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can't be reabsorbed. e liver then reaches out into the blood to get new cholesterol, which lowers the amount of cholesterol in the blood. All Bifidobacteria species, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and some other Lactobacilli have this capability. Adding prebiotics to probiotics helps probiotics flourish, but prebiotics — because they're fiber — also directly work to decrease cholesterol. Using Probiotics in Fighting Kidney and Liver Disease e liver and kidneys get toxins out of your system and process nutrients from the foods you eat. Any interruption of the functioning of these two organs, whether through disease or more short- term illnesses, can cause serious health problems. Breaking down kidney stones About 1 in 20 Americans suffer from kidney stones at some point in their lives. Men tend to have more kidney stones than women, and stones tend to recur; in fact, for some, kidney stones are a lifelong problem. Sometimes kidney stones present no symptoms; other times, they cause severe pain and blood in the urine. In some cases, kidney stones can lead to kidney failure. e most common type of stone (more than 80 percent of cases) is composed of calcium oxalate, a chemical compound that forms needle-shaped crystals. Your gut bacteria — primarily Oxalobacter formigenes, but also B. lactis, L. acidophilus, and B. infantis — normally break down oxalate. However, if you don't have these gut bacteria in adequate amounts, then your gut absorbs the oxalate and the burden of excreting it falls on the kidneys. When your kidneys can't excrete oxalate fast enough, you can develop kidney stones. Probiotics help patients with kidney stones by breaking down the oxalate so it doesn't go to the kidney in the first place. A University of Boston study found that people who have a lot of Oxalobacter formigenes in their systems are 70 percent less likely to develop kidney stones. In animal studies, oral probiotics decreased both blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels, both of which measure kidney function. Probiotics have been used for cats and dogs for kidney failure for a long time. Early evidence suggests that probiotics can postpone dialysis for people with kidney failure. But you'll have to stay tuned as more research is done on that issue. Improving liver function Your liver processes alcohol, drugs (including over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen), and toxins. Several prescription drugs are particularly harmful to the liver and can result in fatty deposits in the liver. Being overweight or obese also can generate fatty deposits in the liver, which can lead to inflammation, scarring, and even liver failure. People who consume a lot of alcohol (more than two drinks per day for men, and more than one drink a day for women) are at particularly high risk for developing liver disease. But even nondrinkers can get liver disease, because the liver receives virtually all the blood flow from the digestive tract. So any toxins that you take in through food, drink, or drugs go through the liver. Preliminary evidence indicates that probiotics reduce the absorption of aflatoxin, which is strongly linked to liver cancer, from the intestine. Probiotics may have a role to play in preventing liver cancer in people with cirrhosis (a chronic disease in which the liver is inflamed and scarred, usually from alcohol abuse or liver disease caused by toxins or viruses), who are at high risk for developing liver cancer. End-stage liver disease, caused by various issues, can cause hepatic encephalopathy, which means toxins like ammonia aren't pushed out by the liver and thus affect the patient's nervous system. Cirrhosis patients have substantially altered gut flora, with overgrowth of disease-causing E. coli and Staphylococcus bacteria. In one study, probiotics increased the Lactobacillus species in the gut, and this increase was associated with decreased blood ammonia levels and decreased encephalopathy. As the studies pile up, the role of probiotics in promoting healthy liver function is promising. But more human trials are needed in this arena. Promoting Immune Function Between 70–90 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive tract. Normally, your immune system recognizes and gets rid of harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxins, while leaving the "good" or harmless stuff alone. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks healthy cells and organisms. And, at least in some autoimmune diseases, an imbalance between good and bad gut flora may be at least partially to blame. Developed countries have a higher incidence of some autoimmune conditions such as Type 1 diabetes (oen called juvenile diabetes). A low intake of prebiotic fiber adversely affects the intestinal microbiota, which leads to less production of elements that regulate the immune system, such as shortchain fatty acids (SCFA). Commonly, the modern Western diet consists of food that is processed, stored, transported over long distances, and is low in vegetables and fiber — which means your body makes fewer SCFAs, which in turn harms the way Page 32| Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com