Probiotics: Strengthening the Immune System Against Infections

These friendly bacteria help fight microorganisms that can harm us

Immune Defense

In the early 1900s the Russian immunologist Elie Metchnikoff theorized that taking yogurt with lactic-acid producing microorganisms throughout life could be the primary factor explaining the difference in life expectancy among various ethnic groups.

In a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemistry (JAC), researchers explain the idea that bacteria in fermented products help to balance out unhealthy microorganisms. This helps the normal human microflora to continue to act as a strong barrier against illness-causing microorganisms from both internal and external sources.

Every day people around the world come into contact with millions of microorganisms that can cause infections. Thanks to the human immune system we’re normally able to successfully battle these infections. The immune system is a network consisting of cells, tissues and organs. White blood cells or leukocytes proactively destroy the microorganisms that cause disease or infections.

The two basic types of leukocytes are phagocytes, which destroy infections, and lymphocytes, which help your body to recognize organisms you’ve been exposed to previously and to destroy them. Lymphocytes are the cells that produce the antibodies, which continue to reside in your body and make you immune to a particular disease or infection.

According to the JAC study, probiotics play several roles in boosting the immune system and preventing or treating infections, beyond increasing the amount of healthy bacteria. Probiotics limit the colonization or multiplication of disease-causing bacteria. They also produce antimicrobial substances such as bacteriocins, organic acids and peptides.

The study also indicates that some strains of bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) have adjuvant-like effects. Basically this means that they make the immune system respond more effectively to infections.

Studies show that probiotics can prevent or treat infections in the gastrointestinal tract such as ulcers and viral gastroenteritis (or stomach flu). Other research shows that LGG and Saccharomyces boulardii are also very effective in treating children with diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Lactobacillus GG is also an effective treatment for diarrhea caused by antibiotic use.

Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that taking the probiotics L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14, which exist in the intestine and vagina, orally can help to treat infections of the urogenital tract, and keep it healthy.

The most common species of probiotics used in foods and supplements are Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, or Streptococcus thermophilus. However, in many cases the probiotics in food have been killed. When you’re choosing probiotics to boost your immune system and fight infections, look for those with “live bacteria.”

Sources:

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (2002) 50, 625-627. Probiotics in human infections
Å. Sullivan and C. E. Nord.
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/50/5/625#DKF194C6

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 73, No. 2, 437S-443s, February 2001 Probiotic agents to protect the urogenital tract against infection. Gregor Reid.
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/50/5/625#DKF194C6

Nutritional Coaching

nu·tri·tion / n(y)o͞oˈtriSHən/ Noun:   The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. Food; nourishment.

Everything you put in your mouth has a benefit or a consequence. When we eat nutrient-dense, properly prepared whole foods our bodies thrive. When we eat processed, chemically concocted foods, our bodies suffer. Our bodies get confused by all of the weird, unnatural, hard to pronounce “ingredients” we eat on a daily basis. Your body does its best to adapt, but eventually it will protest by giving you all sorts of problems and symptoms that look like this:

• ALLERGIES
• ECZEMA
• SINUS INFECTIONS
• FATIGUE
• SLEEP DISORDERS
• PSORIASIS
• MIGRAINES
• ANXIETY
• MUSCLE CRAMPING
• ACNE
• ACHY JOINTS
• HEMORRHOIDS
• BLOATING and GAS
• DIARRHEA
• CONSTIPATION
• MENTAL SLUGGISHNESS
• DIFFICULTY LOSING WEIGHT
• REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES
• HORMONAL IMBALANCE
• MENSTRUAL DISORDERS
• MOOD SWINGS
• DEPRESSION
• TEETH CLENCHING
• DARK CIRCLES
• HEARTBURN
• FOOD CRAVINGS
• DRY SKIN
• DEPRESSION
• DECREASED LIBIDO
• ASTHMA…. 

just to name a few.

Make the connection between food and health.

A Nutritional Coach evaluates your health profile to find what macro and micro nutrient deficiencies may be contributing to your health issues. The uniqueness or “bio-individuality” of each person means that there is no one-size-fits-all nutritional plan. A Nutritional Coach will work with you to create a personal protocol to fit your particular needs and goals. Getting the appropriate nutrients transported effectively throughout your body means better health and overall wellness. To consider if Nutritional Coaching is a good fit for you, Google "Nutritional Coach", and make sure you read their reviews, check their bona-fides, and consider setting up an appointment.

How To Become A Nutritionist | Dietitian Definition

A Registered Dietitian: The Nutrition Expert

A registered dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional requirements enabling an individual to possess the credential "RD." As members of the health care team, RDs provide an essential component of medical care—medical nutrition therapy (MNT).

Medical Nutrition Therapy

MNT is the assessment of the nutrition status of a client followed by therapy, ranging from diet modification to the administration of specialized nutrition therapies such as intravenous or tube feeding. MNT includes review and analysis of medical and dietary history, laboratory values, and anthropometric measurements. It involves management of appropriate nutrition intake and self-management training.

RD Requirements

• Complete an approved program in dietetics and a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• Complete supervised practical experience in an accredited dietetic internship, program in dietetics, or professional dietetics practice program
• Pass a national registration exam
• Maintain continuing education credits

Areas of Practice

Registered dietitians are trained to work in many areas of practice:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Digestive diseases
• Enteral and parenteral nutrition
• Heart disease
• Perinatal care
• Pressure ulcer management

Employment Settings

• Hospitals
• Clinics and ambulatory care centers
• MCOs
• Physician practices
• Private practice
• Consultation
• Community and public health programs
• Extended and long-term care facilities
• Home care

State Regulation

Many states and commonwealths also have laws regulating dietetics practitioners. These laws safeguard the public by establishing and enforcing minimum competency standards for persons working in a regulated profession, and those researching how to become a nutritionist.

The State of California has registration. Registration is an entitlement law that prohibits use of the title "dietitian" by persons not meeting state-mandated qualifications.  

Nutritional Education & Preventative Measures

The American Heart Association states that the best approach to preventing illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and stroke is diet and exercise. This is great because what is in our own control can be changed in as short a time frame as a matter of weeks. if you have a family member/loved one who has had heart surgery at a relatively young age, with lifestyle choices being a contributing factor, learning from that can provide first-hand experience that changing our eating and exercise habits has an immediate impact on our body and it’s metabolism. Even though the weight loss may not show as immediately as we wish, the blood chemistry begins to improve immediately and so our overall health will follow.

In the past 7 years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people eating according to the guidelines given in the American Diabetes Association nutritional resource guide. Eat according to their guidelines to give yourself the best chance at a long life of wellness. Canola oil is one of our best choices for use in food preparation since it has the highest amount of omega 3 in its composition, compared to other available cooking oils. This means less saturated fat consumption and more of the “good” fat. Habits are created by repeating the same behavior time and time again. Whether we make the right choices or develop the right habits is totally within our control.

American Diabetes Association Resource Guide

We all have favorite foods we eat time and time again. All we need to do to make a very substantial positive change to our personal health is to find about 10 favorite dishes from The American Diabetes Association nutritional resource guide and make those our favorite recipes to eat repeatedly, while retiring our unhealthy favorites.