Probiotics for Health

Our immune systems require constant support. Especially during cold and flu season, however, we need all the extra help we can get. You need probiotics. What are they? Probiotics are the opposite of antibiotics; they are friendly bacteria necessary to keep the digestive tract (which just so happens to be the center of your immunity) functioning, and helps keep you from getting sick or developing disease.

Some people believe the only reason to take probiotics is when taking antibiotics. Not true! You should take probiotics every day of your life to maintain proper health. Antibiotics are dangerous because they remove all good bacteria in the gut, and contribute to candida overgrowth which can cause a host of unpleasant health issues. Remember, antibiotics are an enemy to your body; they will only cause a host of problems over the long haul and destroy useful bacteria needed to maintain health.

Sources of probiotics? They are not where most people would expect(check your local farmers for these products - you won't find them in the stores unless you live in Europe or some non-industrialized nation):

• raw milk
• raw butter
• raw cream

Raw cheese is another good source, and you can find these products in health stores. Raw cheeses are cultured and therefore are legal for sale in markets. A great place to purchase raw dairy online is Organic Pastures. I personally use their products and they are fabulous.

Other good sources for probiotics are the following products (found in health food stores or online):

Acidophilus Pearls by Enzymatic Therapy.

Green Apple Pro 96 Acidophilus by Nature's Life (Nature's Life has other flavors as well - this one is the best).

Complete Probiotics - Reputable M.D., Dr. Joseph Mercola sells these on his site.

The following must be obtained from a licensed healthcare practitioner:

Biodophilus Caps by Biotics Research Corporation.

Do not eat store-bought yogurt, kefir, or milk and expect to receive probiotic benefit (even the organic variety). Here's why: store-bought dairy products are pasteurized. Pasteurization is the process of using heat to kill bacteria. The only kind of bacteria you will find in pasteurized products is dead bacteria. Ew! As a secondary reason (as if you needed one after that), most yogurts are full of some type of sugar. Sugar is one of the main enemies to a healthy digestive tract and can be responsible for helping to destroy friendly bacteria.

For more information about probiotics, read our article at Agriculture Society.