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What are Probiotics? Page 8| Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com By Dr. DelRae Messer, D.C. P robiotics are species of health-promoting bacteria that we require for proper digestion of food and immune defense against illness promoting bacteria, viruses, and fungi. e term "probiotic" derives from Latin and Greek, meaning "for life". e World Health Organization (WHO) has defined probiotics as "live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host." To put this simply, probiotics, which are also known as "intestinal microflora", are "good bacteria" that live in our gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and aid in promoting optimal health and preventing illness. Although these bacteria live throughout our intestinal tract, they are found in the highest concentrations at the far end of the small intestine and in the large intestine. Research has demonstrated that the total number of bacteria living in a healthy adult amounts to ten times more bacteria than the total number of cells in the human body! In fact, a healthy intestinal tract should contain up to 1 kg (over two pounds) of bacteria. Most of these organisms are either neutral or health promoting but some have the potential to cause illness (e.g. Salmonella or E. Coli). In order to be healthy and to prevent the colonization of harmful bacteria, our GI tracts must contain sufficient numbers of the health promoting beneficial bacteria. Why do we need probiotics for health? Research into probiotics has received much attention in recent years. In fact, there have been over 1000 research studies conducted in the past ten years. Much of this research has been performed to determine the therapeutic effect of probiotics, meaning using them as "drugs" to treat various forms of illnesses. While there is powerful evidence to support their use in this way, I believe the use of probiotics should be for the promotion of health and wellness and the prevention of illness. Waiting until you are sick and then trying to treat the illness will always be inefficient, dangerous, and costly both in financial and, more importantly, in human terms. Find a probiotic formula based on those species found most commonly in the food of our ancestors and in the intestinal tracts of healthy human beings. We know from research that our ancestors consumed healthier diets and had superior health and less chronic illness compared to modern, industrial humans. In consideration of this fact, find a probiotic that models the types and amounts of bacteria ingested by our ancestors - the types and amounts we genetically require is best. Lactobacillus plantarum was the most common bacteria in the food of our ancestors and is still the most common bacteria in fermented foods in Africa. Lactobacillus plantarum was also the dominant species isolated from the GI tracts of healthy subjects in a recent study in the United States. Not surprisingly, it is also one of the species most commonly shown by research to have health-promoting effects. e human normal flora was determined thousands of years before humans ever consumed dairy, goat's milk, or grains. Try to find probiotics derived from 100% vegetarian culture that contain no dairy, soy, goat or grain products. Should I take a probiotic? I take a daily probiotic to promote the proper balance of intestinal bacteria. New research is emerging that says our intestinal gut system is a "second brain". Serotonin, our "feel-