What Are Probiotics?
Probiotic bacteria are living organisms normally found in the intestines of healthy people. They are keys to maintaining a healthy
immune system and overall health. Having healthy, stable gut flora makes people less prone to certain diseases, and it has much to do
with our overall health. When our bodies are colonized with these healthy bacteria, we are able to develop a healthy immune system
which is vital to the prevention and treatment of allergies.
According to Body Ecology.com,
probiotics have several positive effects on the body: They improve the function of the mucosal lining of the intestines; they hinder the growth
of pathogenic bacteria; they stimulate the production of immune enhancing substances; and they enhance the overall immune response.
Probiotic organisms act like microscopic defenders against invading organisms by creating a barrier that prevents harmful bacteria and
viruses from multiplying in the body. By changing the acidic environment in the intestines, they also create a less favorable environment
for harmful organisms to develop.
Probiotics also help break down food for digestion, produce the lactase enzyme which helps to digest
lactose, and produce vitamins in
the intestinal tract, as outlined on Vaxa.com. Their positive
impact on intestinal health makes probiotics a noteworthy contributor to the overall health of the immune system.
The immune system's health is integral to the experience of the allergy sufferer. Allergies are misguided reactions of the immune system
in response to (what should be harmless) particles. Since probiotics promote the health of the immune system, the relationship between
probiotics and allergies is an increasingly interesting and important area of research.
The Hygiene Hypothesis
As crucial as probiotics are, a lack of these beneficial organisms causes problems. But, what causes a shortage of probiotics? One
simple and straightforward reason people lack these healthy bacteria is taking a course of antibiotics. Antibiotics don't distinguish
between good and bad bacteria and may eliminate much of the healthy flora in the intestines while wiping out an infection. Therefore,
it is important to take probiotic supplements after finishing a course of antibiotics in order to replenish the healthy bacteria and
boost your immune system.
 Whether you've ever taken antibiotics or not, all those in the developed areas of the world are susceptible to what is known as the
"hygiene hypothesis." The hygiene hypothesis developed as the medical community realized that people in the modern Western world have
far more allergies than people in the rest of the world. The basic idea is that our attentiveness to germs and bacteria has created
a world that is, ironically, too clean. This has fostered an environment that seems to cultivate the prolific development of allergies.
Of course, scientists agree that there is a genetic component to allergies. However, this does not suffice to explain the continuous
rise of allergy sufferers. Smaller family sizes, vaccinations, antimicrobial medication, generally improved hygiene, antibacterial
soap and hand gel, and almost sterile food have greatly reduced our exposure to microbes. Researchers believe that this decrease in
exposure is directly correlated to the increase of allergies.
Unfortunately, by eradicating so much of our contact with these germs there are two main negative consequences: First, our bodies have
not had the chance to develop antibodies that would be natural resistance to common allergens. This leaves people susceptible to reactions
to allergens that they should have built up tolerance to.
Secondly, not only have our immune systems not had the opportunity to develop antibodies, but they have been severely unemployed. Researchers
believe that since our immune systems are supposed to be active, when they aren't busy fighting off diseases or bacteria-ridden food, they
begin to attack much less serious offenders. For example, pollen and dander are attacked creating the chain of reactions that we know as
allergies. In other words, the lack of contact with bacteria has left the immune system abnormally idle, leading to malfunctions like allergic
reactions. This is discussed in an ABC News article called
Taking Probiotics Could Prevent Allergies.
These allergies can range from mild irritation to severe chronic conditions.
Furthermore, it not only is the consumption of clean food that reduces the amount of bacteria we are exposed to that affects what bacteria
we have in our gut, but also the type of food matters. As reported in Fox News in
Could Gut Germs Underlie Western Allergies?",
researchers are finding that the consumption of sugar, animal fat, and calorie-dense foods in industrialized countries also greatly limits
the adaptive potential of beneficial microbes. According to a study done comparing the germs living in the guts of children in Italy and in
the children of a remote village in Burkina Faso, a lack of intestinal bacteria seems to significantly contribute to the higher rates of
allergies found in rich, industrialized countries.
