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Probiotics and Diarrhea: What聮s the Connection?
Posted by howard on July 29th Kyle Singler Jersey , 2017




It’s embarrassing, frustrating and, let’s face it, disgusting. It can strike infants and adults alike Jerami Grant Jersey , and do so with a vengeance. It’s diarrhea, and everybody has had to deal with it at one time or another. Can probiotics help with this condition? The science seems to say that it can.




How Can Probiotics Help?


As you may already know, probiotics are designed to help boost the numbers of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. There are trillions of these microbes in your system, some of them good and some of them bad. These bacteria fight for control Raymond Felton Jersey , and when the “bad guys” win, there can be serious consequences – diarrhea among them. Probiotics are meant to provide reinforcements so that beneficial bacteria can restore the proper balance to the gut.




When a Little Diarrhea Can Be a Big Problem


Diarrhea usually occurs due to some sort of infection in the bowels. Most of the time, it’s more an annoyance than anything, and will usually clear up on its own. You just need to make sure you take in enough fluids so you don’t become dehydrated.




But in some people Kevin Durant Jersey , such as older adults and small children, a seemingly minor condition can become a major issue. Severe diarrhea can lead to a substantial loss of fluids that can be dangerous and require immediate treatment.




Just as there are many different types of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, there are also many different kinds of diarrhea. Probiotics can help reduce the symptoms of some, and not do a lot for others. Here’s a look at some of the more common forms of diarrhea Gary Payton Jersey , and whether or not probiotics can help.




Diarrhea in Children


The main cause of diarrhea in infants and children is caused by a particularly nasty pathogen called rotavirus. Probiotics have been proven to help reduce the duration of a bout of diarrhea caused by this virus – they could, in fact, help shorten it by as little as 12 hours to as much as two days.1




Diarrhea and Antibiotics


Antibiotics are powerful medications that have helped saved countless lives through their ability to destroy harmful bacteria. But they not only wipe out bad bacteria, they kill good ones as well. One of the consequences is that people who take antibiotics may be more susceptible to suffering a diarrhea attack.




As beneficial as antibiotics can be Detlef Schrempf Jersey , they can have some troublesome side effects. These include gas, cramping and, in some severe cases, the development of severe colon infections.2 This is one of the reasons why so many medical experts recommend only using antibiotics when absolutely necessary.


A substantial amount of research has been done regarding the connection between antibiotics use and digestive issues. Several studies have shown that children and adults alike can benefit from the use of probiotics when taking antibiotics.3 Certain probiotics seem to work better in reducing diarrhea symptoms – namely the Lactobacillus strain of bacteria.


It’s only normal to wonder whether taking probiotics would nullify the work that antibiotics are doing. But when you do this Ray Allen Jersey , you’re replacing the good bacteria that were killed by the medications – not the bad ones you were taking antibiotics for in the first place.




Traveller's Diarrhea


If you’ve ever gone abroad and come down with diarrhea after drinking the local water or eating some local cuisine, then you’ve contracted what’s commonly referred to as “Montezuma’s revenge.” Studies are mixed when it comes to the effects of probiotics on this form of diarrhea. Some say that bacteria such as Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus can help.4




C. Difficile-related Diarrhea


The C. difficile bacterium is one of the worst of the harmful bacteria, and can lead to diarrhea that is so severe it can be life-threatening. There is evidence that probiotics can help not only prevent this pathogen from entering the gastrointestinal tract, they can also help prevent a repeat infection. Certain strains of Lactobacillus bacteria are thought to be effective in fighting C. difficile.5




How to Take Probiotics


There are a lot of different ways to get probiotics into your system. They’re found in several different foods Andre Roberson Jersey , such as yogurt and sauerkraut, but they are also available in supplement form. The most common ones are capsules, drinks and powders, but they also come in chewable form such as gummies.