By Mary Kundert
Dear Readers: In response to my last article on antibiotic resistance, several people have asked me to tell them more about probiotics. I hope this will be of interest to you as well.
Probiotics are a type of supplement used to help return your gastrointestinal (GI) tract to normal. Some of the signs that indicate the GI tract is out of whack include bloating, indigestion, flatulence, nausea, diarrhea and constipation. I doubt there are any among us who have not experienced these uncomfortable symptoms at some point in our lives.
Though there are many ways to treat these symptoms, an excellent solution is to give your GI tract a dose of what it may be missing - the natural flora that colonize the lining of the intestine. Antibiotics do not discriminate well enough between infecting bacteria (the bad guys) and noninfecting bacteria (the good guys). As a result, good guys are killed off along with the bad guys, upsetting the delicate balance of the normal flora in our gut. In addition, the recolonization of helpful bacteria often occurs out of balance (there are several species). Some of you may find it hard to accept that our bodies need and utilize bacteria all the time. But, this is especially true of our GI tract.
Yogurt is a great source of probiotics, one common example of which is Lactobacillus acidophilus. Unfortunately, only the unsweetened yogurts are helpful, because the sugar is readily utilized as food by the overpopulating bacteria. For this reason, many people opt to supplement with probiotics formulated into tablets or capsules. These are commonly sold in pharmacies and health-food stores. Unless your doctor directs you otherwise, you’ll want one that is broad spectrum. Don’t be surprised at the ingredients - typically billions of organisms per tiny capsule. Probiotics are nontoxic and can be taken up to three times daily. The flavorless powder inside can even be sprinkled onto food.
Though probiotics are very helpful while we are undergoing antibiotic therapy, many people like to take them on a regular basis.
Our GI system is a major gateway into our bodies. It’s up to these organs to break down, digest and absorb our foods. If our gut isn’t working optimally, our bodies won’t be able to absorb the nutrients in our foods. Over time, this could lead to disease.
The week of Sept. 24-28 is Antibiotic Awareness Week. In cooperation with the Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE), pharmacists throughout the state will focus on educating their patients on the proper use of antibiotics. Studies have shown that up to 50 percent of prescribed antibiotics are used incorrectly. Probiotics canít do anything about that, but they might improve your compliance by limiting your GI side effects.
Kundert, who has a doctorate of pharmacology, is available by appointment only for 10-minute consultations sponsored by Los Altos Pharmacy. For an appointment, call 948-1212.
