Volume 124 Issue 54
kansan.com
Friday, November 4, 2011
HEALTH
Photo illustration by Morgan LaForge
Better Bacteria: Probiotics help boost your body's native bacterial species to maintain a healthy immune system
Photo illustration by Morgan LaFore
In a sterile culture of hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes, it is difficult to think of bacteria as being good. But hundreds of bacterial species naturally live in the human body, and even help the body to digest, build a healthy immune system and prevent infection. When the native bacteria don't perform like they should, probiotics, live microorganisms that provide a health benefit, can assist in the functions the native bacteria typically perform.
Quinn Brabender, a senior form Lawrence, learned the benefits of probiotics when reoccurring staph infections his freshman year left him feeling groggy all of the time. Brabender took antibiotics to fight the infections. Soon after the antibiotics would heal one infection, another would begin. Brabender found himself taking antibiotics regularly to fight the infections. "I took antibiotics so often that I didn't allow my body to build up the good bacteria I needed for a healthy immune system," Brabender says.
He also started feeling ill. "I'd wake up after eight hours of sleep and be groggy. I just felt lethargic all the time," Brabender says.
Brabender's mother took him to a naturopathic doctor, where Brabender found
out he had food allergies he wasn't aware of. His doctor put him on a restrictive diet and recommended a high dose of probiotics supplements. After four weeks of taking probiotics and following the diet Brabender began to notice improvement in his sleep, digestion and even his mood. "It effected how I felt every day. I wasn't tired anymore and started being in a better mood," Brabender says.
Like in Brabender's case, many people take probiotics after using antibiotics because in the process of the antibiotics killing bad bacteria it also kills off the native good bacteria. But this is not the only time people feel the need to provide reinforcements to their native bacteria and supplements aren't the only form. In fact, there are many different forms and strains of good bacteria, but not all of the forms perform in the same way.
Probiotics can be most helpful after suffering from an illness such as food poisoning or stomach flu, which causes the body to lose native bacteria, says Lowen Millpaugh, assistant wellness manager at the Community Mercantile. The good bacteria is usually excreted from the body through diarrhea but can also be killed from use of antibiotics, Millpaugh says. Because the immune system and digestive system are closely related, probiotics can also
help with all over immunity and prevent common viruses and disease, Millspaugh says. Higher doses are typically more effective after extreme illness, antibiotics or persistent digestion problems, Millspaugh says.
Dosage is not the only variable to consider. "There are a lot of different strains of bacteria available. Each is particular to a specific age group or health benefit," Millspaugh says.
Millspaugh says it often takes a little experimenting to find the probiotics that works best with your body but doing research on the different strains and doses are also important. "It's all about taking your health into your own hands and doing the research," says Millspaugh.
Mary Ellen Sanders, an internationally recognized consultant on probiotic microbiology, says finding a probiotic that has been scientifically tested and proven to provide health benefits is important because the word "probiotics" is not legally defined or regulated. "Most people think the products containing higher amounts of probiotics are better, but choosing a tested probiotics is more important," says Sanders, the executive director of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics. Because the word "probiotics" is not legally defined
manufacturers can use it liberally. The only FDA criteria that affect probiotic manufacturers is that labels must be truthful, but this is not closely regulated, says Sanders. "You really have to do some homework on the product to make sure it is backed with research," Sanders says.
Other than capsules, probiotics can be found in supplement drinks, such as kefir and in fermented foods, containing live cultures like yogurt, miso, sauerkraut and kombucha tea. Although some of these products have the scientific backing, not all do."Lots of foods that have live cultures are good for you, but the health benefits haven't always been scientifically proven," Sanders says. It's also important to understand that not all fermented foods contain the live cultures by the time they reach the supermarket.
When manufactures heat or pasteurize their fermented products, the live cultures die. Typically foods that contain live cultures will be found in the refrigerated section, and the labels will say live, raw cultures, Millspaugh says.
When it comes to a healthy immune system probiotics can often help, but it's not a complete answer. Millspaugh says you must also think about the food you eat, daily stress control and healthy sleep. "You can't just fix everything with a probiotics. You have to think about your body holistically."
Bill 2012-094 to fund Spencer Museum of Art Student Advisory Board's World Aids Day
Total: $450
Bill 2012-096 to fund the Dance Marathon
Total: $2,563
PASSED BILLS:
Bill 2012-091 to fund the International students Association's Event "Flavors of the World"
Total: $155
Edited by Sarah Champ
FAILED BILLS:
2012-099 to exempt Engineers Without Boarders from travel expenses
Bill 2012-102 to fund Environs showing Ingredients, a documentary about the local food movement Total: $285
Qualls said that the $800,000 project will install cable barriers two miles east of Eudora, and two miles along the Kansas Highway 7 interchange in Johnson County. KDOT will finance the project, which is expected to begin next summer.
Following the double-fatality accident last April, Scott Hopson, the Mayor of Eudora, wrote Gov. Sam
"The installation of the cable median barriers at these two sections is to alleviate vehicles — hopefully — from crossing over the median," she said.
Brownback asking for improved safety measures on the highway.
Hopson said that he and other citizens of Douglas and Johnson Counties initially asked the state to install cable barriers along the en-
Bill 2012-098 to fund Into the Streets Total: $3,989
accidents on K-10 have killed 11 people, according to statistics from KDOT. Of the 11 fatalities, eight occurred at locations where KDOT plans to put in the cable barriers, said Kimberly Qualls, the Northeast Kansas public affairs manager for KDOT.
tire stretch of K-10. However, the group scaled backed their request after KDOT recommended a more economically feasible plan.
Hopson said that he was pleased with the state's choice to provide the
cable barriers along the highway.
"It couldn't have worked out any better. We had a lot of smart people, a lot of folks who was pas-
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Index
SEE K-10 QN PAGE 3
GE 3
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
SPORTS 8
SUDOKU 4
An contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
Saturday night is the end of daylight saving time. Set your clocks back an hour.
Today's Weather
Forecasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast, see pages 127-130. HI: 57 LO: 37
Warning up for the weekend
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