Digestive Health Supplements

There’s a critical connection between bowel problems and the nervous system that doesn’t receive much attention in most medical circles. In fact, in testimonials concerning the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, you’ll find that many individuals have seen a dramatic improvement or even complete reversal in such problems as schizophrenia. The same is true when bowel problems are corrected with probiotics or many of the other digestive cleansing methods I’ve discussed in this blog.

Generally, those in conventional medical circles haven’t been able to grasp the connection between toxins in the bowels and neurological disease. (Most still believe the cause of IBS, ulcerative colitis, and similar bowel problems is totally unknown.)

Between 60 and 70 percent of our immune system is located in the digestive tract, which makes sense when you realize it’s one of only three direct connections our body has to the outside world (our skin and respiratory tract are the others)—making it one of the places we are most exposed and vulnerable.

A breach in the gut wall—common in individuals with IBS, Crohn’s disease, and chronic constipation and diarrhea—is commonly referred to as “leaky gut” syndrome. This state allows toxins, bacteria, yeast, fungi, viruses, and incompletely digested foods to enter the bloodstream. An excess of these pathogens creates additional acids, fermentation byproducts, waste, and toxins that eventually overcomes our gut’s defenses.  

That’s why it is vital to maintain bowel health. It’s one of the most effective methods of improving your overall immune function. It can help prevent or reverse many of the neurological diseases on the rise in both children and adults.

Once these toxins and other particles breach our body’s protective barriers, they cause inflammation throughout the body and can often cross the blood/brain barrier, where they then interfere with the circulation and flow of nutrients to the brain—which in turn impairs consciousness, speech, cognition, and behavior. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that digestive and bowel problems are one of the principal complaints of people of all ages with depression, “brain fog,” irritability, schizophrenia, and seizures—even children with autism. It also should be no surprise to see these problems resolved when the bowel problems are corrected.

If you or your loved ones suffer from one of these neurological problems, getting rid of body toxins and restoring the bowels to normal is one thing you don’t want to overlook.

The use of probiotics is preventive medicine at its best. For this very reason it’s important to constantly replenish your body’s supply of these important life-sustaining organisms, which you can do easily with a daily probiotic supplement. And to that you can add my favorite—a nice daily helping of homemade sauerkraut to reap full probiotic benefits.

Probiotic benefits vary depending on the bacteria in question. If you're looking for a probiotic digestive supplement, be sure to choose one that does what you have in mind. If you're interested in addressing a specific health area, then a single species of bacteria, or even a specific strain, might be up to the job.

Here are some of my recommendations:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus--for the relief of occasional diarrhea symptoms.
• Bifidobacterium longum--for improvement in bowel regularity.
• Bifidobacterium lactis--for improved immune function and a reduction of H. pylori, the bacteria thought to be responsible for digestive ulcers.
• Lactobacillus plantarum--also for improved immune function.
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus--for a reduction in the diarrhea symptoms known as "traveler's diarrhea."
• Lactobacillus paracasei--also for improved immune function.
• Lactobacillus salivarius--also for improved immune function.
• Lactobacillus gasseri--for the relief of occasional diarrhea symptoms.
• Bifidobacterium longum --for the relief of occasional diarrhea symptoms, particularly the condition known as "traveler's diarrhea."
• Bifidobacterium infantis--for the relief of bowel irregularity and the abdominal pain associated with bloating and gas.

If you're looking for overall digestive health benefits, including improved bowel regularity and relief from bloating and gas, you'll want a product that contains a variety of species.

Probiotic benefits of a digestive health supplement containing Bifidobacterium infantis  include the relief of bowel irregularity and the abdominal pain associated with bloating and gas--making it among the few effective IBS treatments.

As you might imagine from the name, B. infantis is one of the dominant digestive bacteria in children, in whom it helps support immune health. The population of B. infantis declines with age, but it still remains an important part of your digestive flora. As a side benefit, the bacteria can help improve bowel regularity in children.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains B. infantis, along with a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Persistent bowel problems can result from an infection with the bacteria Clostridium difficile, or C diff. I've written about C diff a few times. It's an equal-opportunity bacterium, causing bowel problems for young and old alike--and, more importantly, for those who are otherwise healthy.

C diff infection is marked by watery diarrhea symptoms that occur more than three times a day and last for more than three days.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is an invasive disease that's estimated to cause more than 18,000 deaths annually among hospitalized patients. For several years it was considered the most perilous of hospital-acquired infections, because it's so hard to treat. With C diff on the rise, however, MRSA has to take a back seat.

C diff is transmitted by contact with infected surfaces such as hands or countertops. Until recently it was considered to be a problem only among the elderly ill who had been hospitalized. Now, however, it's become much more prevalent--25% more common than MRSA, according to one recent estimate.

