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Probiotics: Supplements
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Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that help control the critical balance in the digestive system by inhibiting the growth of undesirable bacteria and pathogens. Simply put, probiotics are all-natural, holistic supplements with proven benefits:
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Some probiotics supplements sold over the counter may not contain enough live bacteria to be effective. "There's a chance that you may be buying dead bacteria unless you shop very carefully," says Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com. The analysis by ConsumerLab.com included 13 brands of probiotics. Consumer Lab found just 9 contained at least 1 billion viable organisms per dose, the amount considered necessary for effectiveness. Brands that fell short of the billion mark included DDS Acidophilus; Flora Source; Nature's Secret Ultimate Probiotic 4-Billion; and Rite Aid Acidophilus, Milk Free. Advocare Probiotic Restore did contain the 1 billion minimum, but claimed on its label to pack 30 billion per dose.
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[I]n addition to increasing your intake of probiotics, you can take fructo-oligosaccharides, supplements that can promote thriving colonies of helpful bacteria in the digestive tract. (Fructo-oligosaccharides are carbohydrates found in fruit. Fructo means "fruit," and an oligosaccharide is a type of carbohydrate.) Taking this supplement is like putting manure in a garden; it is thought to foster a healthy environment for the bacteria you want to have inside you. The typical daily dose of fructo-oligosaccharides is between 2 g and 8 g.
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Like any supplement, even the best probiotics are no substitute for good overall health practices. But they do work extremely well as part of a balanced approach, combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle. In that context, consumption of probiotics can make a real, sustained difference in your long-term health. The old adage, “You are what you eat” could be reworded: “You are what your intestinal flora eat!”
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That said, he remained skeptical about the value of probiotics and said he thinks it is too early to start recommending probiotics for patients with IBS. He pointed out, for instance, that a lack of FDA regulation means there is no standardized formulation for the probiotic supplements, which makes it difficult to determine what is really contained in the supplement.
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Most probiotics manufacturers believe that they can solve this problem by adding more active strains to their supplements—sometimes 8 to 10 and even 14! But a greater number of strains only introduces a greater chance for bad or unproven bacteria to enter your system—or for the bugs to negatively react to each other.
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