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28 “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЛЮТИЙ 2011 DIGESTION AND PROBIOTICS by Ihor Magun, MD, FACP Digestive problems appear to be more prevalent in women than in men and can occur at any time in a lifetime and often occur because of microbial imbalances or “bad” bacteria in the digestive tract. Commonly, antibioti cs can produce digestive changes, but this (along with other factors) can create additional complications. When the natural balance of the colon is altered by antibiotic treatment, stress, inadequate dietary fiber, or poor dietary choices, the bad bacteria and yeast proliferate in the intestine and produce a condition called dysbiosis, which increases the likelihood of diarrhea, vaginal yeast infections, and irritable bowel symptoms. One alternative to traditional antibiotic treatment is probiotics. Althoug h first introduced in 1953, probiotics has recently taken off as one of the new and natural, healthy ways of controlling digestive problems. So what are probiotics? Probiotics are live microbial organisms that are naturally found in the digestive tract an d vagina. Their presence suppress the growth of harmful bacteria, improve s immune function, help s make vitamin K and enhance s the protective barrier of the digestive tract. In contrast to antibiotics, probiotics stimulate growth of “good” microorganisms in th e intestine, which in turn provides a stable, microbial balance. There are no specific dietary recommenda - tions about quantities or type of probiotic. In fact, although medical research is filled with anecdotal information of the potential benefits of pro biotics, not even one study specifically recommends exact amounts. The study results concur, however, that probiotics can be beneficial for men and women alike, but probiotics should never be used by critically ill individuals or anyone who may be immune s uppressed. The most common probiotic micro organ - isms are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These can be found in naturally fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut. Many products (such as the yogurt Activia) distinctly point out that they contain Bifi dobacterium. The number of live organisms vary in different products due to processing methods, so that not every yogurt can make this claim. If you choose this type of probiotic to help regulate your digestive process, read labels carefully. Probiotics ca n also be found in tablet form (e.g., Align) and can be purchased without a prescription in many pharmacies and other stores. Exact dosing and use should be carefully followed to maximize the benefits. (Branded products such as Activia and Align are cited here only as examples; similar products are available and are just as good if you read the labels correctly.) The price for this natural digestive control mechanism is high when compared to the cost of other products that claim to help regulate digestion o r at least alleviate digestive irregularities, but the potential benefits far outweigh the costs. But, as always, it is best to consider more than finances when making health decisions, and one question that needs to be addressed is whether topping up hea lthy bacteria in the gut is beneficial. The answer depends on the status of your personal digestive system. Post - antibiotic short - term treat - ment with probiotics can be beneficial. However, if you have no intestinal issues or problems, there is no real nee d to use such supplements unless the intent is a proactive preventive measure. In either case, probiotics taken as recommended will not hurt you and may indeed make you feel good. If that is the case, go with your gut reaction (pardon the pun) and enjoy th e natural benefits. OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word pro cessor. She told him she was writing a story. “What's it about?” he asked. “I don't know,” she replied. “I can' t read.” Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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