dose of probiotics might help.

They contain a mixture of several different types of bacteria

including species of lactobacillus, bifid bacterium and streptococcus.

Unfortunately, the digestive tract is home to over 400

species of bacteria. Some of the native good bugs can crowd

out invading organisms that cause illness. They use resources

that the bad bugs need and produce chemicals that kill them.

By eating more helpful bacteria your body increases it’s own

natural defenses and creates an environment to control and

reduce inflammation caused by bad bacteria. These floras

seem to work with the body’s natural defenses to prevent the

overgrowth of a bad bug.

ARE PROBIOTICS SAFE?

For the most part, probiotics are considered safe because

they’re composed of bacteria that are already a part of the

normal digestive track. Because they are sold as supplements,

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate

them in the same way it regulates medication. A dietary

supplement can be sold with limited or no research pertaining

to efficacy and safety. That being said, probiotics have been

shown to ensure an optimum micro-flora balance to stimulate

and maintain the natural immune system of the host utilizing

the same type of nutrients. This creates competition for these

nutrients to grow and reproduce. The more the gut is flooded

with beneficial microorganisms, the better the opportunity

exists to prevent or limit the growth and colonization of potentially

pathogenic bacteria such as E. Coli, Salmonella, Listeria

and Clostridia. These pathogenic bacteria are known to cause

major disturbances within the gut by preventing efficient digestion

and nutrient absorption. Probiotics produce enzymes that

breakdown polysaccharides such as carbohydrates, and allow

the absorption of energy obtained from nutrients. Additionally,

the micro-flora also ferments carbohydrates, which have not

been digested in the upper gut. These floras produce vitamins

that supply a secondary source to the host.

BACTERIA AS MEDICINE?

Lactobacillus is one of the most studied probiotics. It significantly

cuts the rate of many types of stomach issues that can

develop after a person has taken antibiotics. Drugs such as

antibiotics can wipe out every bacterium in their path, good

and bad, altering the natural balance of the digestive

tract. “Curds” is an old word for yogurt, and

evidence exists that some of the bacteria in

yogurt can help the body get rid of bad bacteria.

Raw or unpasterized yogurt is loaded

with bacteria. Most commercial yogurt is pasteurized,

a process that kills bacteria.

Research has found promise in pasteurized

yogurt with live bacteria added. Essentially, the

bacteria go to work crowding out the harmful

bugs that try to establish territory in your gut. This

requirement disqualifies some brands of fermented dairy

products that don’t add live cultures. If added, this probiotic

flora can be extremely helpful to colonize the intestinal tract

and enhance human health and performance.

WHY TAKE PROBIOTICS?

If you eat a perfectly balanced diet and have a stress free life

(yeah, right?) you may not need probiotics as a supplementary

aid to maintain your general health and immunity. However in

the real world we encounter daily stress from our environment

and from the foods we eat. In addition, we tend to consume

many forms of chemicals such as antacids, antibiotics, food

additives, alcohol and other foods and drugs that lead to a

disturbance and reduction in the concentration of beneficial

bacteria within our body. Strict dietary changes can influence

the delicate balance of micro flora in the digestive tract. Very

low calorie diets with insufficient nutrient intake and low fiber

could be a breeding ground for bad bugs. Evidence continues

to mount that various stressors contribute to the same. Stress

can be described as a factor that stimulates homeostatic,

physiological and behavioral responses in excess of the norm.

Unfortunately, this increases the blood levels of adrenal cortisol,

and our workouts suffer drastically. This can contribute to

a rise of alkaline in our body, and increase the risk of obtaining

a pathogenic species. Overall, there are a multitude of

“good” reasons to use a probiotic such as changes in your

food or water normally associated with travel, chemotherapy,

hormonal fluctuation, malabsorption, infections, colitis or antibiotic

use. To avoid damage to your wallet, choose a probiotic

supplement that has a proven track. Chances are your gut

will thank you for it!

SCOTT JOSEPHSON, M.S.,

is the Director of Fitness and Dietician

at Hunters Run in Florida. Scott is

an Exercise Physiologist and practicing

dietician and specializes in healthy

weight achievement and overall

wellness. He is a contributing writer

for “Fitness Management” magazine

and “The ECA News”