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Probiotics are friendly bacteria that live in your digestive tract and essentially influence every aspect of health, from neurotransmitter production to immunity to digestion. But these beneficial little microflora must eat in order to survive and thrive. What is their food of choice? Prebiotics!

What Are Prebiotics?

Donna Gates, author of The Body Ecology Diet, explains: "Prebiotics are derived from insoluble fiber and fructooligosaccharides or FOS (carbohydrate molecules made up of a relatively small number of simple sugars)."

These prebiotics are the ideal nourishment for beneficial bacteria living in the digestive tract. By feeding them well, you give friendly microorganisms the chance to establish a viable population that can not only perform important tasks in the digestive system, but also keep pathogenic bacteria like yeast under control.

Prebiotics Benefits

The benefits of prebiotics are far-reaching. While directly affecting gut flora balance and digestive health, prebiotics have also been shown to have beneficial affects on:

- Heart health
- Triglyceride levels
- Cholesterol levels
- Immunity to common illnesses
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes

One particular advantage of prebiotics is that they do not need special care. Probiotics, on the other hand, have to be carefully handled to ensure the organisms stay alive through packaging, shipment and storage. This does not always happen, and it's difficult to tell if a probiotic supplement or food contains live cultures or not. Prebiotics, however, are carbohydrates that do not need any special care to remain effective.

Foods that Contain Prebiotics

There are many foods that contain one or more of the various prebiotics. Here is a partial list:

- oats
- wheat
- garlic
- onions
- Jerusalem artichoke
- leeks
- asparagus
- chicory
- milk (organic raw certified)
- bananas

There may be particular advantages to eating probiotics and prebiotics together so the two can work synergistically. Yogurt with bananas or onions and live sauerkraut are excellent options for pairing these two beneficial substances in an appealing way.

Prebiotics for Infants

Breastmilk is also a good source of prebiotics, which is yet another reason why breastfeeding is such a healthy choice for infants. Establishing a healthy colony of gut flora as early as possible is essential for healthy growth and development. Studies also indicate that formula-fed infants benefit from prebiotic supplementation.

Prebiotics Supplements

The most popular prebiotics supplements usually contain fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which is a form of inulin typically derived from chicory. These supplements may be beneficial to those looking to increase their intake of prebiotics. However, they lack the synergy of choosing whole foods that naturally contain prebiotics. A prebiotics supplement cannot replace a wholesome, balanced diet.

Further Reading:

http://www.naturalnews.com/030102_probiotics_infants.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/029668_digestion_tips.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/029358_probiotics_gut.html

http://www.bodyecology.com/07/02/08/prebiotics_essential_to_heart_health.php

http://nourishedkitchen.com/prebiotics-and-probiotics/

http://www.parentingscience.com/prebiotics.html


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/030464_probiotics_health.html#ixzz1l3m0xO8Q

(NaturalNews) Probiotics and digestive enzymes prevent colds and flu; research has shown. Probiotics are the healthy bacteria that live in the intestines. Harmful bacteria include those like E. coli (Escherichia col), etc, but there are many bacteria that inhabit our gut that help with our digestion. Now, studies have shown that probiotics also help the immune response by both preventing colds and flu and speeding recovery time.

Probiotics are included in many forms of yogurt, kefir, and other cultured milk products, such as sour cream. Most probiotics help the immune system prevent diseases such as irritable bowel, diarrhea, and allergies.

A study published in the medical journal Pediatrics was conducted on 326 children in China. They were from the age of three to five years old. The children were given milk twice daily that contained the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus by itself, or combined with Bifidobacterium animalis. The children were followed for six months, from November 2005 to May 2006.

The study results were impressive and showed that the one probiotic was helpful but the benefit was enhanced in the group who took the two probiotics together. The group who took the Lactobacillus contracted had half the number of fevers of the placebo group (53%). They also had 41% less coughs and 28% less runny noses. When they became sick, their illnesses were one third shorter than the placebo group (32%) and they used 68% less antibiotics. They missed 38% less school than the placebo group as well.

The children who took both Lactobacillus acidophilus along with the Bifidobacterium animalis contracted over two thirds less fevers than the placebo group (72%). They had 62% less coughs, and 59% less runny noses. Their duration of illness was nearly HALF of that in the placebo group (48%). They missed slightly less school than the children taking only one probiotic (32% compared to the other group's 38%), but they used 84% less antibiotics compared to the placebo group, surpassing the other group's level of 68% less usage.

The study was double blind and placebo controlled, and it was conducted during the winter cold and flu season. Though the study was funded by a Danish company that makes probiotics, Danisco, similar results have been sited elsewhere.

With the benefits from probiotics proven in other areas of digestive health and improved immune function, there is reason to add probiotics to a healthy diet regime year-round.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56Q4PX20090727
http://blog.naturalstandard.com/natural_standard_blog/2009/08/probiotics-...
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/2/e172

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/027574_probiotics_colds.html#ixzz1l3mbM3NJ