Dr. Michael Wald
The term probiotic refers to the use of certain types of “healthy bugs (either bacterial or fungal in origin) that the body needs in certain amounts and in different places in the body to carry on literally hundreds of essential functions of life. Unfortunately, our food sources have all but killed the healthy bugs. Yogurts may have tiny amounts of probiotics, but far too low for most therapeutic purposes; and, yogurt may not have all of the differing forms of these healthy bugs that you need.
Medical strains of probiotics exist that have proven health benefits. Different supplement companies that sell them provide a wide variety of combinations, strength and forms of these probiotics. Just because one label says the capsule contains 14 billion bugs does not mean that they are potent or even alive! If they are dead they are a waste. If you ask most people about probiotics they will tell you about lactobacillus acidophilus in yogurt. Fewer still will know of the special health benefits of saccromyces boulardii (health yeast) for conditions as varied as acute and chronic infections, and inflammatory bowel disease. Even fewer still will have heard of lactobacillus plantarum which helps reduce inflammation in the small intestine that is present in most malabsorption disorders. It is the rare person indeed that knows of saccromyces cervesae – a healthy form of yeast that Dr. Michael Wald has pionerred into an effective treatment for those with ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease (inflammatory bowel disease). This article is too brief to review the important considerations involving the use and purchase of these “healthy bugs” such as: how does one determine quality (nope! Not just higher numbers of bugs); how much to take? When is the best time to supplement with them? Should they be taken on an empty stomach, with food and near digestive enzymes? These are questions you might want to ask Dr. Michael Wald directly. He teaches this topic as part of his gastrointestinal course provided to health care doctors across the United States and Canada.
Cholesterol Lowering
Probiotics such as acidophilus, B. logum, bifidus and saccromyce’s boulardii lower cholesterol through a number of mechanisms: Quick summary –
Probiotics increase bile flow; increased bile flow helps to breakdown cholesterol that is normally excreted in the intestines and reduces it’s reabsorption back into the body (this would raise blood cholesterol levels).
Reduce Inflammation
Probiotics reduce intestinal and systemic inflammation (found throughout the body) that may play a role in raising cholesterol levels.
Balance pH (acidity-alkalinity)
Probiotics help to adjust the small intestine and large intestine pH (level of acidity or alkalinity); imbalanced intestinal pH promotes inflammation and an increase in the endogenous production (produced in the body) of cholesterol which is an ANTI-INFLAMMATORY. If you didn’t know, cholesterol has many health benefits also such as: reducing cancer risk (levels of cholesterol below 160 mg/dL are associated with higher cancer risks); cholesterol functions as an antioxidant (this is a good thing!); cholesterol is the “mother hormone” producing pregnenolone, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, estrone, estradiole, estriole; and many other functions too numerous to mention here.
Hormone Balancing
Probiotics help manage hormone metabolism; low levels of healthy bugs in the intestinal track lead to raised blood levels of cholesterol; cholesterol forms estrogens, testosterone and progesterone. Reestablishing normal healthy flora reduces excessive cholesterol levels helping to ward off abnormally high hormone levels. High levels of cholesterol may be related to excessive production in the body of estrogen that has been linked to breast and prostate cancer.
Intestinal Health
Probiotics improve the production of an important short-chain fatty acid known as butyrate; low levels of butyrate cause an increase in cholesterol; increased colon cancer risk and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Probiotics are NOT all the same!
Not all probiotic supplements are the same. How they are manufactured matters. Often people consume probiotics that have been heat treated and they are either dead or inactive (useless). The type of probitic(s) should be tailored to the individual. For example, acidophilus is best for vaginitis that is bacterial in origin; colon cancer requires bifidobacterium which helps shrink cancer tumors; saccromyces boulardii is important for certain types of fungal infections – they are just a few examples.
REFERENCES
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20945142 – lowers serum cholesterol, improved nutrition, microbial balance, and immuno-enhancement of the intestinal tract
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19515264 – lowers cholesterol, reduces colon cancer risk, raises HDL
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20699581 – the probiotic bifidobacterium activates certain genes that enhance fat metabolism promoting weight loss
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20640165 – lowers many harmful blood fats
– Dr. Michael Wald, aka The Blood Detective, is the director of nutritional services at Integrated Medicine of Mount Kisco, located in Westchester New York. He has appeared on ABC World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer, Channel 11 PIX, Channel 12 News, CNN, The Food Network and other media outlets. Dr. Wald earned the name Blood Detective for his reputation to find problems that are often missed by other doctors. He earned an MD degree, is a doctor of chiropractic and a certified dietician-nutritionist. He is also double-board certified in nutrition. He has published over a dozen books with three additional titles due for release late 2013 including: Frankenfoods – Genetically Modified Foods: Controversies, Lies & Your Health and Gluten-A-Holic: How to Live Gluten Free and the Blood Detective’s Longevity Secrets. Dr. Wald can be reached at: www.intmedny.com or www.blooddetective.com or by calling: 914-242-8844.