 The Vancouver Sun
also reports on a study involving children in Burkina Faso, breastfed up to age two and raised on a diet rich in whole grains, legumes, and
vegetables with very little meat, who had much more bacteria in their guts (for example, many bacteria that help to break down fiber). These
microbes were lacking in the European children, who had a less diverse and more processed diet. The research team concluded that a "reduction
in microbial richness is possibly one of the undesirable effects of globalization and of eating generic, nutrient-rich, uncontaminated foods."
This "reduction in microbial richness" through a Western diet of limited, processed, and sterile food greatly contributes to a varied growth
of healthy gut bacteria.
This decreased biodiversity of organisms helps to explain our much higher incidence of allergies. Improved sanitation, vaccines, and
cleaner food may have greatly reduced and eliminated infectious diseases in developed countries, but our consequent lack of exposure to
bacteria has created the opportunity for other ailments to arise.
Probiotics and the Development of Allergies
While we may not have had the chance to develop many healthy bacteria and antibodies in our intestines, promising research is discovering
the benefits of taking probiotic supplements.
In a research project in Norway called the "Prevention of Allergy Among Children in Trondheim," researchers compared mothers who drank
one glass of probiotic milk a day to women who were given a placebo. The mothers began drinking the milk beginning at week 36 in their
pregnancy and continued up to three months after giving birth. The result, reported by Science Daily in
Probiotics Use in Mothers Limits Eczema in Their Babies, Study Finds
a decrease of the occurrence of eczema in their children by 40 percent up to the age of two.
A similar study led by Finnish researchers also concluded that exposing pregnant mothers and infants to probiotic bacteria could be
beneficial to the immune system. The team found that by stimulating the growth of the immune system, probiotics could play a role in
preventing allergies.
In this study, a group of women began taking probiotics daily while another group had placebo doses starting from their eighth month
of pregnancy until six months after delivery. The team found that the levels of key proteins associated with tissue inflammation were
on average 50 percent higher in the blood of infants treated with probiotics.
Since inflammation is thought to stimulate the immune system, it is believed to subsequently help reduce allergic reaction. According
to ABC News in
Taking Probiotics Could Prevent Allergies,
the probiotic-treated infants were also 30 percent less likely to develop atopic eczema, a common indication of the early manifestation
of allergies. The researchers concluded that "it seems clear that we need to stimulate the infant's immune system as early and as
vigorously as is safe, for inflammation seems to go hand in hand with allergy prevention."
This research and other information suggest that infants need to be exposed to microbes early in their lives to stimulate their
immune systems in order to learn how to properly function (that is, attack harmful microorganisms instead of attacking inoffensive elements).
Without proper and sufficient exposure, immune systems begin to overreact and attack what should be harmless food and environmental
substances. However, as Upward Quest Health
discusses, probiotics can come in and provide the stimulation that young and undeveloped immune systems need to become healthy and strong.
How to Take Probiotics
 Since probiotics clearly offer gastrointestinal and immune system health benefits, taking probiotics is a good idea. However, it is
important to know how to take probiotic bacteria and how much to take.
The number of probiotic bacteria in our gut may number up to whopping 100 trillion. It makes sense, therefore, that for the dose to
be effective, you ingest at least a certain minimum amount of probiotic bacteria. Some say that this should be 10 million colony-forming
units per gram. Obviously, the bacteria should be safe for human consumption, and should also be resistant to upper GI conditions, able
to adhere to gut linings, stimulate healthy bacteria, and suppress harmful bacteria. Probiotics should also be taken daily to have
recognizable effects.
Probiotics are found in different forms. Several foods have had probiotics added to promote digestive benefits. These include
fermented dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and kefir. They also may be found in miso, tempeh (fermented soybeans), granola bars,
dried cereals, and drinks - some juices, soy beverages, and powdered drinks.
Probiotics can also be found as dietary supplements in capsules, tablets, and powders. Take care when purchasing probiotics, as
their concentration levels can vary greatly and can contain many different strains. Different strains are helpful for various
things. For example, L. acidophilus has shown to be helpful for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, while B. infantis may benefit
irritable bowel syndrome. Also look for probiotics that are alive when taken. Try to check whether or not the products have
been clinically tested to ensure their effectiveness in humans.
Taking probiotics is easy, and the benefits they confer on intestinal and immune health are significant. For the allergy sufferer,
improving the immune system can have profound effects on slowing the development or lessening the severity of allergic reactions.
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