Probiotics Against Allergic Diseases
Diarrhea: Numerous studies have shown that probiotic-containing foods are highly successful in treating diarrhea.
In traditional folk medicine, giving yogurt to people with diarrhea is a common practice. Probiotics are more effective for viral diarrhea, but have less effect on dysentery-type diarrhea.
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Approximately 20% of people who use oral antibiotics develop diarrhea due to disruption of the gut flora. Probiotics are quite successful in both preventing and treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Irritable bowel syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome is a bowel motility disorder that can be seen in any age group, presenting as mucousy, watery diarrhea 4 to 10 times a day. Probiotics reduce diarrhea in irritable bowel syndrome.
THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF CANCER
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are thought to develop as a reaction resulting from a disruption in the balance of intestinal microorganisms in favor of disease-causing organisms. Probiotics can ease the symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis by establishing a healthy microbial balance in the gut.
Fat and protein digestion: Probiotics found in dairy products help digest the proteins and fats present in the gut – in other words, they make it easier to digest food.
Breaking proteins down into their smallest units (amino acids), a process called protein hydrolysis, can reduce the occurrence of allergic reactions.
Rheumatism: Toxins that enter the circulation are acidic in nature. When these toxins come into contact with the alkaline cartilage tissue, inflammation occurs in the joints. In rheumatic diseases, the immune system should be balanced rather than suppressed. This is where probiotics play an important role.
Cancer: Yogurt, a widely used source of probiotics, has been shown to potentially have anti-carcinogenic (cancer-preventing and treating) effects.
Breast cancer: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. Although the evidence is not very strong, various studies have shown that consuming fermented dairy products such as yogurt reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Colon cancer: Colon cancer ranks second or third among the most common tumors in developed countries. Many experimental and epidemiological studies show that probiotics play an important role in protecting against colon cancer.
URINARY TRACT DISEASES AND PROBIOTICS
Probiotics reduce genital infections and urinary tract infections. They achieve this by lowering vaginal pH and preventing disease-causing bacteria from adhering to the mucosa (competitive inhibition).
ALLERGIC DISEASES AND PROBIOTICS
Probiotics are successfully used in the prevention and treatment of cow's milk allergy, atopic eczema and other allergic diseases.
Probiotics strengthen the protective mucosal barrier in the intestines, thereby reducing intestinal permeability and preventing allergens from entering the bloodstream. Milk proteins are broken down by the enzymes of probiotics instead of the enzymes trypsin and pepsin.
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND PROBIOTICS
It is thought that the increase in intestinal permeability resulting from disruption of the gut flora leads to inflammatory diseases not only in the intestines but in many organs outside the gut as well. It has been found that the gut flora of newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients is abnormal.
A diet rich in probiotics has been observed to reduce the need for anti-rheumatic medication and to ease clinical symptoms.
GUT FLORA IN AUTISTIC CHILDREN
The gut flora of most autistic children is disrupted. In these children, pathogenic bacteria, fungi and parasites proliferate excessively. These pathogenic microorganisms disrupt food digestion and lead to the formation of various toxins.
CESAREAN BIRTH AND PROBIOTICS
During birth, a baby encounters probiotics (lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) coming from the vagina. As the baby is breastfed, normal flora develops. Babies born by cesarean section encounter microbes directly from the external environment, so normal flora does not form in these babies. The transition from the initial colonizing flora to healthy flora is quite difficult even when a suitable feeding environment is provided. As a result, children born by cesarean section have more frequent immune problems. Since a healthy oral and intestinal flora does not form, these individuals' immune systems are weaker, and they more often face a predisposition to allergies.
You can find more information on this and related topics in my books “Discover Detox,” “The Emotional Brain and Gut,” and “Beautiful, Happy and Healthy.”