What are Probiotics and How Do They Affect Your Health?

Dr. Doni demystifies probiotics: what causes their levels to be altered in the body, what happens when they are disrupted, and how can we get them back on track?

“Probiotics” refers to supplements containing bacteria that are good for your gut. The most common bacteria found in probiotic supplements are Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria. These are the two most abundant bacteria found in the human intestines, and research indicates that having low levels of these two bacteria increases health risks.

There are actually trillions of micro-organisms living in your intestines, including at least 1,000 different species of bacteria. As a whole, these are referred to as the “microbiome” or “gut microbiota.” They make up an ecosystem within your body, which has only recently been fully studied in the Human Microbiome Project, completed in 2011. We now know that two thirds of your gut microbiota is unique to you, just like your fingerprint.

While we may not like to think of it, and have often heard that we should beware of bacteria, in the case of the bacteria living in our intestines, research indicates that we should be doing everything we can to nurture them. That’s because, in addition to helping with digestion and nutrition, these healthy bacteria turn out to regulate our metabolism (they assist with activating thyroid hormone), appetite, and immune responses. They also prevent invasion by pathogen bacteria (bacteria that are bad for us) and overgrowth of other organisms, such as yeast (read more about yeast here).

In fact, many health issues, including IBS, colitis, reflux, weight gain, diabetes, autoimmunity, asthma, autism, depression, anxiety, and decreased memory have all been shown to be associated with an increase or a decrease in the amounts of these bacteria in the gut.

What happens if we don’t pay attention to these bacteria?

When the balance of healthy bacteria shifts, a ripple effect occurs which can lead to inflammation in the colon, susceptibility to infections, intestinal permeability (or leaky gut), an increased likelihood of reactions to foods such as gluten and dairy, digestive upset (see symptoms below), and issues in other areas of the body, such as rashes, mood changes, weight gain or weight loss.

An imbalance of healthy bacteria, combined with leaky gut, can also increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and neurological conditions (decreased memory or migraines, for example) because the gut and the brain are closely related and problems with one can affect the other.

To learn more about how an imbalanced digestive tract, can become a stress to the body and perpetuate a vicious cycle of unwellness, be sure to read my book, The Stress Remedy. It includes solutions that can help you achieve your health goals.

There are several things that can cause a decrease in our healthy bacteria. These include:

• Stress and elevated cortisol
• Antibiotics
• Infections
• Anything that disrupts healthy digestion: antacids, proton pump inhibitors, surgery
• Inflammation, such as from food sensitivities (gluten and others)
• Heavy metals, pesticides, and toxins
• Sugar, alcohol, and processed foods
• Leaky gut

How to tell if your healthy bacteria are too low?

1. Check your symptoms

2. Test the composition of your microbiome

What you can do if your healthy bacteria are too low

1. Add healthy bacteria and address unhealthy microorganisms to your gut by:

• Taking a high quality probiotic such as Klaire Detoxification Support—read more under “how to find a good probiotic” below. I don’t suggest yogurt as a source because the dairy proteins (casein and whey) and sugar in yogurt negatively affect healthy bacteria.
• Working with me or another practitioner to address any unhealthy bacteria, parasites, and/or yeast using herbs and natural products.
• Considering fecal transplantation, which involves introducing healthy stool into your colon in a clinical or home environment.

2. Manage infections effectively (and hopefully avoid antibiotics) by:

• Doing your best to prevent infections by eating healthily and optimizing your cortisol levels, as described in The Stress Remedy
• If you get an infection, work to address it with plenty of sleep, nutrients, herbs and other natural approaches that will hopefully mean you can avoid the use of antibiotics.  Use my Cold/flu Natural Survival Guide or set up an appointment so I can help you.
• If you do have to take antibiotics, be sure to take a high quality probiotic as well and for at least a month after you stop taking the antibiotics.

3. Support the ecosystem in your gut every day by:

• Minimizing or avoiding sugar – which promotes unhealthy bacteria and yeast in your gut.
• Eating fiber in the form of veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds, and take a prebiotic supplement* such as arabinogalactans (I throw them in my shake each morning).
• Drinking plenty of water – I suggest 4 to 8 ounces every 2 to 4 hours through the day – which helps to keep your bowel movements regular and your healthy bacteria thriving.
• Exercising regularly has been associated with a healthier balance of bacteria.
• Choosing fermented foods (such as sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles) as long as your gut is not aggravated by them.
• Healing and preventing leaky gut by avoiding foods that trigger inflammation via food sensitivities (such as gluten, dairy, and eggs) as this could disrupt your healthy bacteria
• Mastering stress and optimizing cortisol levels by identifying what is optimal stress for you and implementing the stress remedies that work best for you. Here is a link to an infographic to help you.

One of the best things you can do, if you think your healthy bacteria need some nurturing, is the Stress Remedy Program (7-day or 21-day). It will help support your internal eco-system by avoiding gluten, dairy, eggs and soy, by choosing organic foods and avoiding sugar and alcohol.

The shake that’s included in the program is not what you might expect from a cleanse shake – it contains organic pea protein with nutrients and enzymes that help heal the digestive tract and stabilize your healthy bacteria.

How to find a good probiotic?

There are many products out there. To find a product vetted by me, check the store at DrDoni.com. I’ve tried many products over the years, and have had varying degrees of success. The products I recommend have resulted in the most positive benefit – and are only available through a practitioner.

While there are some good probiotics available at health food stores, if you don’t see enough positive change, then it is worth investing in a higher quality product.

When choosing a probiotic, look for:

• Refrigerated bottle (usually okay out of refrigeration for up to 2 weeks)
• Dairy-free product
• Expiration date on the bottle
• Dosing between 5 billion and 100 billion per day

Research indicates that we need more than a good probiotic to resolve a severe bacterial imbalance – so do reach out to me so I can help you if that is your situation. You can click here to make an appointment. Once you start taking a probiotic, as well as a prebiotic, and addressing your stress levels and leaky gut, then you’ll not only feel better each day, but you’ll also be helping to prevent chronic health care concerns in the future.

If you’d like to read about the science behind probiotics, be sure to check out these two articles:

1. Probiotics, prebiotics, and the host microbiome: the science of translation
2. Why Antibiotics Are Making Us All Ill – Martin Blaser, The Guardian

Now I’d like to hear from you…

How does it feel to think that we rely on bacteria in our gut to keep us healthy?

Please share your thoughts, and sign up below to receive my next article in your inbox.

Dr Doni
5^th June 2014

*Please keep in mind that any and all supplements—nutrients, herbs, enzymes, or other—should be used with caution. My recommendation is that you seek the care of a naturopathic doctor (with a doctorate degree from a federally-accredited program) and that you have a primary care physician or practitioner whom you can contact to help you with individual dosing and protocols. If you ever experience negative symptoms after taking a product, stop taking it immediately and contact your doctor right away.