Probiotics

Health Tip of the Week: The human digestive system contains approximately 500 different types of bacteria living inside its different organs. Some of the bacteria is good and some of it is bad. In order to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system, the good and bad bacteria must be kept in proper balance. The "bad" bacteria comes from, and more importantly thrives on poor nutrition (junk food), antibiotic therapy and stress. This type of bacteria weakens the digestive system allowing toxins to build up, which then threatens the immune system. The "good" bacteria gobbles up the toxins and waste products in the digestive system allowing the immune system to function properly, which in turn contributes to good health. When the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria in the digestive system is out of synch, many kinds of illnesses can occur. One of the most important keys to health is maintaining, or even building a better ratio of "good" bacteria vs "bad" bacteria. Probiotic therapy is the addition of "good" bacteria into the body through diet or supplementation. The most common forms of "good" bacteria are acidolphilus, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Probiotics are found in yogurt, sauerkraut, some cottage cheeses and various manufactured probiotic supplements. For optimal health in children and adults, probiotics should be consumed on a daily basis. Recently, a study in Finland found the severity and durations of respiratory infections dramatically decreased in children that supplemented their diet with probiotics all winter long. In addition, conditions such as diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, stomach ulcers and chronic yeast infections have all been shown to improve from probiotic consumption.

Thought for the Week: "When diet is wrong medicine is of no use. When diet is correct medicine is of no need." ~Ayurvedic Proverb

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: One of the greatest wide receivers in National Football League history is now telling how he managed to withstand all those truly "vicious" hits he took. "Chiropractic care was key to keeping me in the game," says Jerry Rice, who helped the San Francisco 49ers win three Super Bowl Championships between 1985 and 2000. Rice first became a believer in chiropractic care right before the 49ers were to play the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. A couple of key players were injured, and he credits a chiropractor for turning things around. "Ever since then, I've had the benefit of chiropractic care," says Rice, a 13-time Pro Bowl football player, with 38 career records, who retired from the NFL. -------- North American Press Syndicate, NY, New York