Probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeasts in the form of a dietary supplement. Taking probiotics helps to replenish the natural gut flora that thrives in your digestive system. Doctors and nutritionists often recommend these, particularly after you have had a course of antibiotics. Many health professionals believe that probiotics help to increase the strength of the immune system and help you combat allergies as well as assist your body in regulating the gut flora.

After colon hydrotherapy, most hydrotherapists will serve you acidophilus. This common probiotic is often found in yogurts and other dairy foods. As you get older, eat meat, travel, and use prescription drugs such as antibiotics and corticosteroids, the good gut flora that exists in our digestive tract begins to decline. Much of this flora will typically help our immune systems and fight off disease, but as their numbers decline this protection declines as well.

In addition to helping our bodies stay disease free, this gut flora also helps us to digest our nutrients, vitamins and enzymes, especially the lactose in milk and dairy products. Probiotics help us to supplement those floras and to replace those that have died off. Daily intake of foods that contain probiotics helps with a number of digestive issues, such as constipation. They can also help to increase the amount of nutrients we absorb, reduce blood cholesterol and even help to protect against tumors and colon cancer.

There are several different strains of probiotic supplements. The most common strains of probiotics include:

·Lactobacillus acidophilus

·Lactobacillus casei

·Bifidobacterium longum

·Bifidobacterium bifidum

The lactobacillus strains are helpful to the small intestine, while the bifidobacteria is helpful to the large intestine, as the generally reside in these areas.

Interestingly, vegetarians tend to have a healthy balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria, while people who eat meat tend to have larger amounts of "bad" bacteria, particularly Bacteroids.

Generally, probiotics have many health benefits and besides improving your overall digestion, they also help to:

·Prevent gas

·Prevent bloating

·Prevent bad breath

·Replenish "good" bacteria after antibiotic use

·Enhance the function of the immune system

·Help digest food

Probiotics not only have a positive effect on your colon, but also in other systems of your body including skin, respiratory and genital-urinary tracts. I am also available for telephone consultation. You may request a consultation by email through the website. Consult with your physician before embarking on any weight loss diet program.