Probiotics are key ingredients in many popular yogurt brands. They have been shown to be useful in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome and antibiotic diarrhea. New clinical evidence shows that certain probiotic supplements can boost our immune system's response to influenza and other viruses. Probiotics are an important adjunct to flu vaccines and may help people avoid influenza or reduce flu symptoms.
An Overview Of Probiotics
There are some commonly practiced techniques to avoid the pathogens that cause illness -- hand washing, use of sanitizer gel, and cough/sneeze etiquette, for example. Probiotics supplements might provide the additional help families need this season as consumers, especially parents, look for natural ways to boost their immunity and stay healthy.
Probiotics are, in simple terms, friendly bacteria. The WebMD.com site says that probiotics help keep the intestinal flora in balance by reducing harmful bacteria. Probiotics can help relieve antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and other digestive maladies. Probiotics are normally part of the digestive system, so they are considered safe under usual circumstances.
Most people might be exposed to probiotics by their availability in yogurt, but MayoClinic.com says that probiotic supplements contain much more of the active ingredient, counted in the billions of CFU, or colony forming units, and therefore are potentially more beneficial than yogurt alone.
Which Probiotic Supplements Are The Best?
There are several dozen strains of probiotic currently available, so it can be confusing when picking one to take. According to famed integrative M.D. Andrew Weil, consumers should look for either Bacillus coagulans (BC-30) or Lactobacillus GG. These two have years of scholarly research behind them and fulfill Dr. Weil's most important criteria for a probiotic -- the ability to survive the acidic environment of the stomach to make it to the lower GI tract.
How Probiotics Fight The Flu Virus and Flu Symptoms
Lactobacillus GG has been shown to alleviate and strengthen the digestive system, but it also can increase both systemic and mucosal immune response, as shown in a study published in 2005. Culturelle is a commonly found brand that contains the Lactobacillus GG strain.
An even more promising link between probiotics and improved immune response was published in early 2009 in Postgraduate Medicine. This study found that GanedenBC30, a trademarked name for the patented Bacillus coagulans strain, increased immune response after exposure to both adenovirus and influenza A. Swine flu is a variant of influenza A. Some popular brands that have this strain are Sustenex, Digestive Advantage, and Twin Labs Super Probiotic.
Obviously, probiotics cannot treat or cure influenza, including swine flu. However, certain strains have been shown to help fight off certain viruses, including influenza A. The evidence is very compelling that probiotics improve the immune system, and can only help in the struggle to avoid illness or diminish its duration.
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