Can bacteria improve your health?

Can bacteria improve your health?

When people think of bacteria they think of diseases caused by them – tuberculosis, pneumonia, typhoid and streptococcus throat infections to name a few. The perception that bacteria cause disease is common and widely prevalent. In the circumstances, to think of them as friendly and possessing beneficial properties is hard to imagine. But emerging evidence seems to suggest that certain foods and supplements containing friendly bacteria may in fact confer many health benefits. We call these “friendly” bacteria, probiotics.

Various studies have shown that probiotics can be helpful in the treatment of diarrhea. There are also reports that probiotics might be helpful in the treatment of irritable bowel disease and lactose intolerance and even conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol. However, the results are not, as yet, conclusive and more research needs to be conducted. One should also consider that in certain cases, “friendly bacteria” may actually be detrimental to our health if we are sick or have other infections. We must also be aware that antibiotics kill off all bacteria – not just the pathogens – so these should always be taken on the advice of a physician and used only when necessary.

More research is needed to better identify useful bacterial strains and determine what conditions they can best treat. Therefore, if you are interested in taking probiotic supplements, it is imperative that you consult your health care provider first. Friendly bacteria often occur naturally in the food we eat so by checking with your doctor first, you might even save yourself some money at the supermarket till.

Remember, it’s your life, your future, Your Health First.