Probiotics

So, as mentioned, I've spent this week listening to pod casts from Underground Wellness.  I listened to 3 of the newer pod casts and then kicked it way back to the beginning and listened to his first 2 pod casts.  The November 18th, 2008 podcast featuring Reed Davis "It All Starts in the Gut", was very intriguing to me.  Reed works from a standpoint of functional medicine and often uses urine and stool testing to determine alkaline/acidity levels, various hormone levels, intestinal problems such as urine and parasites.  His webpage is www.bonesandhormones.com if you are interested in looking into him further.  I was pretty intrigued by the idea of these tests that you can have done.  I looked around google a little and I'm afraid they are way too pricey for my budget.  However, one of the things Reed talked about being beneficial was probiotics.  I have to admit that I'm a little embarressed that it hasn't occured to me to take a probiotic before now.  I often recommend that my patient's ask their MD's about taking probiotics, especially following rounds of antibiotics.  It's not like it something I haven't heard of, I guess, I just didn't relate the benefit back to me.

So, what are probiotics?  They are bacteria.   When we take courses of antibiotics or get sick with diarhhea, we lose bacteria in our intestines.  Sometimes, that's what we are trying to do.  Get rid of that bad bacteria that makes us feel bad.  But, our viruses and antibiotics don't distinguish the good and the bad bacteria, they just try to get rid of all of it.  Our intestines are meant to keep a certain amount of good bacteria, to build our immunity, to aide in the breakdown of food.  Bacteria is our friend!

So, yesterday, I went on a grand adventure to whole foods looking for a probiotic.  Who knew there were so many to choose from and they were so expensive?  I followed Reed's advice and got a probiotic with multiple strains of  bacteria and cultered in the billions (mine has 42 billion per capsule).  They have to be refrigerated because the bacteria will die slowly, particularly if warm.  And, I started taking them yesterday.  I take one/day on a full stomach.  I'll have to check back and let you know if I can tell a difference between my before and after.  It also seems logical to me that I shouldn't always need to take a probiotic.  When someone is healthy, fit, rarely sick, taking a probiotic once every few days or for 30 days on, 60 days off should be sufficient.  In my case, I figure I probably need a good 90 days before I take a break.

I am curious to see if there will be visible results from my little experiment.  I sure won't complain if it helps give me a little more energy and keeps me from getting sick as often.  Here, here!