by Maria Amato, MS, RD, CSSD
www.sportsdietandnutrition.com
Cont. from Parisian's Pure Indulgence April 26, 2013 Newsletter...
... "good" bacteria along with the bacteria that causes illness. A decrease in the "good" bacteria can lead to other issues. Taking probiotics may help replace what is lost.
Probiotics have also been used to treat problems in the stomach and intestines, however, only certain types of bacteria have been shown to work and it still needs to be proved which ones actually work to treat diseases.
Certain foods also provide prebiotics, which are nutrients such as certain carbohydrates, that probiotic organisms need to grow.
For the most part, probiotics are safe, however, it is advised that for elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems considering taking a supplement, speak with their physician first. There are concerns about the quality of supplements as some have been found to contain smaller amounts of live microorganisms than expected and some have been found to contain bacterial strains other than those listed as ingredients. More research is needed to clarify the benefits and safety of prebiotics and probiotics.
So, while probiotics may be the talk of the town, it is still unclear how beneficial they may be, however, consuming a tasty Greek yogurt has enough benefits to go around with the high protein content, lower sugar than other yogurts, and live cultures....how can anyone resist?
Maria Amato MS, RD, CSSD
Have you used probiotics? How have they helped you? ~Kelli
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