Antibiotics used to be prescribed routinely, but now, physicians are becoming more attuned to antibiotic-resistance and the tendency of antibiotics to remove both the bad bacterial flora from the intestinal tract and the good flora, leaving patients vulnerable to diarrhea, yeast infections and bladder infections. Recent studies have shown convincing evidence that the use of probiotics, beneficial live microorganisms found in human intestines, to re-balance the bacterial flora of the intestine should be routine when prescribing antibiotics to some patients. You should consult with your physician if you experience any intestinal upset when taking prescribed antibiotic medications.
Instructions
Take Probiotics During Antibiotic Treatment
1. Get your probiotics from the food you eat. Foods like yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, some juices and soy beverages.
2. Take your probiotics in supplement form. Your local health food store and drug stores has a variety of probiotic compounds in pill, capsule, or powder form that you can take daily while you are under antibiotic treatment to increase the amount of beneficial flora in your intestinal tract.
3. Research the best probiotic for you. Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria are the most common probiotics available. Lactobacillus normally live in human intestines and vagina and produces vitamin K, lactase and anti-microbial substances such as acidolin, acidolphilin, lacticidin and bacteriocin. It has few side effects, but should be avoided by those with weakened immune systems, intestinal tract damage, or those with severe overgrowth on intestinal bacteria. Lactobacillus is used not only to restore bacterial intestinal flora but for cases of bacterial vaginosis, as well. It is reputed to also have anti-inflammatory properties and anti-cancer properties. It is recommended for use against diarrhea associated with .
4. Consider bifidobacterium for skin allergy conditions. Bifidobacterium is another probiotic to increase the microflora of the intestines, but it also has beneficial effects against vaginal bacterial conditions, and has been found to have some anti-allergy effects. There is also some research being done into anti-cholesterol properties of bifidobacterium and its ability to boost the immune system. It is used to help intestinal problems from irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease, and is recommended to decrease diarrhea associated with long-term antibiotic treatment.
5. Add streptococcus thermophilus to the mix. This impressive-sounding lactic acid bacterium is often used in combination with lactobacillus and bifidobacterium for maximum effect in benefiting the intestinal tract in cases of travelers' diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions. It is found naturally in yogurt and mozzarella cheese.
Tags: intestinal tract, Antibiotic Treatment, antibiotic treatment, associated with, bacterial flora, bowel syndrome, diarrhea associated