Many bacteria flourish in the digestive tract, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium varieties. The maintenance of healthy intestinal flora aids digestion and boosts the immune system. Claims have also been made that good intestinal function may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Probiotics (literally “pro life” or “for life”) are dietary supplements which contain potentially beneficial bacteria and yeasts. The rationale behind them is that antibiotics, stress, illness and a variety of other causes reduce the number of intestinal flora in the digestive tract. Danone claimed that weather changes may have be among them on the now-defunct UK Actimel site.
Probiotic products aim to deliver extra intestinal flora to the gut to aid with digestion, which may engender temporary colonies of bacteria that assist the body’s natural flora. However, if the conditions which lead to the depletion of the intestinal flora persist, their benefits will be short-lived, which may be why Danone recommends that its probiotic yoghurt Activia is eaten at least once a day.
A healthy level of intestinal flora can also easily be ensured by maintaining a diet with a good level of prebiotics, which occur in such foods as raw oats, unrefined wheat, artichokes and chicory. The benefits of a single kind of bacteria being added to the gut are also brought into question by the fact that there are millions of different kinds of bacteria in the gut already. The Activia site for the USA provides a PDF Scientific Summary For Health Care Professionals (1Mb).
There is emerging evidence that probiotics may help elderly patients recover from surgery quicker by countering some effects of antibiotics, but there is also evidence that probiotics can be dangerous for patients with acute pancreatitis : Probiotics may be useful in some medical settings, and may be extremely harmful in others
Comments
I was diagnosed with IBS about 2-3 years ago. I felt it was a result of taking Glucophage, as I had never had any lower digestive issues prior to taking the drug. ( I have had reflux for years). Finally last year I was seen
by a Gastro-intestional doctor, prior to a colonoscopy. After describing my symptoms ( diarrhea,bloating and
abdominal cramping),she agreed with my internal medicine doctor-it was IBS. The interesting thing she told
me was that taking more fiber would help with the diarrhea-giving bulk to my diet. I just assumed that more
fiber would exacerbate the problem. I began to use the soluable fiber. It works! And I started using Activia,to
aid in the bloating-that worked too. Yes, you do become “extremely regular” when you eat Activia,, but that is
not such a bad thing, right? There are many negative remarks on your website-but Activia tastes good and
has other benefical aspects to it-not to mention the fact that it’s readily available everywhere-so what not use
it? For your “natural” participants-not everyone has a natural food store where they live-but everyone has a
grocery store.
Posted by Sheryll on 14th July 2010
I am 82 years old and have had severe constipation for years. I had to resort to prescription drugs which caused bad discomfort all the time. Finally I decided to try Activia, not really believing it could help anybody
with my problems, but for the first time in many years, I have regular elimination every day and feel one hundred
percent better. Thanks for such a wonderful product.
When I submitted this comment, you said that I had already said that. I assure you this is the first time I ever
looked up your website. m
Posted by Margaret H. on 12th June 2010
I am 82 years old and have had severe constipation for years. I had to resort to prescription drugs which caused bad discomfort all the time. Finally I decided to try Activia, not really believing it could help anybody
with my problems, but for the first time in many years, I have regular elimination every day and feel one hundred
percent better. Thanks for such a wonderful product.
Posted by Margaret H. on 12th June 2010
i was having really bad intestional pain every morning my whole life im 24 years old. i just started eating activia and it has stoped seriously i cannot afford a doctor and it seemed like i was lactose intolerant but that wasnt the problem i was lacking good bacteria it seems like
Posted by chris desarno on 15th February 2010
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