The bowel changes from C diff often arise after the patient has been treated with a course of antibiotics. The problem, of course, is that antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria in your digestive tract. My suggestion: If you begin to experience diarrhea symptoms after taking a round of antibiotics, begin taking high-quality probiotic digestive health supplements immediately.

Probiotic benefits of a digestive health supplement containing Lactobacillus gasseri include the relief of occasional diarrhea symptoms.

L. gasseri is a recently discovered strain of bacteria. It resists both acid and bile, so it can survive the trip through the stomach and small intestine into the lower bowel. As side benefits, the bacteria can help in ulcer treatment by reducing levels of the competing bacteria H. pylori, and it supports healthy cholesterol levels. It even helps with the bacterial balance in the vagina.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains L. gasseri, along with a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Probiotic benefits of a digestive health supplement containing Lactobacillus salivarius include improved immune function.

L. salivarius is a hardy strain of bactera that can survive in harsh environments, including in the mouth. Regardless of where it's found, L. salivarius helps prevent the colonization of undesirable bacteria--sort of like a probiotic policeman. As a side benefit, when used orally the bacteria can help reduce bad breath and ear infections.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains L. salivarius, along with a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Probiotic benefits of a digestive health supplement containing Lactobacillus paracasei include improved immune function.

L. paracasei is a hardy strain of bactera that's found mostly in the small intestine, but when combined with milk it can survive the trip into the lower intestine. Regardless of where it's found, L. paracasei increases the number of lactic acid-forming bacteria--which can work to reduce diarrhea symptoms. As a side benefit, the bacteria can improve liver function in people with poorly performing livers.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains L. paracasei, along with a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Probiotic benefits of a digestive health supplement that contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus include a reduction in the diarrhea symptoms known as "traveler's diarrhea."

L. rhamnosus is a hardy bacteria that survives far down in the digestive tract. It adheres well to epithelial cells in the intestine and elsewhere, and can help reduce irritation and infection in the urinary tract and vagina.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains L. rhamnosus, along with a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Probiotic benefits of a digestive health supplement that contains Lactobacillus plantarum include improved immune function.

L. plantarum is common in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and sourdough. It produces hydrogen peroxide that attacks competing bacteria. As a side benefit, L. plantarum appears to reduce the severity of allergic reactions.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains L. plantarum, plus a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Diarrhea caused by antibiotics can present a real challenge to the patient. Antibiotics kill bacteria indiscriminately: the bad ones that cause disease, as well as the good ones that keep you healthy.

Diarrhea symptoms can appear as soon as 12 hours after taking your first dose of antibiotics. The solution is to replace the good bacteria as quickly as you can, with a combination of probiotic digestive health supplements and foods that contain live cultures, such as yogurt, kefir, and real sauerkraut.

Yes, the antibiotic will kill off many of the probiotics, but it's essential to keep replacing them so that they can begin to colonize your bowel the moment the antibiotic is gone.

Digestive supplements could save you significant money, if you're one of the millions of people currently using a prescription medication. A recent survey conducted by the Medical Expenditure Panel showed that more than 10% of Americans received a prescription for a digestive drug in 2007--up from about 7% in 1997. In addition, the average cost of a prescription rose from $90 to $120.

As I've said many times, digestive health supplements such as digestive enzyme supplements and probiotics can be just as effective as any drug--and at a significantly lower cost.

The category includes drugs for common digestive problems such as heartburn, ulcers, constipation, and diarrhea. And while digestive supplements aren't always the answer to every bowel problem, for many people they work like magic, restoring the natural balance in your intestinal tract.

The next time your doctor reaches for the prescription pad, think about digestive supplements as an alternative before you swallow that purple pill.

Bowel problems can be directly connected to working shift work. A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology showed that nurses who worked either night shifts or rotating shifts were significantly more likely to experience bowel problems such as abdominal pains, constipation, and diarrhea--essentially IBS symptoms (irritable bowel syndrome).

In the study, 399 nurses were asked about their digestive health, including constipation and diarrhea symptoms. Those who worked rotating shifts reported similar risk for constipation and diarrhea, but a significantly higher risk for abdominal pain and other IBS symptoms.

Certainly the high stress involved in nursing increases ones risk of bowel problems overall. What made those bowel problems worse in the shift workers is that their daily rhythms have been disrupted. I've reported before about how daily rhythm is connected to heartburn. Now it appears that other areas of digestive health, including bowel regularity, are also driven by the clock.

Probiotic benefits of a digestive supplement containing Bifidobacterium lactis include improved immune function and a reduction of H. pylori, the bacteria thought to be responsible for digestive ulcers.

B. lactis grows well in milk, and adheres well to mucous membranes in the lower intestine of most mammals, including humans.

