411 on Probiotics

Written by Ali Rosen, IFBB Pro Tuesday, 22 November 2011 15:36

Just like fats, bacteria get a bad rap too.  People associate bacteria with dirt, grime, disease and illness; the thought of consuming bacteria as a supplement, in their minds, is like asking for a death wish.  This thought is true when it comes to bad bacteria, but if you look closer, you'll find the family of health promoting bacteria that are formally known as probiotics (from pro and biota, meaning “for life”).  Little do people know about the growing body of scientific evidence that suggests you can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing certain kinds of live bacteria. This article will introduce probiotics, their health benefits and where they can be found.

Probiotics are defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization as “live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts which confer a beneficial health effect on the host".  Most probiotics are bacteria that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut, and are small, single-celled organisms.  In order to be considered a probiotic the microbe must be alive when administered, must be documented to have a health benefit and must be administered at levels shown to confer the benefit.  The most common types of these beneficial bacteria are Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, like what can be found in your favorite tub of yogurt.

Probiotics date back to ancient times, where they were most commonly found in Northern European culture.  Northern Europeans have been consuming probiotics from fermented dairy products containing live cultures and highly suggested they have health benefits.  Recent controlled studies are agreeing with folklore and have proven that probiotics are a valuable asset for maintaining a healthy diet.  Studies have found that probiotics are effective with improving your immune system by regulating lymphocytes and antibodies.  Studies have found that probiotics may improve nutrient bioavailability, for B vitamins, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium and phosphorus, among others, which helps to create a protective environment against microorganisms causing disease.  Other studies have shown that probiotics, especially acidophilus, promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the colon and reduce the conversion of bile into carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) that helps with digestion and absorption of food within the gastrointestinal tract.

Probiotics are available in foods and dietary supplements (for example, capsules, tablets, and powders) and in some other forms as well.  Examples of foods containing probiotics are yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, and some juices and soy beverages.  In probiotic foods and supplements, the bacteria may have been present originally or added during preparation.  For dietary supplementation there are two great products highly recommended:  Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus EPS and Gaspari Nutrition’s Myofusion Probiotic Series.  The Jarrow Formulas capsule is filled with 500 billion organisms per capsule, 8 species of clinically documented strains and are vegetarian. Gaspari Nutrition’s Myofusion Probiotic series is a revolutionary protein formulation with a highly potent blend of six amino acid packed sources of protein.  It mixes a highly potent protein blend yielding 24 grams of protein per serving and is enhanced with a patented probiotic Ganaden BC30 (Bacillus coagulans) that will help support your digestive and immune systems.  This product kills two birds with one stone by offering supreme quality whey protein and probiotics to help overall health and digestion all in one serving.  Another added benefit is that it is gluten and aspartame free and includes 9 grams of essential Amino Acids (EAAs).

Understanding that the human body is composed of over a trillion microorganisms explains the necessity to have a constant supply of beneficial bacteria within your body.  It is important to balance your body with healthy bacteria in order to remain healthy and combat unfriendly microorganisms.

Alison Rosen is an NCSA-ACPT and is pursuing her Masters Of Dietetics and Nutrition and RD license at Florida International University.  She is also an IFBB Bikini Pro and member of Team Bodybuilding.com!  You can find out more about Alison at:

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