Probiotics, a good thing or is it just marketing.

[kikie]

I have always wondered if probiotics is worth while taking or not.

A healthy bowel is, as far as I know, needed to be healthy. Some doctors say it's marketing, some say that it is a good thing. I don't which doctor is correct though. Antibiotics destroys or damages intestinal flora while Probiotics repaires your intestinal flora.

Which doctor is correct? Is it needed and healty or is it just a marketing ploy?

 

[Grayfox]

Probiotics is not an antibiotic
Antibiotics are used to treat infections by killing bacteria(good or bad)

Probiotics helps restore the good bacteria in the gut.



Do you need to take probiotics to be healthy?

Lets look back 100 years.
Did they have probiotics?

No.

We need them these days since everything is high in sugar, fat and salt.

 

[Johnnypenso]

My solution to almost all health issues is food and exercise. Eating real food, avoiding processed food, works wonderfully well in the long run. I don't believe pills and potions will overcome a poor diet and a good or great diet is the best sickness prevention available.

 

[huskeR32]

Lets look back 100 years.
Did they have probiotics?

No.

We need them these days since everything is high in sugar, fat and salt.

Not quite true there. There are some microorganisms thought to be beneficial to human health ("probiotics") that have been part of our diet for hundreds or thousands of years, mainly in the form of fermented dairy and yeasts.

Some studies suggest that the consumption of probiotics is definitely desirable, maybe even necessary, but we've always gotten them naturally, and didn't need to think about it. At least until everything started to be pasteurized. The reduction of probiotics in our diet since then has possibly thrown our digestive systems all out of whack, leading to the current trend of "growing" probiotics and adding them back into our foods. In other words, we're killing them all off, then adding them right back in. Brilliant.

While you're definitely right that our current high-fat, -sugar, -sodium diets aren't helping matters, there's some pretty convincing research that says we've always needed probiotics.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Not quite true there. There are some microorganisms thought to be beneficial to human health ("probiotics") that have been part of our diet for hundreds or thousands of years, mainly in the form of fermented dairy and yeasts.

Some studies suggest that the consumption of probiotics is definitely desirable, maybe even necessary, but we've always gotten them naturally, and didn't need to think about it. At least until everything started to be pasteurized. The reduction of probiotics in our diet since then has possibly thrown our digestive systems all out of whack, leading to the current trend of "growing" probiotics and adding them back into our foods. In other words, we're killing them all off, then adding them right back in. Brilliant.

While you're definitely right that our current high-fat, -sugar, -sodium diets aren't helping matters, there's some pretty convincing research that says we've always needed probiotics.

Most "convincing" research is usually conducted or funded by someone with a vested interest in the outcome, at least in my experience. The only time I'd even consider taking them as a supplement is after a round of antibiotics, something I haven't done in 20 years or so. Even then I'd probably just end up eating more yogurt or other foods with probiotics in them instead of taking a pill.

 

[huskeR32]

Most "convincing" research is usually conducted or funded by someone with a vested interest in the outcome, at least in my experience. The only time I'd even consider taking them as a supplement is after a round of antibiotics, something I haven't done in 20 years or so. Even then I'd probably just end up eating more yogurt or other foods with probiotics in them instead of taking a pill.

I can't specifically recall where I read about them, but I do remember one of their conclusions being that the current trend of adding probiotics artificially is stupid, and people should just focus on trying to get them naturally. So it didn't really seem like it was aiming to get people to buy the new trendy supplements and such, but again, it was a while ago and I don't recall where I read them, so you may be right.

At any rate, my personal view on them is that they're probably beneficial, but making better dietary choices is probably sufficient, and the supplements are a gimmick.

 

[Johnnypenso]

I can't specifically recall where I read about them, but I do remember one of their conclusions being that the current trend of adding probiotics artificially is stupid, and people should just focus on trying to get them naturally. So it didn't really seem like it was aiming to get people to buy the new trendy supplements and such, but again, it was a while ago and I don't recall where I read them, so you may be right.

At any rate, my personal view on them is that they're probably beneficial, but making better dietary choices is probably sufficient, and the supplements are a gimmick.

Haha, something we can agree on. It's a much bigger topic, but I think this trend towards "health in a bottle" is one of the great scams of the last decade or two. I just don't believe there is any substitute for a good diet and exercise, everything else is just a bandaid or like putting a pretty dress on Rosie O'Donnell.

 

[Northstar]

I see these as little more than a scam, even if they do work it's probably overall healthier just to change your diet to improve digestive health.

I think this trend towards "health in a bottle" is one of the great scams of the last decade or two.

It's been going for way longer than that.

You just have to hope you don't end up with gigantism,

 

[Omnis]

Ever wonder why lactose-intolerant people have diarrhea? Well, besides any kind of allergic/inflammatory reaction, the lactose goes undigested and winds up in the colon where bacteria FEAST on it. So the dookie is really just billions of bacteria overflowing out of your poop shoot.

Probiotics are good, yeah, but they need to be able to survive the treacherous trip to where they belong. pH extremes and other bacteria will kill them. But if they're in the majority they will kill other virulent bacteria. That's a benefit in addition to the help they provide with digesting foods your body can't.

 

[kikie]

If you take probiotics while eating, they probably have a higher chance of surviving than when you take them a while after you ate. That's what I heard.

 

[lbsf1]

I have no facts to back this up, this is purely my gut feeling (get the pun?).

I think that whilst probiotics may be good for you and possibly slightly beneficial for your body however I also think that the adverts and marketing by the companies vastly exaggerate these benefits. The use of words such as "scientifically proven to increase the number of good bacteria" are what makes me dubious, they have made a scientific claim based of a really vague definitions (What actually classifies as good bacteria?). These adverts are preying on those with lacking scientific knowledge.

 

[PeterJB]

I don't really think they're necessary. If you've been on a course of antibiotics and had the runs then eat some Yogurt.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

I think probiotics are good in situations similar to the following - you have been eating like crap for years, then decide to change your diet to a much healthier one. Going on a course of probiotics for a short period would be a good way of bringing you gut back to proper function, after which your improved diet will take over to maintain that function.

 

[kikie]

AFAIK, it's not only antibiotics that can damage your intestinal flora. Stress, alcohol, added toxins/chemicals in food etc... damages intestinal flora.

Where are the GTP members with a medical background?
I need you!

 

[Grayfox]

AFAIK, it's not only antibiotics that can damage your intestinal flora. Stress, alcohol, added toxins/chemicals in food etc... damages intestinal flora.

Where are the GTP members with a medical background?
I need you!

I am a Doctor.

I have a PHD in doctor assisted homicide

 

[BobK]

I would imagine that for a small percentage of people probiotics could be a good thing. However I expect to see them hype the hell out of probiotics, you'll see commercials claiming You're At Risk NOW!!! get a free 30-day trial for only 9.99 plus tax and shipping.

 

[kikie]

So I guess I can save "a buck or two" if I stop taking probiotics.

 

[VBR]

The BBC documentary series Horizon carried out an independent test, the results are interesting.

 

[niky]

Not surprising. If you have healthy intestinal flora, there's no need, actually, to take any probiotics. And even then, you can get them more easily from yoghurt.

 

[kikie]

So, it seems that my personal doctor is right. He's also a scientist and he said that there is no proof that it do any good.