Dr. Jeff’s Story about Probiotics
Hello, my name is Dr. Jeff Hamill and I would like to discuss the topic of probiotics with you. Probiotic supplements increase the good bacteria that live in our digestive system. These good bacteria have a very unique and important role. These good bacteria allow us to absorb vitamins and minerals in our bodies. How do we know if our bodies have enough good bacteria or whether or not we would benefit by taking a probiotic?
If a person has taken antibiotics, anti-inflammatory pain medications or birth control tablets within the last few years, any of these can reduce the good bacteria numbers within the body. Probiotics replenish the good bacteria that your system requires. Poor digestive symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, heartburn, or having a history of food poisoning indicate whether one would benefit from a probiotic. The appearance of your skin can indicate whether your digestive system would benefit from a probiotic. People who have skin blemishes, acne, dullness of skin, rosacea, psoriasis, or eczema have benefited from probiotics. People who experience depression, moodiness, irritability, brain fog, and/or low energy have seen improvements after taking probiotics. People who frequently get colds or the flu have witnessed significant improvement in their overall health after taking probiotics.
Here are some “good bacteria” secrets. Did you know people have more nerves in their digestive system (or gut) than in their entire spinal cord? A person’s healthy gut should contain one hundred trillion bacteria, weighing close to three pounds. Having good gut bacteria will dictate how well a person’s immune system will function and good gut bacteria play a vital role in the appearance of our skin. Ninety-five percent of serotonin, the happy molecule in our brain, is made in the digestive system. When we correctly balance the gut with good bacteria, we can help improve our mood and mental clarity.
In the past, I used to suffer from heartburn and other “digestive issues.” I began taking a probiotic called UltraFlora Balance by Metagenics which is currently sold at Kettle Moraine Health Center. Although this supplement can be pricey, the saying, “you get what you pay for” holds true. There are large numbers of CFU’s or Colony-Forming Units in UltraFlora Balance. This large number indicates how dense or potent the bacteria are in the probiotic. The large number of CFU’s make this product effective. UltraFlora Balance also contains multiple strains and substrains. Multiple strains mean the number of different kinds of bacteria the probiotic contains. Substrains mean that a specific probiotic strain within the supplement has gone through clinical studies to ensure its quality. UltraFlora Balance probiotics are stored and sealed in a dark amber glass bottle which keeps out harmful light and moisture.
I can happily say that after a few months of taking UltraFlora Balance my heartburn and other digestive problems have disappeared. I knew it would take some time to replenish my good bacteria and as this occurred I noticed my overall health improve as well. I work to keep my stress under control, eat responsibly, get plenty of sleep and exercise – all of which have improved my quality of life additionally.