Our bodies contain a significant amount of bacteria, especially in our digestive tract. Bacteria thrive in our system and the human body contains a very complex bacterial balance. These organisms can protect us against infections and have a positive effect on the system.

Today, we commonly eat foods that may deplete our beneficial digestive bacteria. Changes in diet, stress, and drug therapy can alter the bacterial balance and create an increased susceptibility to disease and altered nutrient absorption. A highly acidic diet could be depletive. Uses of drugs and alcohol may influence and deplete our supply as well. Antibiotics can kill beneficial bacteria and allow harmful bacteria to thrive. Additionally, we also may lose some of these healthy bacteria with age.

“Probiotic” is a common buzzword today. Probiotics are either beneficial bacteria or yeast that are found in foods like yogurt, pickled vegetables, fermented bean paste, kefir (fermented milk products), kimchi (mixture of fermented vegetables), miso (thick paste made from fermented and processed soy beans), kombucha (fermented beverages), sauerkraut, soy sauce, and tempeh (fermented soy). Probiotic supplements are also available in many health food stores. Adding these foods to our diet may replete our supply of beneficial bacteria and yeast. Some benefits of probiotics include:

• improvements in gastrointestinal health
• improvements in urinary and genital health
• improvements in bioavailability of nutrients
• improvements in allergies
• improvements in diarrheal symptoms
• improvements in gastrointestinal disorders – for example, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and Crohn’s disease
• improvements in lactose intolerance
• decreased cancer risk (especially bladder and colon)
• improvements in diarrheal symptoms
• reduced inflammation
• lowered cholesterol
• protection against food poisoning
• protection against harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi

It is important to note that everyone will have a different experience with these foods. Ease into them and start slowly. You may feel bloating or gas initially when the bad bacteria is dying off. Research is underway regarding the appropriate dosing for particular bacteria.