Are you interested in a natural way to build up your immune system… and give the boot to those nasty germs that can make you miserable and ruin your holiday festivities? Get ready to be truly thankful for nutrients like probiotics—the good and friendly bacteria, or healthy intestinal flora, that break down your food and assist your small intestinal lining to absorb essential nutrients. These friendly microbes crowd out bacteria that make us sick, and prevent these bad germs from multiplying and attaching themselves to the wall of your digestive tract.
According to online information from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, probiotics may help…
- Control symptoms of diarrhea, especially after an antibiotics regimen
- Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections
- Decrease the chances of bladder cancer reappearing
- Prevent and treat inflammation after colon surgery
- Treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Plus, natural probiotic therapy may ease some symptoms of such inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease as indicated in the American Journal of Physiology−Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.
But increased levels of beneficial probiotics may also help strengthen your immune system. According to a study published in Clinical Nutrition, researchers from the Institute for Physiology and Biochemistry of Nutrition in Germany found that healthy women and men who ingested probiotics every day for three months decreased their misery from the effects of the common cold by almost two days. They also reduced the severity of those symptoms, which include coughing, sneezing and headaches.
Unfortunately, bacteria levels in your body naturally decline as you age, and the healthy microorganisms that remain are easily destroyed. How? Through increased consumption of alcohol… overuse of antibiotics and other prescription drugs… excessive consumption of red meat and other poor eating habits… consumption of city water treated with chlorine and sodium fluoride… and the rise in stress levels because of factors inherent in modern living.
However, you can increase your body’s friendly bacteria levels and strengthen your immunity by eating foods that are rich in probiotics such as yogurt with live bacteria, fermented milk and other fermented foods like sauerkraut or kimchi, as well as miso, tempeh, aged cheese, kefir and some juices. Plus, you can use a quality supplement that contains at least 6 billion colony-forming units (CFU).
Michael Cutler, M.D. is a board-certified family physician with 18 years experience specializing in chronic degenerative diseases, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
A graduate of Brigham Young University, Tulane Medical School and Natividad Medical Center Family Practice Residency in Salinas, Calif., he serves as a medical liaison to alternative and traditional practicing physicians. His practice focuses on an integrative solution to health problems.
Dr. Cutler is a sought-after speaker and lecturer on experiencing optimum health through natural medicines and the Founder and Editor of Easy Health Options™ newsletter—a leading health advisory service on natural healing therapies and nutrients and is Medical Advisor for True Health™—America's #1 source for doctor-formulated nutrients that heal.
For more information visit www.truehealth.com.
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