Look for a probiotic digestive health supplement that contains B. lactis, along with a variety of other bacteria, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Rye bread is one of the more effective natural laxatives, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Participants were given either white bread, whole-grain rye bread, probiotic digestive supplements, rye bread plus the probiotics, or their usual laxative. Those who ate just the rye bread showed greatly decreased bowel transit time, which means that their stool was in their body for much less time--a good thing.

Though the participants ate a lot of rye bread--about 8 ounces per day--you can still get the benefits. Switch from regular white bread to whole-grain rye bread, and even if you're eating just a couple slices of toast every morning you can expect to see an improvement in your digestion.

As an aside, I thought it was odd that the researchers chose the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus for this trial. It's pretty well known that L. rhamnosus is beneficial for vaginal health and as a diarrhea treatment. Why you'd test a diarrhea treatment as a constipation treatment is beyond me. Someone is going to trot this study out as "proof" that probiotics "don't work." Use a bacteria such as Bifidobacterium longum, which is known to be an effective constipation treatment.

A reader recently asked whether he could become dependent on probiotic digestive health supplements after taking them for a long time.

A probiotic benefits you in two ways: first, it adds more of the good bacteria that you need to head off bowel problems such as constipation and diarrhea. Second, it crowds out the bad bacteria that can lead to bowel problems such as bloating and gas.

It's perfectly normal for large numbers of bacteria--both good and bad--to die off every day. That's why you need to replace the good ones, by either eating fermented foods such as sauerkraut and yogurt or taking digestive supplements.

There are more than 400 species of bacteria in the average person's gut. Some are bad for you. most are neutral, and some are very good. The good ones tend to work together, so taking probiotic digestive supplements that contain only some of the good varieties can bring improve the health of all the good ones.

To get the full probiotic benefits, look for a digestive health supplement that contains four or more varieties of bacteria. And don't worry about becoming dependent on the. Instead, celebrate the independent feeling of not having to worry about the location of the next restroom.

Probiotic benefits from digestive health supplements containing Bifidobacterium longum include improvement in bowel regularity. Studies show that people who take probiotic digestive supplements including B. longum get these other probiotic benefits as well:

• Improved digestion of carbohydrates;
• Reduced allergy symptoms;
• Lower levels of inflammatory compounds in the bowel; and
• Improved immune function for up to 20 weeks after taking B. longum.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains B. longum along with a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.

Over the last couple of months I've provided you with treatments for addressing diarrhea symptoms. I've found that these are also useful for preventing diarrhea before it starts. Some of the treatments involve digestive health supplements, and others are dietary items. Here's a summary.

• Diarrhea treatment #1: Clay helps in preventing diarrhea by absorbing water in the bowel
• Diarrhea treatment #2: Ileocecal valve manipulation works for diarrhea treatment by closing off the valve that allows digestive products to move from your small intestine to your large intestine.
• Diarrhea treatment #3: Turmeric works to restore bowel regularity.
• Diarrhea treatment #4: Black tea restores absorption of water in the bowel.
• Diarrhea treatment #5: Carob powder is a useful diarrhea treatment for infants.
• Diarrhea treatment #6: BRAT for kids provides bulk and essential minerals that can be lost via diarrhea, along with calming the digestive tract.
• Diarrhea treatment #7: Lactic Acid Yeast wafers help support a natural bacterial environment in your gut.
• Diarrhea treatment #8: Probiotics also support a normal bacterial balance.

Here are more complete explanations for the diarrhea treatments in this "series."

Diarrhea symptoms are more likely to appear in women travelers than in men. Women seek diarrhea treatment about 25% more often for the "traveler's diarrhea" that's so dreaded by vacationers, according to a report in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

The researchers aren't sure why women seek diarrhea treatment more often. It could be because women are more willing to ask for help when they need it, or they may be more susceptible to diarrhea symptoms in the first place. According to the study, women were also more likely to seek help for the bowel problems of irritable bowel syndrome, which include abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea.

Men were more likely to come down with fever-related diseases, including malaria and bacterial infections.

Whenever you're traveling to a new place, it's a good idea to keep a diarrhea treatment available, whether you're a man or a woman. Black tea and digestive health supplements such as probiotics can help promote bowel regularity while you're on the road.

Probiotic benefits of a digestive supplement containing Lactobacillus acidophilus include the relief of diarrhea symptoms. As a side benefit, people who take L. acidophilus supplements tend to come out of a course of antibiotics with more of their good bacteria intact. 

L. acidophilus colonizes in the small intestine, where it helps promote absorption of many nutrients, including iron.

Look for a digestive health supplement that contains L. acidophilus along with a variety of other bacteria species, to get the full range of probiotic benefits.